cmj851@csc.anu.edu.au (Richard Walker) (04/30/91)
I have been trying to get Minix 1.5 working on my Amstrad PPC640 for some time now - to no avail. I know from reports of others that Minix 1.3 *does* work, so there is obviously something new in 1.5 which stops the machine from working. I have posted the details previously (an `unexpected' NMI happens when one presses `=' at the boot menu). When the PC simulator for SPARC came along, complete with Minix 1.1, I thought - `surely this must work on my computer!'. Indeed - it does! I had the idea of trying to fix the code and recompile the 1.5 sources under this Minix 1.1 provided with the simulator. Unfortunately, the system refuses to read the 720K 3.5" disks of the 1.5 distribution properly. It thinks that they are 360K disks in a strange way - I can access the files on the first 360K of the disk, but as soon as I try to read a file which is on the second 360K, the system gets confused and won't allow *any* access to the disk. It has to be unmounted and remounted before it can be accessed again. The root file system of the 1.1 distribution contains, in /dev, special files for the disk formats listed in the 1.5 manual, but they just don't work properly. (From memory) /dev/ps0 is supposed to be a 720K 3.5" disk, but as I said, it treats it as though it is only 360K. My question is: Is there a minimal `old' (pre 1.5), `public' version of Minix that treats 720K disks properly, which I can use to get 1.5 working? (I.e. I have to be able to access the 1.5 disks, run the 1.5 C compiler and utilities, etc.) I am aware of the copyright protection of Minix, so I am not suggesting anything illegal here - but I have bought the 1.5 distribution, and I am confident that I can get it working if I can only recompile it on my machine! So if it is OK for me to get a copy of the kernel, image, and root file system of, say, 1.3 in order to get 1.5 working (and then throw it away), I would be grateful. At the moment, I am merely asking for legal information (and/or permission from the relevant authorities). I actually support copyright protection of software, so I don't want to be seen as asking for (or supporting) an illegal transfer of copyright software. -- Richard Walker (walrmath@durras.anu.edu.au) Department of Computer Science The Australian National University GPO Box 4, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia