andyross@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Andrew Rossmann) (05/30/90)
I've pretty much had it with all the confusion going around with SYSID. Yesterday, I got mail from someone saying that a SYSID 5.2 had scrambled their computer (a 386SX). I sent them a copy of the corrected 5.0 (mine), and got a hold of the 5.2. It turns out that the 5.2 version is by the original author, Steve Grant. It came with NO source code, and has a fairly strict Copyright message in it, too. So, I looked at the documentation (actually just comments at the beginning of the program) from the SYSID 4.4 that I've based my versions on. It states that both the source and object code are released into the Public Domain. I, therefore, hope I am on legal ground in continuing work on my own version. To prevent confusion, I am re-naming my version to INFOPLUS (unless someone can think of something better.) I'll be adding some features, and re-start version numbering at 1.0. I do have a question on one of the features I want to add. When DOS creates an Extended partition, the first sector of that extended partition contains another partition table, which is for the 'logical drives' in it. My question is, what other partitioning schemes use this format? Do others use something different? How does Disk Mangler (err.. Manager) get 16 partitions on a disk? I'm also looking into getting info on XMS and VCPI. Andrew Rossmann andyross@ddsw1.MCS.COM P.S.> Unless there are legal problems with doing my own version, all releases of INFOPLUS will be public domain, and include source code!! Maybe it can grow like FRACTINT.
david@metapyr.UUCP (David Relson) (05/31/90)
VCPI (Virtural Control Program Interface) documentation is available from Phar Lap Software (617) 661-1510 or Quarterdeck Office Systems (213) 392-9851. The current version is 1.0 (6/12/89). XMS (eXtended Memory Specification) is available from Microsoft Corp (800) 426-9400. The current version is 2.0 (8/23/88). You probable should also check into DPMI (Dos Protected Mode Interface) which is Microsoft's newest standard for multitasking, et all. It is avaiable from INTEL Literature Distribution (800) 548-4725.