mike@x.co.uk (Mike Moore) (04/19/91)
Hi folks! I'm a computer addict who learned how to program a Z80 years ago and has some experience of programming the 386 on a UNIX machine, however, I just recently found out I could afford a PC so I bought a second-hand 286 and now want to get to grips with it. As can be predicted, there is no documentation with my 'new' machine, so I'm looking for good manuals describing PC-DOS BIOS, general cookbooks for DOS systems, how to use graphics cards direct from assembly (i.e. how to do my own things without using BIOS calls) disk interface stuff is also useful, as wells as serial and parallel interface. Tactics for using extended memory and any other kind of memory are especially of interest to me. Thank you, Mike mike@x.co.uk -- --- | usual and obvious disclaimers etc... | Never take a Mike Moore | (anyone daft enough to sue me deserves | Scorpio seriously. mike@x.co.uk | to win a share in my negative cashflow!) | I know, I am one.
cs352a41@cs.iastate.edu (Adam Goldberg) (04/21/91)
mike@x.co.uk (Mike Moore) writes: > I'm looking for good manuals describing PC-DOS BIOS, >general cookbooks for DOS systems, how to use graphics cards direct from >assembly (i.e. how to do my own things without using BIOS calls) disk >interface stuff is also useful, as wells as serial and parallel interface. >Tactics for using extended memory and any other kind of memory are especially >of interest to me. I use (and enjoy): o The New Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to The IBM PC & PS/2 by Peter Norton and Richard Wilton ISBN 1-55615-131-4 o IBM Microcomputers, a Programmer's Handbook by Julia Sanchez and Maria Canton ISBN 0-07-054594-4 Norton's book describes DOS & BIOS calls, and Sanchez's book describes things from a more hardware level. -- +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ! Adam Goldberg ! * ! "It's simple! Even a PASCAL ! ! cs352a41@cs.iastate.edu ! * ! programmer could do it!" ! +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
jdb@reef.cis.ufl.edu (Brian K. W. Hook) (04/22/91)
Oh man, there are a TON of books you can get. Just go down to a local B. Dalton's and check it out. Some general titles I can remember that are pretty popular are: "Advance Ms-Dos Programming" by Ray Duncan "Extending DOS" by Ray Duncan "Programmer's PC Source Book" ??? "Peter Norton's Programmer's Guide to the IBM PC and PS/2" by Peter Norton "DOS Undocumented" ???? "Programmer's Guide to the 80386" ???? Theses are the titles that I can remember. Sorry I dont' have more info. Brian
miller@b-mrda.ca.boeing.com (Mark Miller) (04/22/91)
I use the MS-DOS Encyclopedia (Microsoft Press). This one is a bit pricey, but has most of what I need somewhere in there. Less pricey, but still very valuable to me is Ray Duncan's "Advanced MS-DOS" (also Microsoft Press). Hope this helps. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mark R. Miller | Boeing Commercial Airplane Company | Seattle, WA | Internet: miller@b-mrda.boeing.com | Voicenet: (206) 237-0960 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
jdart@telesoft.com (Jon Dart @lone) (04/25/91)
In article <Apr91.135939.3654@x.co.uk>, mike@x.co.uk (Mike Moore) writes: > with my 'new' machine, so I'm looking for good manuals describing PC-DOS BIOS, > general cookbooks for DOS systems, how to use graphics cards direct from > assembly (i.e. how to do my own things without using BIOS calls) ... The two best BIOS books are: Advanced MSDOS Programming by Ray Duncan (2nd ed). Microsoft Press, 1988. The New Peter Norton Progammer's Guide to the IBM PC and PS/2 by Peter Norton and Richard Wilton (2nd ed.) Microsoft Press, 1988. Alas, both books contain errors. The definitive source is: IBM Personal System/2 and Personal Computer BIOS Interface Technical Reference. Also useful is: IBM Technical Reference - Personal Computer AT This last book is now somewhat dated, but contains source for the IBM AT BIOS, which is sometimes the only way to find out how things really work. The techical reference books are available only from IBM and are rather expensive. For graphics programming, the best book is Richard Wilton's Programmer's Guide to PC and PS/2 Video Systems. However, it won't tell you everything you need to know - in particular, it doesn't discuss clone video cards much. Hope this helps. -- Jon Dart | 5959 Cornerstone Ct. W., | jdart@telesoft.com Sr. Software Engineer | San Diego, CA 92121 | ..uscd.edu! TeleSoft, Inc. | (619)-457-2700 | telesoft.com!jdart