XP's LargeSystemCache can cause data corruption?

[David Peters]

I came across a few slightly differing explanations on the Net which
told me that setting the value of 'LargeSystemCache' in XP could lead
to data corruption.

Below are two extracts which I found on Google.

Is what the first extract says just a myth or is it actually true?


Dave

==================================

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

LargeSystemCache=0 For 512MB RAM or more set to 1 for potential
performance improvement.

Note that data corruption may occur if the Large System Cache feature
is enabled in Windows XP. If you have more than 512MB of RAM, a large
NTFS disk or multiple large volumes (60-100 gigabyte hard drives
possibly in RAID arrays), and/or AGP graphics with large AGP resource
requirements (AGP aperture greater than default) then you will get
hard drive corruption. Don't enable Large System Cache in these
circumstances, i.e use LargeSystemCache=0.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Control \Session
Manager \Memory Management]
LargeSystemCache=1

OR: Control Panel -> System-Applet -> Advanced-Tab -> Performance-
Settings-Button -> Advanced-Tab then select "System Cache" option

==================================

http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html says ...

"enabling the large system cache can be fatal when working with files
that takes more space than there is RAM. Because the file will be
allowed to occupy all the RAM and force Windows to use the swap file,
which makes the system extremely slow.

For example this can happen when copying an ISO file from one HDD to
another, or when someone copies a movie from your machine over the
network, or if running a disk benchmark program."

==================================

 

[Arno Wagner]

I came across a few slightly differing explanations on the Net which
told me that setting the value of 'LargeSystemCache' in XP could lead
to data corruption.

Below are two extracts which I found on Google.

Is what the first extract says just a myth or is it actually true?




LargeSystemCache=0 For 512MB RAM or more set to 1 for potential
performance improvement.

Note that data corruption may occur if the Large System Cache feature
is enabled in Windows XP. If you have more than 512MB of RAM, a large
NTFS disk or multiple large volumes (60-100 gigabyte hard drives
possibly in RAID arrays), and/or AGP graphics with large AGP resource
requirements (AGP aperture greater than default) then you will get
hard drive corruption. Don't enable Large System Cache in these
circumstances, i.e use LargeSystemCache=0.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Control \Session
Manager \Memory Management]
LargeSystemCache=1

OR: Control Panel -> System-Applet -> Advanced-Tab -> Performance-
Settings-Button -> Advanced-Tab then select "System Cache" option

http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html says ...

"enabling the large system cache can be fatal when working with files
that takes more space than there is RAM. Because the file will be
allowed to occupy all the RAM and force Windows to use the swap file,
which makes the system extremely slow.

 

[Guest]

The effect of setting it this registry value to 1 is the same as going to My
Computer,->Properties,->Advanced,->Performance/Settings Tab,->Advanced, and
setting the memory usage to System Cache instead of programs.

Doing anything with a PC can cause Data corruption!

I could not find any MS articles to confirm or deny these reports.

 

[R Murphy]

I came across a few slightly differing explanations on the Net which
told me that setting the value of 'LargeSystemCache' in XP could lead
to data corruption.

I found the same thing: delayed write failures. When they started happening
on the MFT I started to worry...

There's some info on it at http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/4217.html and
also
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/22061/

This started happening for me at the same time that I 1. got a new 160G hard
drive 2. put XP on it and 3. installed the latest Omega ATI drivers. I still
don't know whether it's ATI specific; what sort of system do you have there
David?

At any rate, switching back to the small cache stopped further problems.
Either changing the registry or setting the control panel to optimise for
programs seems to work.



Rob

 

[David Peters]

I found the same thing: delayed write failures. When they
started happening on the MFT I started to worry...

There's some info on it at
http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/4217.html and also
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/22061/

This started happening for me at the same time that I 1. got a
new 160G hard drive 2. put XP on it and 3. installed the latest
Omega ATI drivers. I still don't know whether it's ATI specific;
what sort of system do you have there David?

I have an NVidia graphics card and on the mobo I have a VIA chipset.

At any rate, switching back to the small cache stopped further
problems. Either changing the registry or setting the control
panel to optimise for programs seems to work.

BTW do the "Delayed Write Failed" errors mentioned on the webpages in
your links show up in the Event Viewer?

 

[David Peters]

On 08 Dec 2004, Arno Wagner wrote nothing.

Arno, did you mean to post something?

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage David Peters

I came across a few slightly differing explanations on the Net
which told me that setting the value of 'LargeSystemCache' in
XP could lead to data corruption.

Below are two extracts which I found on Google.

Is what the first extract says just a myth or is it actually
true?




LargeSystemCache=0 For 512MB RAM or more set to 1 for potential
performance improvement.

Note that data corruption may occur if the Large System Cache
feature is enabled in Windows XP. If you have more than 512MB
of RAM, a large NTFS disk or multiple large volumes (60-100
gigabyte hard drives possibly in RAID arrays), and/or AGP
graphics with large AGP resource requirements (AGP aperture
greater than default) then you will get hard drive corruption.
Don't enable Large System Cache in these circumstances, i.e use
LargeSystemCache=0.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Control
\Session Manager \Memory Management]
LargeSystemCache=1

OR: Control Panel -> System-Applet -> Advanced-Tab ->
Performance- Settings-Button -> Advanced-Tab then select
"System Cache" option

http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html says ...

"enabling the large system cache can be fatal when working with
files that takes more space than there is RAM. Because the
file will be allowed to occupy all the RAM and force Windows to
use the swap file, which makes the system extremely slow.

For example this can happen when copying an ISO file from one
HDD to another, or when someone copies a movie from your
machine over the network, or if running a disk benchmark
program."

==================================

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Tacitus

 

[R Murphy]

I have an NVidia graphics card and on the mobo I have a VIA chipset.

Hmm. I have an ATI card and and Intel chipset. I wonder how widespread this
problem is?

BTW do the "Delayed Write Failed" errors mentioned on the webpages in
your links show up in the Event Viewer?

Yes, Event ID 50, msg text

"{Delayed Write Failed} Windows was unable to save all the data for the file
.. The data has been lost. This error may be caused by a failure of your
computer hardware or network connection. Please try to save this file
elsewhere."