[comp.sys.atari.st] ST help for novice?

adjones@mcnc.org (Amy D. Jones) (11/10/89)

Hello,
I have a friend with an Atari ST (I think it's a 1040--plain vanilla) & I'm
seeking some info for her.  (She's had it wuite awhile, but is still very much
a novice.)  One problem is a "TOS error #35" message whenever she tries to 
access one particular file.  She says the manual has no info about error 
numbers, and I had no luck at the bookstores around here.  I'm sure she's
using an older version of the operating system & the software she's using
(a database--I don't recall the name) has probably been upgraded as well.
Actually, that would be handy to know (the database name)...  It had icons
with names like "useone" and "makeone" and "moveone" and the database icons
were named "whatever.one".  If this means anything to anyone, what is the
current status of this mailing list/simple DB.  Anyway, what I want to know
is...   1)  What is TOS error #35 ?
        2)  Any info about this database ?
        3)  Is there a decent book with references on this info (error #s,etc)
        4)  Favorite magazines?
        5)  How can she update her OS without a local dealer?
Thanks very much for your help.....
                                  ........<<<<<< Amy Jones >>>>>>

wallace@oldtmr.dec.com (Ray Wallace) (11/11/89)

In article <5727@alvin.mcnc.org>, adjones@mcnc.org (Amy D. Jones) writes...
>is...   1)  What is TOS error #35 ?
Strictly speaking it means there are too many files open (or no more files can
be opened). In reality it usualy means the particular file you are trying to
run is corrupted. Sometimes because it was downloaded from another system and
the download was not done correctly.

>        2)  Any info about this database ?
Nope.

>        3)  Is there a decent book with references on this info (error #s,etc)
See below...

>        4)  Favorite magazines?
START is not bad if you want to read a lot of reviews. CURRENT notes (actualy
a THICK club newsletter which reads more like a good magazine) is pretty good
and has a variety of topics.

>        5)  How can she update her OS without a local dealer?
Can't answer that one.

Ever wondered what those TOS error messages and 'bombs' on your monitor
signified? Below is a letter, originally written by Darryl May, that John
Townsend of Atari posted on GEnie in January to provide some answers. This
letter also appeared in the June 1988 issue of _Current Notes_ (122 N.
Johnson Rd., Sterling, VA 22170).

Dear ATARI customer,

The following is an official list of the errors that can appear while you
are operating your ST computer. This first list gives you the GEM error
messages:

         Error description          GEM Error code
         =========================================
            OK (no error)....................0
            Fundamental error................1
            Drive not ready..................2
            Unknown command..................3
            CRC error........................4
            Bad request......................5
            Seek error.......................6
            Unknown media....................7
            Sector not found.................8
            No paper.........................9
            Write fault.....................10
            Read fault......................11
            General error...................12
            Write protect...................13
            Media change....................14
            Unknown device..................15
            Bad sectors on format...........16
            Insert other disk...............17
            Invalid function number.........32
            File not found..................33
            Path not found..................34
            No handles left.................35 "Handles are required for files
            Access denied...................36  among other things"
            Invalid handle..................37
            Insufficient memory.............39
            Invalid memory block address....40
            Invalid drive specified.........46
            No more files...................49
            Range error.....................64
            Internal error..................65
            Invalid program load format.....66

Those bombs that appear on your screen are error messages from the 68000
micro-processor.

                                          Number
         Description                     of bombs
         ===========================================
            Reset: Initial PC2...............1
            Bus Error........................2
            Address Error....................3
            Illegal Instruction..............4
            Zero Divide......................5
            CHK Instruction..................6
            TRAPV Instruction................7
            Privilege Violation..............8
            Trace............................9
            Line 1010 Emulator..............10
            Line 1111 Emulator..............11
            [unassigned, reserved]..........12
            [unassigned, reserved]..........13
            Format Error....................14
            Uninitialized Interrupt Vector..15
            [unassigned, reserved].......16-23
            Spurious Interrupt..............24
            Level 1 Interrupt Autovector....25
            Level 2 Interrupt Autovector....26
            Level 3 Interrupt Autovector....27
            Level 4 Interrupt Autovector....28
            Level 5 Interrupt Autovector....29
            Level 6 Interrupt Autovector....30
            Level 7 Interrupt Autovector....31
            Trap Instruction Vectors.....32-47
            [unassigned, reserved].......48-63
            User Interrupt Vectors......64-255

Darryl May, Tech Specialist

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