Info-IBMPC@B.ISI.EDU (Info-IBMPC Digest) (10/17/86)
Info-IBMPC Digest Thursday, 16 October 1986 Volume 5 : Issue 94 This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge Today's Topics: I am Returned New Product: PC SAM Datavue's 150 MHz 8086 Instructional Graphics Package Telex (2 Msgs.) Multilanguage Word Processing MicroEMACS Version 3.7i now Available CED ^U Patch Formatting DOS Memory Blocks and the Environment ProComm Version 2.4 Serial Port and AT Com3 Com4 PROYAM Supports Kermit Sliding Windows SCO User List Low Cost Networking NETBIOS Time Routines Today's Queries: Enhanced AT Keyboard 2K Cluster size under DOS 3.1 EGA + lo res mode LaserWriter Printer Definitions for Word Perfect American Micro Technology Tape backup for IBM XT Problems with DOS Wildcard Matching Floppy Head Step Rate Zap (Vol 5 #88) VTERM on M24 Word Processors How to Detect State CTRL-PrtSc Fast Cards for Fast PC's Problems Reading AUX: with Turbo Pascal PC-Compatible Laptops With Modems ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 15 Oct 1986 19:01:26 PDT Subject: I am Returned From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@B.ISI.EDU> I am back from a month in Europe. It was great to be away. Thanks to all who worked extra to cover for me. There are a few dozen people out there not getting any digests. I have been cleaning up the data base and will watch this digest carefully, chasing down failed mail and making life miserable for postmasters in the far corners of the network. Please let me know about any problems with the mailings especially if you don't receive this digest. ------------------------------ Date: Thu 16 Oct 86 08:59:53-PDT From: SAM@SRI-NIC.ARPA Subject: New Product: PC SAM The DDN Network Information Center (NIC) is pleased to announce a new IBM-PC software package for Simple Access to electronic Mail (SAM). SAM is a total communication and mail management system that makes electronic mail fast, efficient, and easy to handle on a PC. SAM can help you get the maximum benefit from DDN electronic mail, especially if your mailbox is on a heavily loaded host. At the push of a key, SAM will connect to your mail host, retrieve any messages in your mail file, and move them automatically to your PC. Using SAM, you can read and compose mail on your PC thus saving connect time and avoiding the delay of working on a slow host. Once messages are composed and ready to go, SAM will automatically send them to the mail host for online delivery. SAM currently works with 4 host mail programs: MM, UNIX Mail, VMS Mail, and InfoMail. Additional SAM features: . A built-in EDITOR for editing messages and DOS text files . Desk-like screen display with IN, OUT, and other FILE BASKETS to hold your documents . A personal online ADDRESS BOOK . A LEARN script facility . Programmable function keys . VT100 emulation . XMODEM and KERMIT file-transfer capability SAM was developed jointly by SRI International, Menlo Park, CA and the Transend Corp., Portola Valley, CA under sponsorship by the Defense Communications Agency. It has been beta-tested at four representative sites on the network. Trial disks will be available in November. For more information, FTP or request from SRI-NIC the file NETINFO:SAM-INFO.TXT. (Send messages to SAM@SRI-NIC.ARPA). ------------------------------ Date: 15 Oct 1986 18:51:56 PDT Subject: Datavue's 150 MHz 8086 From: Billy <BRACKENRIDGE@B.ISI.EDU> From Electronic Engineering Times 13 October 1986: Datavue's 8086 Look alike Has Average Execution Rate of 10 Mips Norcross, Ga. A new CPU aimed at the IBM-PC, PC/XT and compatible personal computers breaks all speed records. Designed to fully emulate Intel Corp's 8086 running at 150 Mhz -- as opposed to 4.77 and 8 Mhz clocks in the PC and XT, respectively [8 Mhz XT?? -ed] the 86150 achieves a peak speed of 22 Mips and an average execution rate of 10 Mips. That means that IBM-PC software will run 15 times faster on the 86150 than on the 80286 based PC AT, according to the maker, Datavue Technical Systems, a division of Intelligent Systems Corp. Designed using the company's Proprietary Flow Through Logic architecture and a custom 32 bit data bus, the 86150 was built with discrete components. "We build computers the old fashioned way, a chip at a time", quipped Larry Morrissey, director of marketing for Datavue. Maintaining true 8086 compatibility, the processor is of course limited to 1 Mbyte of main memory, which comes with the unit. It is available as an independent CPU box or in an AT-like configuration called the Series 150 advanced personal computer. The CPU interfaces with the outside world through a custom interface that can be adapted to support the IBM-PC bus, the VME bus, the STD bus, the MultiBus and the S100 bus. It can also plug directly into an existing PC through the 8087, 80286, or 8086 sockets. The series 150 combines the 86150 with the company's 8612, a PC AT-like board used an I/O processor. The unit comes standard with a case; AT-like keyboard; 256 kbytes of memory; a 360-kbyte floppy-disk drive; a 10 Mbyte hard-disk drive; and two ports, one serial and one parallel. It accommodates monochrome, CGA and EGA monitors and streaming tape backup. Datavue sees these two units opening up a new world of high speed for the readily available IBM-PC software libraries in time-constrained applications like CAD/CAM/CAE, multiuser systems and data acquisition. The 86150 will be priced at about $10,000, and Datavue expects to be shipping both units by year-end. Besides unit sales, the company is seeking private-label and OEM customers. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 86 22:23:16 edt From: Robert Morris <ram%umb.umb.edu@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: Instructional Graphics Package I have an instructional graphics package available for distribution to anyone who wants it for non-commercial purposes. It is a set of C routines in the style of the ``simplified graphics package' of Foley and VanDam, that is, it is a segment based Core or GKS - flavor package. It runs under Unix or MS/DOS with either Microsoft C or Aztec C. Device drivers are relatively easy to write (and instructive) and are provided for a DEC VT240 terminal, the Hercules graphics card for the PC, and an Imagen laser printer. The distribution includes VMS support also, but it has not been exercised in the recent releases. The principal design goals of the package were modularity and portability. The intention is that students can get the pieces progressively revealed to them and can be given exercises to implement existing pieces or add new ones. This is the thrust of an undergraduate course I have taught for two years with the package. A technical report and user's manual are available if you send me a paper mail address. Ordering instructions will accompany the report. The package is without charge except the cost of a tape for the Unix distribution or diskette for the PC distribution. Robert Morris Associate Prof. Dept. of Math. and C.S. UMASS/Boston Boston, MA 02125 ram@umb.edu or ...harvard!umb!ram ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 86 11:21:37 PDT From: Tony Tong <ttt%cory.Berkeley.EDU@UCBVAX.BERKELEY.EDU> Subject: Telex From working in Taiwan, I know of two methods of telex access via a pc. 1) Multitech Inc. has produced a card for IBM-pcs which turns your computer into a telex station. This requires your PC to be on all the time (like a normal telex machine), but runs in the background freeing that machine for other work. 2) MARK-NET, the network of GEISCO (General Electric Information Services Co.) has direct access to the telex network. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 1986 14:35 PDT From: "Jeffrey Sicherman" <JAJZ801%CALSTATE.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Telex I received information on a Telex board called the ACT 2000 manufactured by Advanced Computer Technology Worcestor-Providence Turnpike Sutton MA 01527 (617) 865-9912 Telex: 928490 Summary (from the specs sheets): $495 includes half-card and software (but specs says it needs a full expansion slot) Dedicated telex lines or economy telex over phone lines (they sell an adaptor) Automatic reception while PC is running Automatic transmission at set times Automatic retry and answerback confirmation Abbreviated dialing' Automatic saving to disk of all messages Menu driven text editor for preparing messages (others usable) There are a few more details but its all standard telex specs, I think. I never contacted them for further information and have no connection, etc. Jeff Sicherman JAJZ801@CALSTATE.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 1986 13:08 PDT From: "Jeffrey Sicherman" <JAJZ801@CALSTATE.BITNET> Subject: Multilanguage Word Processing Don't know any of the details about it (my recent foreign language experience is limited to a semester of introductory Japanese a couple of years ago) but I received some material about that time on a product called ChinaStar. Required graphics card (CGA or Hercules) and a graphics compatible printer. Will skip the specs for now but can pass them along if you want. The company, who I never contacted (if its still there) is JHL Research, Inc. 2552 Woodland Drive Anaheim, Ca 92801 (714)827-7420, (213)723-1468 I passed this along to a few professors and students where I'm a masters student but don't know if they did anything about it either, so can't speak for the product. I also suppose this company could be a distributor for a product you already know by another name. Jeff Sicherman JAJZ801@CALSTATE.BITNET ===== Note from Jeffrey Sicherman <JAJZ801@CALSTATE> ================ Tried to get the above to NIKE!TSLU@OLIVEN.OLIVETTI.COM but either you can't send there from here or I'm to dumb to figure out how. The above information is somewhat old, but the software only price is $99 for the basic version and $295 for the advanced version (for the hercules) Plus they also advertise hardware upgrades to support the software including: C-KVP: operating system add on New character generator hardware-based character generator to accelerate processing Input methods: Chinese Alphabetical Pinyin Chuyin Others addable through utility program Multilanguage support (Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Greek, others) Manufactured in Anaheim Ca (where I live), 40 dealers nationwide (at time of publication) I can summarize more extensively or look into it if anybody is interested and will forward results to the list (or direct if needed). ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 1986 18:17 MDT From: Keith Petersen <W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA> Subject: MicroEMACS Version 3.7i now Available MicroEMACS, version 3.7i, is now available from SIMTEL20... Filename Type Bytes CRC Directory PD:<MSDOS.MICRO-EMACS> EMACSDOC.ARC-VER37I.1 BINARY 73984 4631H <--documentation EMACSEXE.ARC-VER37I.1 BINARY 178816 5A49H <--executables EMACSSRC.ARC-VER37I.1 BINARY 180507 4C2AH <--source code --Keith Petersen Arpa: W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.ARPA Uucp: {bellcore,decwrl,harvard,lll-crg,ucbvax,uw-beaver}!simtel20.arpa!w8sdz GEnie Mail: W8SDZ RCP/M Royal Oak: 313-759-6569 (300, 1200, 2400 bps) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 86 22:12:26 edt From: nike!caip!pyrnj!vu-vlsi!colin@cad.Berkeley.EDU (Colin Kelley) Subject: CED ^U Patch (I mentioned last week a patch to allow ^U in CED; enough people were interested that I cleaned it up into an automated batch file, given in uuencoded ARC format below...) If you work on VAX or a 4.2bsd machine you're probably used to typing ^U (that Ctrl-U!) to delete the current line. MS-DOS added this feature in 3.1, then took it away again almost immediately. Some people have posted patches to put it back in 3.1, but I think this is a better idea: use CED with the patch supplied below! [Sorry but INFO-IBMPC doesn't distribute binary code even uuencoded binary. Please contact the author directly if you want this patch. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Oct 86 02:19:25 EDT From: David Kirschbaum <kirsch@braggvax.arpa> Subject: Formatting Regarding the message in Info-IBMPC Volume 93 ... A local techie confirms doing a Go C800:5 in DEBUG will in fact pop you into a basic level formatter on your hard disk controller card ... BUT BUT BUT... he also informs me this only works with the Western Digital controller card. You can easily check on this, of course, by peeking around at c800:0000 with the Unassemble command .. or even the Dump command. You'll see some command strings in that area too. My techie informs me the WD software provides you with some options as to exactly HOW your disk will be formatted ... but he cautioned me to accept the defaults offered (and didn't know what else you could get away with). I'd hopes of reformatting an old full-height 5 Megger (with 256-byte sectors for CP/M) to expand my system ... but don't expect it'll be that simple. So if you DO Go C800:5, expect to be hit with a couple format questions. Just accept the prompts, and then do your FDISK (rather than Format). No, I haven't tried this yet. You're on your own. Regards, David Kirschbaum Toad Hall kirsch@braggvax.ARPA ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Oct 86 21:56:00 edt From: SCHEUTZOW%gitpyr%gatech.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA, MICHAEL J <gt6294b%gitpyr%gatech.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: DOS Memory Blocks and the Environment There are several statements in this document that are not quite right. I apologize for the length of this message (~100 lines), but this information should be corrected. I have no access to any internal MS-DOS documents, so my views are based on long sessions with debug. For this reason, I might also be wrong, but I'm fairly sure that what follows is correct. Like the author of that paper, I'm using MS-DOS v2.11 running on an ATT6300. : Following the identification flag comes a pointer to the next : item, which is a segment value, and a size in paragraphs. The word after the 'id flag' is NOT a pointer to the next item. The format for the header of a memory control block (MCB) must start on a paragraph boundary, (1 paragraph = 16 bytes) and consists of 5 bytes: byte 0 Equals 4Fh if this is not the last MCB. The next MCB header is found length+1 paragraphs (see below) from here. Equals 5Ah if this is the last MCB. byte 1,2 An owner-id tag. Contains the segment address of the PSP of the process which owns this block of memory. If several blocks are allocated by a program, each will have the same id. The local copy of the environ- ment is tagged this way. Equals zero if the block of memory is free (not owned). byte 3,4 The length, in paragraphs, of this MCB, not including the 16 bytes of the header. The 'data area' starts in the paragraph after this header. : The initial approach to the question of increasing the size : of the environment involved three steps: 1) increment the size : field in the block header; 2) create a new header for the : following block; 3) decrement the size field in the following : block header. This is an extremely bad idea (I will explain why it worked however). As indicated above, the MCBs are allocated one after another. If you lengthen one block in this manner, you are destroying the information at the beginning of the next block (which you recognized). The problem is that there is a good chance that a program is occupying the next block of memory. This method will result in the destruction of critical information in the PSP of that program. Why did it work? At boot time, CONFIG.SYS gets the first block of memory; COMMAND.COM gets the next; the MASTER ENVIRONMENT gets the third; and then AUTOEXEC.BAT is executed. Any batch file claims a block of memory for itself, so AUTOEXEC allocates the fourth one. If any memory resident programs are installed from AUTOEXEC, they will get the fifth, sixth etc. At the end of the batch program, the MCB grabbed by the batch file is returned to the available pool. This causes a gap in memory, and because other MCBlocks are stacked above, this gap is fixed in place (read further). This block is too small to be useful to other programs, but the net effect is that there are about 48-64 bytes of unused memory immediately after the master environment. So, the above expansion scheme doesn't step on anything critical for a little while. If it is used more than three or four times however, you are almost definitely into the PSP of a program, and this is bad news. If you play with the header of this program block, you