Cannot enable disk write caching

[hodad]

My computer won't let me enable disk write caching. The dialog box is greyed out. Is there a reason for this and should I try and fix it?
Thanx.

[Coup]

Are you using FAT/FAT32 or NTFS ?

[iatacs19]

if u are using a SATA hdd + Intel Matrix Storage driver then it handles it for you.

[tomh009]

My computer won't let me enable disk write caching. The dialog box is greyed out. Is there a reason for this and should I try and fix it?

For an internal or external drive?

[hodad]

I'm using an internal SATA hard drive with NTFS. I'm not sure how to tell if I'm using the Intel driver or not. The driver for the hard disk is a Microsoft driver. Appreciate the input.

[iatacs19]

go to device manager and check the IDE/SATA controller driver version, if it's intel then you won't have that option available.

Mine says: Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF

driver version shows 7.0.0.1020

[hodad]

Yep. Mine shows the same driver.
When I ran BootVis it said "Warning, write caching disabled". Why does the Intel driver disable write caching?

[iatacs19]

it's not disabled, it just shows that way for the microsoft hdd driver. the intel driver handles it all. no need to worry.

[hodad]

Thanks.

[redsoxidahovandal]

The Intel Driver reports it as off because Windows has to think it is controling it. It is part of the security enhancements in Windows XP SP 1 (No Longer SUpported) and SP 2. If the kernel seees something else controlling the caching, it thinks of it as spyware and disables it.