Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL ("Info-IBMPC Digest") (07/24/90)
Info-IBMPC Digest Tue, 24 Jul 90 Volume 90 : Issue 114 Today's Editor: Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <GHICKS@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil> Today's Topics: 80386/80486 compiler AT Disk Controllers are going Bad BOLAND TURBO C++ Sending mail to COMPUSERVE Users (2 msgs) Conflicting 'prompt' and 'echo off' commands in BAT-file Converting from Release 1A to Release 3 of Lotus 123 Converting TAR-Z files to DOS format GRAPH update Hardware Signature (2 msgs) HP DeskJet freezes with Zenith XT Reading the Parallel Port Two Hard disk controlers in one machine... Upgrading an IBM PS/2-60 to 386 Send Replies or notes for publication to: <INFO-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Send requests of an administrative nature (addition to, deletion from the distribution list, et al) to: <INFO-IBMPC-REQUEST@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> The Simtel20 Archives discussed are available from: WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL (see file PD1:<MSDOS.FILEDOCS>AAAREAD.ME details on file directories and descriptions.) Problems with files obtained from the Archives should be addressed to: <ACTION@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available by FTP only from WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL in directory PD2:<ARCHIVES.IBMPC>. WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL can be accessed using LISTSERV commands from BITNET via LISTSERV@NDSUVM1, LISTSERV@RPIECS and in Europe from EARN TRICKLE servers. Send commands to TRICKLE@<host-name> (example: TRICKLE@TREARN). The following TRICKLE servers are presently available: AWIWUW11 (Austria), BANUFS11 (Belgium), DKTC11 (Denmark), DB0FUB11 or DTUZDV1 (Germany), IMIPOLI (Italy), EB0UB011 (Spain), TAUNIVM (Israel), and TREARN (Turkey). SIMTEL20 is not accessable on the first Wednesday of each month from 6-8pm Eastern Standard Time. If you are unable to access SIMTEL20 via Internet FTP or through one of the BITNET/EARN file servers, most MSDOS SIMTEL20 files, including the PC-Blue collection, are available for downloading on the Detroit Download Central network at 313-885-3956. DDC is a networked system with multiple lines that support 300, 1200, 2400, and 9600 bps (HST). This system is a subscription system with an average hourly cost of 17 cents per hour. It is also accessable on Telenet via PC Pursuit and on Tymnet via StarLink outdial. New files uploaded to WSMR-SIMTEL20 are usually available on DDC within 24 hours. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 19 Jul 90 18:57:57 BST From: Nino Margetic <nino@mph.sm.ucl.ac.uk> Subject: 80386/80486 compiler Is anyone aware of a 80386/80486 specific compiler for MSDOS? What puzzles me is that even the new TurboC++ doesn't have a 80386/486 switch built in! --Nino Janet: nino@uk.ac.ucl.sm.mph \ Nino Margetic Earn/Bitnet: nino%mph.sm.ucl.ac.uk@ukacrl.bitnet \ Dept. of Medical Physics Internet: nino%mph.sm.ucl.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk \ University College London Uucp: ....!mcvax!ukc!ucl-mph!nino \ Tel: (+44)(071) 380-9846 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 90 6:01:57 CDT From: david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp) Subject: AT Disk Controllers are going Bad In Reply to this Note From: <levitz%sunrise.biu.ac.il@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> >I am having a similar problem. >I have a blue AT 8Mhz, and the 360 drive does not write. >Do you know what is the faulty component in the controller? That is the most common failure mode. You will also find that the 1.2MB drive does not work in 360K mode. No, sorry, I have done no board-level diagnosis. On some systems, it seems to be related to the use of the first slot. It is not enough to use a different slot - you must get a new controller. You should probably insert the new controller in a different slot, since the first slot could damage the new controller. -David- Internet: david%wubios@wugate.wustl.edu ^ Mr. David J. Camp uucp: ...!uunet!wugate!wubios!david < * > Box 8067, Biostatistics Washington University (314) 36-23635 v 660 South