waashk/20ng huggingface dataset:
Hello,     I'm trying to use the BIOS timer interrupts (which occur every .055 seconds, or 18.2 times a second) to time people's response times, in a psychology experiment, and the response times are on the order of .01 seconds. Is there any way I can get better precision than by counting ticks? Or can I make the ticks occur more frequently? I'm trying to do this in DOS 5.0 on a 386, and it would be nice if this could also work on our old 8086 machines running DOS 2.1 (I know, I know, I don't like them any more than you do) but this is by no means a requirement, just a possibility.      So, basically, any information on the BIOS tick scheme and the related inrterruots would be appreciated, as well as any information on alternate ways of improving accuracy. Email is preferred, as I'm planning on posting this to a few boards, and I don't read all of them. Thanks
In article <C5GEH5.n1D@utdallas.edu> goyal@utdallas.edu (MOHIT K GOYAL) writes:     Oh yeah, I just read in another newsgroup that the T560i uses a    high quality Trinitron tube than is in most monitors.(the Sony    1604S for example) and this is where the extra cost comes from.  It    is also where the high bandwidth comes from, and the fantastic    image, and the large image size, etc, etc...  It's also where the two annoying lines across the screen (one a third down, the other two thirds down) come from.
In article <ls91poINNsvf@levelland.cs.utexas.edu> sms@cs.utexas.edu (Stephen Mark Sanderson) writes: >From: sms@cs.utexas.edu (Stephen Mark Sanderson) >Subject: DOS6 - no boot disk required if you don't want EMM386 to load >Date: 8 Apr 1993 15:12:40 -0500 >Everybody, DOS 6 users in particular, take note:  if you want to play games >that hate/use their own upper memory manager, DOS 6 is not a problem.  No >boot disks required.  As your system starts up, hit the F5 key.  This tells >it to bypass config and autoexec altogether.  You get a plain, generic session >of DOS, with nothing loaded.  <there's another function key that actually >steps thru config.sys asking if you want to execute each line, but I've >forgotten it at the moment...you can try finding it - I think it's F9...>       No, you need not bypass the config.sys, in Dos 6.0, there is a function  of multi-config, have you tried BOOT.SYS ? the multi-config is the kind that  you can choose you config.sys at the startup. And I find that is very good.  It has no conflict to QEMM. (I have problem when using BOOT.SYS)     The key you say is F8, which is trace the config.sys step by step.     Sorry, if any error :)
In article <4552@isgtec.isgtec.com> ted@isgtec.com (Ted Richards) writes: >Al DeVilbiss (al@col.hp.com) wrote: >: >: I just brought up NCD's PC-XView, Windows version, to use over a  >: modem link to a Unix system at HP. Installation is easy, but you >: need a program, also from NCD, called XRemote to run on the Unix host. >: Total software cost for one seat was ~$200. > Anyone here know if NCD is doing educational pricing on these software packages for those of us strapped for cash?  Thanks  =eugene= s >-- >Ted Richards            ted@isgtec.com             [...!uunet.ca!isgtec!ted] >ISG Technologies Inc.   6509 Airport Rd., Mississauga  Ont.  Canada   L4V 1S7
I have a quick question regarding the Rockwell Chipset that's`come out relatively recently--It supports v.32, v.32bis, v.42, Group III Fax, and so on...  However, I heard there are bugs in the chipset.  I know someone that has a ZOOM 14.4 Modem that uses the chipset, and he hasn't had a problem.  What's the word on the chipset?  Is this a ROM bug specific  to a specific brand using the Rockwell, or is it the Rockwell chipset itself?  And, if it is the Rockwell chipset, what  are the chances that if I buy one of these modems (using the Rockwell chipset), that a) the bug will affect me, b) a ROM change will fix/compensate for the bug?  Please send responses via email...    --Joe Zbiciak im14u2c@cegt201.bradley.edu / im14u2c@camelot.bradley.edu  -- Joseph Zbiciak                         im14u2c@camelot.bradley.edu [====Disclaimer--If you believe any of this, check your head!====] ------------------------------------------------------------------
Then again, maybe $2445 for the gateway system isn't too cheap.  I have a system from Micron computers:
In <62890018@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com> taybh@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Beng Hang TAY) writes: >Hi, >	I am buying a Quantum LPS240AT 245 MB hardisk and is deciding a >	HDD/FDD controller. Is 32-bit VL-bus HDD/FDD controller faster  >	than 16 bit IDE HDD/FDD controller card? I hear that >	the VL bus controller is SLOWER than a IDE controller? >	Which one is true?  The VL-IDE Adapter can be much faster then the normal IDE, it depends on the drive you use and the board you use. I am using a NoName VL-IDE I/O Contr. it is tested under coretest with 2.000 kb/s using a cheap Seagate 3196 and nearly 4000 kb/s using a WD-Caviar 2340, you have figure out the jumper setting on the controller to get reliable diskaccess, fastest setting gets 4600 kb/s under Coretest but does not work reliable. You have to shadow the adapter BIOS to get the fast speed. I haven´t used a VL-IDE-Cache controller yet, but it might speed up twice.  						dieter
