Enabling write caching on external USB 2.0 hard disk

[Roberto Icaza]

Hello,
I have an external hard disk connected to a USB 2.0 port. Everything works fine. However, I can't get Windows to enable write caching on it. In Device Manager, under the hard disk's properties page, I selected the "Optimize for performance" option and the "Enable write caching on the disk" became available, which I also selected. I press OK and nothing happens. I go back again to the properties page and the "Optimize for performance" is selected but not the "Enable write caching on the disk" option. I have selected it, and inmediately rebooted but still the option remains unchecked. How do I enable write caching on the drive?

Thanks,
Roberto

[Nicholas]

The basic way to think of write caching policy is:=20

..If write caching is disabled by default, the storage device in question =
is=20
optimized for safe surprise removal. This is the appropriate action for=20
slower, consumer-oriented storage devices such as flash-type memory.

..If write caching is enabled by default, the storage device in question =
is=20
optimized for performance. This is the appropriate action for =
high-performance=20
storage such as SCSI and IEEE 1394 hard disk drives.

Disabling write caching means that, instead of saving up changes for a =
file=20
on a removable storage device and then doing a bulk write, Windows XP =
writes=20
changes to the file as the changes are made. This keeps data on =
removable storage=20
devices more current, mitigating the likelihood of data loss. However, =
disabling=20
write caching also has a performance impact.

Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/bus/USB/usbfaq.mspx



--=20
Nicholas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------

"Roberto Icaza" > wrote in message:
...

Hello,
I have an external hard disk connected to a USB 2.0 port. =
Everything works fine. However, I can't get Windows to enable write =
caching on it. In Device Manager, under the hard disk's properties =
page, I selected the "Optimize for performance" option and the "Enable =
write caching on the disk" became available, which I also selected. I =
press OK and nothing happens. I go back again to the properties page =
and the "Optimize for performance" is selected but not the "Enable write =
caching on the disk" option. I have selected it, and inmediately =
rebooted but still the option remains unchecked. How do I enable write =
caching on the drive?

Thanks,
Roberto

[Roberto Icaza]

Nicholas,
Did you actually read what I wrote? I don't need to know the difference when write caching is enabled on the device, I need to know how to turn it on. The problem is that I can't enable write caching on the external hard drive. If you don't know how to turn it on, then don't reply to the newsgroup. You just told me something that's irrelevant to the question, and something I already know. Your reply just makes other people think you've solved my problem. Sadly, your help wasn't appreciated.
If anyone else knows how to turn write-caching on on the external hard drive, please reply to the newsgroup. Sorry I sounded kind of rude, but as long as any reply relates to the question posted, then it's always appreciated.

Thanks,
Roberto

"Nicholas" > wrote in message ...
The basic way to think of write caching policy is:

.If write caching is disabled by default, the storage device in question is
optimized for safe surprise removal. This is the appropriate action for
slower, consumer-oriented storage devices such as flash-type memory.

.If write caching is enabled by default, the storage device in question is
optimized for performance. This is the appropriate action for high-performance
storage such as SCSI and IEEE 1394 hard disk drives.

Disabling write caching means that, instead of saving up changes for a file
on a removable storage device and then doing a bulk write, Windows XP writes
changes to the file as the changes are made. This keeps data on removable storage
devices more current, mitigating the likelihood of data loss. However, disabling
write caching also has a performance impact.

Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/bus/USB/usbfaq.mspx



--
Nicholas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Roberto Icaza" > wrote in message:
...

Hello,
I have an external hard disk connected to a USB 2.0 port. Everything works fine. However, I can't get Windows to enable write caching on it. In Device Manager, under the hard disk's properties page, I selected the "Optimize for performance" option and the "Enable write caching on the disk" became available, which I also selected. I press OK and nothing happens. I go back again to the properties page and the "Optimize for performance" is selected but not the "Enable write caching on the disk" option. I have selected it, and inmediately rebooted but still the option remains unchecked. How do I enable write caching on the drive?

Thanks,
Roberto

[Nicholas]

People like you need more than computer help!

--=20
Nicholas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
----------------------------

"Roberto Icaza" > wrote in message:
...

