cavrak@kira.UUCP (Steve Cavrak) (05/03/91)
Last night, a friend who has a Prodigy account AND who is a micro-
computer support person here at the University did two things. He
poked around his stage.dat file and asked the Prodigy help desk to
help him understand what was in it (bits and pieces of programs, a
database, a memo, and some other bits -- looked like old file
pieces). Their reply (with the name changed for silly reasons!)
---------------------------------------------------------------
From: SERVICE USAGE HELP
Subject: STAGE.DAT
Sent on: 05/02 at 9:36 PM
Dear Dr. Pangloss
The stage.dat file is created when you install the prodigy software by
pulling random bits from your computer's memory and hard disk erased
space. This methods is the fastest way to create an "empty" file. As
you use the service, reusable service information is stored in the
file, overwriting random data stored there initially. When the
service can get information from your stage file, rather than from the
modem, the service speed is improved. Thanks for writing
Membership services.
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Comments:
a. The original message was in upper case.
b. Although the basic outline is probably correct, I somehow doubt
that the setup sequence "pulls random bits from your computer's
memory.". It's probably using what ever was in the area last.
Not quite random. (And not a very nice way to write a program.
Me, I'd initilalize everything to 0's or 1's.)
c. The moral is clear. Digital is forever. When you erase a file
you don't erase anything, you just tell the system that it can
reuse the space. Admiral Poindexter can testify to that. (And so
can Peter Norton who's saved many a person's skin.)
Ciao
Steve