From: Info-IBMPC@BRL.MIL (Info-IBMPC Digest)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest
Subject: Info-IBMPC Digest V92 #70
Date: 5 Apr 92 06:56:42 GMT
Reply-To: Info-IBMPC@BRL.MIL
Distribution: world
Organization: The Internet

Info-IBMPC Digest           Sun,  5 Apr 92       Volume 92 : Issue  70 

Today's Editor:
         Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <GHICKS@brl.mil>

Today's Topics:
                   Re: DOS version of UNIX msg wanted
       Book review of "Accidental Empires" by Robert X. Cringely
                      Re: game port configuration
                        MBR and DOS 5.0 (2 msgs)
                 PostScript Processing Speed Test v3.1
                             Software MNP 5
                          Re: the $25 network

Today's Queries:
                     DOS version of UNIX msg wanted
                          ALR PowerFlex Flyer
                             Curve Fitting
                        Adding 2.8M Floppy Drive
                Format Info for Toshiba Harddisk wanted
                                  info
                              OKILaser 400
                      PCTools r6 PCBACKUP problems
                     software and hardware rankings
                  Tax information for Computer Access
                             Removing TSR's

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <INFO-IBMPC@brl.mil>

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the distribution list, et al) to: <INFO-IBMPC-REQUEST@brl.mil>

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Archives of past issues of the Info-IBMPC Digest are available by FTP
ONLY from WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL in directory PD2:<ARCHIVES.IBMPC>.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 92 8:22:37 EST
From: Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <ghicks@BRL.MIL>
Subject: Re: DOS version of UNIX msg wanted

Bill:

Send a note to <help@kew.com> and ask for info on UUPC 1.11q (also
available from WSMR in directory PD1:<MSDOS.UUCP> as file UUPC111x.zip)

As far as I know, the mail command in this package will handle Unix
mail.

Regards,
Gregory Hicks
Editor, Info-IBMPC Digest

------------------------------

Date: 26 Mar 92 16:11:03 GMT
From: biow@cs.umd.edu (Christopher Biow)
Subject: Book review of "Accidental Empires" by Robert X. Cringely

This is a book review of _Accidental_Empires_, by Robert X.  Cringely.
Robert is the gossip columnist with InfoWorld, who has observed the
entire (r)evolution of the personal computer from a somewhat privileged
position:  the guy employees call when they want to rat on their own
companies. He sent me a free copy of his book, presumably because I'm
in his Farley file due to an e-mail conversation we had a couple of
years back. He must be investing quite a bit of money if he is sending
copies to people as obscure as myself, so the least I can do is pay him
back with a book review.

The book was as entertaining as any "fun" reading that I've done in the
last several years. I literally couldn't put it down until I finished
it. The reader can never be sure about the veracity of the details that
Cringely provides (he is, after all, a gossip, and incorrectly
attributes a quote to the wrong character in the comic strip _Pogo_),
but he seems to have done a good job of filtering his information over
the years.  Everything in the book is at least plausible and fits with
what personal knowledge I do have.

The chapter names, alone, tell you that it's a fun read: "Chairman Bill
Leads the Happy Workers in Song," and "All IBM Stories Are True." His
style is better than in the InfoWorld column, because he is free to add
his own opinions and insights. Some of the stories are beautifully
ironic, such as the Stanford student who was trying find someone to
build a SUN showing up at IBM headquarters wearing a tuxedo, borrowed
from the drama department, and tennis shoes. When IBM turned him down,
he had no choice but to do it on his own. (If that didn't really
happen, it should have.)

The book covers most of the major contributors to the PC revolution,
90% of whom were entrepreneurial starts. All of the corporate weirdness
of Microsoft, Apple, and Lotus is explained in detail, whether it's the
poor business sense of the founders resulting in resounding success, or
the stifling impact of the 'suits', who know better. Most of all, the
accidental nature of almost every successful PC business is revealed,
especially in how PC's achieve mass market potential only when someone
else develops a "compelling application" for it. That's why a dozen
"better" machines, with lots of brilliant software, have failed the
last twenty years. It's not a critical mass of software that sells a
machine in the mass market, it's a single compelling application. It's
a businessman walking into a computer store saying, "I want a
VisiCalc!" without knowing or caring about the difference between
software and hardware.

His approach to software entrepreneurship is fascinating. He proposes a
"Hollywood" model, in which a "studio" provides the facilities, and a
creative "director" and "actors" team up to do the design and writing
of the code for a given application. Then they split, and may never
work together again, unless the application is successful enough to
warrant a version II. The studio (production company) provides the
idea, the marketing, the packaging, etc.