Euclid Avenue Saint Louis, MO 63110 ------------------------------ Date: 18 Jul 90 08:46:00 CDT From: "Rogers, Anthony" <rogersa@tawc1.eglin.af.mil> Subject: BOLAND TURBO C++ Would like to know if there are any problems installing TURBO C++. I included D:\TC\BIN; in my path and even went to that directory to execute TC and received an error ("Bad command or file name"). The TC.EXE file exists but for some reason isn't executed. Help !!! Lt. Tony Rogers USAF Tatical Air Warfare Center INTERNET: ROGERSA@TAWC1.EGLIN.AF.MIL (129.61.5.1) PHONE (904) 882-4100 AUTOVON 872-4100 (904) 882-4600 872-4600 ------------------------------ Date: 20 Jul 90 01:13:00 CDT From: "840CSGSSS" <840csgsss@sacemnet.af.mil> Subject: Sending mail to COMPUSERVE Users Greetings. Is it possible to send mail to CompuServe addresses? While we're at it; how about other services like GEnie, etc.? If yes, the particulars would be appreciated. jmdrew 840CSGSSS@sacemnet.af.mil ------------------------------ Date: 23 July 90 01:13:01 GMT From: Gregory Hicks <ghicks@wsmr-simtel20.army.mil> Subject: Sending mail to COMPUSERVE Users Regarding the note from J M Drew <840csgsss@sacemnet.af.mil>: It is possible to send messages to COMPUSERVE users. Here's some info: The way you get to Compuserve is via X-25 (your PTT's packet switching network). here it's called TELEPAC, probably something similar there. You CAN send Internet messages to individual users, using: USERID.PPN@compuserve.com (note the '.' seperating the two parts of the userid(ppn), on Compuserve, they use a ',' comma there). Addresses in the form of FOO@BAR.CompuServe.COM are being seen more and more on the Internet, and almost all sites recognise them. They indicate a person named FOO who works for a company who has been given a code of BAR and that uses CompuServe's InfoPlex (now CompuServe Mail) business email service. Addresses in the form of 11111.2222@CompuServe.COM indicate a subscriber to the CompuServe Information Service who's account number is 11111,2222 and is a user of CIS's EasyPlex (also now named CompuServe Mail). [canned response #3267: "How to reach people inside CompuServe via email"...] CompuServe subscriber accounts, being numeric of the form "7xxxx,yyy," can be reached via email by addressing the mail to 7xxxx.yyy@compuserve.com Note the trading of `.' where `,' would have been. This keeps the syntax conformant with the relevant Internet RFCs. CompuServe employees are (in general) reachable under the csi.compuserve.com subdomain; thus, address such mail to username@csi.compuserve.com >>>>If your host doesn't believe in the existence of "compuserve.com" >>>>(BITNET VM and MILNet UNIX users, take note), then you can either [a] >>>>upgrade your system's mail software to use nameserver MX records or >>>>[b] route your mail "manually," thus: >>>> 7xxxx.yyy%compuserve.com@saqqara.cis.ohio-state.edu >>>>You may even have to resort to using "tut" instead of "saqqara." >>>>Option [a] is far preferable, and will be REQUIRED in the VERY NEAR >>>>FUTURE. Please read RFC1031, section titled "MIGRATION TIMETABLE". CompuServe's mailers accept items up to about 50Kbytes each. Note that this is somewhat smaller than people tend to be used to on the Internet. As of March 8th, 1990, there was no charge to anyone for use of this gateway. CompuServe subscribers are still billed their usual hourly rate for connect time, but there is no gateway-specific surcharge. It is possible to reach MCI mail people. Just do: As of late last year, there was no charge for sending mail from the Internet to MCI Mail. In order to send mail to users on MCI Mail, use one of the following addresses: accountname@mcimail.com -or- mci_id@mcimail.com -or- full_user_name@mcimail.com Don't know much about GEnie or the other services you mention. If someone DOES know, please drop me a line and I'll add it to my FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) File. Regards, Gregory Hicks ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Jul 90 11:47 MET From: "Jim Groeneveld, NIPG TNO." <GROENEVELD%TNO.NL@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> Subject: Conflicting 'prompt' and 'echo off' commands in BAT-file Dear Ben <U070011@HNYKUN11>, { I write this reply to you in English instead of Dutch, because I also will send it to the IBMPC-L digest for general interest. } With regard to your problem concerning "conflicting 'prompt' and 'echo off' commands in BAT-file" I have the following remarks: 1. Gregory Hicks is right stating within your message that ECHO should be ON to activate the temporary prompts by displaying them on the screen. (Nothing will appear on the screen, however, because the definitions do not show; they only are 'remembered' when sent to the screen.) 2. Within your Bat-file you could have ECHO ON just before the PROMPTs and ECHO OFF right after them. 3. At the end you empty the environment string PROMPT giving it its minimal default form (C>). You might SET PROMPT $P$G for a better one (C:\>). (If you really want a nice prompt try this one (by me): prompt $e[s$e[0;30;47m$e[;49H$e[K $d $t$h$h$h$e[H$p $e[u$e[0;37;40m$n$g (including embedded spaces) and accomodate it eventually to your preferred colours.) 4. Instead of redefining keys via (temporary) PROMPT commands, which is rather cumbersome, you might send the desired redefinitions to the screen by e.g.: ECHO OFF ECHO @[0;73;"PgUp";13p@[0;81;"PgDn";13p which is sent to the screen even if ECHO is OFF (with ECHO ON it is being sent twice, which should be avoided because it takes also twice the space; definitions are not overwritten and there is only room for 192 bytes of definitions. I already sent a message concerning this matter to IBMPC-L.) In these commands the @-characters indicates the ESCAPE character itself! Such characters may be entered using any editor allowing for entering control characters themselves, such as PC-Write, by holding down the Alt key and pressing 2 and 7 successively on the numeric keyboard (Alt-27). From EDLIN the ESC may be entered by pressing Ctrl-V and [, initially displayed as ^V[ and, when redisplayed, as ^[. Your line may then look like: ECHO ^[[0;73;"PgUp";13p^[[0;81;"PgDn";13p Gregory Hicks is right in stating that it is next to impossible, if not impossible to send the <esc> character (chr$(27)) from the command line to ANSI.SYS. But it is possible though from within BATch files using the method just described. Other alternatives to do so, even from the command line, are using programs called SAY, DISPLAY, XECHO or something like that, which allow for a syntax similar to for example: DISPLAY 27,91,48,59,........... etc. or: DISPLAY 27,"[0;73;",34,"PgUp",34,";13p",27,"[0;81;",34,"PgDn",34,";13p" Characters may be entered literally by enclosing them in (double) quotes or by entering their byte value. If the quote itself cannot be entered literally it must be entered by its value (34 for a double quote). 5. Another alternative is to send those definitions by TYPE FILENAME.EXT, in which the file FILENAME.EXT contains the definitions in the form as presented above but without the ECHO itself. Such a file should only be TYPEd once; it shows nothing on the screen except for empty lines due to CRLF's within the file if the definitions are contained on different lines. I have a BASIC program to quickly develop such definition files without having to know the coding to use. I also have sent it to you (.ZIP/.UUE). I hope to have helped you this way improving your method redefining keys via ANSI.SYS. Succes ermee en hoor ik nog iets van de bevindingen? Regards - Jim Groeneveld. | NIPG TNO <work>: Y. Groeneveld (call name: Jim) <home>| GROENEVELD@TNO.NL | | Postbus 124 | Wassenaarseweg 56 | Schoolweg 14 | GROENEVELD@HDETNO51 | | 2300 AC Leiden | 2333 AL Leiden | 8071 BC Nunspeet | TNOSUR::GROENEVELD | | Nederland (NL) : (+31|0)71-178810 | (+31|0)3412-60413| RULTNO::JIM | ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Jul 90 13:52 EST From: <TLEWIS%UTKVX2.BITNET@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU> Subject: Converting from Release 1A to Release 3 of Lotus 123 I have a couple of people on campus who are upgrading from a DEC Rainbow to an IBM PS-2. They are currently running MS-DOS on the rainbows and are running release 1A of Lotus 123. When the PS-2 is purchased, they are looking at buying release 3 of Lotus. Now for the question.... Can I simply transfer the worksheets from the rainbow to the PS-2 and everything will be