HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: 11dmcvay@gallua.gallaudet.edu (Daniel T. McVay)
Subject: Re: Why do people want PD software?next
Organization: Gallaudet University
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 04:48:38 GMT

In article <1992Aug19.180643.24274@PA.dec.com>, reisert@sttng.mlo.dec.com (Jim Reisert) writes:
> 
> Several times a week, someone posts an article to a newsgroup asking
> something like, "What's the best PD/shareware program to do XYZZY?"
> Why don't they just ask, "What's the best program to do XYZZY?"  Why
> is PD/shareware specifically requested?  Is it:
> 
> 1.  People want to "try before they buy".
> 2.  People want the (usually) better prices and support of shareware
>     vs. commercial software.
> 3.  Shareware is perceived as more readily available (FTP, etc.).
> 4.  People are opposed to supporting Microsoft or any of the other
>     software giants, and would rather do business with "the little guy".
> 5.  People want software, but can get away with not paying for
>     shareware.
> 
> Personally, I want the best software for the job, whether it's
> shareware, freeware, commercial software, or something I have to sit
> down and write myself.  My gut feeling (call me cynical) is that it's
> tempting to obtain shareware to perform a task, and not register it.
> After all, the hardware itself isn't a real money sink, it's the software.
> 
> I'd be interested in hearing your opinions on the subject.
> 
> - Jim  
> 
> --
> James J. Reisert                Internet:  reisert@sttng.enet.dec.com
> Digital Equipment Corp.         UUCP:      ...decwrl!sttng.enet!reisert
> 146 Main Street			Voice:     508-493-5747
> Maynard, MA  01754		FAX:       508-493-0395

I look around for shareware because I *DO* want to try before I buy something
but half the time, what I usually want can be bought at the local software
store. But that's only after I find out I can't try before I buy.


-- 
Daniel Mcvay	11dmcvay@gallua.gallaudet.edu	11dmcvay@gallux.gallaudet.edu
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concrete Shoes,Cyanide,TNT,Done Dirt Cheap,Neckties,Contracts,HIGH Voltage
From: leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com (Leonard Erickson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: How do I send a binary file to a printer?
Date: 18 Aug 92 01:24:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: qiclab.1992Aug18.012419.23549
Reply-To: 70465.203@compuserve.com
Distribution: na
Organization: SCN Research/Qic Laboratories of Tigard, Oregon.

georgew@tekig1.PEN.TEK.COM (George Walker) writes:

>I'm running Windows and I have a crummy printer, but I have access to
>another PC running DOS that has a laser printer.  If I do a "print to file"
>from my word processor under Windows, with the correct printer setup, and
>then take that file to the DOS machine, how do I print the file?  My DOS
>manual says that the DOS "print" command is only for text files.

Assuming that you want to print file XYZ on drive A:

	Copy /b A:XYZ PRN
or
	copy /b A:XYZ lpt1:

The /b is to *force* the copy to be binary. Remember, as far as DOS
is concerned the following are *all* just odd files:
	NUL
	CON
	PRN
	AUX
	COM1
	COM2
	COM3
	COM4
	LPT1
	LPT2
	LPT3

Some can't be read from, they can all be written to. 
-- 
Leonard Erickson		      leonard@qiclab.scn.rain.com
CIS: [70465,203]			 70465.203@compuserve.com
FIDO:   1:105/51	 Leonard.Erickson@f51.n105.z1.fidonet.org
(The CIS & Fido addresses are preferred)
From: IP25179@portland.caps.maine.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: A very quick question
Date: 16 Aug 92 03:39:11 GMT
Organization: University of Maine System


  EISA and ISA:  What are they, and what do they mean?

  Thanks,
  -Iain Odlin
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
From: u7816004@cc.nctu.edu.tw ()
Subject: More colors in ACAD?
Organization: National Chiao Tung University
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 10:53:32 GMT

Hi, everybody :
   I want to use more than 16 colors at the same time in Auto CAD, but it
seems to fail. My computer is 486DX-33, SVGA, ET-4000, and ACAD R10. Does
it need 8514A graphic card to use more than 16 colors? Or it is just a
problem in configuration?
   Any response or suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks.


