If DiskDupe is not meeting the copy times listed in this help file:
Make sure there is XMS (or EMS) memory available for DiskDupe to use
for buffering. Type MEM at the Dos prompt to see how much is
available. Make sure that the EMS/XMS Limit in the DiskDupe menu is
set at No Limit. If there is not enough memory for DiskDupe to buffer
the image then DiskDupe will use the hard drive as a buffer and this
can slow down the copy speed. When making multiple copies the hard
drive should not be accessed after the first copy if the EMS or XMS
memory is available.
A 386 processor or above is required to meet
the times listed in the manual. For maximum copying speed we recommend
that the software be run from Dos with at least 2Mb of XMS or EMS
memory available.
Some memory managers can slow down the copying processes. If your
duplication speed is higher when the computer is booted off of a
floppy disk instead of the hard disk then for duplication purposes it
would be best to load a simple memory
manager such as HIMEM.SYS, found in the Dos directory. If the computer
is to be dedicated to floppy duplication then we recommend that the
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files be as simple as possible. An example
CONFIG.SYS might contain only four lines:
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
DEVICE=C:\Dos\HIMEM.SYS
Dos=HIGH
Run Drive Test (under Setup|Drives) with a high density
diskette and see if an error is reported. Such errors can slow down
the copy process since DiskDupe has to rewrite all tracks that show
errors. In this case the disk will not copy at an even pace.
Try booting from a floppy diskette and running DiskDupe without the
CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT. Sometimes memory resident programs (TSRs)
can slow down the copy speed.
The copy times listed in the manual for low density pre-formatted
720Kb and 1.2MB diskettes are often not attainable with certain
drives. Sometimes it is possible to speed up the copy time by
reducing the stepping rate of the drive under Setup|Drives.
