Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL ("Info-IBMPC Digest") (01/02/91)
Info-IBMPC Digest Tue, 1 Jan 91 Volume 91 : Issue 2
Today's Editor:
Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <GHICKS@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil>
Today's Topics:
3.5 inch diskettes
MsDos multitasking - a summary
Non-DOS Restore from DOS Backup?
TCP/IP for DOS
Two modems/one works/one doesn't
Accessing the MSDOS Collection at WUARCHIVE
Today's Queries:
Counting the number of characters in a text
Hard Drive...
Hard Drive/Controller...
Paradaise VGA
STACKER
Text Formatter
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Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available by FTP
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Date: Sat, 29 Dec 90 6:27:22 CST
From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp)
Subject: 3.5 inch diskettes
In Reply to this Note From: <TIMBUCK@VTVM1.CC.VT.EDU>
>Help! Can anyone tell me how to format a 3.5" diskette (labeled HD,
>2.0MB) in a 1.44MB HD drive using DOS 3.3? Everytime I try it I get an
>error message. I can format it as 720KB using "FORMAT B: /t:9 /n:80",
>but I can't get the 1.44MB format to work.
The command you used to format 720K diskettes was probably:
format b: /n:9/t:80
the corresponding command for 1.4MB disks is:
format b: /n:18/t:80
however, most drives simply format at the maximum capacity, when no
parameters are specified. You should be able to say:
format b:
to format it as 1.4MB. If this does not work, perhaps it is not
really a HD drive. -David-
# david@wubios.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp
# david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu < * > +1 314 382 0584
# ...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david v "God loves material things."
# abs (investment#1 - investment#2) << abs (anyinvestment - anydebt)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 90 16:11:54 LCL
From: "Thomas Greve, PI Bonn" <GREVE%DBNPIB5.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: MsDos multitasking - a summary.
OS/2: provides real multitasking, but not for one's old MsDos Software.
There is a 'compatibility box', but it is not able to run programs in
the background, nor does it provide the ability to run several MsDos
tasks simultanously. It is the most proper solution, but the most
expensive one, too.
Windows 3: Versions before 3.0 don't seem to be worth mentioned. (noone
said a word about Windows/386!) Win3 seems to do it's job:
>To my opinion things have changed completely with the new version 3.0
>which in fact is a completely new designed product. To sum it up: give
>it a try, it's worth it! For the first time in the WINDOWS history
>multitasking works flawlessly even with several non-WINDOWS
>applications. When you start WINDOWS in the virutal mode on a 386 PC
>(that's what I'm speaking about) you can simply interrupt or kill a
>process which is hanging and under DOS would have frozen-up the PC.
>At present I'm developing a WINDOWS-based application with my favorite
>non-WINDOWS texteditor and some UNIX-(GNU-)derived utilities. After
>compiling/linking I can switch back to WINDOWS on a keystroke and run
>the thing. While this is all going oon there is another task running in
>the background with very low priority building a *VERY* large data
>base out of some special ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ information being downloaded by a
>modem-connection to a remote UNIX-machine.
>There are only some things I'd like them to add/change/correct: the
>task-manager should have some more features that are now scattered
>round the task windows like killing, suspending, restarting of tasks
>etc. or changing of foreground background priorities while active
>(that's all available under UNIX, folks, and I can hardly live without
>it.
Does Windows provide the possibility to change time-slices / priorities
of your different jobs or not?
>(By the way each task can allocate MBs of EMS- or XMS-memory as you
>like it. This sort of memory is made available by WINDOWS inherently
>and you need not install any other device drivers for each task.
>WINDOWS can make use of a reserved contiguous hard disk area for this
>purpose. This is not as fast as fully RAM-based EMS-/XMS-memory but
>it's better than nothing.)
Does Windows 3 provide EMS emulation or is EMS hardware required?
On the other hand, it was said:
>Windows 3 is excellent, a real improvement on W2, but it also is very
>slow, partly because (like OS/2/PM) it takes real time to draw all the
>pretty graphics. It doesn't, however, need anywhere near the hardware
>upgrade of OS/2, and is well supported. You do have to re-buy most of
>your software, though, as with OS/2, in versions for W3.
