Microsoft 32-bit file access: Difference between revisions

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'''32-bit File Access''' was a higher performance, [[protected mode]] file management introduced in [[Windows for Workgroups]] 3.11.

'''32-bit Filefile access''' refers to the higher performance, [[protected mode]] disk caching method introduced in [[Windows for Workgroups]] 3.11, which replaced [[SmartDrive]] (Smartdrv). AccessIt bypassed [[MS-DOS]] and directly accessed the disk, either via the [[BIOS]] or (preferrablypreferably) [[32-bit Diskdisk Accessaccess]] (Windows-native protected mode disk drivers). This feature was a [[backport]] from the then-unreleased [[Windows 95]], as suggested by Microsoft's advertisements for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 ("the 32-bit file system from our Chicago project"), .

With the introduction of 32-bit file access and Long File Names in Windows 95, DOS was reduced to the role of a [[boot loader]] for Windows.{{fact|date=October 2019}} However, it was still possible to boot Windows 95 into a pure real-mode DOS system mode.

32-bit File Access bypassed [[MS-DOS]] and directly accessed the disk, either via the [[BIOS]] or (preferrably) [[32-bit Disk Access]] (Windows-native protected mode disk drivers). This feature was a [[backport]] from the then-unreleased [[Windows 95]], as suggested by Microsoft's advertisements for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 ("the 32-bit file system from our Chicago project"), .

32-bit File AccessIt was implemented using the [[File Allocation Table#Long_File_Names_.28VFAT.2C_LFNs.29|VFAT]], VCACHE, and [[IFSHLP.SYS|IFSMgr]] [[VxD]] drivers.

32-bit File Access and the introduction of Long File Names in Windows 95 reduced DOS to the role of a [[boot loader]] for Windows.

Also, it should not be confused with [[32-bit disk access]]. Although both technologies are similar, 32-bit disk access (also known as ''FastDisk'') pre-dates [[Windows for Workgroups]] 3.11. 32-bit file access provided a 32-bit code path for Windows to directly access the disk bus by intercepting the [[MS-DOS]] Int 21H services while remaining in 386 [[protected mode]], rather than handling the Int 21H services in real mode by MS-DOS. 32-bit disk access offers relatively less performance and is less likely to work on many computers than 32-bit file access. 32-bit file access does not need 32-bit disk access.

==See also==

* [[32-bit disk access]]

* [[IFSHLP.SYS]] <!-- these articles should be joined -->

==External links==

* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071011012746/http://marina.mfarris.com/theref/files/32bfa.txt MS Windows 32-Bit File Access Meta-FAQ]}}

* [https://archive.today/20010210032640/http://users.exis.net/~gewkab/32bfafaq.html 32-bit file access FAQs]

* https://web.archive.org/web/20070324064925/http://pclt.cis.yale.edu/pclt/OPSYS/WFWG311.HTM

32-bit File Access was implemented using the VFAT, VCACHE and IFSMgr [[VxD]] drivers.

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[[Category:Microsoft Windows architecture]]