DOS ain't dead - An universal way how to flush disk cache?

An universal way how to flush disk cache? (Developers)

posted by bretjohn , Rio Rancho, NM, 27.10.2011, 02:19

> But this code seems to do HDD reset that may flush internal hardware HDD
> cache (it maybe pretty large on new drives: 32-64MB!) but not software
> cache like smartdrv, etc.

All INT 13h based caching programs should monitor INT 13.00 and flush the software caches as well. The problem is that not all caches are INT 13h based (including SMARTDRV). There are some disadvantages to using an INT 13h based cache, including the fact that not all disks use INT 13h (such as SCSI/ASPI and many USB implementations). Even Jack's routine is not "universal" for flushing INT 13h caches, since it assumes that the hard drive numbers ("UnitNo" in Jack's code) are sequential, which isn't necessarily true.

> Hm, seems to be complicated - need to probe or blindly try to flush all
> posslible cache programs released in entire Universe...

Indeed it is, and that seems to be the only possibility. However, several INT 21h based caches are compatible with SMARTDRV when it comes to flushing.

Post reply

Complete thread:

An universal way how to flush disk cache? - RayeR, 25.10.2011, 12:53 (Developers)
- An universal way how to flush disk cache? - Arjay, 25.10.2011, 18:33
- An universal way how to flush disk cache? - rr, 25.10.2011, 20:27
  - An universal way how to flush disk cache? - RayeR, 26.10.2011, 04:30
    - An universal way how to flush disk cache? - bretjohn, 27.10.2011, 02:19
  - An universal way how to flush disk cache? - rr, 28.10.2011, 21:39
- An universal way how to flush disk cache? - Mpxplay, 12.11.2011, 01:24