[alt.msdos.programmer] Checking for disk characteristics

arasmith@mathcs.emory.edu (David Arasmith) (09/13/90)

   I have a question for those out there more knowledgable than myself.
I am trying to determine the number of logical hard drives on any garden
variety IBM PC or PS/2 from within Turbo C(++ v1.0).  I cannot assume
that functions such as setdisk() will give reliable information.

  What I need is a way to check a particular drive without encountering
the infamous Abort, Retry, Fail.  Does someone out there know an easy
way to poke a drive (and determine if it is fixed or floppy) without
forcing a user to insert a floppy?  (I'm not worried about a: & b: - it's
the d:'s e:'s and f:'s hanging off the back that concern me!)

Thanks a lot!  Email is more likely to get to me (actually me to it).
-- 
David M. Arasmith   |  arasmith@mathcs.emory.edu	        Internet
Emory University    |  {sun!sunatl,gatech}!emory!arasmith	UUCP
Dept of Math and CS |  
Atlanta, GA 30322   |  I should be working!  Gee....I wonder what's on TV?