Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL ("Info-IBMPC Digest") (03/05/91)
Info-IBMPC Digest Fri, 1 Mar 91 Volume 91 : Issue 44
Today's Editor:
Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <GHICKS@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil>
Today's Topics:
Free demo disk for a UNIX clone (MINIX 1.5)
'386 LOADALL (V91 #39)
Paradise 1024 Card (2 msgs)
Problems with ProCommPlus - where do I send them?
PS viewer, HPGL to LaserJet
Request for ARC/ZIP Source
Today's Queries:
3 1/2 DD disks and HH disks
4DOS and Telix updates
gcc and g++
High quality dot matrix printing software for Hebrew
NUMLOCK-key
Paradise 1024P VGA Card
Request for help with floppy tape unit
wang pc info wanted
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Date: 24 Feb 91 23:23:28 GMT
From: Andy Tanenbaum <ast@cs.vu.nl>
Subject: Free demo disk for a UNIX clone (MINIX 1.5)
MINIX is a UNIX-like operating system for the IBM PC, XT, AT, 386, and
PS/2, as well as the Apple Macintosh, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, and
later in 1991, Sun SPARC. It is available with all the source code for
the entire operating system, the libraries, and nearly 200 UNIX-like
utilities.
Demonstration disks for the IBM PC line and Atari ST are available for
free via anonymous FTP for people on the Internet. A Macintosh version
will be online soon. (If you can't wait, see below.)
To get a free demo disk and the manual, use ftp to connect to
ftp.cs.vu.nl (192.31.231.42) and look in pub/minix/demo. The READ_ME
file describes the contents of the directory and how to use it. Be
sure to fetch and read this first. It contains important information.
If you don't have FTP access, you can buy the demo disk package from
Prentice- Hall for $10 by calling (201) 767-5969 or FAX (201) 767-5625.
Please DON'T ask me to send it by email. I have quite enough work
already thank you. The ordering numbers for Prentice-Hall are:
- MINIX 1.5 IBM demo disk (0-13-582768-x) (in stock now)
- MINIX 1.5 Atari demo disk (0-13-582792-2) (in stock now)
- MINIX 1.5 Macintosh demo disk (0-13-582784-1) (in stock now)
Please note that although the demo disks are available for free on
line, MINIX itself is copyrighted software and is not available on
line. The READ_ME file tells how MINIX can be ordered.
AS A COURTESY TO US, PLEASE DO NOT FTP DURING BUSINESS HOURS (EUROPEAN
TIME). PLEASE FTP AFTER 11 A.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
Andy Tanenbaum (ast@cs.vu.nl)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 1991 09:21:12 EST
From: "Drew Derbyshire" <ahd@kendra.kew.com>
Subject: '386 LOADALL (V91 #39)
> Date: 15 Feb 91 16:29:12 GMT
> From: rcollins@altos86.Altos.COM (Robert Collins)
> In article <9091@hub.ucsb.edu> 6600sirt@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu writes:
> >I have heard that there is an undocumented LOADALL instruction on the
> >286 which allows you to access any part of extended memory without
> >leaving "real" mode. This sounds very useful! The person who first
> I've recently completed writing a magazine article on 80286 LOADALL,
> and 80386 LOADALL. However, for probably obvious reasons, I can't post
> the article. It will be in the October issue of Tech Specialist.
The curious 286 user is also refered to Ray Duncan's book "Extending
DOS" (Addison Wesley, 1990) pages 100-103. He notes, among other
things, that Microsoft uses the 286 LOADALL in the SMARTDRV.SYS and in
OS/2. He also comments that good BIOS ROM's for 386 boxes will
intercept the 286 LOADALL (which causes a bad op code exception on a
386) and handle it for the program.
-ahd-
Drew Derbyshire
Internet: ahd@kendra.kew.com U.S. Mail: 108 Decatur St, Apt 9
Voice: 617-641-3739 Arlington, MA 02174
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 91 20:33:00 EST
From: 4167BO%GMUVAX.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu
Subject: Paradise 1024 Card.
I can not get my generic Paradise 1024 video card to use
640x480x256 mode in any program except for COMPUSHOW 8.21B. According
to the specs I need 512k display mem to run this mode. When I run
norton SI, it says I have only 256k display memory. But, if this is
the case how come I can get 640x480x256 to work in CSHOW? I have tried
all the paradise video drivers at CICA for windows and none of the
640x480x256 drivers work there. Even stranger, according to the Video
card manual, 800x600x16 will work only with 512k, yet I have never had
a problem getting this display mode to work. I also can not get
1024x768x16 to work either.