The book is $19.95, by Addison-Wesley Publishing, ISBN 0-201-57032-7.
I don't know when (if) it will be available in paperback.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1992 21:21:05 GMT
From: jliukkon@cc.helsinki.fi (Juha-Matti Liukkonen)
Subject: Re: game port configuration

My SB manual says (pg 17, Joystick/MIDI port wiring diagram):
     1
9
     2
10
     3
:
     :
15
     8

1  = Joystick 1, x-coordinate (actually the js 1 x-y-pot frame{_)
2  = Button 1
3  = This has no name, but *this* is the js 1 x-coordinate
     according to the picture
4  = Button frame (js 1)
5  = Button frame (js 2)
6  = Joystick 1, y-coordinate
7  = Button 2 (js 1)
8  = Not connected!

9  = Joystick 2, x-coordinate (but, as above, this seems to be the frame)
10 = Button 1 (js 2)
11 = no name -> x-coordinate for js 2
12 = MIDI TXD
13 = Joystick 2, y-coordinate
14 = Button 2 (js 2)
15 = MIDI RXD

So, there are some differences to your pin-out diagram. Hope these
help, I haven't tried them out myself.

Juha Liukkonen - jliukkon@cc.helsinki.fi \___/
University  of Helsinki, Finland, Earth,  /o__o
Department of Paranormal Investigations:  / (..)\


------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 92 08:08:48 EST
From: mgk@sql.sybase.com (Michael Keirnan)
Subject: MBR and DOS 5.0

Hi,

Juergen Kreuels inquires about formatting only the master boot record:

> something like sys c: /MBR but I'm not sure.

I believe the command you are looking for is FDISK /MBR

Regards,

Michael Keirnan                 | Internet: mgk@sql.sybase.com
Sr. Software Engineer           | Voice: 617-270-9234 x202
SQL Solutions, Inc.             | #include <legal/disclaimer.h>

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 92 9:03:56 CST
From: Raymond Erdey <raymond@aramis.cs.ua.edu>
Subject: MBR and DOS 5.0

> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1992 12:46:46 MEZ
> From: Juergen Kreuels <CRH001%DJUKFA11.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>
 
> I'm in need of an undocumented command of DOS 5.0 . It's the command
> for just writing the boot record ( MBR ) in DOS 5.0. I think it is
> something like sys c: /MBR but I'm not sure.

The command you are looking for is FDISK /MBR
Raymond

Raymond M. A. Erdey
Department of Computer Science
Box 870290
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0290

(205) 348-7373
raymond@aramis.cs.ua.edu  (Internet)

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 92 20:05:11 GMT
From: gagnon@panda1.uottawa.ca (7183)
Subject: PostScript Processing Speed Test v3.1

Hi,
    You can now get my Postscript Processing Speed Test V3.1 
(PPST31.ZIP) from gaaj.uottawa.ca (137.122.6.203) as well as 
RESULTS for today's popular printers (RESULTS.ZIP).

    This the address of my work PC, so it will not be available at all
times (not days).  I am in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Thanks.
-- 
Jean-Serge Gagnon                       EMAIL: jsg8a@acadvm1.uottawa.ca OR
Hardware Maintenance Specialist                gagnon@panda1.uottawa.ca OR
Ottawa,University, Ontario, Canada             jsg8a@uottawa.BITNET
voice: (613) 564-7517    fax: (613) 564-7819

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1992 16:40:43 GMT
From: snfinger@faui30g.informatik.uni-erlangen.de (Steffen Finger)
Subject: Software MNP 5

In digest V92N46 Info-IBMPC@BRL.MIL writes:

>I don't know the name of the driver but the mte20 is PERFECT. It's a
>very good terminal with a lot of term emulators (vt102 etc) and
>internal xmodem, zmodem and some other protocols. I don't know where
>you can find it, try SIMTEL20.  If you fail finding it, write to me and
>i'll try to send it to you ...

I did not find it on simtel ... any other sugestions ?

--
|      I T        ___   | Steffen Finger University of Erlangen-Nbg Germany    |
|    J U S T     /\__\  | Internet:  snfinger@immd3.informatik.uni-erlangen.de |
|   W O R K S !  \/__/  | NeXT Mail: snfinger@immd4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de |

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 92 17:38:02 CST
From: Matt Johnson <CC64%SDSUMUS.BITNET@vm1.nodak.edu>
Subject: Re: the $25 network

> I read advertisement on Remote Control software such as Close-Up and
> Carbon Copy but I need 2 modems to run it.  Then I read an advertise on
> the $25 Network.  In short here it is: * Connect 2 or 3 PCs * Runs at
> 115K baud, up to 90 feet and transfer rate is 8500 bytes/Sec.  * Runs
> in background/totally transparent.  * Share any device, any file

> Has anybody had experience with this software??  Or what do think of
> this??  Can it fullfill my *dream*, or I better of my ethernet card??

Yes, it really does work, and I am quite satisfied with it.  Here are a
few observations that I have made about the software. 1) it uses a
serial port, so if you want to use two serial ports with your other
applications, be prepared for a long search for a serial card with
non-standard interrupts, and I/O addresses.

