FASTOPEN Should Not Be Used with Speed Disk or Compress (80297)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.1
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3a
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.01
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q80297

SUMMARY

The Norton SpeedDisk utility, PC Tools Compress utility, or any disk optimization utilities are not compatible with the MS-DOS FASTOPEN.EXE utility.

Microsoft has confirmed that in order to avoid data corruption, FASTOPEN.EXE should not be loaded when using a disk optimization or disk compaction utility. This is usually done by disabling or removing the FASTOPEN command in the AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS file and rebooting the system before the disk optimizer is used.

MORE INFORMATION

FASTOPEN.EXE stores the locations of files and directories in memory, making access to these files faster than normal. Disk optimizers like Speed Disk and Compress move files around, changing the location of the file. However, FASTOPEN.EXE does not realize that the file has been moved, and if the file is accessed after the disk optimization, the file is not properly read because FASTOPEN accesses the file's old location. This can cause file and data corruption.

For more information on FASTOPEN.EXE and disk optimizers, query on the following words:

FASTOPEN DISK OPTIMIZER

Symantec, manufacturer of Norton Utilitis, has released Norton Utilities version 6.01, which prompts you to disable FASTOPEN.EXE to prevent you from optimizing the disk with it in memory. Owners of Norton Utilities 6.0 may call Norton technical support at (213) 319-2000 to obtain a free upgrade to version 6.01.

Reference(s):

"Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference," version 5.0, page 487
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/12/2003
Keywords:KB80297
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