My monitor in a 1024x768. It is not a multi-sync. Am I
missing something obvious? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Kathy
(4167bo@gmuvax.bitnet)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 91 10:17:37 MEZ
From: Eberhard Scherzler <MAT430%DE0HRZ1A.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Paradise 1024 Card
Hi Kathy,
there is nothing mysterious, but one information is incomplete and one
other is incorrect.
I think you have 256k only - sorry for that :-( . You may calculate
quite simply the amount of memory needed for a particular resolution.
For example with 16 colours you need half a byte per pixel. Hence for
800x600x16 you need 800*600/2 = 240000 bytes. Therefore your card
should be able to use this resolution (this was the incorrect
information).
Now for the incomplete information. CSHOW has the ability to emulate
the 640x480x256 resolution. It does this by leaving out every one of
two pixels in a row. In fact it uses a real resolution of 320x480x256
which needs only 320*480 = 153600 bytes. If you look at CSHOW's
resolution panel you will notice different notations for those
resolutions. I'm not quite shure but I think a colon is used to
indicate a simulated resolution instead of an equal sign for a real
one.
Regards - Eberhard
------------------------------
Date: SUN, FEB 24 1991 21:13:52
From: "Ted W Flory" <TFLORY%BRIJWATR@VTVM2.CC.VT.EDU>
Subject: Problems with ProCommPlus - where do I send them?
> Who can point me some list or whatever where I can report my questions
> regarding ProCommPlus. I have some problems with the Aspect language
> and wish to discuss them with other sophisticated users.
There is a DataStorm Forum on CompuServe that includes support for
ProComm+. I do not know if you can access CompuServe from The
Netherlands. If so, just type "GO DATASTORM" from any ! prompt. It is
my understanding that DataStorm monitors the forum regularly. At one
time, I heard that there was a ProComm discussion group on BitNet.
Unfortunately, I do not know where it is.
Ted Flory Phone: (703) 828-2501
Director of the Computing Center FAX: (703) 828-2160
Bridgewater College Email: TFLORY @ BRIJWATR.BITNET
Bridgewater, Virginia 22812
USA
------------------------------
Date: 24 Feb 91 04:50:44 GMT
From: wolf@netcom.COM (Phil Escobar)
Subject: PS viewer, HPGL to LaserJet
Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.mil writes:
>> I am looking for a program that will let you view postscript
>>formatted files before they are sent to the printer... If anyone knows
>>of such a program (shareware or not) respond to my account or post a
>>message on this board...
>There is a shareware package called Ghostscript available on Simtel20.
>The last time I checked it was at version 1.3 on Simtel20, but there is
>apparently a version 2.0 in existance, somewhere. I tried it once, and
>it was OKay, but not everything I had hoped for. As a simple viewer it
>should be fine.
Ghostscript is now past Version 2.0 and climbing. 2.0 fixes a LOT of
bugs, and 2.1 fixes EVEN MORE bugs, so it's doing pretty good now.
Ghostscript is not shareware, however. It's a part of GNU, and thus is
free. If you have trouble finding Ghostscript on the net, write back
and I can help you locate a good set of sources (or binaries).
- Phil @ Buckskin Technologies
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 91 08:33:06 -0500
From: David Kirschbaum <kirsch@usasoc.soc.mil>
Subject: Request for ARC/ZIP Source
>Does anyone know where I coulf find a Unix version of ARC/PKARC and
>ZIP/PKZIP, or at least the C source code of these programs ?
I'll let a Unix user (maybe usenet?) answer where the *latest* ARC
source is. I have some (arc521?) that works just fine on my Vax BSD
system, but don't know if it's the best/latest.
Re a Unix ZIP/PKZIP equivalent: The Info-ZIP working group is
developing a portable, generic zip (compatible with PKZIP). However,
it's only available to the Info-ZIP newsletter members (since it's
still in BETA testing).
If you wish to join the newsletter (and get pointers to the BETA
source), EMail your request to Info-ZIP-Request@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil.
David Kirschbaum
Info-ZIP Coordinator
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 91 16:53:26 CST
From: Raul V Ramirez Velarde <PA251678%TECMTYVM.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
Subject: 3 1/2 DD disks and HH disks
Hello. I have a very simple question.
I've always used double density disks formated in 1.44 format. They
seem to work alright. But lately I have heard that it is dangerous to
keep data that way. But what I just write the information once for back
up reasons and the write protect and just do reads. Could that be
alright?
Raul V Ramirez Velarde
pa251678@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx
pa251678@tecmtyvm.mty.itesm.mx
pa251678@tecmtyvm.bitnet
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 91 21:51:55 CST
From: ST6074%SIUCVMB.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu (Tim Williams)
Subject: 4DOS and Telix updates
Does anyone know if/when 4DOS and Telix will be updated?
The current versions I have are 4DOS 3.02a, and Telix 3.12.