                                           Tsai Wang Kai
                                           Civil Engineering Dep., NCTU
                                           Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
                                           E-mail:  u7816004@cc.nctu.edu.tw
                                           


Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
From: timm@cds8158.Cadence.COM (Tim Marriott)
Subject: Conner 120MB Disk
Reply-To: timm@cds8158.Cadence.COM (Tim Marriott)
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 17:06:51 GMT

Hi,
My PC Recently lost its CMOS memory that contained the information on my Conner 120 MB Disk.  The AMI
BIOS that I have does not have a standard entry for this disk so it uses a custom entry.  Does anybody out there
know the following information?
   Number of Cylinders
   Number of Heads
   Number of Sectors

In other words what are the settings I use to get my disk back?

Thanks In Advance

Tim
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
From: brkirby@mothra.cns.syr.edu (Bruce Kirby)
Subject: Help with Apple Stylewriter
Organization: Dept. of Political Science, Syracuse U.
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 10:22:09 EDT

I am looking for a Windows printer driver for the Apple Stylewriter.
Does anyone have any idea whether one exists, and where it could be
found?  I tried looking on cica, but didn't find any indication of
one.

Thanks.

	Bruce Kirby
brkirby@swan.npac.syr.edu
-----------------------
"... but when you come to Heritage USA,  remember to bring your Bible
and your VISA card  -  because the Bible is the Holy Truth,  and God
doesn't take American Express."
-----------------------
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:11749 comp.os.msdos.apps:4454 comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d:3336
From: pv9955@albnyvms.bitnet
Subject: 384-40 vs 486sx25
Reply-To: pv9955@albnyvms.bitnet
Organization: University of NY at Albany
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 21:02:09 GMT

I know that a form of this question has apreared all over the net.  But this
one is slightly different...
I think that we will all agree that a 486dx2-50 is faster than a 486dx33, 
with internal processing.  But it still operates at 25mHz for addressing the
bus, and hard drive, whereas the 486dx33 operates at the faster 33mHz.
So under the assumption that a 386-40 and a 486sx25 can process information
at about the same speed (the 386 is faster, the 486 is more efficient),
is is safe to assume that the 386-40 will access the bus (including hard 
drive) faster than a 486 running at 25mHz ?
For those people using Windows or OS2, which use a lot of virtual memory, and
disk swapping, this question should be more important than internal
processing.  I am about the buy a computer for OS2, and I would like to know
which motherboard will handle the disk swapping better.

Thanks,
Peter V.
From: edwardp@ra.cs.umb.edu (Edward P. Piecewicz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: IBM Pcjr.
Date: 18 Aug 92 20:54:45 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Massachusetts at Boston, Dept of Math and CS


A co-worker of mine inherited an IBM PCjr. computer system with the
infra-red remote control keyboard.

I am aware that this model only has 128K of base memory, and I was asked if
much could be done with it given its memory limitations.  

I couldn't answer that question, so I thought I would post that question here.

Thank you.

  Ed


-- 
Internet:  edwardp@cs.umb.edu

Member and Activist:  The Boston Computer Society
From: reaper@3cpu.rain.com (Ian Johnston)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: DEC Rainbow (8088) for sale
Date: 19 Aug 92 07:49:51 GMT
Distribution: comp
Organization: Garden Lane Software

dot-matrix printer, original Hayes Smartmodem 1200 (optional), two RX50 floppy
drives (single sided, quad density) and a not-quite-working Seagate 10 meg
HD, all for only $60.  ($55 w/o the modem)
  But that's not all!  You also get Word Perfect 4.1, two versions of Lotus
1-2-3, and much more in the software department, plus more documentation
than you know what to do with!
  The HD is in sucha state that it could be fixed by a half-knowledgeable
person for $2, which I am willing to do (if'n you trust me, of course).
  I'm quite negotiable on this price, mostly, I just want to get rid of it.
  If you're interested, mail me at reaper@3cpu.rain.com or call (503) 357-
3294 at reasonable hours (PDT).
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:11736 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:22394 comp.sys.ibm.pc:444
From: rounsley@jeeves.ucsd.edu (Steve Rounsley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Quantex computers
Date: 21 Aug 92 21:44:40 GMT
Followup-To: poster

I am interested in getting the 386/40Mhz machine reviewed by PC
Sources recently.  It was rated very highly in all respects, and
the price is very good ($1355 at present).  My only worry is the
fact that nobody I have asked has heard of Quantex, and until I
get some feeback from people I will not commit myself.  Mail
Order is not my first choice, but the fact that this machine was
very well liked by the reviewers is a big plus.  My other choice
is to get a customized system put together by a local company
using the same specs.
	Does anybody have any opinions about Quantex computers?
Please, someone respond this time!

