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Speedy CDs

When you use a CD-ROM drive, the information must pass through your computer's processor chip before it goes into main memory where you can use it. But direct memory access can speed up the process by transfering the data directly to memory. To activate DMA in Windows, enter your System control panel and go to the Device Manager tab. Find the CD-ROM listing and click the plus sign to show your drive. Double-click on it, switch to the Settings tab and make sure DMA is checked. Ignore the warning. DMA doesn't work well with all drives; if you see problems, uncheck DMA.