disable write behind caching using registry key?

[Amedee Van Gasse]

Hello,

First of all, sorry about the cross-post but I don't know which group
is most appropriate:

m.p.windowsxp.configuration_manage: it's something I need to configure
m.p.windowsxp.hardware: it is hardware-related
m.p.windowsxp.help_and_support: I deed help (obviously)
m.p.windowsxp.perform_maintain: it's a performance issue

Since a week or so, I frequently get an error message about a failed
write behind caching. This is usually when disk activity is very (even
extremely) high. In the event log there is event id 50.
I *have* found a solution on the Microsoft Support site. The only
problem is implementing it. Microsoft advises to disable the write
behind caching on the hard disk. I have found the screen where this
setting should be changed, however I cannot change it because it is
grayed out.
So I wonder if there is a registry key that I can add or change that
has the same effect.

Some background info:
OS: XP Pro SP1, language = Dutch
Drive C: dual Seagate Barracuda V 120GB on Promise SATA controller in
RAID 0 (striping)
I think everyone who knows a bit about RAID, will agree that write
behind caching is actually not a very good idea on a striped disk.

I don't think other configuration info is relevant at the moment, but
feel free to ask if you need to know more.

 

[Amedee Van Gasse]

Further followups will go to because the problem *is* hardware-related.

Amedee Van Gasse wrote:

*snip*

Since a week or so, I frequently get an error message about a failed
write behind caching. This is usually when disk activity is very (even
extremely) high. In the event log there is event id 50.
I have found a solution on the Microsoft Support site. The only
problem is implementing it. Microsoft advises to disable the write
behind caching on the hard disk. I have found the screen where this
setting should be changed, however I cannot change it because it is
grayed out.
So I wonder if there is a registry key that I can add or change that
has the same effect.

Some background info:
OS: XP Pro SP1, language = Dutch
Drive C: dual Seagate Barracuda V 120GB on Promise SATA controller in
RAID 0 (striping)
I think everyone who knows a bit about RAID, will agree that write
behind caching is actually not a very good idea on a striped disk.

I don't think other configuration info is relevant at the moment, but
feel free to ask if you need to know more.

Meanwhile I have made some more research. I'll post it here in case
someone is interested.

It seems that the above configuration info is indeed enough.
There is a "bug" (how else to call it?) in Windows XP that write behind
caching cannot be disabled on ATA 100 devices /and/ on certain Promise
controllers that emulate a SCSI controller. And what do you think?
Indeed, a Promise SATA controller is recognised as a SCSI controller in
Windows. Bummer. :-(

This "bug" is *not* fixed in SP1. Is there anyone here with a little
more inside info in Microsoft who knows if there is going to be a
solution in SP2 or in some hotfix?