JFORREST@simtel20.arpa (Jim Forrest) (12/19/85)
I have had no luck running BASICA on any of several IBM compatibles I have tried it o~rn, using PC-DOS 3.10. It just will not run. Most of the compatibles I have tried have the phoenix rom. Does BASICA check the ROM and bomb out due to it not being IBM, or is there a way to get it to run? Appreciate any advise. Jim -------
dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady) (12/20/85)
In article <872@brl-tgr.ARPA> JFORREST@simtel20.arpa (Jim Forrest) writes: >I have had no luck running BASICA on any of several IBM compatibles I >have tried it on, using PC-DOS 3.10. It just will not run. >Most of the compatibles I have tried have the phoenix rom. Does BASICA >check the ROM and bomb out due to it not being IBM, or is there a way >to get it to run? BASICA makes calls into ROM BASIC (a separate entity from the ROM BIOS Phoenix emulates) so it will not run an any clones. An IBM-compatible BASIC called GW BASIC is sold by Microsoft and by many clone-makers. Typical discounted price is about $70. Some compatibles, such as Compaq, come with GWBASIC (often called "BASICA"). By the way, there are two theories on what GW stands for. One is that it means "Gates, William" (Bill Gates in the Big Cheese in Microsoft), the other is that it stands for "Goshwow." -- D Gary Grady Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC 27706 (919) 684-3695 USENET: {seismo,decvax,ihnp4,akgua,etc.}!mcnc!ecsvax!dgary
johnl@ima.UUCP (12/20/85)
/* Written 8:13 am Dec 19, 1985 by JFORREST@brl-tgr in ima:net.micro */ > I have had no luck running BASICA on any of several IBM compatibles I > have tried it on, using PC-DOS 3.10. It just will not run. > Most of the compatibles I have tried have the phoenix rom. Does BASICA > check the ROM and bomb out due to it not being IBM, or is there a way > to get it to run? The genuine IBM PC, XT, and AT have a Basic interpreter in ROM, which the versions of Basic provided by IBM depend on. None of the clones that I've seen have Basic ROMs, so they all have different versions of Basic which are entirely in RAM. What this means is that, say, Compaq Basic will work on an IBM but IBM Basic won't work on a Compaq. John Levine, ima!johnl
farren@well.UUCP (Mike Farren) (12/20/85)
In article <872@brl-tgr.ARPA>, JFORREST@simtel20.arpa (Jim Forrest) writes: > I have had no luck running BASICA on any of several IBM compatibles I > have tried it o~rn, using PC-DOS 3.10. It just will not run. > Most of the compatibles I have tried have the phoenix rom. Does BASICA > check the ROM and bomb out due to it not being IBM, or is there a way > to get it to run? > Appreciate any advise. > ------- BASICA expects the presence of the cassette BASIC ROMs found in the IBM PC's. It uses several of the routines in the ROM, which is how it can be such a short binary. I know of no compatibles which have the BASIC ROM in place, so BASICA will not work on them. Try GW-BASIC instead (Microsoft's own version of BASICA). -- Mike Farren uucp: {dual, hplabs}!well!farren Fido: Sci-Fido, Fidonode 125/84, (415)655-0667 USnail: 390 Alcatraz Ave., Oakland, CA 94618
rde@ukc.UUCP (R.D.Eager) (12/22/85)
I always thought the GW in GW-BASIC stood for GeeWhiz. Let's ask Microsoft..
Are you listening, Microsoft?
--
Bob Eager
rde@ukc.UUCP
rde@ukc
...!mcvax!ukc!rde
Phone: +44 227 66822 ext 7589phco@ecsvax.UUCP (John Miller) (12/23/85)
The story I heard on GW-BASIC said that "GW" stands for "Gee, whiz!"
--
John Miller (ecsvax!phco)
Dept. of Pharmacology, Univ. of N.C.-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 966-4628