I don't have any Windows-Software at all... First of all, i'd like to
to run my good and in most cases not-so-old MsDos software (most of it
just text-based). Maybe, i'll add some Windows-Software later...
Desqview: seems to be quite bug-free, the '386 version comes with
memory manager and EMS emulator (QEMM)...
>DESQview is best used by the tech minded (once one runs into a small
>problem), but the software installation procedures are fairly straight
>for std soft. It's best used on a 386 with QEMM managing 2Mb or more
>(to avoid swapping). Finally, building on DOS is basically weak for
>multitasking, e. g. one cannot easily prevent a program from looping
>when just reading the keyboard, nor do wild memory stores.
wild memory stores: on a '386 in V86 mode: you *can*...
>DesqView is visually the mixed bag. Its default windows are text only,
>but it will happily run graphics inside any window (even W2 will run
>inside DV). Its biggest claim to fame is you don't need to re-buy
>*any* software, as it will all run under DV as it stands. DV is also
>quite cheap, and needs no extra hardware or software, although to make
>sensible use of it, you need to be running a 386, just like for W3 or
>OS/2. It is very robust and well- supported (and seems to be relatively
>bug-free: more than can be said for W3 or OS/2).
As i've stated before: a graphics user interface is not the dream of my
sleepless nights, and some of the software i need is simply not
*available* for WIN3...
I will run this multitasker on a 20MHz/4MB '386 with a 40MB HD. Thats
all i can and *want* to afford...
Ah, yes, one further remark: there are 192+K of RAM between my VGA and
my BIOS. Can they be made available under Windows? How? (i've made them
accessable under MsDos with RAMADAP, a simple Memory manager published
by the c't computer magazine.)
Thanks for your advice and your engagement
Thomas
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 90 21:49:31 CST
From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp)
Subject: Non-DOS Restore from DOS Backup?
In Reply to this Note From: <JFL4%PSUVM.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
>I apologize if this question has been asked ad nauseum - is there a
>utility, PD or commercial, which allows a selective restore from a DOS
>backup? I have a 17 disk backup which will not restore with any
>version of 3.X or 4.0 DOS. It stops after the second disk and says
>"Files not contained on Source disks" or something to that effect.
>I only need two or three files off of this backup so there's a pretty
>good chance they're there - it's just that DOS won't let me get past
>the second disk.
It sounds like you are not using the restore /s option. Try that when
restoring, because it will force restore to search all the disks.
e.g. RESTORE A: C:\FILENAME.EXT /s
-David-
# david@wubios.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp
# david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu < * > +1 314 382 0584
# ...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david v "God loves material things."
# abs (investment#1 - investment#2) << abs (anyinvestment - anydebt)
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 29 Dec 90 8:22:33 CST
From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp)
Subject: TCP/IP for DOS
In Reply to this Note From: <Sarah_Gray@ub.cc.umich.edu>
> Does anyone know of a mailing list where it would be appropriate to
>ask questions about TCP/IP for DOS?
Yes, see the reference to the pcip list below.
> If this is an appropriate place:
> --has anyone gotten the LPR that comes with NCSA Telnet 2.3 to
>work? I've gotten others to work, including the one that comes with
>CUTCP, but not this one.
Yes, I think so. It has been a while, and I no longer have acces to
those systems. We had little trouble, except that it complained about
every cutcp option that it did not understand in the config.tel file.
The files was printed, but we got lots of messages.
> --Has anyone gotten the Tektronic emulation to work with NCSA?
Yes, many times. We use Sas on a Sun, and routinely send graphics
files to NCSA_Telnet for review prior to printing.
> --Does anyone know of an equivalent to FTPBIN (which allows one to
>do anonymous FTPs) that has more terminal support--ie scrollback, a way
>to exit if the connection is hung, etc?
No, sorry.
> --Anyone seen a PD PING?
I think there may be one with KA9Q from thumper.bellcore.com and
MIT/PCIP from husc6.harvard.edu. These all work with the FTP Inc.
Packet Driver specification, so you may be able to use them with
NCSA_Telnet.
