Microsoft Reference Setup Troubleshooter

Make sure your CD-ROM drive meets MPC Level 2 performance standards and your CD-ROM cache settings are optimized.

To determine if your CD-ROM drive meets the MPC Level 2 performance standards and to optimize your CD-ROM cache settings, use the Microsoft System Information utility. To do this, follow these steps:

NOTE: If you are using Microsoft Windows 98, proceed directly to step 3.

1. Insert the Encarta CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive. Press and hold down the SHIFT key as you insert the CD-ROM to prevent Encarta from starting automatically.

2. Locate the Msinfo32.exe file on the CD-ROM and copy it to the desktop.

   For information about how to copy files in Windows, see your Windows printed documentation or online Help.

3. On the desktop, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

4. On the Performance tab, click File System.

5. On the CD-ROM tab, move the Supplemental Cache Size slider all the way to the left (the Small position).

6. In the Optimize Access Pattern For box, click No Read-Ahead.

7. Click OK, and then click Close.

8. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

9. On the desktop, double-click the Msinfo32.exe file.

   NOTE: If you are using Windows 98, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Information.

10. Under System Info, click CD-ROM, and then note the following values:

    NOTE: If you are using Windows 98, under System Information, double-click Components, double-click Multimedia, and then click CD-ROM.

     - Data Transfer Rate

    To comply with the Multimedia Personal Computer Level 2 (MPC2) specification, this value must be at least 300.0 KB/s. The Data Transfer Rate must be 600.0 KB/s or faster if you want to run a program that requires a quad-speed CD-ROM drive.

     - CPU Util @ 300KB/s

    To comply with the MPC2 specification, this value must be no higher than 60 percent. For best performance, this value should be no higher than 30 percent, and a value less than 10 percent is ideal.

     - Data Transfer Integrity

    This value should always be "Tested OK."

11. Click Refresh (!) on the toolbar, and then note the new values.
    
    Repeat this step four times, and then calculate and record the average values for Data Transfer Rate and CPU Util @ 300KB/s. If the value for Data Transfer Integrity does not read "Tested OK" at any time, record the configuration as "Data Suspect," and then proceed to the next step.

12. Quit Microsoft System Information.

13. Repeat steps 3-12 for each Supplemental Cache Size slider position.

14. Repeat steps 3-8 to change the value in the Optimize Access Pattern For box to match the actual CD-ROM drive speed.

15. Repeat steps 3-12 for each Supplemental Cache Size slider position.

    NOTE: Do not change the value in the Optimize Access Pattern For box that you set in step 14.

16. Use your notes to determine which configuration achieves the best CD-ROM performance with no loss of data integrity. This is the optimal configuration of the CD-ROM drive.

17. Repeat steps 3-8 to change the position of the Supplemental Cache Size slider and the value in the Optimize Access Pattern For box to match the optimal configuration of the CD-ROM drive.

    In most cases, you can optimize CD-ROM performance in Windows 95/98 by moving the Supplemental Cache Size slider all the way to the right (the Large position) and then clicking the actual CD-ROM drive speed in the Optimize Access Pattern For box. However, in some cases you may achieve better results with reduced cache settings.

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