Troubleshooting Poor Performance in Microsoft Backup (137942)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q137942

SYMPTOMS

When you perform a backup operation in Microsoft Backup, it may take longer than you expect. This poor performance may or may not be accompanied by poor hard disk performance while you perform other tasks in Windows 95.

CAUSE

This behavior can be caused by any of the following factors:
  • Lack of available memory.
  • Hard disks that are using MS-DOS Compatibility mode. This mode may be in use for either the file system or for virtual memory.
  • Poor hard disk performance due to other factors, such as a less than optimal hard disk and controller configuration, or the use of disk compression on a computer with a relatively slow processor.
  • File fragmentation on the hard disk.
  • Unusable sectors on the backup tape.

RESOLUTION

Lack of Available Memory

A lack of available memory is typically caused by having too many programs open at the same time, or by not having enough physical RAM installed in the computer. To resolve this problem, close all running programs before starting the backup process. If doing so does not improve performance, remove all programs from the Startup folder and from the "load=" and "run=" lines in the Win.ini file, and restart Windows 95. If performance is still poor, you may need to add more physical RAM to your computer to improve performance.

Hard Disks Using MS-DOS Compatibility Mode

If the Performance tab in System properties shows that one or more of the hard disks in your computer is using MS-DOS Compatibility mode, resolving this problem should improve performance in Backup. For more information about troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

130179 Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard Disks

To access the Performance tab, double-click the System icon in Control Panel, and then click the Performance tab.

Poor Hard Disk Performance

Even if your hard disks are not using MS-DOS Compatibility mode, the performance of Backup may be affected by the performance of your hard disks. If you are using an IDE hard disk, the performance of the hard disk may be affected by another device that is connected to the same IDE controller channel. Older hard disks with slow access speeds, CD-ROM drives, and tape drives all may adversely affect performance when connected to the same IDE controller channel as your hard disk. To resolve this problem, move the slower device to a separate IDE controller, or to the second IDE channel on an EIDE dual-port controller.

If you are using disk compression on a computer with a relatively slow processor, hard disk performance may not be as good as if you were not using disk compression. If you are using third-party disk compression software that uses a real-mode driver to access your compressed drives, you may be able to improve performance by replacing the real-mode driver with a protected-mode driver. For information about obtaining such a driver, contact the manufacturer of your third-party disk compression software.

File Fragmentation on Hard Disk

Badly fragmented hard disks can affect the performance of Backup, as well as the performance of other tasks in Windows 95. To resolve this problem, run Disk Defragmenter to defragment your hard disks. To run Disk Defragmenter, click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

Unusable Sectors on Backup Tape

Backup can detect and avoid unusable sectors on a tape, but the process that it uses to do so can be time consuming. If you suspect that performance problems in Backup are caused by unusable sectors on a tape, try using a new tape, or a tape that you know does not contain unusable sectors.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/14/2002
Keywords:kbprb KB137942
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.