[comp.sys.atari.st] K-Switch and Disk Cache

UACE0@UHUPVM1.BITNET.UUCP (04/17/87)

Received: by UHUPVM1 (Mailer X1.23b) id 2165; Fri, 17 Apr 87 09:40:59 CDT
Date:         Fri, 17 Apr 87 09:32:28 CDT
From:         "University (of Houston) ACE (UACE)" <UACE0@UHUPVM1>
Subject:      K-Switch and Disk Cache
To:           ST Users <INFO-ATARI16@score.stanford.EDU>

For those osf you who have K-switch and beckmeyer ram cache, take note:

It is possible to really screw up your hard disk when using these two in
combination with each other.  If you happen to be using a word processor on
one side, and something else on the other, then create a new file on the
word processor side, then switch to the other side, you will notice that the
other side does not have the new file.

This is due to the fact that you really have two ST systems, and the cache is
not updated on the other half.  If you were to write something out to the
hard disk at this point, you could very well create real trouble for yourself.

I believe that the problem could be fixed by having the beckmeyer cache reread
the FAT when you hit the escape key.  If you were able to force this reread,
then both halves would know of the updated fat.  As it stands right now, only
one half of the switch knows of disk changes.

Both are excellent programs, and I am sure that this could not have been seen
by Beckmeyer as a possible problem.  However, the problem does exist, so if
you use both at the same time, be sure to only write on the same half all the
time, or do not have the disk cache installed, or don't cache the drive you are
going to be writing to.

Have a nice day.

- Mike