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Microsoft 32-bit file access

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32-bit File Access refers to the higher performance, protected mode disk caching method which replaced SmartDrive (Smartdrv) introduced in Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

32-bit File Access bypassed MS-DOS and directly accessed the disk, either via the BIOS or (preferably) 32-bit Disk Access (Windows-native protected mode disk drivers). This feature was a backport from the then-unreleased Windows 95, as suggested by Microsoft's advertisements for Windows for Workgroups 3.11 ("the 32-bit file system from our Chicago project").

32-bit File Access and the introduction of Long File Names in Windows 95 reduced DOS to the role of a boot loader for Windows.

32-bit File Access was implemented using the VFAT, VCACHE, and IFSMgr VxD drivers.

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