In article <C5JD1J.I5s@dutiws.twi.tudelft.nl>, winfrvk@dutiws.twi.tudelft.nl (R. v.Kampen) writes: >In article <1993Apr9.101944.3200@ucbeh.san.uc.edu> hoffmamc@ucbeh.san.uc.edu wr ites: >>A hard drive with XT-type controller can be added, but I recommend not trying a >>full -height 5 1/4" hard drive, as I have run into trouble with the 63.5w >>supply not having the oomph to spool up those big heavy platters. >> >one way to get the system going with one floppy drive and one hard >disk on a 63 watt power supply is to first disconnect the power from >the floppy drive than turn on the pc, you will notice the hard drive >having a real difficult time getting up to speed, but it manages. >when booting is finished, plug in your floppy drive, now it will work. > >(ok I know this is not very user friendly, maybe you are better off >buying a 486-66 with 300 watt power supply or something like that) > >willem > The newer the drive, the less problem you will have. The old ten and fifteen meg full heights were power hogs, but I have over twenty units that I set up running flawlessly with half height drives and/or hard cards.  --
Sorry if this has been beaten to death on this forum.  I am looking seriously at buying a 486 DX / 33 from Gateway. I will probably buy it without a monitor, as I've heard negative stuff about Gateway monitors.  I've also heard its tough to get through to technical support.  I'm seeking opinions on whether or not its wise to go ahead based on criteria such as price, warranty service, general ruggedness of the system, reliability of the machine and of Gateway too, and so on.  Please advise!!  Thanks in advance!  Vasudev Murthy
OK all you experts! Need answer quick.386 machine ,1.44 floppy ; unable to write to a formated 720 disk.Machine claims that disk is write protected,but it is not.  Note: It 'll read 720's with no problem.
Hi to all you PC gurus!  I'm new to these groups and so please forgive me if my questions are frequently asked, but I don't know the answer :) I've been recently having some problems with my 386 computer with a Seagate 40 meg hard drive. I occasionally find corrupted files, but most of the time programs work fine. Are there any utilities that are easily available that can help me determine whether or not the problem is a result of the hard drive vs an ill-behaved program or some other hardware item? Are there utilites to determine whether or not the hard drive is properly aligned etc? As might be expected, I would greatly appreciate any help on this matter. I'm considering just reformatting the disk and reinstalling everything (and hoping that will fix the problem), but I would like to have some assurance of what the problem cause is.   Also, can someone give me an opinion on DOS 6.0? Are the compression and defragmentation routines good enough to consider the upgrade if I don't have those routines already (as opposed to buying them separately)?    Much thanks in advance for any help.
On Fri, 23 Apr 1993 07:01:17 GMT Markfried Fellensiek (ins413j@mdw056.cc.monash.edu.au) wrote:  | If you're considering buying a system, with a view to using | it to run Unix (Linux, bsd, etc...) or some other special software, | there is a good chance that it WILL NOT WORK with the Diamond cards. | This is due to Diamond's propriety attitude to it's hardware: | it's impossible to get free information from them about their chips  | (specifically their dot-clocks) without paying, and signing non-disclosure | agreements.  | This made it impossible for the Free Software Foundation to provide | X-Windows compatibility with these cards, as diamond didn't want to  | divulge programming neccessities.  Considering the above, and some postings about Diamond's bad attitute towars customers, I ordered and ActixGE+ VLB 2M card. It will arive these days.  -- Penio Penev  x7423 (212)327-7423 (w) Internet: penev@venezia.rockefeller.edu
Can anybody please help me with information on the use of the bi-directional printer port.  I have successfully used one on a Toshiba laptop by enabling bit 0 of port 0x37f and controlling bit 7 of port 0x37a for the direction of data flow (ie "0" for output, "1" for input).  The same code does not work on my desktop machine. I have heard that i might have to use bit 5 of port 0x37a, however this also does not work.  For a parallel port i am using one of those IDE SUPER I/O cards and have been running a tape backup unit off it via a parallel to scsi converter so i am pretty sure that the printer port is bi-directional.   Any information would be greatly appreasiated.  Please post a reply here or Email me on  INTERNET rick@cabsav.vut.edu.au  Thanks Richard Muratti.
