HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: pstlb@acad2.alaska.edu
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer,comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer
Subject: Data on "primitive PC"
Date: 20 Dec 92 22:41:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: acad2.1992Dec20.184147.1
Organization: University of Alaska


     All right.  I doubt that I'll receive many queries, since I suspect
noone's compiled a report of this nature, but the effort doesn't hurt..... :)

     I, a fledgling PC systems programmer (yeh, aren't we all..... :), would
like to find a down-and-dirty reference to all useful parts of the PC that do
NOT concern any operating system, the "primitive PC" before it's glossed up by
the various operating systems.  I have obtained the following:

          - Ralf Brown's Interrupt List
          - The Programmer's PC Sourcebook
          - PC Intern
          - HELPPC 2.1  (I like it!)

I'd like to know if there is a single, or small collection, of references to
the information I seek, be it in public domain form or published print.  I know
it's supposedly "bad etiquette", but as I am prohibited from reading this group
often by LOTS of home- and house- work, I'd appreciate answers being Emailed to
me at pstlb@acad2.alaska.edu.....  

     Thanks in advance.....
  
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer,comp.os.msdos.apps,comp.os.vms
From: osyjm@cs.montana.edu (Jaye Mathisen)
Subject: Re: MS Windows with DECNET
Keywords: PathWork, DECNET, MS Windows
Organization: CS
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 13:40:45 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.014433.3317@iti.gov.sg> siushian@iti.gov.sg (Ling Siu Shian (SE)) writes:
>Your opinions will be appreciated
>
>Hi, netter,
>My company is considering a MS Windows application that uses DEC's PathWork as
>the network.  What we want to know is the following :
>  How good is DEC net (that is PathWork), is it responsive enough to be used as
>    a multi-user shared file/directory network ?
>  How good is it in comparison to other network, say Novell network that runs 
>    with MS windows 3.1 ?

Well, this is a tough one to answer.

The largest net I have is a 60 PC node net, connected to a VAX 4000/60, with
the PCSA stuff on a 5 disk stripe set.  Performance to and from the flie server
is pretty good, and the "seemingly" better connectivity to all our other
gizmos makes it a good deal.  It's pretty easy to set up and run.

I understand that DEC is putting a bunch of Novell hooks in the next release
of pathworks, but don't quote me.

Most software works just fine, windows seems OK, can't think of any that
don't work.  Most of the time you can get away with telling it that it's
a LanMan network, if software doesn't have specific Pathworks configs.
-- 
 Jaye Mathisen, COE Systems Manager                (406) 994-4780
 410 Roberts Hall,Dept. of Computer Science
 Montana State University,Bozeman MT 59717	osyjm@cs.montana.edu
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
From: tleylan@pegasus.com (Tom Leylan)
Subject: Re: This is strange, div doesn't work....
Organization: Pegasus,  Honolulu
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 07:34:20 GMT

mduffy@aludra.usc.edu (Michael Duffy) writes:

>The following code gives me a divide error:
>
> mov  ax,0035h
> mov  dx,01h
> div  dx
>
>It should work.  I don't know why it doesn't.  Could some assembly language
>genius please show me the light?

I believe you want:

 mov dl, 01h
 div dl

The problem disappears and hopefully you get the right answer.

tom

<email coming your way also>
From: sonix@schunix.uucp (Duane Morin)
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: bidirectional centronics port
Date: 14 Dec 92 13:52:48 GMT
Organization: SCHUNIX Public Access Unix for Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA

In article <1992Dec14.004912.6491@massey.ac.nz> L.Chisholm@massey.ac.nz (Len Chisholm) writes:
>There is nothing difficult about sending information back from a printer
>to a DEDICATED program. The program says to the printer 'Tell me' and
>then reads a serial bit-stream back from one of the handshake lines,
>perhaps using another as a clock and some form of interlock.
>
>Lap-link etc need special cables to connect the OUTPUT pins of one
>computer to the INPUT pins of the other, whereas the printer already
>has output drivers on the handshake output lines.