okay? Basically, will Release 3 read Release 1A without any problems? Terry Lewis University of Tennessee Martin, Tennessee 38238 TLEWIS@UTKVX ------------------------------ Date: 19 Jul 90 08:48:00 EDT From: "WOODRUFF, ROBERT" <rwoodruff@paxrv-nes.navy.mil> Subject: Converting TAR-Z files to DOS format Hi! Thanks for keeping all of the files you keep on the network for us out here in network land. I teach a compiler course and use a commercial version of LEX and YACC for the PC. I would very much like to examine the source code with the students and have downloaded both BERK-YACC.TAR-Z and BISON.TAR-Z. Unfortunately, I can't read the compressed TAR format and neither can our local SUN UNIX workstation. Is there a DOS program you know of that will do this? Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. Bob Woodruff ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Jul 90 08:07:16 EDT From: Jim Van Zandt <jrv@MBUNIX.MITRE.ORG> Subject: GRAPH update I have uploaded revised versions of my GRAPH program to SIMTEL20: pd1:<msdos.graph> GRAPH321.ZIP Scientific graphics - executables and docs GRAPHSRC.ZIP GRAPH v3.21 scientific graphics, Turbo C src They replace all previous files in pd1:<msdos.graph>. Switches may be placed in an environment variable as well as a script file. A script file can now be referenced as "@foo" as well as "-f foo". Script files may include comments. The hard copy versions (for Houstin Instruments and Hewlett Packard plotters, and LIPS-10 and PostScript printers) can now accept their parameters from a file. NOTE: I no longer have convenient access to either plotter, or the LIPS-10 printer, so those versions are untested. Please check them out before discarding your existing versions, and let me know of any problems. All the executable files have been compressed with LZEXE. - Jim Van Zandt ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Jul 90 0:53:40 EST From: "Mark Bramwell" <Mark@ARDSLEY.Business.UWO.CA> Subject: Hardware Signature > From: Lee Teng Kiat <kiat@hpsgk1.hp.com> > I am working on something that requires me to uniquely identify > each PC in an office. Is there any kind of hardware signature much like > our finger prints that distinguish machines of the same make and > configuration? I would really appreciate any kind of help Thanks. Are you using a network? I have a small novell program in Turbo Pascal that reads the rom address in network cards. Mark Bramwell, VE3PZR Located in sunny London, Ontario Internet: Mark@ARDSLEY.business.uwo.ca IP Address: 129.100.29.33 Packet: VE3PZR @ VE3GYQ UWO Phone: (519) 661-3714 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Jul 90 17:14:02 EDT From: Leonard Abbey <LABBEY@GTRI01.gatech.edu> Subject: Hardware Signature Kiat, the usual way to identify a particular computer is to set an environment variable via the autoexec.bat file. Any program can then read the id. Syntax is: SET ID=### where ### is the computer's id number. Leonard Abbey Georgia Tech Research Institute labbey@gtri01.gatech.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Jul 90 16:36 PST From: <CHUCKM%UCRVMS.BITNET@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU> Subject: HP DeskJet freezes with Zenith XT Hello: In the main campus library here at UCR, there are several Zenith XT's (as well as other assorted IBM clones) each of which has a HP DeskJet printer. Each also has a CD-ROM, containing a database of reference information. The problem (only seen so far on the Zeniths) is as follows: On occasion, (about once per month per machine), the Zenith will no longer be able to print to its printer. The cursor scans the screen during a PrtScn, but nothing goes out to the printer. The only way found to fix this is to physically remove the printer, plug it into one of the other clones, print something to it, and then plug it back into its original machine. This has apparently been happening for about four months, and the workaround clears it up, but I wonder why it happens! Could this be a virus? Oh, by the way, after the machine won't print anymore, switching another working printer to the non-printing machine doesn't work. What it DOES do is make it so that the second printer won't print either! The Zeniths have MS-DOS version 