paulcn@idsvax.ids.com (Paul Coen) (06/28/91)
Heh. A possible reason, plus a question. Hope the theory isn't a repeat, but it's hard to tell since the local newsreader/UUCP combo sometimes truncates messages. There's a program called SYSID, or something to that effect, and a program based on it called INFO or SYSINFO. It's basically a piece of software that gives you some 15 screens of information on your hardware, DOS setup, etc. It's fairly useful. Except that it tells me that my Zenith z-157 has (guess what?) 35M of extended memory, as well as, if I remembmer correctly, a Micro Channel bus. Boy, wasn't Zenith ahead of their time? I've had a terrible time getting Desqview to recognize the 35M, though :-). My theory is that the hooks or memory location that the monitor program intrudes into somehow looks like extended memory, depending on how the software checks for the presence of the memory. This sort of problem could also partially explain why Zenith had to modify Windows 2.11 to run properly on Zenith PC's. Having a built-in debugger is great, but sometimes the compatability problems can be a pain. One example is on a 157 with 512K, Wordperfect 5.1 (which SHOULD run with 512K installed), works normally, until you have the gall to try to enter the thesaurus. Then, it dumps you into the monitor program and gives that pretty display of the memory registers. You type g for go, and it goes into the thesaurus and acts normally. Go figure. The One Question: Does Zenith, or are they planning to, OEM OS/2? Can any Zenith PC's even RUN OS/2, or are they not quite compatible enough? Just curious. I'm thinking of running OS/2 2.0 when it goes into final release, and I'm examining non-IBM hardware alternatives. Please don't suggest I use Windows, or any other cludge that runs on top of MS-DOS!
paolo@unix.SRI.COM (Paolo Sechi) (06/29/91)
In article <9106280539.AA20698@ray.com> paulcn@idsvax.ids.com (Paul Coen) writes:
=>
<stuff deleted>
=>
=>Except that it tells me that my Zenith z-157 has (guess what?) 35M of
=>extended memory, as well as, if I remembmer correctly, a Micro Channel bus.
=>Boy, wasn't Zenith ahead of their time? I've had a terrible time getting
=>Desqview to recognize the 35M, though :-).
=>
=>My theory is that the hooks or memory location that the monitor program
=>intrudes into somehow looks like extended memory, depending on how the
=>software checks for the presence of the memory.
I do think something like this is happening. After some e-mail
responses to my original post, I've decided to upgrade the ROMs in my
Z-151. I took a look and I currently have version 2.0 from 12/3/84 --
kinda old. The order-taker at Heath/Zenith didn't know what version
the latest were, but I ordered a set (2 @ $11.95 ea., ouch!) As soon
as they arrive I'll give 'em a try.
For any that are interested, the number for Heath Parts Replacement is
(616) 982-3571. I got the phone number and part numbers for the ROMs
from the Zenith Users' Forum on CompuServe (GO ZENITH, Zenith Direct
library (something like that), and the file name is ROMINF.ZIP). I
would post all the info here, but the file has all these nasty,
threatening warnings:
Zenith Users' Forum (Zenith Direct)
CompuServe Information Service
Restricted File : Not for Redistribution
=============================================================================
Programs and information other information in the Zenith Direct library are
the property of Zenith Data Systems. They are made available on the Zenith
Users' Forum on CompuServe Information Service for the personal use by
customers of Zenith Data Systems who download it from the Zenith Users' Forum.
They may not be uploaded to bulletin board systems, sold, traded, given away,
or be otherwise redistributed. "Zenith Direct" is a trademark of JK Inc.,
management of the Zenith Users' Forum.
Joseph Katz, Sysop [76703,662]
Zenith Users' Forum
CompuServe Information Service
[End of File]
I haven't a clue why Zenith doesn't want ROM part numbers distributed,
but I have better things to do than ask.
=>
=>This sort of problem could also partially explain why Zenith had to modify
=>Windows 2.11 to run properly on Zenith PC's.
=>
=>Having a built-in debugger is great, but sometimes the compatability
=>problems can be a pain. One example is on a 157 with 512K, Wordperfect 5.1
=>(which SHOULD run with 512K installed), works normally, until you have the
=>gall to try to enter the thesaurus. Then, it dumps you into the monitor
=>program and gives that pretty display of the memory registers. You type g
=>for go, and it goes into the thesaurus and acts normally. Go figure.
I have to run FIXBIOS (comes with WP 5.1) to get WordPerfect to work
right. Maybe I won't have to with new ROMs!?
=>
=>The One Question: Does Zenith, or are they planning to, OEM OS/2? Can any
=>Zenith PC's even RUN OS/2, or are they not quite compatible enough? Just
=>curious. I'm thinking of running OS/2 2.0 when it goes into final release,
=>and I'm examining non-IBM hardware alternatives. Please don't suggest I
=>use Windows, or any other cludge that runs on top of MS-DOS!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Amen.