If you dissect a Laplink cable, you can actually see that you have 4 pins 
to play with, so it only takes two reads or writes to get a byte instead
of 8.  *However* after dissecting the necessary software we found out 
that, for applications (such as ours) that would require having extra 
logic sent through the parallel port, this would slow things down incredibly.
We needed to send address logic down to some pc boards, followed by some
bytes of data.  The resulting code was something like 50 machine instructions
to simulate what would have been one "in" instruction.  Ferget that. :)

>
>-- 
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>|  LEN CHISHOLM , Systems programmer  | EMail: L.Chisholm@massey.ac.nz  |
>| Department of Production Technology | Phone: +64 6 3505262            |
>|         Massey University           | FAX:   +64 6 3505604            |
>|   Palmerston North, New Zealand     |                                 |
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Duane Morin
 Software Development Manager
 Walker Sonix, Inc
 Worcester, MA 01604
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: bidirectional centronics port
From: L.Chisholm@massey.ac.nz (Len Chisholm)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 00:49:12 GMT
Organization: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Summary: Easy for printer to send info back to DEDICATED program
X-Reader: NETNEWS/PC Version 2c

There is nothing difficult about sending information back from a printer
to a DEDICATED program. The program says to the printer 'Tell me' and
then reads a serial bit-stream back from one of the handshake lines,
perhaps using another as a clock and some form of interlock.

Lap-link etc need special cables to connect the OUTPUT pins of one
computer to the INPUT pins of the other, whereas the printer already
has output drivers on the handshake output lines.

-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  LEN CHISHOLM , Systems programmer  | EMail: L.Chisholm@massey.ac.nz  |
| Department of Production Technology | Phone: +64 6 3505262            |
|         Massey University           | FAX:   +64 6 3505604            |
|   Palmerston North, New Zealand     |                                 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ceharris@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Carl Harris)
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Detecting ANSI.SYS (was: Re: DOS text attributes)
Date: 12 Dec 92 14:36:35 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA

wizard@archtwr.tower.nullnet.fi (Mikko H{nninen) writes:
> I know I can detect ANSI driver by comparing an interrupt's and the CON
> device's segment addresses (I think). But is this reliable? Are there any
> other programs aside from ANSI that act as the CON device?

The standard method for detecting the presence of the ANSI driver is to
send a DSR (Device Status Report) sequence to the console.  If the
driver is present, it will respond with a CPR (Cursor Position Report) via
standard input.

-- 
Carl Harris                | program (tv).  To engage in an activity
Virginia Tech              | similar to banging one's head against a wall 
ceharris@csugrad.cs.vt.edu | but with fewer opportunities for reward.
...
From: mduffy@aludra.usc.edu (Michael Duffy)
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: This is strange, div doesn't work....
Date: 16 Dec 1992 22:30:33 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: aludra.usc.edu

I hope someone can help me, 'cause I'm at a loss.

The following code gives me a divide error:

 mov  ax,0035h
 mov  dx,01h
 div  dx

It should work.  I don't know why it doesn't.  Could some assembly language
genius please show me the light?  E-mail please since I don't check this
group very often.  Thank you much,
Michael Duffy (mduffy@aludra.usc.edu)

Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
From: tleylan@pegasus.com (Tom Leylan)
Subject: Re: <Netherland poster!!!>
Organization: Pegasus,  Honolulu
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 10:51:47 GMT

johannes.beekhuizen@contrast.wlink.nl (Johannes Beekhuizen) writes:

Hans... you're writing from the future.  Your message is dated

  Mon Jan 24 1993

Talk about your progressive countries... whew.

tom
From: mccauleyba@vax1.bham.ac.uk (Brian McCauley)
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: Compose key for DOS - alpha testers wanted
Date: 16 Dec 92 18:51:48 GMT
Organization: University of Birmingham
NNTP-Posting-Host: vax1.bham.ac.uk

I am currently working on a utility for DOS to emulate the "Compose" key
of a DEC terminal. The utility is completely configurable through a
text INI file allowing any sequence of keystrokes (including held keys)
to return any ascii/scan code to DOS.

In conjunction with an ANSI terminal driver it will allow different
strings to be assigned to normally indistiguishable keys.

The final version will be General Public Licenced and have a resident
size of about 4k (loadable high).

Users of UK keyboards (and others that are very close to US keyboards)
will be able to use it in place of KEYB (others would probably find it
more efficient to use it in addition).

An alpha-test version that supports only US and UK keyboards is now
available for comment. It also supports only the US code page.

The alpha-test does not TSR it simply installs itself then
shells out so it has a resident size of about 130k.

I shall need some help adding support for non US/UK keyboards - in
particular if anyone knows the format of KEYBOARD.SYS this will help
automate the process.

Question: does anyone out there frequently switch code pages except at
system startup? Does anyone ever use more than one keyboard?

Any budding alpha-testers please mail me. State if you don't have ARJ.
State if you want source. (You'll need YACC, LEX, Assembler and C++
if you want to rebuild it).