3.21; I couldn't check the DOS version for the other clones, as they have no access to a DOS prompt from those machines. I used the SCAN program to look on the Zeniths for a virus and found none. Any help or pointers would be greatly appreciated. If you respond to me please also info the List and I'll summarize whatever I hear to the list in a short while. Thanks again! Chuck ++++ Chuck McDaniels, Systems Consultant, Phone: (714) 787-4711 ++++ ++++ Univ. of California, Riverside BITNET: ChuckM@UCRVMS ++++ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 17 Jul 90 18:24:12 EDT From: srchtec!johnb@salestech.com (John Baldwin) Subject: Reading the Parallel Port (In reference to the messages from Gerhardt Vogt <vogt@embl.bitnet> and Rick Beebe <beebe@yalemed.bitnet> contained in Info-IBMPC Digest V90 #104 I submit the following: Actually, the centronics parallel port 'spec makes it clear that the port IS supposed to be bidirectional (signalling such things as "paper out" and the like.) The problem is, NOT ALL MANUFACTURERS FOLLOWED ALL PARTS OF THE SPECIFICATION. (re-read that.) While working for a previous employer, I ran into a problem interrogating a security device (aka "dongle") on some machines. I did quite a bit of legwork, but finally one of the engineers who designed the security device was able to tell me what the problem was, and recommend a field mod to get some of our client sites up and running. If you know what hardware your code will run on (as in personal-use-only) you should be fine. "What works, works." But if your code will be used on a lot of different machines, you're probably in for a hairy ride --- a lot of those parallel ports will be the "broken" variety, output only. John T. Baldwin search technology, inc. johnb@srchtec.uucp ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Jul 90 13:08:07 EDT From: "John A. Potelle" <potelle@maine.maine.edu> Subject: Two Hard disk controlers in one machine... I recently tried this using a Zenith 159 (IBM PC/XT clone) that had a half-hight Segate ST-255 20meg hard disk. I was attempting to add a 'hard card' type 20meg hard disk. This is a hard disk and controler board that is inserted into a bus slot. The hard card was a CMS 21 Hard disk and I didn't have any documetation. After calling several HD and controler manufacturers, I finally found out that STRICTLY IBM compatible controlers will NOT co-exist with other controler. I had another 'hard card' (a 20meg FLASHCARD using a Mini-scribe drive and a Winchester controler (if I remember correctly). I attempted to install *this* instead of the CMS 21 hard card. Again, the same problem. (Though I *was* able to install the FLASHCARD and the CMS 21 card in a different ZENITH that had no hard disk to start with, only two floppy drives; thus *some* controlers *will* co-exist). Looking though the documetation for the FLASHCARD (which I found by accident; never received the documentation for the CMS 21), I found that was the FLASHCARD controler was able to control *two* hard disks. So I removed the original hard disk controler card and piped both hard disks through the FLASHCARD controler. This is working very well. I hope this helps some... John A. Potelle / BITNET: POTELLE@MAINE Computer Programmer /__ Internet: potelle@maine.maine.edu Office of Institutional Studies - University of Maine ------------------------------ Date: 19 Jul 90 12:24:09 GMT From: crosson@LOCAL.cam.nist.gov (Bob Crosson) Subject: Upgrading an IBM PS/2-60 to 386 I am trying to upgrade my IBM PS/2 model 60 to a 386 machine. I ordered a plug-in processor board called the MicroMaster 386 from a AOX Incorporated, 486 Totten Pond Rd., Walthan, MA 02514, (617) 890-4402. The boards come in various flavors depending on the amount of on board memory and the CPU clock speeds. I ordered a 33MHz board in the spring, but they're having trouble delivering. What the trouble is I don't know. The delivery date keeps slipping. I'm supposed to get a 25MHz loaner soon so when it arrives I'll let you know how it goes. Eventually I hope to run Unix on it, but for now it'll be DOS 3.3. Bob Crosson crosson@cam.nist.gov ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest V90 #114 ********************************* -------