I had heard Telix 4.0 was supposed to be released last year, but have
heard nothing since then. Any info?
Thanks,
Tim
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 91 16:47:56 CST
From: Raul V Ramirez Velarde <PA251678%TECMTYVM.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
Subject: gcc and g++
Hello avery one.
If you have access to NetNews, you may have noticed a broadcast of gcc
and g++ for the GNU project. I have downloaded it alright but would any
body care to tell what is the GNU project, what is gcc and g++? The
documentation is unreadble. I supose that gcc must be the dos clone of
Unix's cc (C compiler). What is g++ and what is it used for. Any hints?
pa251678@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx
pa251678@tecmtyvm.mty.itesm.mx
pa251678@tecmtyvm.bitnet
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 91 12:44:54 IST
From: Seth Ward <RHLH710%HAIFAUVM.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: High quality dot matrix printing software for Hebrew
Does anyone have any advice about a 'lettrix' or 'impageprint' type
program which will enhance the quality of printout in Hebrew. Shareware
appreciated... Thanks. Seth Ward RHLH710@HAIFAUVM
------------------------------
Date: 25 Feb 91 10:14 +0100
From: wolfgang wuerz <wuerz-w%vax.hmi.dbp.de@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: NUMLOCK-key
I want to use the upper row of keys on the numeric-pad; my problem is
the numlock-key. I want to disable the light, which is associated with
it and then use the key as any other one, but not to toggle between
numeric-pad ON/OFF. Any suggestion/pseudo-code/... appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Wolfgang Wuerz <wuerz-w@vax.hmi.dbp.de>
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 91 20:55:39 -0500
From: jguo@cs.NYU.EDU (Jun Guo)
Subject: Paradise 1024P VGA Card
Hi,
Where can I find a WordPerfect 5.1 driver for 1024x768 mode that go
with the Paradise 1024P VGA card? Now it runs in 800x600 mode. And the
card runs in 1024x768 mode with other softwares.
Thanks a lot.
Jun
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 91 22:30 MST
From: <AGEJB%ASUACVAX.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: Request for help with floppy tape unit
I own a CMS internal tape backup system and have encountered a
problem when trying to use the unit with a secondary floppy disk
controller. The unit worked fine in my computer when I operated only
one floppy disk controller. Because I wished to retain the use of both
5 1/4" and 3 1/2" disk drives I added a secondary floppy controller to
my system with the CMS tape unit being serviced by the secondary floppy
controller. Despite using two different makes of secondary floppy
controllers, the CMS Tape 40 gives the error:
Tape Error 1:
TIMEOUT Waiting for TAPE DRIVE INTERRUPT
Suberror 1
The error occurs randomly on both read and write operations.
My system particulars are as follows:
CMS Tape Unit: TAPE 40 INT
Software: RESQ Version 1.33
Computer: 386 clone, 25 MHz with 64k cache memory
BIOS: American Megatrends (9/15/89)
Operating System: MSDOS Version 3.3
Hard Disks: Seagate ST296N 84.9 Mb SCSI (two)
Hard Disk and Primary
Floppy Controller: Seagate ST02 Host Adapter (Bios Adr: >DC00)
Secondary Floppy
Controller: JDR Microdevices MCT-FDC-HD
(Bios Adr: >CA00, IO Port 370)
Hard Disk Access Uses DMDRVR.BIN by ONTRACK.
I would appreciate any help. I can be reached at:
AGEJB@ASUACVAX or BAWOLEK@ENVMSA.EAS.ASU.EDU
Thanks much.
Ed Bawolek
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
Arizona State University
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 22 Feb 91 08:38:00 CET
From: Rene de Bie <CRISRB%HLERUL2.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: wang pc info wanted
I recently bought a WANG Professional Computer wich was made in 1983 in
the USA. The only reason I did it was because it has an 32 MB harddrive
in it! This PC runs on MSdos 2.01, but it is an 'extended by WANG' Dos.
Now I would like to know if there is a way to get this machine work
with a higher level of MSdos, since nothing seems to work that is made
for use with a higer DOs. The CPU is a 8086 8 MHZ Intel, 16 bits, with
a bios Rev. 2.40 dated 1983. The PC won't boot with dos 3.2 or 3.3,
though it can read disks that are made on other systems. I already
tried to replace the bios with that of an Epson AX-2 AT , but then it
didn't boot at all.
Perhaps anyone out there has an idea? Must I just buy WANG dos 3.3 or
something like that? All suggestions are welcome!
Rene de Bie - CRI - University Leiden - Holland
System Programmer ORACLE/IDMS
Mail :P.O.Box 9512 - 2300 RA Leiden - The Netherlands
Phone :+31 71 276948/276921
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End of Info-IBMPC Digest V91 #44
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