Does your Stealth 24 have a row of DIP switches on the back plane?  If so, you have the older Revision A board and the winmark results are absolutely normal. The later Revision B board benchmarks at 13 to 15 million winmarks (at least mine does in 486DX-50 toy).
Recently my cousin got a second internal IDE drive (a Seagate 210MB, I can look up the model number if it's important) and I've been trying to help him install it.  [I've got a vested interest, since my machine's busted and I have to use his until I get mine fixed.] He already has a Seagate 85MB IDE HD (again, I forget the model number but I can find out.)  Anyway, I can't seem to get the bloody thing up.  I've managed to get one or the other drive up (with the other disconnected), but not both at the same time; whenever I try, the thing hangs during bootup - never gets past the system test.  The IDE controller's instruction sheet says it supports two drives; I think I've configured the CMOS correctly; the power's plugged in properly; I even learned about the master/slave relationship that two HDs are supposed to have (didn't know PCs were into S&M! 8^) and I think I configured the jumpers properly (the 85MB one is the master, the new 210MB one is the slave).  The only thing I can think of is maybe I'm doing the cabling wrong.  I've tried several combinations:  controller - master - slave controller - slave - master master - controller - slave  None of them worked.  Unfortunately, I can't think of any others.  Another possibility is that the 85MB one is already partitioned into two seperate drives, C and D, and the CMOS asks for "C: drive" and "D: drive" setup info rather than "drive 1" and "drive 2" like most others I've seen.  Could this be confusing things?  So, I need HELP!  The drive came bereft of any docs, except for some info for the CMOS setup; the controller has a little piece of paper about the size of an index card; I cannibalized the cable (it's one of those with a connector at each end and the one in the middle, so it looks like a serial connection); now I be lost!  Many, many thanks in advance!  This is practically an emergency (I have two papers to do on this thing for Monday!)!  Help! --
I'd like to add a second S3 based video card to my system.  Does anyone know of a company that sells a card that can coexist with another one? All I really need is color text on one monitor and fast color graphics on the other.
Stupid question from a new IBM PC user:  I'm going to be selling my Mac and getting a Gateway 2000.  What is the difference between IDE HD and SCSI HD?  The GW 486DX-33V comes with a 250MB Western Digital IDE drive. I asked how much more for the Seagate 500MB SCSI drive.  The guy asked me "Why are you going with SCSI?".  I was lost for an answer. I just said "I know Seagate better as a company, from a satisfaction point of view".  Are SCSI drives faster than IDE?  I'm not buying my GW for another 4 months or so, but this is a question that has bugged me for a while.
pdb059@ipl.jpl.nasa.gov (Paul Bartholomew) writes:  <clip clip>  >Interesting.  Would you care to explain to me then, how my SoundBlaster >Pro card and my printer card are sharing IRQ 7 successfully?  I assure >you that they are both set to IRQ 7 and that I have no problem.  My >computer is a DTK 286-12 IBM clone.  Running MS-DOS or a derivative OS, obviously. Please take note that the following is not what exactly happens, but a slightly simplified explanation.  Technically, the IRQ line is only a means for the device (printer adapter, SoundBlaster, modem, hard disk, ...) to signal the CPU that "Something's happening here, please take note." How the CPU is programmed to handle this signal is usually up to the operating system. In MS-DOS, the "interrupt vector" is used to store the address of the function that handles each interrupt.  Now, basic DOS doesn't care whether the printer reports that it's ready to print some more stuff or not - it simply ignores the interrupt.  When DOS prints, it looks at the LPT buffer.  If there's a character there, wait a while and check again.  If there's not, copy a new character to the LPT port.  Since the IRQ 7 is ignored as a printer interrupt, it's free for use for any other adapters - in this case, the SB.   With any multitasking or otherwise advanced OS, this kind of printing approach just doesn't work (or more precisely, it wastes a lot of CPU cycles.) Hence, you can't "share" the IRQ 7 with LPT1 and SB if you're running Unix or OS/2 or whatnot.  Another issue with the SB is that only the digitized sound uses interrupts. When the SB plays plain music, the CPU simply tells it what to play until told otherwise. With digitized sound the interrupt is required to notify the CPU when the output ends and new data is needed.  You can, however, hook two (or more) COM ports to one interrupt, but use them only one at a time.  This is because the interrupt handling routine is same for both ports, and it can see from which port the data came from. This, of course, applies for some other devices (like LPT) as well.  Remember, this was greatly simplified in parts, but I think gives the general picture correctly enough.  Cheers,
randy@msc.cornell.edu writes: >Do all SCSI cards for DOS systems require a separate device driver to >be loaded into memory for each SCSI device hooked up?  No. All that I've seen have also an on-board BIOS which enables you to use up to 2 hard drives directly under DOS (2 drives is a DOS limitation and you have the same problem with IDE and all other standards for that matter). Software drivers often allow for better performance, though. You have to use them if you want to use other devices besides hard disks or have more than 2 disks.  >Will this also be true of the 32-bit OS's?  Obviously these are not able to use the 16-bit real mode BIOSes that are written for DOS, so you need software drivers. That's not a big deal (as long as the drivers are available), because you won't have to fight with any low memory problems either.
In article <westesC5qvAp.BGJ@netcom.com> westes@netcom.com (Will Estes) writes: >I have just installed a Diamond Stealth 24 ISA card in >a '486DX2-66 system with 256K cache, and 16 megs of memory, >that gets about a 126 SI 6.0 CPU Benchmark rating.  Using >the 1024x768x16 color driver under Windows, I am getting a >Winbench Winmarks rating of only about 9.5 Million.  Since >I have heard that others get 15-to-16 million for this card, >I assume that something is very wrong with my setup.  >What are some possible causes of the card slowing down like this?  Most importantly, which Winbench version are you using?  On my local bus ATI Graphics Ultra Pro, I've gotten various Winbench scores from 15.8 million to 31 million winmarks, depending on the version.  Winbench 2.5 gives the most optimistic scores, 3.11 gives the least.  A winmark rating is meaningless without a corresponding version number.  Dan
Has anyone tried connecting an Apple Laserwriter II to a PC? Do I need any special controller card or software to do that?  Thanks for any comments.
.. actually from Alistair Scott afs@tauon.ph.unimelb.edu.au  I have come across a old external hard disk and I can't find any specs for it anywhere...  It is made by NEC (yes I tried tech support.... no help), and it has a model number APC-H27C and is labelled "Expansion Hard Disk"  Can anyone help me out with figuring out what this beast is. The external connector looks like a scsi plug, and the date on the  drive chassis is 1984... os it's pretty old.  I just want to see what it is, before I deep six it or rip it  apart for bits.    thanks
balog@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Eric J Balog) writes:  >Hi!  >I recently switched my 3.5" drive to A:. The problem is, while I can read and >write to both the new A: and B: correctly, I can't boot from a floppy in A:. >I've checked the CMOS settings; it is set for Floppy Seek at Boot and Boot  >Order A:,C:.   >Once, I had a floppy that did not have the systems files on it in A:. I got a >message telling me to put a disk systems disk in the drive. It didn't work. >When I do have a systems disk in the A: drive, this is what happens: >1) Power-on and Memory Test; >2) A: light comes on >3) B: light comes on, followed by a short beep; >4) HD light comes on for an instant; >5) B: light comes on again, then nothing happens  >The light goes off, there is no disk activity of any kind, and the screen  >blanks. I can't even use ctrl-alt-del.  >Any suggestions.  Have you checked: 1/ The setting of drive A: to 1.44 M floppy. 						2/ The setting of drive B: to 1.2 M foppy. 						3/ The cable connecting the two drives to 						the controller card (I can't remember which 						two wires are swapped, but they determine 						which is drive A: & b:).  I hope this is of some help :-)   Steve
In article <1993Apr23.070117.22214@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au> ins413j@mdw056.cc.monash.edu.au (Markfried Fellensiek) writes: > >Diamond Video cards (stealth, viper, speedstar, etc...)  >may have excellent specifications, and the windows drivers that                                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >come with them might make windows BLINDINGLY fast, BUT:  Most fellow Diamond video board owners with whom I've corresponded may or may not share your opinion about the proprietary clocking scheme, but all of those with whom I've chatted have NOT been thrilled with the Window's drivers, either.  Some modes work fine, but others cause strange misdrawn objects, trails, etc.  Many have also voiced their strong discontent to Diamond's ambivalent attitude toward OS/2 drivers.  Come to think of it, though, I hear and see a lot of complaints about the ATI boards too, though recent word looks like the build 59 code looks much better.  Does ANYONE have an accelerated video board with drivers for Windows (OS/2?) where ALL the modes function properly?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Lance Hartmann (lance%hartmann.austin.ibm.com@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com)                Yes, that IS a '%' (percent sign) in my network address.
