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32-bit file access
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<p>32-bit file access refers to the higher performance, <a href="/facts/Protected_mode/y5u3Gwqq">protected mode</a> disk caching method introduced in <a href="/facts/Windows_for_Workgroups/zYnWyaC6">Windows for Workgroups</a> 3.11, which replaced <a href="/facts/SmartDrive/ut88MQ6b">SmartDrive</a> (Smartdrv). It bypassed <a href="/facts/MS-DOS/fVrrz1uN">MS-DOS</a> and directly accessed the disk, either via the <a href="/facts/BIOS/AYYPUogS">BIOS</a> or (preferably) <a href="/facts/32-bit_disk_access/0rdp3tNl">32-bit disk access</a> (Windows-native protected mode disk drivers). This feature was a <a href="/facts/Backport/tyMsA9LN">backport</a> from the then-unreleased <a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a>, as suggested by Microsoft's advertisements for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 ("the 32-bit file system from our Chicago project"). </p><p>With the introduction of 32-bit file access and Long File Names in Windows 95, DOS was reduced to the role of a <a href="/facts/Boot_loader/6sNpcLMK">boot loader</a> for Windows. However, it was still possible to boot Windows 95 into a pure real-mode DOS system mode. </p><p>It was implemented using the <a href="/facts/File_Allocation_Table/uFvpmWxa">VFAT</a>, VCACHE, and <a href="/facts/IFSHLP.SYS/NH3Ej1D0">IFSMgr</a> <a href="/facts/VxD/Q69TjtnV">VxD</a> drivers. </p><p>Also, it should not be confused with <a href="/facts/32-bit_disk_access/0rdp3tNl">32-bit disk access</a>. Although both technologies are similar, 32-bit disk access (also known as <i>FastDisk</i>) pre-dates <a href="/facts/Windows_for_Workgroups/zYnWyaC6">Windows for Workgroups</a> 3.11. 32-bit file access provided a 32-bit code path for Windows to directly access the disk bus by intercepting the <a href="/facts/MS-DOS/fVrrz1uN">MS-DOS</a> Int 21H services while remaining in 386 <a href="/facts/Protected_mode/y5u3Gwqq">protected mode</a>, 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. </p>