A Beta-test version which will TSR should be available towards the end
of January.
-- 
    \\   ( )    No Bullshit!     |  Email: B.A.McCauley@bham.ac.uk   
 .  _\\__[oo        from         |  Voice: +44 21 471 3789 (home)
.__/  \\ /\@    /~)  /~[   /\/[  |    Fax: +44 21 625 2175 (work)
.  l___\\      /~~) /~~[  /   [  |  Snail: 197 Harborne Lane,
 # ll  l\\    ~~~~ ~   ~ ~    ~  |         Birmingham, B29 6SS, UK
###LL  LL\\   (Brian McCauley)   |   ICBM: 52.5N 1.9W
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
From: gunnarh@dhhalden.no (GUNNAR HORRIGMO)
Subject: Re: Detecting ANSI.SYS (was: Re: DOS text attributes)
Organization: Ostfold College
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 17:28:49 GMT

In article <Bz5Hx0.7FJ@csugrad.cs.vt.edu> ceharris@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Carl Harris) writes:
>From: ceharris@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Carl Harris)
>Subject: Re: Detecting ANSI.SYS (was: Re: DOS text attributes)
>Date: 12 Dec 92 14:36:35 GMT
>wizard@archtwr.tower.nullnet.fi (Mikko H{nninen) writes:
>> I know I can detect ANSI driver by comparing an interrupt's and the CON
>> device's segment addresses (I think). But is this reliable? Are there any
>> other programs aside from ANSI that act as the CON device?
>
>The standard method for detecting the presence of the ANSI driver is to
>send a DSR (Device Status Report) sequence to the console.  If the
>driver is present, it will respond with a CPR (Cursor Position Report) via
>standard input.

I don't know what it really does, but there is an int 21 (?) ANSI.SYS 
installation check.


          /\           | I didn't say this.      | "When there's no 
        /    \         | My supervisor would     |  more room in hell,
      /        \       | kill me if i did.       |  the dead will     
    /    (<>)    \     |_________________________|  walk the earth."
  /                \   |Gunnar Horrigmo          |
/____________________\ |gunnarh@sofus.dhhalden.no| 

Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer,comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools,comp.os.msdos.programmer,comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer,comp.windows.ms.programmer
From: Richard.Kooijman@dnpap.et.tudelft.nl (Richard Kooijman)
Subject: Re: Borland C++ 3.1 vs Microsoft C/C++ 7.0
Organization: Delft University of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 12:21:04 GMT

keithro@microsoft.com (Keith Rowe) writes:

>Just to clarify - there is a version of MS C/C++ 7.0 that runs on OS/2 1.x.
>It generates code for DOS or Windows only.  It is meant to be a transition
>for people who have used previous MS products on OS/2.  

>The files needed to run C7 on OS/2 are available on Compuserve in the
>Microsoft Languages Forum Library.  You need to have the DOS/Windows
>version of the product since the Compuserve files only provide compiler,
>linker and PWB versions that run on OS/2 1.x.

>Microsoft supports this version of the product via Compuserve.

Why would I want that? We want OS/2 as a development environment
for several reasons: multitasking, more memory (without something of
a hack like 386MAX), protected memory access.

If I use C 7.0 to develop programs for DOS/Windows there is
little use in doing that under OS/2. The programs cannot be run on that
in the same environment (protected memory). They will be put in a
DOS box or WIN/OS2 box.

I want a environment AND compiler for OS/2 and Microsoft is NOT
offering that. We will wait for Borland who promised to make
an OS/2 compiler, and if they don't we will take IBM CSET.

Now we are using C 6.0, which is as bug ridden as C 7.0 (a bit less
in fact, but they are both NOT professional compilers, but
over-priced do-it-yourself tools).

I admit we don't have 6.01 or 6.0A but Microsoft Netherlands wants you
to specifically point out where the bugs are in the compiler
otherwise you don't get a update. Go figure, that isn't our job!
We paid for a compiler but get something with bugs WE have to find!

You work with Microsoft, can't you provide us with a C 6.01?

We will would 'like' to settle with that until Borland comes out
with another fine product.




Richard.