Nicholas,
Did you actually read what I wrote? I don't need to know the =
difference when write caching is enabled on the device, I need to know =
how to turn it on. The problem is that I can't enable write caching on =
the external hard drive. If you don't know how to turn it on, then =
don't reply to the newsgroup. You just told me something that's =
irrelevant to the question, and something I already know. Your reply =
just makes other people think you've solved my problem. Sadly, your =
help wasn't appreciated.
If anyone else knows how to turn write-caching on on the external =
hard drive, please reply to the newsgroup. Sorry I sounded kind of =
rude, but as long as any reply relates to the question posted, then it's =
always appreciated.

Thanks,
Roberto

"Nicholas" > wrote in message =
...
The basic way to think of write caching policy is:=20

.If write caching is disabled by default, the storage device in =
question is=20
optimized for safe surprise removal. This is the appropriate action =
for=20
slower, consumer-oriented storage devices such as flash-type memory.

.If write caching is enabled by default, the storage device in =
question is=20
optimized for performance. This is the appropriate action for =
high-performance=20
storage such as SCSI and IEEE 1394 hard disk drives.

Disabling write caching means that, instead of saving up changes for a =
file=20
on a removable storage device and then doing a bulk write, Windows XP =
writes=20
changes to the file as the changes are made. This keeps data on =
removable storage=20
devices more current, mitigating the likelihood of data loss. However, =
disabling=20
write caching also has a performance impact.

Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/bus/USB/usbfaq.mspx



--=20
Nicholas

=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----------------------------

"Roberto Icaza" > wrote in message:
...

Hello,
I have an external hard disk connected to a USB 2.0 port. =
Everything works fine. However, I can't get Windows to enable write =
caching on it. In Device Manager, under the hard disk's properties =
page, I selected the "Optimize for performance" option and the "Enable =
write caching on the disk" became available, which I also selected. I =
press OK and nothing happens. I go back again to the properties page =
and the "Optimize for performance" is selected but not the "Enable write =
caching on the disk" option. I have selected it, and inmediately =
rebooted but still the option remains unchecked. How do I enable write =
caching on the drive?

Thanks,
Roberto

[Edward W. Thompson]

I suppose we should interpret this as you don't know the answer to the
question?

While the original poster could have been more tactful in his response, he
does have a point. Why post a long winded dissertation on something that is
not relevant to the question?


"Nicholas" > wrote in message
...
People like you need more than computer help!

--
Nicholas

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------

"Roberto Icaza" > wrote in message:
...

Nicholas,
Did you actually read what I wrote? I don't need to know the difference
when write caching is enabled on the device, I need to know how to turn it
on. The problem is that I can't enable write caching on the external hard
drive. If you don't know how to turn it on, then don't reply to the
newsgroup. You just told me something that's irrelevant to the question,
and something I already know. Your reply just makes other people think
you've solved my problem. Sadly, your help wasn't appreciated.
If anyone else knows how to turn write-caching on on the external hard
drive, please reply to the newsgroup. Sorry I sounded kind of rude, but as
long as any reply relates to the question posted, then it's always
appreciated.

Thanks,
Roberto

"Nicholas" > wrote in message
...
The basic way to think of write caching policy is:

.If write caching is disabled by default, the storage device in question
is
optimized for safe surprise removal. This is the appropriate action for
slower, consumer-oriented storage devices such as flash-type memory.

.If write caching is enabled by default, the storage device in question is
optimized for performance. This is the appropriate action for
high-performance
storage such as SCSI and IEEE 1394 hard disk drives.

Disabling write caching means that, instead of saving up changes for a
file
on a removable storage device and then doing a bulk write, Windows XP
writes
changes to the file as the changes are made. This keeps data on removable
storage
devices more current, mitigating the likelihood of data loss. However,
disabling
write caching also has a performance impact.

Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/bus/USB/usbfaq.mspx



--
Nicholas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------

"Roberto Icaza" > wrote in message:
...

Hello,
I have an external hard disk connected to a USB 2.0 port. Everything
works fine. However, I can't get Windows to enable write caching on it. In
Device Manager, under the hard disk's properties page, I selected the
"Optimize for performance" option and the "Enable write caching on the disk"
became available, which I also selected. I press OK and nothing happens. I
go back again to the properties page and the "Optimize for performance" is
selected but not the "Enable write caching on the disk" option. I have
selected it, and inmediately rebooted but still the option remains
unchecked. How do I enable write caching on the drive?

Thanks,
Roberto