may prevent the memory from being returned to the system when the process terminates. : The second approximation to a solution assumed that the : environment block was a real memory block, and that the Setblock : call could increase the size of this block once the block : immediately following it had been deallocated; The master environment IS a real memory block, and 'Modify Allocated Memory Block' WILL increase the size. : at this point that it became apparent that the root environment : block was not a real memory block as this entirely : straightforward procedure did not work. It didn't work because a) you asked for too much memory: it can't give what it doesn't have. MCBs must be continuous, so this system call will expand with what is available. (about 48 to 64 bytes if autoexec installs a memory resident program) or b) the program that is supposed to expand the environment loads itself in the way. : In a sensible system, this would fail when one block header : got destroyed without repairing the chain. However, in MS-DOS, : the chain is not started with an explicit pointer, but rather as : an offset from the start of the root environment block... I hope that it's clear that both sentences are quite false. : So, the header of the first non-system block can be DESTROYED : [my emphasis], since the start of non-system memory is found by : using the length field of the root environment block, which must : therefore be kept updated. Bull Cookies. Rather than using a method which will eventually crash your machine, why not just modify command.com so it allocates as many paragraphs as you want? Search for the code that allocates 0Ah paragraphs. Thank you for reading through all of this; I hope that a few of you out in net-land will sleep easier now that you know some of these tidbits. Cheers, Mike Scheutzow UUCP: gt6294b@gitpyr.uucp Georgia Tech ARPA: gt6294b@pyr.ocs.gatech.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Oct 86 14:54:16 PDT From: crash!pnet01!mtarrani@nosc.ARPA (Mike Tarrani) Subject: ProComm Version 2.4 After playing with ProComm version 2.4 for a few days I have decided that it is a significant improvement over version 2.3 and have completely removed the older version, and supporting utilities, from my hard disk. The immediate difference is the improved status bar that version 2.4 provides on the bottom of the screen. In 2.3 and previous versions you were presented with a terse PRESS ALT-F10 FOR HELP. The newest ProComm has a more helpful display that looks like: _________________________________________________________________________ ALT-F10 HELP | VT-100 | FDX | 1200 8N1 | LOG CLOSED | PRT OFF | CR | CR -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ \ / | | | | | | Incoming & How to get Current Duplex Speed & Session log On/off outgoing HELP, this terminal setting data status status trans- also will setting FDX=full format OPEN means of your lation display HDX=half session is printer other info copying Many terminal types are supported. Incoming & outgoing translation shows whether you are sending or receiving carriage returns only, or carriage return/line feeds. The ALT-F10 HELP portion also displays messages such as DISCONNECTING and some error messages. Overall, this is a much better display than the older versions provided. P R O T O C O L S _________________ ProComm now supports an expanded list of transmission protocols: XMODEM Kermit Telink MODEM7 (batch XMODEM) YMODEM YMODEM BATCH ASCII COMPUSERVE B WXMODEM The Kermit server has also been greatly improved. Here is a list of enhancements, taken directly from a textfile that accompanies PRCM24.ARC - All new high level command language. Use CMDCNVT.EXE to convert old scripts to the new format. (Consult the documentation for a complete description of the new command language.) - CompuServe B protocol now supported - Windowed XMODEM (WXMODEM) now supported - COM3 and COM4 are now supported - Fixed manual dial/linked cmd file problem - Added Tab handling to Redisplay buffer - Changed ANSWERBACK to ENQ, added CompuServe B - ENQ now works in ANSI terminal emulation - Added modem cmd suffix, defaults to CR - Added default download directory - Added BS key definition (BS or DEL) - Added Kermit handshake setup - Added multiple kb macro files - MODEM INIT string no longer has default CR- you must include it in string. - AUTO-ANSWER string no longer has default CR- you must include it in string. - ALT-Y sends auto answer string - ALT-C will now clear the screen to your default colors - Increased file transfer timeouts in host mode - Improved XMODEM family EOT handling and error recovery - /D command line switch for dual monitors (no auto detect). Use this switch if you have a mono card and color card in the same machine. - VT100 and VT52 now support all print functions. - VT100 now supports programmable tab stops - Fixed VT100 bug with ESC [ 2 l and ESC [ ? 