--
-- ir Richard Kooijman ------------------- Email: R.Kooijman@ET.TUDelft.NL --
-- Intelligent Network Management Project (INEMA) ---------------------------
-- CARDIT, Delft University of Technology ------------ Tel: (31)-15-786209 --
-- P.O.Box 5031, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands ------ Fax: (31)-15-784898 --
From: DITTRICH@ifk20.mach.uni-karlsruhe.de (Joerg Dittrich)
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: Two Joystick Port prob
Date: 15 Dec 92 14:50:01 GMT
Organization: University of Karlsruhe, FRG (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering)
NNTP-Posting-Host: ifk20.mach.uni-karlsruhe.de
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20

In <1gj859INNd2t@flop.ENGR.ORST.EDU> kingjas@xanth.CS.ORST.EDU writes:

> 
> I don't believe this can be done because both "Ports" for two joysticks are 
> built into the single port.  Every joystick port( all that I know of ) contain
> 15 pins.  Of these pins 4 are used in joystick functions( 1 horz., 1 vert.,
> 1 left button, 1 right button of course this is really 8 but whose counting )
> and then a couple for sync. and etc.  There is only one standard address( this
> is key ) and usually one of the cards dominates that address.  Therefore
> only one card can be read, because there is know way of knowing or sync. the two
> cards.
> 
> 
> Jason King
Wasn't it that way: 1pin ground, 2 for buttons and two for hor. and vert. pos.?
(PCs have analog Joystick instead of digital which need 4 pins for up/down/left
 and right). This means two joysticks need 1 ground + 4 buttons + 4 position=9.
There is the need to build a Y-connector. You may find this pin-layout in your
soundblaster manual. Not shure if all (or any) usual game-port supports two
joysticks.......
Good luck, Joerg.
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
From: szissell@MtHolyoke.edu (Dark Shadow)
Subject: Re: CS and IP
Organization: Mount Holyoke College
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 20:01:36 GMT


The TR, (TSS) Task State Segement contains all the data for stacks, LDT,
registers and any external Data segments.  On a 386/486, you can use the
V86 mode which allows you to set up indipendant 8086 emulators in memory,
as many as you want!  I will post the TSS format as soon as I find it.
From: henk@rigel.cs.pdx.edu (David C. Henkemeyer)
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: looking for AMI bios setup guide
Summary: Looking for a guide to AMI bios setup
Keywords: AMI bios
Date: 20 Dec 92 09:23:46 GMT


Hi!! I'm looking for some sort of documantation on the in's and out's of 
messing around with bios.  I've had a lot of little "tweaky" problems in 
the past, and I've fixed it by altering my bios slightly, but there's still
a lot that I don't know about the bios.  If anyone knows of any good
resources, I'd appreciate it!!

	Email me at:  henk@rigel.cs.pdx.edu
			-or-  a0dh@odin.cc.pdx.edu

			Thanks!!
			David C. Henkemeyer
			Portland State University


Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
From: hmn@stud.hsn.no (HKON AASEN)
Subject: Novell C-lib
Organization: Nordland College
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 20:35:13 GMT

Anyone have any (share/free-ware, commercial???) C-Library for Novell????
Any ftp-sites????
Thanx!!!!

hmn@snake.hsn.no
or:
aasen_h@babbage.hsn.no
From: Jon Freivald <jaf@jaflrn.UUCP>
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer
Subject: Re: drives
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 92 23:07:41 EST
Organization: The Wizzard's Cave, East Meadow, NY

st10t@Rosie.UH.EDU writes:

> 	Ok so I have this clunky old XT and one day it crashed.
> After I fixed it all back up and reinstalled dos, I realized that
> my computer thinks that the second drive (720k floppy) is 360k.
> Unfortunately when I bought the system they gave me the manuals
> for a 286 and hense it doesn't tell me how to set up the driver.sys 
> to make the 2nd drive 720k. I never actually bought dos it just "came"
> with the computer. Soooo... does anyone have any idea or could some kind
> soul look up in their dos manual how to make my 2nd drive 720k?
> 
> avi
> 
> 
> 

in config.sys:

   device=driver.sys /d:1 /f:2

to be able to reference b: as the 720, (assuming only 1 hard disk and no
ramdisk), in autoexec.bat:

   assign d=b

this will allow you to "format b:" & have it come out a 720 instead of
having to "format d:"

=============================================================================
                   Jon Freivald ( jaf%jaflrn@uunet.UU.NET )
	 Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it.
=============================================================================
Newsgroups: alt.msdos.programmer,comp.os.msdos.apps,comp.os.vms
From: siushian@iti.gov.sg (Ling Siu Shian (SE))
Subject: MS Windows with DECNET
Summary: Windows Apps under PathWork effectiveness
Keywords: PathWork, DECNET, MS Windows
Organization: National Computer Board, Singapore
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 01:44:33 GMT

Your opinions will be appreciated

Hi, netter,
My company is considering a MS Windows application that uses DEC's PathWork as
the network.  What we want to know is the following :
  How good is DEC net (that is PathWork), is it responsive enough to be used as
    a multi-user shared file/directory network ?
  How good is it in comparison to other network, say Novell network that runs 
    with MS windows 3.1 ?

