This is from Technet article Q163401:
"By default, when the Microsoft Windows NT redirector opens a file for read or read/write access, the redirector utilizes the Windows NT system cache. Therefore, when data is written to the file, it is written to the cache and not immediately flushed to the redirector. The cache manager flushes the data at a later time. If an unrecoverable network error occurs while the data is being transferred to the remote server, it may cause the write request to fail and the above application popup to occur."
And here is a definition of UtilizeNTCaching:
UtilizeNTCaching - Indicates whether the redirector uses the cache manager to cache the contents of files. Disable this parameter only to guarantee that all data is flushed to the server immediately after it is written by the application.
This is all talking about the Workstation service (and driver file Mrxsmb.sys. If you really want to understand what Redirector is and why bypassing the cache for Redirector can do, read this Technet article:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/tcpip/part4/tcpappb.asp
(please remove any spaces)
Basically, removing the caching ability will make writes faster to the OS, and it might prevent any false data being recorded by your DOS app. It will increase disk I/O, though.
If the software vendor recommends this fix, then I think you should try it. This change will not destabilize NT to the point of unusability. I would just make sure your server has no problems with disk access and seek time first.
hope this helps
http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBA/tip0200/rh0231.htm
