Write cache works by waiting for idle time to write memory out to disk.
This is sometimes referred to 'commit to disk'.  Often a max time to wait
for an idle timeslice is specified, if the time is exceeded the write takes
place anyway, by taking time away from the active process.  Turning it off
is just a performance issue, since writes will happen immediately,
regardless of how busy the cpu and disk subsystem may be.

Since the contents of the write cache may be committed to disk somewhere in
the range of a fraction of a second to 10 seconds (idle times are not in
short supply, so writes happen very soon after the data is changed), the
cache does not produce much of a delay in writing the disk.  Even a cheap
UPS (uninterruptible power supply) battery backup will prevent your
situation from re-occurring.

I do not have write cache off, but I do use a battery backup UPS.

Tom Turak

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 4:09 AM

I use a database development software and recently experienced a problem
where my system lost power and consequently caused some corruption of the
then open software. When I contacted the vendor, they advised that I would
need to reinstall the software and switch of Write Cache for the hard disk
to avoid future such issues. Fortunately my existing scheas had been backed
up.

Because I use Windows 2K Pro, I noticed in the event log that it reports on
every boot up a warning to say that Write Cache has been disabled.

What I would like to know is what, if any, consequences I can expect from
switching off the Write Cache option. Is this just a performance issue?

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