I no longer use NCSA_Telnet, but have had many rewarding experiences
with that excellent product. -David-
# david@wubios.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp
# david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu < * > +1 314 382 0584
# ...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david v "God loves material things."
# abs (investment#1 - investment#2) << abs (anyinvestment - anydebt)
PCIP@UDEL.EDU
Discussion group for the various sets of TCP/IP implementations for
personal computers. Bugs are reported here and help bringing up a new
environmment may be forthcoming from members of this list. In the past,
discussions have included the MIT package, the Stanford TCP modifications
and work at Wisconsin and Maryland.
Archives are available via an electronic mail server. Details about its
use can be obtained by sending a request to PCIP-REQUEST@UDEL.EDU.
All requests to be added to or deleted from this list, problems, questions,
etc., should be sent to PCIP-REQUEST@UDEL.EDU.
List Maintainer: James Galvin <galvin@UDEL.EDU>
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 90 21:44:51 CST
From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp)
Subject: Two modems/one works/one doesn't
In Reply to this Note From: <VFM702%SCRANTON.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
>I have a tale of two modems and three computers. I will do my best to
>simplify a very confusing situation. My apologies in advance if I
>dont't use the right terms since I don't know the phone terminology
>that well.
Sorry, I cannot help you with your problem, but the modem gurus all
read the telecom digest, described below. You should probably repost
your inquiry to that list. -David-
[It has been re-posted as suggested. gph]
# david@wubios.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp
# david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu < * > +1 314 382 0584
# ...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david v "God loves material things."
# abs (investment#1 - investment#2) << abs (anyinvestment - anydebt)
TELECOM@EECS.NWU.EDU
TELECOM@CS.BU.EDU (backup address if EECS lets you down)
TELECOM@HOGBBS.FIDONET.COM (another backup address)
telecom@nuacca.bitnet (BitNet)
Telecom Digest 129/87 (for use from Fido sites; telecom 129/87 also works)
155296378 (ans:ptown) (Telex; slower, but eventually forwards to EECS)
A broad spectrum moderated-digest-format discussion on
telecommunictions technology: the telephone system, modems, and other
more technical aspects of telecommunications systems. This digest was
spun off from HUMAN-NETS.
The Archives are stored on host LCS.MIT.EDU; the usual FTP rules apply:
'ftp lcs.mit.edu'
login 'anonymous'; give your name and site as password;
i.e. 'name@site.domain'
'cd telecom-archives'
'dir' to see the selections
'get (your selections)'
'bye'
All requests to be added to or deleted from this list, problems, questions,
etc., should be sent to TELECOM-REQUEST@EECS.NWU.EDU.
Moderator: Patrick Townson <PTOWNSON@EECS.NWU.EDU>
<patrick@chinet.chi.il.us>
TELECOM DIGEST c/o Townson
Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 90 2:13:29 CDT
From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp)
Subject: Accessing the MSDOS Collection at WUARCHIVE
The simtel20 MsDos collection is mirrored on wuarchive.wustl.edu
(128.252.135.4) for anonymous ftp. Also included on wuarchive are many
other mirrors and archives, including an archive of the
comp.binaries.ibm.pc mailing list.
Look in mirrors/msdos and usenet/comp.binaries.ibm.pc for MsDos-related
files.
The main benefits to using wuarchive over simtel20 are reliability and
speed. The simtel20 archive is heavily overloaded, and can only be
accessed via a milnet gateway outside of milnet. Wuarchive has a T1
link to the NSFNET, making access much quicker and reliable for many
users. Washington University has a full-time staff for network
maintenance (called the Office of the Network Coordinator, or ONC)
which maintains wuarchive.
Questions, requests and comments about the archives should be mailed to
archives@wugate.wustl.edu.
The archives are available for mounting over the network via NFS. Send
mail to archives@wugate.wustl.edu for more information.
There is no email server for wuarchive at this time, but it can be
accessed via bitftp@pucc.bitnet (or bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu) via
electronic mail. Send a message containing only the word 'HELP' for
details.
david@wubios.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp
david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu < * > +1 314 382 0584
...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david v "Be kind to sinners."
"Concentration impedes Inspiration." --- "Depend on God, who has dominion."