2 l - Fixed VT100 bug when keypad appl. mode keys echoed back. - VT52 line graphics mode fixed (worked in 2.2 but not in 2.3) - Fixed bug when INS is pressed in col 80. - Fixed XOFF/XON flow control problem in ASCII uploads. - Keyboard macros can now be used in chat mode. - F)iles and S)hell in host only work for COM1 & COM2 due to lack of DOS support for COM3 and COM4. - Added host autobaud detect to host mode. 2 methods. Method 1 uses the messages sent by the modem i.e. CONNECT 1200. Method 2 uses incoming character checking. Remote caller must press CR or space bar a few times for host to detect baud rate. - Added user setable BREAK length - VT100 and VT52 keyboard layout switched to physical mapping. The unshifted function keys are like the 2 left rows of the VT100 keypad, and the shifted function keys are like the 2 right rows of the VT100 keypad. (Consult the documentation for exact mapping.) P R O B L E M S _______________ When I first installed ProComm version 2.4 I experienced an annoying problem: If I exited the program, when I reinvoked it would recreate the PRM file that contained my custom settings (kill sound, default to VT- 100, etc.) Even setting the PRM file attribute to R/O (Read Only) failed; ProComm still doggedly rewrote the thing to initial settings. There was no way I was going to reinstall the program every time I wanted to run it, and I almost decided to stick with version 2.3. However, there is much wisdom in the adage, "When all else fails, read the manual!" The solution to the problem was to include the following in my AUTOEXEC.BAT file: SET PROCOMM = C:\USR\TELECOM\PRCM\ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is my particular path to where ProComm resides on my hard disk, along with its supporting files. The ending \ character *must* be appended to the path name. You will also need the following in your CONFIG.SYS file: FILES = 20 BUFFERS = 20 and I strongly recommend including the following DEVICE = ANSI.SYS (Just make sure that you have ANSI.SYS in your ROOT directory, or you have defined a path to it using PATH.) [Better yet install NANSI.SYS from the info-ibmpc lending library -ed] O N T H E P L U S S I D E _______________________________ One of the nicer enhancements is that the host mode now works on my machine. I have a strange serial port that, until version 2.4, would not cooperate with any host-type software with the exception of ASCII Pro. Older versions of ProComm required that you play around with CD (Carrier Detect) masking, but all of my trial-and-error sessions ended in failure and frustration. With version 2.4, host worked immediately. The authors have changed their name from PIL SYSTEMS, INC to DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES, INC, and are insisting that you register ProComm (instead of the usual shareware request that you send in a contribution.) Sounds fair to me considering that for $25.00 you get [in my opinion] the BEST tele- communications program available for MS-DOS machines. For $50.00 you get a professionally printed manual plus registration. Still an excellent deal. The following files comprising ProComm 2.4 are circulating in the San Diego area. Listed are file names, size and transmission times at 1200 bps and ARC file content: ATOPRO24.ARC 66560 bytes, 520 blocks, 11 minutes and 55 seconds Name Length Stowage SF Size now ============ ======== ======== ==== ======== AUTOPRCM.COM 64094 Squeezed 8% 59398 This is a script AUTOPRCM.DOC 11329 Crunched 46% 6140 file generator and ==== ======== ==== ======== documentation. Total 2 75423 14% 65538 PRCM24.ARC 134528 bytes, 1051 blocks, 24 minutes and 5 seconds Name Length Stowage SF Size now ============ ======== ======== ==== ======== ProComm 2.4, plus a CMDCNVT.EXE 19160 Squeezed 13% 16699 brief description of PRCM24.NEW 2976 Crunched 44% 1693 changes and a handy PROCOMM.EXE 165456 Crunched 30% 115979 program to convert ==== ======== ==== ======== old script files to Total 3 187592 29% 134371 the new format. PRCM24B.ARC 136192 bytes, 1064 blocks, 24 minutes and 22 seconds Name Length Stowage SF Size now ============ ======== ======== ==== ======== Documentation for PROCOMM.DOC 335673 Crunched 60% 135897 version 2.4. Very ==== ======== ==== ======== comprehensive. Total 1 335673 60% 135897 PRCM24C.ARC 27648 bytes, 216 blocks, 4 minutes and 56 seconds Name Length Stowage SF Size now ============ ======== ======== ==== ======== This is a nice COMPUSRV.CMD 1448 Crunched 58% 621 sampling of script FIDO.CMD 1993 Crunched 69% 637 files for various PCP-MENU.CMD 13948 Crunched 66% 4874 popular systems, a PRCMSORT.EXE 7678 Crunched 22% 6042 dialing directory RBBS.CMD 1831 Crunched 68% 587 sorting program and SOURCE.CMD 1525 Crunched 58% 652 'Timed Execution TEF.EXE 15728 Crunched 16% 13334 Facility', a program ==== ======== ==== ======== that will execute a Total 7 44151 40% 26747 script file at a pre-specified time unattended. I strongly recommend this program, as well as taking the time to register it to support further revisions. I have no association with Datastorm Technologies other than as a very satisfied user of their software. Mike Tarrani uucp: {akgua, hplabs!hp-sdd, sdcsvax, ihnp4, noscvax}!crash!pnet01!mtarrani ARPA: ... crash!pnet01!mtarrani@nosc ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Oct 86 19:03:10 edt From: "Bennett E. Todd III" <ecsvax!bet%mcnc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: Serial Port and AT [In reference to a suspected problem with Mouse Systems Mouse. -ed] I think you've got a serial port problem. The IBM Asynch card doesn't work in the IBM AT (or some AT compatibles, such as the Zenith 200). This is a documented misbehavior known by IBM. The failure mode seems to be garbling of data, and incorrect indications of control signal status -- not a complete hard failure, just enough to make the critter useless. On recent IBM Asynch cards I've seen (the ones with the additional jumper block to support being COM2:) there is a jumper (as opposed to a DIP block) near the middle of the card (the only jumper on the cards I've seen); if you remove this jumper the card works in an AT. -Bennett [Anybody have an