Info-IBMPC@C.ISI.EDU.UUCP (05/22/87)
Info-IBMPC Digest Thursday, 21 May 1987 Volume 6 : Issue 38 This Week's Editor: Billy Brackenridge Today's Topics: 720K 3.5" floppy with DOS 3.3 PS/2 Model 50 & 60 Tech Ref Available PROMPT.E REVERT.E STICKY.E VISBELL.E EEL Code for Lugaru's Epsilon Nota Bene 286 Accelerator boards for XT Desktop Publishing Books CED solves Backspace and long DOS Command Lines US Hardware/Software in Asia EMM and DMA More on the ANSI question Defeating Model 339 ROM POST Today's Queries: Hard Disk Security Software Info on Olivetti M24 Codeview EGA Problem Sharing a hard drive between an AT and PS/2 Model 50 IBM PC AT keyboard Format of GEM Paint files Word 2 Micro Version of Waterloo SCRIPT 2.01 Continuing problems with SIMTEL20/BITNET/YTERM and KERMIT COM_PKG2 using MS Pascal Calling Conventions Device Sharing Equipment for Laser Jet IBMPC Proms? INFO-IBMPC BBS Phone Numbers: (213)827-2635 (213)827-2515 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To: Weinstein@HI-MULTICS.ARPA Subject: 720K 3.5" floppy with DOS 3.3 Date: Wed, 20 May 87 11:43:27 EDT From: Mark Colan <mtc@ATHENA.MIT.EDU> > Subject: 720K 3.5" floppy with DOS 3.3 > > How does one configure a 3.5" floppy on an AT type system using DOS 3.3. > > I have tried several device directives in my config.sys, however I have > never hit the correct method. > > Can someone suggest the correct approach... I want to make the drive a > 720K floppy all the time.. just like the IBM Model 30 drive. You did not say exactly what the problem was. Are you are trying to install an IBM internal or external 3.5" drive into an IBM PC/AT? If so, I have done that recently (for the internal drive) and came across a few gotchas. NOTE: I used DOS 3.2, and there could be (but probably are not) differences. 1. The drive is installed using the cables for drive B, same as if it were an auxiliary 5-1/4" drive I did that, and formatted a disk, and it said 362,nnn bytes free. I want twice that, please. 2. You need to run a reasonably current version of the AT Diagnostics to tell Setup about the existence of a 720Kb drive. Still thinks its 362,nnn bytes 3. You need to install DEVICE=DRIVER.SYS with a few switches which should be documented in the DOS 3.3 manual. Mark Colan MIT Project Athena ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 May 87 03:17:40 pdt From: ucbcad!ames!lll-tis!lll-lcc.arpa!well!nortond@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU Subject: PS/2 Model 50 & 60 Tech Ref Available I just received my PS/2 Model 50 & 60 Technical Reference. It is divided into nine sections: Section 1 - System Description Section 2 - Micro Channel (tm) Architecture Section 3 - System Board Section 4 - System Board I/O Controllers Section 5 - Power Supply Section 6 - Keyboard Section 7 - 80286 & 80287 Instruction Sets Section 8 - Characters and Keystrokes Section 9 - Compatibility The list of items on their "Suggested Reading" list includes a Model 50 "Quick Reference" and a Model 60 "Quick Reference" which were not provided. Daniel A. Norton ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 May 87 15:00:45 pdt From: Robert Lenoil <lenoil%apple.csnet@RELAY.CS.NET> Posted-Date: Tue, 19 May 87 15:00:45 pdt Subject: PROMPT.E REVERT.E STICKY.E VISBELL.E EEL Code for Lugaru's Epsilon PROMPT.E The enclosed file, PROMPT.E, implements the PROMPT command which was present in Epsilon versions prior to 3.0. It is an anachronism, but is required by some keyboard macros that existed prior to Epsilon's programmable days, most notably ERROR.MAC, in the info-ibmpc EEL library. REVERT.E The enclosed file, REVERT.E, implements the good 'ol revert-buffer command, which will re-read the visited file into the buffer, throwing away any changes. STICKY.E The enclosed file, STICKY.E, implements sticky file defaulting for Epsilon. In other words, file operations (find-file, dired, etc.) are implicitly relative to the directory associated with the current buffer, or the current DOS directory, if the current buffer does not contain a file. VISBELL.E The enclosed file, VISBELL.E, implements the visible-bell feature for Epsilon. When visible bell is on (via the visible-bell command), the screen will flash instead of the bell beeping. The flash unfortunately is very slow; if someone comes up with a better method, please let me know. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 May 1987 19:12:28 EDT From: FAC0395%UOFT01.BITNET@BERKELEY.EDU (Joe Feustle) Subject: Nota Bene Since several colleagues have asked me, NOTA BENE is published by Dragonfly Software 409 Fulton Street, Suite 202 Brooklyn, NY 11201 PHONE (718) 624-0127 I purchased my copy through the Modern Language Association of America where my membership gave me a reduced (?) purchase price of about $390.00. I am certain that Dragonfly Software can suggest other suppliers. N.B. I have no contact with Dragonfly other than that of a VERY pleased user of their program. J. Feustle University of Toledo FAC0395@UOFT01 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 May 87 09:12:16 edt From: jkerby@nswc-wo.arpa To: archerb%umkcvax1@wiscvm.wisc.edu Subject: 286 Accelerator boards for XT I have been using a PCturbo 286e from Orchid Technologies in a Zenith 158 for some time now (several months). The only problem that I have encountered is that the clock/calendar (Quadboard from Quadram) seems to lose it's brains occasionally and can't remember the correct date or time. This has proven to be a minor nuisance. In addition, the board does not work properly with Zenith's version of MS-DOS; I had to buy a copy of PC-DOS. The board DOES NOT WORK WITH AN ADAPTEC 2070 RLL ENCODED HARD DISK CONTROLLER! I hasten to add that the technical support people at Orchid told me both of these things (I discussed DOS before I bought the board and found out that all hard disk controllers are not alike after I bought the board). All in all, I'm pleased with how it works now that the bugs have been resolved. Standard disclaimer applies. Hope this helps! Fred Kerby jkerby@nswc-wo.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 May 87 10:04:39 EST From: Jim Tedeschi <JTT58%ALBNYVM1.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu> Subject: Desktop Publishing Books To: INFO-IBMPC@C.ISI.EDU Many applications have poor documentation. In some of these instances books have been published which augment the DOC that comes with the application. For example, Tips and Tricks in Using WordPerfect is far better than the Manual. My question here is: are there books that add to the documentation for such IBMPC desktop publications as Pagemaker, Ventura Publishing, ClickArt Publisher, etc? If there are sufficient recommendation to warrant it, I will compile the list for the NET. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 May 1987 09:08:42 LCL From: NESCC%NERVM.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu (Scott C Crumpton) Subject: CED solves Backspace and long DOS Command Lines Try using the public domain utility CED. With this utility and DOS 3.1 I have no problem with the backspace and wrapped command lines. There is also a commercial version of this program called PCED from the same author. A small section of the CED manual follows. ---Scott. ========================== CED - DOS Command Editor User's Guide Version 1.0 ========================== Copyright (c) 1985 Christopher J. Dunford 10057-2 Windstream Drive Columbia, Maryland 21044 (301) 992-9371 Purpose ------- Ced (which stands for Command EDitor) provides the following functions at the DOS prompt, or from within certain applications programs: -- Improved command line editing facility. -- Recall of previously issued commands for re-entry. -- Command synonyms, which may include "chaining" of a series of commands. -- Parameterization of synonym commands. -- Recall of parameters for previously issued commands. -- User-settable buffer sizes for all functions. -- For programmers, a facility to add new "resident" commands to the DOS shell. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 May 87 10:51:49 EDT From: <ALLSOP%WATACS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu> Subject: US Hardware/Software in Asia We have a visiting professor from Japan who brought his own computer with him (an NEC98xx)(!) He has had the following hardware problems: - Voltage standards are not the same ... so he needed a transformer. - Once the voltage was sorted out he had problems with the screen size on his monitor (only used part of screen), and some sort of timing problems with his clock(s) and disk drives. We are still trying to figure this one out. (Line frequency differences?). As far as software is concerned he claims that his use of MS-DOS is somewhat unusual, CP/M being more popular in Japan. He had never heard of KERMIT, although it is available for a few select machines in Japan (most of which run CP/M). For moving this stuff across the pond our visitor purchased part of a container on a ship. Ship transport was the cheapest, and he got to supervise the packing of the container. Peter Allsop Biochemical Engineering Group Department of Chemical Engineering University of Waterloo ------------------------------ Date: 21 May 1987 10:35:13 CDT From: U17199%UICVM.bitnet@wiscvm.wisc.edu Subject: EMM and DMA Some Expanded Memory boards for AT's (e.g. Intel Above Board) are configurable for Expanded Memory, or extended memory, or some of each. Extended memory is BUS addressable, Expanded memory is only addressable through the mapped pages, at least on any boards I have seen or read about. Configuration requires setting DIP switches, and running SETUP to tell the PC about the extended memory (if any ). Andrew J. Cohen U17199@UICVM University of Illinois at Chicago 996-8205, 996-5723 ------------------------------ Date: 21 May 1987 10:42:35 CDT From: U17199%UICVM.bitnet@wiscvm.wisc.edu Subject: More on the ANSI question As I understand it the ANSI codes were based on the VT100 terminal control sequences. So the discussion of VT100's is relevant. There are some places where actual VT100's behave differently from terminals claiming compliance with x3.64 (tabs with cursor at tab column-1 comes to mind!) Also , I believe the ANSI standard specifies some set of terminal be available (erase from cursor to end of line e.g.) I should confess these are ideas picked up from dealing with various "ANSI standard terminals" rather than reading the standard. " When all else fails ... read the directions !" Andrew J. Cohen U17199@UICVM University of Illinois at Chicago ------------------------------ To: Photios_Ioannou@um.cc.umich.edu Subject: Defeating Model 339 ROM POST Date: Wed, 20 May 87 19:52:50 EDT From: Joseph A. Cimmino Jr. <jac@umd5.UMD.EDU> Well, as far as I know, the "clock crystal cripple" first showed up in the second lot of 6Mhz ATs (the so called "Type 2 system board"). The "second revision" tech ref I have (6280070) has the code that looks like your culprit. Refer to page 5-46, in routine TEST1, top of the page. The refresh cycle is measured and a POST error signaled if the rate isn't in the limits RATE_LOWER..RATE_UPPER. The routine starts in ROM at F000:05A3. Hardware side note: The original PC had a 14.31818 Mhz crystal, the 8284 clock chip did a divide by 3 to get the 4.77 Mhz CPU clock. The 14 Mhz was fed to the bus (pin B30) and used by the CGA to generate a dot clock. The CPU clock was further divided by four to run an 8253 timer. The programmable cycle of the timer triggers a DMA channel to refresh the RAM. In the AT, the 14 Mhz clock is duplicated solely to run the 8254 timer and provide the 14 Mhz (now asynchronous) signal for the bus. Since the refresh clock is fixed, we can sample it and determine the CPU speed in relation. Hope this helps. Joseph A. Cimmino, Jr. University of Maryland, Systems jac@umd5.umd.edu 1+ 301 454 2946 PC/IP Group cimminoj@umdd.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 May 1987 13:10 PDT From: JGTP003%CALSTATE.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu Subject: Hard Disk Security Software Does anyone have any experience with software which will allow one to make specific subdirectories on a hard disk read-only? (IBM PC compatible software) Glenn Zwinger (213/498-5403) Academic Computing Coordinator California State University, Long Beach JGTP003@CALSTATE.BITNET [Use any one of the various programs in the library that sets attribute bits. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: 19 May 87 14:33:00 EST From: "CUGINI, JOHN" <cugini@icst-ecf.arpa> Subject: Info on Olivetti M24 Can anyone point me to an article reviewing the Olivetti M24 ? I'd be grateful for this or any other information, especially any problems to watch out for, e.g, incompatibilities with IBM, unreliable components, etc. ad...THANKS...vance. John Cugini <Cugini@icst-ecf.arpa> ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 May 87 21:43:10 PDT From: larry@Jpl-VLSI.ARPA Subject: Codeview EGA Problem I was very happy with Microsoft's Codeview debugger--until I replaced my Hercules / monochrome monitor with a Victor-7 EGA / NEC Multisync combination. Now when I start Codeview I get a lime-green border, light-green background, and magenta foreground. Even worse, when I begin execution of the program I'm trying to debug, both foreground and background within the windows for the command and source text goes black! Though Codeview continues to respond to commands, I can't see the result of them. Does anyone have any idea what's going on? I've scoured the Codeview manual for EGA references, but they are few and unhelpful. Also, I've tried several different option combinations with no success, including /Flipping versus /Swapping for screen exchanging. Larry @ jpl-vlsi.arpa ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 May 87 10:03:06 EDT From: G B Reilly <reilly@facman.wharton.upenn.edu> To: info-ibmpc@c.isi.edu Subject: Sharing a hard drive between an AT and PS/2 Model 50 Has anyone seen a product that allows the transport of a hard drive between a PS/2 Model 50 and an AT? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 May 87 08:58:36 MST From: "Kelvin Nilsen" <kelvin@arizona.edu> Subject: IBM PC AT keyboard Does anyone have access to a technical reference manual that describes the scan codes of F11 and F12? I've written a small program that prints the scan codes of keys as they're depressed, but on a Compaq 386, this program doesn't even seem to recognize that I've typed these keys. I've concluded that either the Compaq 386 doesn't correctly implement these keys or that there is a new BIOS entry for dealing with them. If the latter, what's the entry and how would I recognize that a particular machine has the newer BIOS? thanks much, i will summarize if you send responses directly to me. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 May 87 21:22:06 ECT From: KALLE%NORUNIT.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu Subject:Sigma Color 400 and Windows SIGMA COLOR 400 CARD for the IBM-PC/XT/AT using WINDOWS Problem : "I am trying to use the above mentioned card with Hi-Res (640*400 pixels) with 16 colors, with WINDOWS package software.... Having no driver for this screen-card the installation is hopeless. Question: "Has anyone heard of (having themselves or knowing where it may be obtained from) a driver for this card (WINDOWS-compatible) - public domain or licensed/private)...??" Answers : Please spool these to KALLE at NORUNIT on BITNET (or phone: +47 7 59 3177) Thanx in advance..... -Kalle ------------------------------ Date: 20 May 1987 17:54:20-EDT (Wednesday) From: "Victor S. Miller" <VICTOR%YKTVMX.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu> Subject: Format of GEM Paint files Can anybody tell me the information contained in GEM Paint files? From inspecting them it appears that after some header information they are just raster images. Victor S. Miller -- victor@ibm.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 May 1987 19:31:26 EDT From: FAC0395%UOFT01.BITNET@BERKELEY.EDU (Joe Feustle) Subject: Word 2 Micro Version of Waterloo SCRIPT 2.01 MicroCom Systems (Palo Alto) distributes a public domain disk that they call WORD 2. It contains a micro version of Waterloo Script (SCRIPT 2.01). The program was apparently created by an outfit named Modular Software Designs (last known address--Santa Clara, CA). That company calls the program PC_SCRIPT. The copy distributed by MicroCom Systems will produce formatted output on the screen but will NOT send it to the printer or to another disk file. Does anyone know how to obtain a copy of the program that WILL produce printer output? Many thanks, J. Feustle University of Toledo FAC0395@UOFT01.BITNET ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 May 87 21:38:31 cet From: CHADM1%UCONNVM.