Initial feedback that I got was not good at all, but I don't know if that was due to
the system set-up of PathWork or not.  Any DEC long time user has any info ?

I will be grateful for any mail directed to me or to the list.  I will send a
summary if others are interested.

Thank you for reading this mail.

Ling Siu Shian
National Computer Board
71 Science Park Drive, Singapore 0511

Email : siushian@iti.gov.sg
Tel   : (65) 772 0492
Fax   : (65) 779 5966
From: dougr@meaddata.com (Doug Ritter)
Newsgroups: alt.snowmobiles
Subject: Ski Doo MX Z
Date: 18 Dec 1992 14:10:31 GMT
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: birch.meaddata.com

Went to "Open House" at the local Ski Doo/Yamaha shop last weekend and talked to
a few people about sledding.  Most of the poeple were there for the motorcycle
stuff, but there were a few snowmobilers.

Got a close look at the Mach Z - it's an impressive piece of engineering.  Sitting
right beside it was a VMax-4 - it seemed to be virtually unchanged from last year.
I watched a promo video for the VMax-4 showing it winning a whole bunch of grass
drags.  There was one race where the driver nearly flipped over backwards at the
start, and had to "let off it" to get the front end back down . . . he still won
the race by about 20 feet.  Jeeze.

But in all the races I saw, it was running against RXL's, Wildcat's and Mach 1 X's.
No Storm's, Thundercat's or Mach Z's.

Talked to one of the dealerships mechanics about the MX Z - he said the 2 guys who
bought their only 2 MX Z's had already been to Michigan twice, and they came back
overflowing with praise for the new chassis.  One of them had been an Indy rider
in the past, and he said the MX Z rides better than the Indy he used to own.

But I haven't seen any magazine articles about the sled yet, and I haven't seen
one on the snow (because I haven't *been* to the snow yet :-( ).  There's been
a lot of talk about the XLT here and a little about the 580ZR - what about the
MX Z?  Anybody seen one?  Anybody ridden one?

And even thought the Z sleds are "limited build", you can still get one this year
if you special order it.

--
Doug Ritter (dougr@meaddata.com)
From: Eric_J_Rainbolt@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: alt.snowmobiles
Subject: Looking For SnowMobile Catalogues
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 92 18:24:26 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: world

Could someone send me numbers to call for snowmobile
catalogues?  What the most killer sled to ride?

Send to:
eric_r@zeus.c-engr2.siu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.snowmobiles
From: greenman@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Derek Green)
Subject: Brainerd, MN
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 04:57:09 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  80523

Does anyone know what the riding is like in Brainerd, MN.  Thats where I'm from and I'm going back soon for Christmas.  If anyone has any questions about the   trails or hotspots around the Brainerd Lakes area, I'd be glad to help you.  I  have been riding sleds there my whole life.  Ride fast and hard.
From: dougr@meaddata.com (Doug Ritter)
Newsgroups: alt.snowmobiles
Subject: EXT Brake Handle
Date: 18 Dec 1992 14:21:39 GMT
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: birch.meaddata.com

Talked to Black Magic and my Cat dealer about the replacement brake handle I put
on my EXT Special.  Black Magic tried to sell me a whole new braking system -
I tried to explain that it's Christmas time, and I have *3* kids! ;-)

They said that they just drill holes in the handle and clamp the brake light
switch and a tab on the handle.  The dealer said it's a brain-dead idea to
replace the handle anyway - there's not a thing in the world wrong with the
stock handle, he says.  Heh.

So anyway, got the *February* issue of SnowGoer yesterday, and on page 47, in an
article entitled "99 Do-It-Yourself Tips For Better Snowmobiling", there's a picture
of the very same brake handle I installed, with two extra screws - one holding a
small tab on the handle, and one holding the switch on the housing-side of the
handle.

So that's probably how I'm going to fix mine up, although I *still* think welding
would be a better choice.

There's *no*doubt* that the replacement is better than the stock handle, dealer
comments notwithstanding. ;-)

--
Doug Ritter (dougr@meaddata.com)