------------------------------
Subject: Today's Queries:
Date: Sat, 29 Dec 90 12:45:32 IST
From: Ran Cheremsh <CHERMESH%BGUVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: Counting the number of characters in a text
I'm looking for a PD program which reports the number of characters in a text
file. I need it for calculating the cost of translation a paper. I'm charged
by the number of printer characters.
Ran Chermesh
Behavioral Sciences Dept.
Ben-Gurion University
Beer-Sheva 84105
Israel
Bitnet: CHERMESH@BGUVM
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 90 19:16:30 CST
From: Rob <C08926RC%WUVMD.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Hard Drive...
I have a couple of other questions about my hard drive controller. The
actual model number is WD1002-ZEN. There is a set of 4 switches on it;
what should these be set at? I'm using it in an XT with 1 floppy. I tried
setting it up as I got it (all switches on), but it came back with a disk
error message (actually a drive not ready message). Also, what should the
switches on the motherboard be set to?
Thanks for any help!
Rob Caton
C08926RC@WUVMD
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 90 10:10:12 CST
From: Rob Caton <C08926RC%WUVMD.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Hard Drive/Controller...
I recently acquired a hard drive and controller without any documentation
and I was wondering if someone out there can tell me exactly what I have.
It's a Miniscribe Model 2012 drive, and the number on the controller card
is ZEN35844. From the appearance of the controller it looks like it
controls 2 hard drives and floppy drives. Am I right about this?
Also, I'd like to know how many megs the drive is.
Thanks!
Rob Caton
C08926RC@WUVMD
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 90 17:59:00 ARG
From: Luis MAGNI <banyc!fmcba.sld.edu.ar!luis@uunet.UU.NET>
Subject: Paradaise VGA
I am looking for drivers of a VGA: Paradaise VGA Plus Card (8 bits),
necessaries for setting windows 3.0 at resolution of 800 x 600 pixels.
If anyone know about, please let me know. Thanks in advance......
/--------------------------------------------------------------------------\
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| Centro de Microscopia Electronica | CC 362 - 5000 CORDOBA |
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\--------------------------------------------------------------------------/
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 90 14:46:00 CST
From: 55SRWLGS <55srwlgs%SACEMNET.AF.MIL@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: STACKER
Just got a flier in the mail about a program called STACKER. It's
one of those programs which increases hard disk space by compressing
program and other files.
This one seems to be more like the French Freeware program LZEXE,
or maybe Phil Katz's newest program, PKLITE. STACKER saves space by,
according to their ad/flier:
1. by replacing repeated sequences of bytes it finds in your file
with tokens that point to a previous occurance. This process that
removes redundance and takes less space is called lossless data
compression because no data is lost in the process.
2. Stacker uses less of your disk to store small files by
allocating your disk space in 512-byte sectors instead of 2048 - byte
clusters.
Item 1 sounds like STACKER might be similar to LZEXE and PKLTE.
Item 2 I don't know what tradeoffs you might have to put up with. Has
anyone else used/worked with STACKER? Appreciate any thoughts.
Frank Starr
55srwlgs@sacemnet.af.mil
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 90 09:08:55 IST
From: Seth Ward <RHLH710%HAIFAUVM.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Text Formatter
I recently looked at a PD "Text Formatter" program for PC's. It
appeared to be exactly the type of thing I need except that my purposes
will be better served by a *shareware* version whose language is closer
to SCRIPT/VM, UW SCRIPT, IBM SCRIPT, etc., and/or to the GML/SGML/DCF
tags.
We had some discussion of SGML here a while back. Some respondents
kindly sent references to literature which I have been unable to locate
- anything available from Trickles or as documentation from some
bitnet/arpanet edunet/othernet bulletin board service?
I know that it has been recommended that using TeX will provide what I
need: files which will work on my PC for everyday printing but print
with special characters, formatting controlled by commands at the
University printer, which is normally addressed by SCRI/DCF files. But
I have much material which is committed to SCRIPT format and will not
have time for a while to learn intricacies of TeX.
Thanks.
Seth Ward
Haifa
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End of Info-IBMPC Digest V91 #2
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