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu Subject: Continuing problems with SIMTEL20/BITNET/YTERM and KERMIT Thank you, readers who have sent messages attempting to help me with SIMTEL downloading problems using BITNET. Unfortunately, I'm still stuck. It appears as if there are two different problems. First, there are BLANKS in the UUE files that have come from SIMTEL to our local IBM system. My copy of UUENCODE contains code which substitutes a right facing accent (not the standard apostrophe) for a blank in the output of a UUE file, so when I attempt to UUENCODE a file locally, it contains *NO* blanks. Since the SIMTEL records (in EBCDIC) contain blanks, I conclude that something terrible has occurred in route. Am I wrong? Second, when I download a file using YTERM to a PC, certain EBCDIC characters are translated to ASCII zero. Backslash (X'E0') becomes ASCII zero. Clearly, YTERM is doing something strange. I have used KERMIT to download, and this problem disappears, but KERMIT is very clumsy in full screen mode (on the 370) without the proper .INI file, and sure enough, I don't have it. Does anyone happen to have a copy of the .INI file which would give proper KEY definitions for the XEDIT/CMS environment (full screen)? I would appreciate a copy if someone has worked it out (thanks in advance). Third, oh yes, I lied, I am forced to KEDIT the downloaded .UUE files to set the logical record length to 61, stripping off one character from the BITNET version. My problem is with the next to the last line of the file, which appears blank to me. Should it be blank? Has anyone worked out these details for transferring SIMTEL files through the ARPA-BITNET gateway, and downloading (through either YTERM or KERMIT) to an IBM-PC? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Carl W. David CHADM1@UCONNVM [I have forwarded this on the Kermit people at Columbia. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 May 87 7:47:06 EDT From: G B Reilly <reilly@facman.wharton.upenn.edu> Subject: COM_PKG2 using MS Pascal Calling Conventions Has anyone converted COM_PKG2 to use MS Pascal calling conventions? [This can't be more than an hour's job. There are plenty of examples of the Pascal interface in the library. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 May 87 09:50:56 EDT From: Deba Patnaik <DEBA%UMDC.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu> Subject: Device Sharing Equipment for Laser Jet I have to purchase a device sharing equipment for 6 PCs ( combination of XTs, PCs and Clones) to share one LJ Series II. I scanned through magazines and came up with these 3 products. If you have these equipment please mail me your experiences. Or if you have any other, I would like to know about them. 1. PSD: Peripheral Share Device from GLOBAL computer supplies It lets 3,5 or 7 PCs share one device. Parallel 3 port PSD costs $265, 5 ports - $365 and 7 ports - $445 Serial 3 port - $395, 5 port - $575 and 7 port - $695 It has no buffer. It scans each port. It has builtin line drivers - boosts transmission distance to 200 ft for parallel and 300 ft for serial. 2. BayTech Print Master 2 models: Buffered (512k standard - 1M) and Non buffered It comes with 19 different models. Prices for non-buffered device is all most same as PSD. You can share more than one printer or device by assigning the ports. At installation time ports can be configured for a device or a PC. The devices can be selected by some kind of code. 3. EasyLAN _ Networking using RS232C ports This product offers lot more than I need. For 2 PCs, it will cost $219. For 6 PCs it may cost a little more than $1000. Unlike the device sharing equipment, one of the PCs have to be used as a server and it provides file transfer capability between PCs, PBX support, etc. Please mail me your suggestions and experiences. I will summarize it if there is interest. --deba deba@UMDC.BITNET deba%umdc.binet@wiscvm.wisc.edu [Leave the least used PC permanently connected to the printer and walk down the hall with a floppy disk. -wab] ------------------------------ Date: 21 May 1987 11:40:46-EDT From: weikert@nadc Subject: IBMPC Proms? Does anyone know what (if any) EPROM will fit the 24-pin spare socket (U28) on the PC. I want to add some customized ROM code. I was surprised to find that it is 8K x 8 and is not an Intel 2764 or compatible chip. Response to weikert@nadc.arpa ------------------------------ End of Info-IBMPC Digest ************************ -------