explanation of what this jumper does? -ed] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 12 Oct 86 22:08:05 pdt From: sdcsvax!sdcc13.UCSD.EDU!co198wap@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Jill Small) Subject: Com3 Com4 Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center I believe the Com3 port is 2E8 to 2EF and Com4 is 2E0 to 2E7. Note that this doesn't follow the Com1 and Com2 pattern. I didn't design it, IBM did!! ------------------------------ From: gamma!mb2c!edsdrd!ahxenix!bob@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Date: Mon Oct 13 09:15:40 1986 Subject: PROYAM Supports Kermit Sliding Windows ref: Keith Peterson's request for other programs that support Kermit sliding windows. Chuck Forsberg's PROYAM also includes the sliding window feature of Kermit. This feature is currently only included in the MS-DOS version, but I would hope that Chuck would include it in his next Xenix release. Bob Leffler - ahxenix!bob ...!ihnp4!mb2c!edsdrd!ahxenix!bob ...!cbosgd!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!mb2c!edsdrd!ahxenix!bob ...!chinet!fmsrl7!{ahxenix,cideq3}!bob ------------------------------ From: ihnp4!mb2c!edsdrd!ahxenix!bob@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Date: Mon Oct 13 12:03:39 1986 Subject: SCO User List I'm currently have problems with Santa Cruz Operation and their Xenix operating system. The problems are mostly with the Xenix86 product, but some are present in the Xenix286 product. It appears that SCO (isn't able/or won't) respond to individual requests or complaints of their product line. They are also very secretive about bugs that have been discovered by other users. Especially since their Support Newsletter which was promised as part of Softcare Support has never been published. I'm putting together a mailing list of SCO Xenix users that are experiencing problems with SCO Xenix. If you are a user of SCO Xenix86 or Xenix286 and would like to be included in the mailing list, please send your inquiries to: ...!ihnp4!mb2c!edsdrd!ahxenix!sco-xenix In your initial inquiry, I would appreciate the following information: Name US Mail Address uucp address phone # What SCO products do you have, also what release level Do you have any un-resolved problems or gripes I will forward to all on the news list on a weekly basis. Bob Leffler - ahxenix!bob ...!ihnp4!mb2c!edsdrd!ahxenix!bob ...!cbosgd!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!mb2c!edsdrd!ahxenix!bob ...!chinet!fmsrl7!{ahxenix,cideq3}!bob ------------------------------ Date: Tue 14 Oct 86 14:25:43-PDT From: D.LEWIS@SCU Subject: Low Cost Networking > From: Bob Babcock <PEPRBV%CFATA1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> > > Are there any communications programs available which would allow two > PC's to share files? The programs would need to run as servers in the > background so that either machine could ask the other for a file > without requiring the sender to interrupt the current application. There's a product called EasyLAN that connects two PC's via a cable (or modem) using their serial ports. On PC's and XT's the transmission rate is 19.2Kbaud, and 56Kbaud on the AT. Either user can access the files on the other's disks without disturbing normal operation at the other PC. Access rights and passwords can be used as well. Since the product is all software, the price is right. A kit for two PC's including cable, two diskettes, and manuals is $179.95; each additional PC (cable, diskette, and manual) is $109.95; latter without the cable is $79.95. Copyright protection is implemented by checking for identical software serial numbers at either end of a connection, so you must buy at least two diskettes. EasyLAN is available from: Server Technology, Inc. 1095 East Duane Ave, Suite 107 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 738-8377 I have no connection with this company, but am simply a satisfied user. -Dan Lewis Assoc Prof of Comp. Sci. EECS Dept. Santa Clara Univ. Santa Clara, CA 95053 (408) 554-4449/4482 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Oct 1986 18:27 EDT From: Robert Craig <ROBERT%MCGILL1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: NETBIOS Time Routines To: Token Ring Digest <PC-TOKEN-RING@OAC.UCLA.EDU> Enclosed are three programs TIMESERV.ASM, STIME.ASM, and NOSET.ASM intended as examples of downloading the time from a machine on the network, and of a simple way to prevent a user from modifying the time on his workstation. They are placed by the author (me) in the public domain for non-commercial use, and may be freely modified and adapted, particularly since they aren't quite bulletproof as they stand. They were developed using Novell's NETBIOS interface. [The file TIMESTUFF can be found in the <INFO-IBMPC> archives -wab] ------------------------------ From: silber@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Jeffrey Silber) Subject: Enhanced AT Keyboard Organization: Theory Center, Cornell University, Ithaca NY Problem with Enhanced AT Keyboard I received my latest batch of ATs with the enhanced keyboard. We have discovered a few unpleasantries and possible flaws: 1) Machine always boots up on NUM LOCK ... is there any way to change this in the autoexec? 