steveg@SPARTA.COM (Steve Goldstein) (10/23/89)
I think the problem people are having with running NeoDesk as an autorun program under TOS 1.4 is desk accessory related. One user mentioned MultiDesk as part of his configuration. I too use MultiDesk, and know for a fact that it can present problems with an autorun NeoDesk. What you need to do is use STARTPRG.PRG (look in the EXTRAS folder on your NeoDesk distribution disk). This program looks for and (makes use of) extra information in the STARTGEM.INF file (STARTGEM is NOT used). Essentially, STARTPRG.PRG waits for all desk accessories to initialize (like MultiDesk loading in other .ACCs., etc.) and then fires up NeoDesk. The only problem I've had with this is with SuperBoot 5.5 (an excellent sharware autofolder/acc/gdos/etc orginazation program) in that it's tied to using STARTGEM for autorun programs. Even with all STARTGEM entries for function keys and the defaults set empty, it ALWAYS creates a new STARTGEM.INF file on bootup. The solution is to make your STARTGEM.INF file (with necessary STARTPRG info) READ ONLY. This prevents SuperBoot from writing over it. Unfortunately, this means you can no longer dynamically choose your autoboot program, though you could probably edit STARTPRG to change the name of it's INF file and then use SuperBoot's "other file" facility. While I'm rambling on, I'd like to mention that I too received my Spectre GCR recently. Everything works fine with one exception - I am having a little trouble WRITING to Mac disks, but I haven't tried adjusting the thing yet either. Interesting though, my "known good" Mac disk they provided me with for intial testing was damaged - 3 real Macs also could NOT read a file on the disk (anyone want to mail me the DISKPARAM init?). Re: TT vs. 386 Don't forget the TT can also run all your current TOS software. Well, it could if you could get one... :-) Personally, I think TT vs 386 / Atari vs Amiga / etc. has gotten out of hand. Each machine has its own strengths and weaknesses in the areas of available s/w, h/w cost, support, etc. The more I read, the more I'm beginning to see Atari is not alone with their product problems. Ask a Mac person about the Imagewriter LQ... In the end though, I'd like to suggest that everyone just go out and buy the system they like best and quietly go off and use the thing for something besides posting flames. Steve Goldstein steveg@saic.com Disclaimer: That's not what I said.