Steve
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
From: tsand@vipunen.hut.fi (Tapio Sand)
Subject: Re: Mac-in-DOS: Vendor phone number needed
Reply-To: tsand@vipunen.hut.fi (Tapio Sand)
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 06:58:09 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.161710.21501@trantor.harris-atd.com> rbarr@su19o.ess.harris.com (Rick Barr) writes:
>Anybody have the phone number of Pacific Micro, the creators of the
>Mac-in-DOS package?  I found a company with that name in the LA area,
>but they have never heard of the product.

The phone number is   (415)948-6200
-- 
                                                           tsand@vipunen.hut.fi
TEX disconnects, dial again for another session.
D;+vC)?iH%"
NO CARRIER
From: chrisr@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Chris Ringe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: OS/2, VERY cool!
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 92 08:15:27 MDT
Organization: Edmonton Remote Systems #1, Edmonton, AB, Canada

ggg@kepler.unh.edu (Gregory G Greene) writes:

- >Mike,
- >  Apparently  you don't think much about the way U7 was implemented.  It use
- >a proprietary memory manager that doesn't get along with ANYTHING except 
- >plain vanilla DOS.  Try running U7 with QEMM386 running.  Now try it with
- >386MAX running.  Now try it with DOS 5.0 Himem and EMM386 running.  Notice a
- >pattern yet?  Try it under Windoze.  Try it under DR DOS 6.0s mem manager. 
- >If you pay attention, it won't work with any of them!  Game companies should
- >stick to making games, not reinventing the memory manager.  
- >  As to your assertion that OS/2 won't run games that tax the hardware, how
- >about Falcon 3.0D?  It runs under OS/2 just dandy, because it uses an alread
- >established standard for memory management.  As a matter of fact many games
- >not only run well under OS/2, they run better than they do under DOS!
- 
- 	The problem is, it looks like games that implement some wierd
-    memory management scheme or other type of customization are on the 
-    rise.  Look at Links386 Pro, it won't work under OS2 either.  If 
-    Origin used a special memory manager for Ultima 7, I think they will
-    probably use one for Strike Commander, and probably for WC 3.  It 
-    really stinks that you won't be able to play these games with OS2.
- 
- 							G.Greene
- 
- >  
- >
- >  Marty
- >    roeschmf@craft.camp.clarkson.edu

I don't see what the problem is.  Matters of this concern can be 
addressed with the dual-boot option. (As long as you play it off of a 
non-npfs partition).  Programs like these were the reason I made a DOS 
only boot partition.  Set up a partition, say 40 megs, and don't worry 
about it.  Just install games that you are currently playing.  I for one, 
won't be playing WC3 (when released) and Ultima VII at the same time.  
Finish one game, the start on the next.  Elementary...

Chris.

< SIG on Summer Holidays!! >
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
From: Lowey@Sask.USask.CA (Kevin Lowey)
Subject: Re: OS/2, VERY cool!
Originator: lowey@jester.usask.ca
Reply-To: lowey@jester.usask.ca
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 01:33:19 GMT

From ggg@kepler.unh.edu (Gregory G Greene):
> 
> 	The problem is, it looks like games that implement some wierd
>    memory management scheme or other type of customization are on the 
>    rise.  Look at Links386 Pro, it won't work under OS2 either.  If 
>    Origin used a special memory manager for Ultima 7, I think they will
>    probably use one for Strike Commander, and probably for WC 3.  It 
>    really stinks that you won't be able to play these games with OS2.
> 
> 							G.Greene

I hope that everyone realizes that these same games ALSO don't work
under Windows, or DESQview X, or any other 386 specific operating
environment.  This is not an OS/2 problem, this is a problem of game
developers not using "standard" memory management techniques such as
DPMI.

Now I know that Windows and DESQview have the advantage that you don't
have to run them, so you can simply boot up DOS and run the game.
OS/2 of course has the "boot /dos" option to do the same thing.

So, the bottom line?  If you have some whiz bang game that doesn't run
under OS/2, then chances are it won't run with ANY multitasking
system.  However, as with the other multitasking systems mentioned
above, you can always bypass the system and simply boot DOS by its
self to run the program.

-- 
- Kevin Lowey (Lowey@Sask.USask.CA)
>>>>> Anonymous FTP to FTP.USASK.CA for DOS, OS/2, and Windows programs <<<<<
From: tlin@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu (generic)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: Need some good PC diagnostics
Date: 20 Aug 92 23:04:53 GMT
Organization: Washington State University!

In article <1992Aug20.173104.23183@ornl.gov> lio@ornl.gov (MILLION D L) writes:
>I'm having one of those maddeningly intermittent problems with my
>Zeos 486/33 wherein the machine hangs completely at what seems like
>random moments.  Everything stops and nothing but the RESET button
>can recover.  It's happened in Windows 3.0, in Windows 3.1, and in 
>plain ol' DOS as well.
>
>Dan Million               Internet:  milliondl@ornl.gov

I got a 486/50DX from EPS Technologies last week. The machine hangs due to
memory parity error. It happened very often. So I add a third fan inside the
computer case. This helped a lot. But I still got some parity error about
every hour or so. If I slide the cover about 2 inches back and still keep
the third fan inside, the problem seems just gone away. Obviously, the
machine is TOO HOT. Your case may be different.

Since I can't live with computer case always opened, I called EPS several times
Tuesday. Their tech. support guys were always busy. I was thinking of a
motherboard replacement or something like that. Now that they never call
back, I think I will just return the machine and get my money back.

Can somebody recomment a good, trouble free 486/50DX or maybe 66/DX2?
Newsgroups: comp.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.os.msdos.misc
From: hosp@uni-paderborn.de (Holger Spangardt)
Subject: Re: Optimizing 386SX-16's for Windows
Organization: Uni-GH Paderborn
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 12:18:39 GMT

goldrick@ug.cs.dal.ca (Majeed  Goldrick) writes:

>Hi everyone,

>I am doing a bit of work for an office with a bunch of 386SX 16MHz machines.
>They are using monochrome monitors (!!!).I would like to get them going on
>some Windows applications, but it would seem to me that this would be 
>extremely slow in the current setup.  The question is - how can I optimize
>these machines for Windows at a reasonable price.  Do I:

>1) Buy new vga/svga cards/monitors for them - how much faster would
>   this make them?
Though Windows is an graphic-oriented-shell the speed of the graphiccard is not
important, a Herculescard might be faster than a vga-card, but a colorscreen
makes more fun working with Windows.(of course expensive)

>2) Add lots of ram (would RAM + a Cache be a good way to go?)
The best way to tune the system with Windows is to buy as much RAM as possible.
A Cachecontroller makes the system much faster,too, but this is not very cheap.

>3) Invest in coprocessors?
A coproc has hardly influence on the speed of Windows. There are only few
apps like Winword that use this coproc.

>4) Try something else (suggestions anyone???), or
First of all, the WIN.INI and the SYSTEM.INI should be optimized.
E.g.: You can use the SWAPFILE which makes Windows faster using the tempfiles.
Do not load any pictures in the Background and start Windows with "win :" which
suppresses the Windowslogo at the beginning.
A fast Harddisk is very important,too. It should be a fast SCSI-HD, cause the
datatransfer is very important.(SCSI is about 2times faster then IDE)
The configuration of the system, like HD-Cache,Buffers,...to speed up DOS.

>5) Give up and go home?
Of course the best way to make Windows faster is to sell the 386SX (UUGH)
and buy 486/50MHz, 256 Cache, 32MB RAM(50ns), 70HzSVGA-Card, 24``Monitor,
1GB SCSI (12ms,1500Kbps),etc

>Please keep in mind that cost IS a factor.  I would appreciate hearing what
>your opinions are - if there is sufficient interest (ie. if this question
>isn't too trivial) I'll summarize on le net.
"There are no trivial questions" (don`t know who said that)

>Later,

>Majeed.
From: Hamish.Moffatt%f3.n30173.z3@cloud.pub.uu.oz.au (Hamish Moffatt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Mouse doesn't work while running WP5.1 on RAM drive
Date: 16 Aug 92 03:20:19 GMT

In a msg on <Aug 05 05:45>, Tsan Heui (chein@eng.auburn.edu) writes:

 TH> I like to have harddisk OFF as it is noisy and copy some files 
 TH> essential for functions except spell/thesaurus to RAM (as 
 TH> another drive.) I then have WP running using RAM and back up 
 TH> either on floppy disk or RAM. Here is the problem I have 
 TH> while using RAM: The mouse doesn't work!