2) We swapped the keyboard with an old AT (which someone told me was OK), and the diagnostics seem to check out BUT: In some programs using the separate arrow keys invokes SHIFT LOCK without lighting up the SHIFT LOCK light ... and The right hand ALT or CTRL keys appear to function as ALT LOCK or CTRL LOCK Feature? Bug? Or just a problem by using a new keyboard on an old machine. Jeffrey A. Silber silber@devvax.tn.cornell.edu JAS@CORNELLD {decvax,ihnp4,cmcl2,vax135} !cornell!devvax!silber Business Manager Center for Theory & Simulation in Science & Engineering 265 Olin Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Oct 86 17:15:54 MEZ From: UNI217%DBNRHRZ1.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: 2K Cluster size under DOS 3.1 Rainer Kleinrensing, UNI217 at DBNRHRZ1 Hello! I work with a Zenith Z-158 PC clone and recently got a Microscience 20MB Hard Disk with a DTC controller. This works fine, but I am not quite satisfied with the big cluster size of 4k, because there are so many little files . . . Does anyone out there know how to format my hard disk with, let's say, 2k clusters ? (currently, I use DOS 3.1). Thank You, Rainer Kleinrensing. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Oct 86 15:26:33 CDT From: CCRJW%UMCVMB.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU (Richard Winkel UMC Computing Services) Subject: EGA + lo res mode Does anyone know if the EGA has a mode similar to the non-supported CGA 200 x 100 (lo-res) mode, and how it might be accessed? Thanks, Rich Winkel ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Oct 86 21:24 EST From: XLYKN8%IRISHMVS.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: LaserWriter Printer Definitions for Word Perfect Has anyone worked on a Word Perfect Printer Definition for the Apple LaserWriter. We have hopes of using the TOPS card designed to put an MS-DOS machine on an Appletalk network with some Macs and the LaserWriter. The question is ... can Word Perfect printer defi definitions be used to make limited use of Postscript commands, enough to allow the printing of text files directly to the Laserwriter. I am quite familiar with the Word Perfect end of things, but am unfa not familiar with Postscript. Dan Mandell XLYKN8 @ IRISHMVS Computing Center Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, In 46556 ------------------------------ Date: Tue 14 Oct 86 14:58:06-EDT From: Thomas S. Wanuga <WANUGA@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: American Micro Technology I am considering the purchase of an ATjr from American Micro Technology. I would appreciate hearing about any experiences that people have had with this company. The ATjr is an XT-compatible running at 4.77/8 Mhz with 0 wait-state memory. Thanks. Tom Wanuga wanuga@xx.lcs.mit.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Oct 86 08:25:55 CDT From: C2390N%UMVMA.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU To: info-ibmpc@usc-isib.arpa Subject: Tape backup for IBM XT I am asking for recommendations (or advice) for a portable tape backup machine for the IBM PC XT. The user is willing to accept a machine that uses its own controller card ( if the price is reasonable, $300 or less per controller). He intends to use the unit for a group of five XT's. He places importance on software ease of use and dependability Thank you! Jim Hisle, Computing Services, University of Missouri - Kansas City C2390N@UMVMA.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Oct 86 13:57:33 SET To: info-ibmpc@b.isi.edu.ARPA From: ESC1319%ESOC.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU Subject: Problems with DOS Wildcard Matching I have recently been stung yet again by DOS's weird ideas about wild card matching. On all other operating systems I have worked on, if you wanted to match all files with a three character name, you would look for "???.*", but DOS returns you all file names with three characters OR LESS !!! Not only that, but if you try to match something like "*tmp*.*", it very kindly ignores the "tmp" altogether and treats it just like "*.*" ! This sort of behavior is all very well if you're just doing a "DIR", but can be a little annoying if the command happens to be "DEL" instead. My questions are therefore, is this a bug ?, if not why is it not described like this in the DOS manual ?, and what can I do about it ?? Alun Saunders ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 86 20:55 CDT From: Wilkinson@HI-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: Floppy Head Step Rate Zap (Vol 5 #88) I did not understand this message at all. Can someone please explain: 1) What is a 'head-settle' parameter 2) what is the 'head step rate' 3) How do the above effect the performance of the floppy? 4) Does the message mean that the parameter is not optimized in DOS Richard Wilkinson {Wilkinson@HI-MULTICS.ARPA} ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 8 Oct 86 14:33:12 pdt From: Peter Stokes <stokes%cmc.cdn%ubc.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA> Subject: VTERM on M24 I am trying to use VTERM (VT100 terminal emulator with built in Kermit) on an Olivetti M24 (IBM PC compatible). Everything works well except a collection of keys on the M24 keyboard are wrong. For example, if I hit "(" I get a "*". All the number keys and the {}[];:'" keys appear to mapped incorrectly. Is there a way for me to fix this problem? Has it got to do with BIOS and can that be changed easily? Thanks in advance for any assistance, Peter Stokes Canadian Microelectronics Corporation Queens University Kingston Ontario Envoy100: cmc.vlsiic CDNnet: stokes@cmc.cdn BITNET: stokes@qucdncmc.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: 7 Aug 86 16:37:26 GMT From: mhoward @ Wheeler-EMH Subject: Word Processors I need some help in finding a full-blown word processor for my ibm clone. My problem is that I want the best of both worlds. That is, ease of use along with features. I have "Word" and "wordstar", but I'm still not happy with either one. Now I am looking at WordPerfect and the word processor in Symphony. If anyone can recommend or not recommend a word processor of any breed, I'd like to thank them in advance. Mahalo, Matt Howard (mhoward@Wheeler-EMH or mhoward@bbn-unix) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 11 Oct 86 21:24:35 MST From: Jim Howard <KGJHH%ASUACAD.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: How to Detect State CTRL-PrtSc We are looking for information on where to look in DOS to detect if CTRL-P (like CTRL-PrtSc) is turned on. To eliminate screen echo to printer on LAN. ------------------------------ Date: Sat 11 Oct 86 22:16:43-PDT From: CYAMAMOTO%GUMBY@USC-ECLC.ARPA Subject: Fast Cards for Fast PC's There have been many PC compatibles introduced in the last several months with speeds of 8 Mhz and faster. In fact many are even possible at speeds of 10 or 12 Mhz, not to mention PC Limited's 16 Mhz AT. However, after talking with a few people, I find that there exists a problem of cards being able to run at such speeds. Although I myself have not seen what problems actually occur under such circumstances, I'm sure the system must crash and be reset when it does. I am wondering if anyone out there could inform me as to what cards are NOT problematic at high speeds. I realize this is easier since I've heard already that display adapters, memory cards and parallel/serial cards are sensitive to the higher speeds. What about floppy, hard drive, and tape controllers? Also is there ANY possible way of knowing what the top speed of a card is, other than actually plugging it in to see if it works? I've seen some advertisements, such as Intel's, that say the card can work up to X Mhz. But unfortunately most advertisements don't carry this information. Lastly, is it worth purchasing a fast PC ( 8 Mhz or faster ), has anyone had any regrets about buying one? I'm considering to buy in the near future a 12 Mhz or 16 Mhz AT from PC Limited, since most of my work involves compiling and I would like to avoid waiting several minutes for a compile and link. Are fast PC's as touchy as they say? Most of them now sport 10 Mhz and some even 12 Mhz. Does this mean that the avg. speeds a card can handle will be increased in the near future? In other words, will the headache of locating fast enough cards for a fast PC out weigh the plus in speed? Any information on this, including from those with IBM AT's with after-market speed-ups, would be greatly appreciated. Please send mail to me directly as I'm not on this info list. Thanx in advance, Cliff Yamamoto ARPA : CYAMAMOTO%GUMBY%USC-ECL.ARPA Snail : Cliff Yamamoto 1939 W. 148th St. Gardena, CA. 90249 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 86 19:27:34 est From: <munnari!RSBS0.anu.oz!STRASSER@seismo.CSS.GOV> Subject: Problems Reading AUX: with Turbo Pascal We are trying to use a Turbo Pascal program to read information from the AUX port sent by a piece of equipment which has been used in the field and whose data are saved. The machine dumps its data as 60-character records of numbers. Each new record (including the first one) is preceded by 'A' and a carriage return (NO linefeed), and the end-of-transmission marker is a 'Z'. The problem is that DOS is giving (apparently random) "Read fault error reading device AUX" errors. It was doing this with a Read( Aux, Ch ) statement and when DOS function 03 (Auxiliary input) is used directly with the MsDos procedure. MODE has been used (MODE COM1:1200) to set the baud rate on the port. Sometimes the DOS errors occur before anything is sent, sometimes in the middle of the data (from which we can sometimes retry, but usually not), and sometimes not at all. We don't know much about these nasty DOS errors, or how to avoid them. Any help would be very much appreciated. Mike Strasser Dept. of Environmental Biology Research School of Biological Sciences Australian National University G.P.O. Box 475 Canberra City A.C.T. 2601 Australia CSNET : strasser@rsbs0.anu.oz@csnet-relay.CSNET ARPANET : strasser%rsbs0.anu.oz@seismo.CSS.GOV decvax!mulga!anucsd!rsbs0!strasser@berkley.ARPA BITNET : strasser%rsbs0.anu.oz@seismo.CSS.GOV at wiscvm strasser%rsbs0.anu.oz@seismo.CSS.GOV at psuvax1 (one of these 'ere things may work --^) ------------------------------ From: "Roger Fajman" <RAF%NIHCU.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Date: Sun, 12 Oct 86 23:36:18 EDT Subject: PC-Compatible Laptops With Modems I am looking for an IBM PC compatible laptop machine to be used primarily for communications. I have tried the Toshiba 1100 Plus and liked it quite well, except for one thing: the internal 1200 bps modem will not transmit a break signal and my host computer requires them. The Zenith Z-181 doesn't seem so bad, but the people at the local Heath-Zenith store know nothing about the modem and do not have one that I can try. I have seen the IBM PC Convertible, but do not like the fact that its modem is not Hayes-compatible and the memory is restricted to 512K. The Sharp and Datavue machines have been mentioned to me, but I have not had an opportunity to try them. Any suggestions? [Beware that many lap top serial ports are not compatible with the standard IBM serial port. Check first that your favorite communications program will run with the lap top in question. -wab] ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------