2) It is slower then diskettes, but is fast for a serial port.

3) It uses much processing time when the disk is being accessed, so
expect your programs to run slower (and with more jerkiness) when the
drive is being accessed.

4) It doesn't work with windows.  (I didn't try any debugging, so maybe
you could get it to go) no CD-ROMS.  very limited file locking.

5) It really is only $25 + shipping, without a cable.

Remember though, that it is not remote control software like carbon
copy, or PC Anywhere.  The software adds drive letters in DOS that
accesses the remote drives when used.

          -Matt
| Matt Johnson                                                       |
| Network Intern                                                     |
| South Dakota State University                                      |
|BITNET: CC64@SDSUMUS   Call The 'What it is II' (BBS) 605-692-1537  |

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 92 12:26:03 EST
From: Bill Jones <wejones@crdec7.apgea.army.mil>
Subject: DOS version of UNIX msg wanted

   Subject line says it all (except PD or shareware desired).  Ie I am
looking for a program that will take message files generated on a UNIX
system, and process them on a PC like the msg program does.  I have
seen DOS versions of just about every other UNIX command, but not this
one. {I know I could write a suitable program, but I'm lazy.}

   Thanks in advance.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 92 14:18:49 CST
From: GLWARNER%SAMFORD.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu
Subject: ALR PowerFlex Flyer

We would like the opinion of the Net on this machine, the ALR 
PowerFlex Flyer.

The PowerFlex Flyer is a 25MHz 386SX, upgradable to a 486SX.
    It comes with Phoenix "FLASH" BIOS
    Most features are integrated on the motherboard, including:
         IDE Controller
         2 serial ports
         1 mouse port
         1 parallel port
         Super VGA controller (16bit, 512KB 1024x768)

    All motherboard components can be disabled, to allow the use of
add-in cards that perform the same function, should one of these
components malfunction on the motherboard.

    There are 3 16 bit full-length AT bus expansion slots, as well as a
CPU upgrade slot, and a Fax/Modem slot that are proprietary.

If you have any experience with these machines, or comments regarding
the use of a "backplane" card (where the 3 slots all share one socket
in the motherboard) please send them to me via E-Mail.  I'll summarize
for the net.

Thanks.

!  Later        +   Systems Programmer                                 !
!  Gary Warner  +   Samford University Computer Services               !

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 25 Mar 92 18:16:48 GMT
From: **MAC** <cmf170@cck.coventry.ac.uk>
Subject: Curve Fitting

Can anyone suggest a good curve fitting program for relatively simple
X-Y coordinate data, i.e. do a polynomial regression and doa best fit
on the points.

I have tried the fit2-117 program, but has limitations in being able to
label axis' and do much alteration to how the output looks.

I would like to know about both the ftp programs and commercial
software for either dos or windows that would be recomended.

Many thanks...
Mark Christou

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 92 15:34:25 CET
From: I6150207@DBSTU1.bitnet
Subject: Adding 2.8M Floppy Drive

I'm planning to 'upgrade' my AT with a 3 1/2" floppy drive.  I guess
the best choice would be one of the new 2.88 MB drives, but I'm not
shure. Does anybody know anything about potencial problems with these
drives, particularly with OS/2?  Which setup-type is used for the new
drives in IBM's PS/2 mod. 55?  Which number is used for adjusting the
data transfer rate via BIOS (in PS/2 machines])?

Martin Kuck

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 92 15:24:23 CET
From:  "Rene de Bie" <CRISRB@RULMVS.LEIDENUNIV.NL>
Subject: Format Info for Toshiba Harddisk wanted

Hi all, I would like to know the format numbers for an 41 MB Toshiba
MK1122  2.5" slimline harddisk.  I want to install it in an 80286 AT as
a second HD.  The first HD is a WD93044 from Western Digital.  Does
anyone know how to set the jumpers on both HD's? Must I do more then
setup the HD's in the AT setup rom? Must the Toshiba be low level
formatted? (Both are IDE drives).  Is this at all possible?  Thanks in
advance for any suggestions.

Rene de Bie - CRI - University Leiden - Holland
Mail   :P.O.Box 9512 - 2300 RA Leiden - The Netherlands
Phone  :+31 71 277028/276921

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 92 13:49:27 CET
From: Wojciech Mazur <WYMAZ%PLEARN.BITNET@SEARN.SUNET.SE>
Subject: info

Hello,
  I am a relatively new user of EARN/BITNET exploring its
possibilities. I also own IBM PC clone (386SX) so I am interested in
any shareware DOS resources (I mean programing tool, utilities,
documentation, tips and so on). Are there any of that avaiable on EARN?
If yes, I would deeply apreciate if You can tell me how I can acces
those resoures.