Does WordPerfect have its own mouse driver? Are you using it? Did you remember
to copy it to the ramdisk?

Hamish
Newsgroups: comp.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.os.msdos.misc
From: sheldon@iastate.edu (Steve Sheldon)
Subject: Re: Optimizing 386SX-16's for Windows
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 14:17:16 GMT

In <Bsu89r.3K6@cs.dal.ca> goldrick@ug.cs.dal.ca (Majeed  Goldrick) writes:

>Hi everyone,

>I am doing a bit of work for an office with a bunch of 386SX 16MHz machines.
>They are using monochrome monitors (!!!).I would like to get them going on
>some Windows applications, but it would seem to me that this would be 
>extremely slow in the current setup.  The question is - how can I optimize
>these machines for Windows at a reasonable price.  Do I:

 No problem, I own a 386SX-16...

>1) Buy new vga/svga cards/monitors for them - how much faster would
>   this make them?

 I take it you mean that the monochrome monitors are Herc TTL?
I have a Everex mono VGA, with a Trident 8900 card, and it works fine.
You're talking about $150 for VGA card(256K does fine), and mono
VGA monitors.
  This would probably give you a better display.  I don't know if
performance would increase.

>2) Add lots of ram (would RAM + a Cache be a good way to go?)

 Bingo!  4 Megs minimum.  I have 5 Megs of RAM in my machine, and it
is running faster than any DX machine I've seen with only 2 Megs of
RAM under windows.

>3) Invest in coprocessors?

 No, won't help too much.

>4) Try something else (suggestions anyone???), or

>5) Give up and go home?

 Grab yourself something to eat, and then come back.

 I'll tell ya.  With a 386SX-16, monochrome VGA monitor, 256K video
card, and 5 Megs of RAM, Windows is perfectly useable on my machine.
I almost think that the fancy 386DX machines are slightly overrated,
there are too many things they have to stop and wait for, that real
world performance is negligible.  IMO, anyway.

 So, if you can upgrade the RAM easily.  RAM is cheap at $40/Meg.
Otherwise, forget it.

 Better yet, scrap the Windows kludge.  The normal DOS applications work
a hell of a lot faster, using less resources.

-- 
Steve Sheldon         sheldon@iastate.edu
Iowa Cooperative Soil Survey Resource Unit
2142 Agronomy, Iowa State University  (515) 294-5429

-- 
Steve Sheldon         sheldon@iastate.edu
Iowa Cooperative Soil Survey Resource Unit
2142 Agronomy, Iowa State University  (515) 294-5429

Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.dcom.fax,comp.bbs.waffle
From: king@rtsg.mot.com (Steven King, Software Archaeologist)
Subject: Looking for fax software for the IBM PC
Reply-To: king@rtsg.mot.com
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 20:06:56 GMT

Does anyone know of good FAX modem software for the IBM PC?  I'm trying
to set up a sort of Faxmail service on my bulletin board, so the primary
requirement is that it can run in unattended batch mode.  The long list
of requirments is:

        o  Does *NOT* require Windows to run.
        o  Can be called from another program to receive faxes.
           My BBS software can route incoming fax connections to
           an external program.
        o  Can be called from another program to transmit faxes.
           I also envision users being able to call the software as
           a "door" type program to send ASCII or graphics files.
           As long as the fax software supports batch mode operation
           I can write a front-end to handle the user interface.
        o  Can place incoming faxes in directories according to the
           originator's ID string, or can pass the ID string back to
           the calling program as a return code or via a log file.

Naturally, PD or Shareware software is preferred but I'm also willing
to look at commercial programs.  I'll summarize all email responses.

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------
There has never been an unexpectedly short debugging   |      Steven King
period in the history of computers.                    |   Motorola Cellular
                             (Steven Levy, "Hackers")  |   king@rtsg.mot.com
From: devasoft@cup.portal.com (David Michael Alves)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: .PCX to .TIF Conversion Program?
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 15:24:01 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: usa


Hi,

Anyone know of a .PCX to .TIF graphics conversion program?
Thanks for any help.

David Alves
devasoft@cup.portal.com