catone@compstat.wharton.upenn.edu (Tony Catone) writes:  >In article <C5GEH5.n1D@utdallas.edu> goyal@utdallas.edu (MOHIT K GOYAL) writes:  >   Oh yeah, I just read in another newsgroup that the T560i uses a >   high quality Trinitron tube than is in most monitors.(the Sony >   1604S for example) and this is where the extra cost comes from.  It >   is also where the high bandwidth comes from, and the fantastic >   image, and the large image size, etc, etc...  >It's also where the two annoying lines across the screen (one a third >down, the other two thirds down) come from.  Annoying??? Are you actually using one or are you just talking? ;-)  I'm sitting in from of one right now and I must say I never notice them! Yes, of course I can see them if I look, but annoying? NO WAY!!!  Christian
I am trying to get my system to work with a Tandberg 3600 + Future Domain TMC-1660 + Seagate ST-21M MFM controller.   The system boots up if the Tandberg is disconnected from the system, and of course no SCSI devices found (I have no other SCSI devices).  The system boots up if the Seagate MFM controller is removed from the system. The Future Domain card reports finding the Tandberg 3660 on the SCSI bus. The system then of course stops booting because my MFM hard disks can't be found.  The system hangs if all three (Tandberg, Future Domain TMC-1660 & Seagate MFM controller) are in the system.   Looks like there is some conflict between the Seagate and Future Domain card. But the funny thing is that it only hangs if the Tandberg is connected.  I have checked that there are no conflict in BIOS addresses, IRQ & I/O port. Have I missed anything?  I am lost here. Any suggestions are most welcomed. Thanks in advance.  Delman.    -- ______________________________________________________________________
In evolution of 80-x86 data path width has been doubled from  8 to 16 t0 32 bits but the speed of data processing has not increased at same rate.The question is Why? What is relationship bettween data path width and data processing speed? Thanks in advance for the input. Robert.
pd@world.std.com (Peter F Davis) writes:  >I've just installed a new Colorado Jumbo 250 tape backup unit from >Gateway, and I have a couple of complaints with it.  I don't know how >common or serious these problems may be.  I would appreciate some >feedback from others who have used this system.  (BTW, This is on a >4DX2-66V tower system.)  	I have a similar configuration: Colorado 250mb on 66 DX/2 tower.  >The problems are:  >    o	Firstly, Gateway shipped me only 120 Mb tapes, even though the >	drive is a 250 Mb unit.  When I called to complain, they only >	said:  "That's all we carry," and "With compression, you can >	fit 250 Mb on one tape."  Maybe so, but then why did I pay >	extra for the large capacity tape drive?  	You got suckered in the same way I did.  Silly me, believing 	that the "250" logo on the front meant actual carrying capacity. 	The people who do this sort of thing for a living call it  	"marketing."  Lawyers who prosecute it call it "fraud." 	Perhaps we can have a bunch of other duped buyers march on  	their corporate headquarters.  >    o	I have about 230 Mb of data on my C: drive.  I choose the >	space-optimizing compression scheme and started a full backup. >	The software estimated it would take about 22 minutes.  It >	took 4 1/2 hours.  Does this sound about right?  	This is a bit long.  My system takes about 45 minutes to do  	the same thing.  Usually 4.5 hours, particularly if the tape  	is grinding away the whole time means that your block size for  	the write is too small.  Is there any way to change the block  	size or write buffer size so it's bigger?  >    o	During the backup, about a dozen files came up with "access >	denied" errors.  Most of these were in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM >	(COMM.DRV, KEYBOARD.DRV, SHELL.DLL, etc.), but also >	C:\WINDOWS\PROGMAN.EXE and a couple of files in the C:\TAPE >	directory.  Anyone else had this happen?  	This is because the files are opened by DOS.  The files in the  	TAPE directory are likely the executable file or the configuration 	file for the tape system.  I would recommend running the backup 	from DOS so it will make a complete backup of the TAPE directory.  >Thanks for any and all feedback on this system.  I'd also appreciate >hearing of good sources for blank tape cartridges, preferably 250 Mb >size.  	The 250mb cartridges won't do you any good since the drive 	won't write 250mb of physical data on the tape.    >Thanks. >-pd