   I am also interested in FTPing from Internet Do You know how I can
do that? The only way I know is through FTPBIT server.  If You know any
others ways please let me know

I would deeply apreciate any kind of help
Wojciech Mazur

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1992 18:06 EDT
From: BSMITH%COLGATEU.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
Subject: OKILaser 400

Is the OKILaser 400 compatible with IBM and Macintosh computers?

Bryan Smith
Colgate University
Hamilton, New York
BSMITH@COLGATEU

[I can't say anything about the Mac (since this *is* a Digest of 
primary concern for the IBM PC and compatibles) BUT the OkiLaser 
400 does, in fact, work with my IBM Clone.  gph]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 92 8:09:17 CST
From: Bob Izenberg <bei@dogface.austin.tx.us>
Subject: PCTools r6 PCBACKUP problems

A friend recently had to reformat one of the hard disks in his clone
XT.  Prior to starting from scratch, he backed up the system with
Central Point Software's PCBACKUP release 6.  During configuration,
PCBACKUP passed his dma controller for MEDIUM speed backups.  He
selected a two-drive backup, chose to Verify When Formatting, and
started the backup.

After it completed successfully, he did a low-level format, fdisk'd,
and laid down DOS formatting.  He reinstalled PCTOOLS, started
PCBACKUP, and found that it couldn't read the backup directory on the
last disk.  It offered the option to rebuild the backup directory by
reading in each disk, which he tried.  The rebuild failed on the
twenty-ninth 360k diskette.  In subsequent attempts, he's been unable
to get PCBACKUP to surrender the data.

He's taking the potential loss of months of work on a major music
project pretty well, under the circumstances.  He doesn't understand,
he said, why one potentially bad disk at the end of a backup renders
the forty or so that came before it useless.  It is interesting that
turning verification on resulted in no messages or warnings about data
integrity while the backup was being made.  While he could have chosen
to compare the disks with the actual data before wiping the hard disk,
the backup program gave him no reason to suspect that the backup which
he'd just made was invalid.  That lack of error, and the tedious task
of feeding forty or so disks back into the machine, does make his
decision seem like one that many might also have made.

I've become involved at this point, as the owner of the program that
was purchased for his machine.  I'll pursue this with Central Point
customer service and tech support today, but I've experienced this
problem before with earlier versions.  In those instances, I've had to
fall back to previous recent backups to recover a file.  His last
backup was (at least) one year before.  I wouldn't dream of suggesting
that he should have backed up more often, as PCBACKUP is what he'd have
used:  He might have hundreds of unreadable backup diskettes instead of
the seventy or so that he has now.

I have two questions for the Digest readership.  First, can anyone
offer suggestions or assistance in recovering his data?  Hardware
checks of his floppy controller and drives all pass, and I can read
media that he writes here (but not these backups.)  Some undocumented
command line switch, like PCBACKUP /NO_SCREWUPS?

Second, I would appreciate hearing what people would suggest as
replacements for the Central Point backup products here.  Support for
IRWIN QIC-80 tape is one requirement, as is a user interface that isn't
a chore for people to use.  Thanks!

Bob

 DOMAIN-WISE: bei@dogface.austin.tx.us  
 BANG-WISE: ...cs.utexas.edu!dogface!bei

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 92 10:34 GMT
From: HOUSSAH5@AUC.EG
Subject: software and hardware rankings

Does anybody out there know how to get rankings of software programs
and hardware equipment? Rankings should be provided not only on the
bases of sales but also on the basis of specifications and
characteristics.  These should be as recent and as regular as possible.
Thanks...

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 92 11:04:39 EST
From: "Michael S. Holtzman" <HOLTZMAN%SJUVM.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Tax information for Computer Access

Greetings!
   I was recently asked to investigate the possibility of obtaining
demographic information for computer analysis.  I am primarily
interested in income and (local property) tax information.  Also,
CD-ROM would be ideal, but I would like to know about any other
digitized information (tape, download, etc) that might be available.

Any pointers to where I can get this type of information would be
greatly appreciated.  Please respond directly, and I will summarize.
Thanx.

Michael S. Holtzman           HOLTZMAN@SJUVM       (718) 990-1637
St. John's University         CC23DP0@SJUMUSIC

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 27 Mar 1992 10:27 EST
From: doleckma <DOLECKMA%SNYALFVA.BITNET@UBVM.cc.buffalo.edu>
Subject: Removing TSR's

   Does anyone know of a program that will remove TSR's from memory on
the fly?  I have tried PopDrop, but that causes problems with other
areas.  It would be great if you could also tell me of an ftp site that
I may find it on.  Please reply directly to me, as I do not subscribe
to this list.  TIA.

Mark Dolecki    doleckma@snyalfva       Computer Specialist -- Alfred Tech

------------------------------

End of Info-IBMPC Digest V92 #70
********************************
-------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware