Using RAMDrive to Speed Up MS-DOS Task Swapper (91634)


The information in this article applies to:

  • 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 Q91634

SUMMARY

RAMDrive is a memory-resident program that enables you to use part of your computer's random-access memory (RAM) as if it were a hard disk drive. By using RAMDrive, you can make MS-DOS Task Swapper run faster.

When you install MS-DOS, the Setup program copies the RAMDRIVE.SYS file to your DOS directory. To create a RAM drive, you add a DEVICE= or DEVICEHIGH= command for RAMDRIVE.SYS to your CONFIG.SYS file.

MORE INFORMATION

To speed up Task Swapper:

  1. Make a backup copy of your CONFIG.SYS file.
  2. Open your CONFIG.SYS file by using any text editor.
  3. Add a DEVICE= or DEVICEHIGH= command line for the RAMDRIVE.SYS device driver. It should appear similar to the following: 
          device=c:\dos\ramdrive.sys 512 /e
    This example creates a RAM drive that takes up 512K of extended memory. You can specify how much and what type of memory your RAM drive uses by customizing the command line. For more information about RAMDrive command-line options, type help ramdrive.sys at the MS-DOS command prompt.
  4. Save the changes to your CONFIG.SYS file.
  5. Open your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
  6. Set the TEMP environment variable to your RAM drive by adding a SET command line. The drive letter of your RAM drive should be the letter after that of the last disk drive in use. For example, if your last disk drive in use is C, your RAM drive would be D. In this case, you would add the following command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: 
          set temp=d:\
  7. Save the changes to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
  8. Restart your computer.
NOTE: If RAMDrive is to use extended memory, your CONFIG.SYS file must contain a DEVICE= command for the HIMEM.SYS memory manager. If RAMDrive is to use expanded memory, your CONFIG.SYS file must contain a DEVICE command for the expanded memory manager that came with your memory board. The device command for RAMDrive must come after the one for the memory manager.

You can improve the performance of RAMDrive by doing the following:

  • If you run programs from your RAM drive, list your RAM drive first in your PATH= command. For example, if your RAM drive is drive E, add E:\ to the beginning of the PATH= command.
  • If you use the EMM386 program as an expanded-memory emulator, do not put the RAM drive in expanded memory. Although RAMDrive can also use this emulated expanded memory, it won't be as efficient as it would if it were using real physical memory.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/3/1999
Keywords:KB91634
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