acoolidg@wpi.WPI.EDU (Aaron P Coolidge) (02/19/91)
The reason why Windows cannot multitask the File Manager for any
operations is that windows is using DOS calls (to the machine's BIOS) to
do it's thing. This means that only the current process can be serviced-
in other words, the machine stops except for that task.
We will see new code to multitask the File Manager's operations
in win 3.1, I have heard.
You can format a disk in a dos window with the background
tasking option selected, but it slows the machine down considerably.
You cannot format two disks at once from two dos windows, because
there is a disk drive select line on the disk drive cable- it is on (high)
for the first disk drive, off (low) for the second. It cannot be both.
The only PC that I know of that can truly format two disks at the same
time is an Amiga. (they have a separate processor just to control the
disk drive).
Sorry if i rambled on .....
--
Aaron Coolidge
acoolidg@wpi.wpi.edu bitnet:sorry, use a gateway.
"I'm always in control of my car. Well, at least 70% of the time."