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|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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||||||| ZMAGAZINE #177 October 1, 1989 |||||||
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|||||||---------------------------------------------------------|||||||
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||||||| Volume 3, Number 40 Ron Kovacs, Editor |||||||
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|||||||---------------------------------------------------------|||||||
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|||||||(c) 1989, Rovac Ind., PO Box 59, Middlesex, NJ 08846-0059|||||||
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|||||||=========================================================|||||||
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||||||| News Headlines.... |||||||
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||||||| * Atari Announces New President |||||||
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||||||| * Nintendo Doubles Gameboy Output |||||||
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||||||| * Ledbetter Shipping Cartridge |||||||
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||||||| * New Uploads Available On The Services |||||||
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|||||||=========================================================|||||||
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|||||||CompuServe: 71777,2140 GEnie: ZMAGAZINE|||||||
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:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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CONTENTS
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Issue #177
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<*> The Editors Desk.....Ron Kovacs <*> ZNet Newswire...............
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<*> 800 Sound Mod........Bob Wolley <*> Disk Directory Salvage......
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<*> September Uploads....CompuServe <*> September Uploads......GEnie
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<*> Fun Memo..............A. Dutura <*> ZMag Archives...............
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THE EDITORS DESK
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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by Ron Kovacs
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I hope we have not upset our readers too much with our change over to
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this 80 column format. The atascii format was indeed nice to look at on
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BBS systems, but the straight ascii readers cannot read the issue
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without converting it first.
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I am making an attempt to gather some programers so that a few
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suggestions we have received can be discussed and written. If you have
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some spare time and are interested in writing some utilities, please
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leave me email and we can chat.
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This is our 177th issue, and our 195th release. The other issues were
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special editions on computer shows, single topics and special ZMag
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Indexes. With all this information, we are now going to provide a
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weekly reprint from one of the many issues. This week, we go back to
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February 23, 1987, Issue #40 with a reprint on hooking up a hard disk to
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your 8-bit. If you have a specific article or topic you would like us
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to cover, let me know and we will make it available.
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And, Thanks for reading!
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ZNET NEWSWIRE
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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~ Atari Corporation Press Release: 9/29/89
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I am pleased to announce that H. Michael (Mike) Morand joined Atari on
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September 25, 1989 as the President of Atari Computer (U.S.). Mike will
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be responsible for all operational aspects of Atari Computer sales,
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marketing, distribution and administration within the United States.
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Mike joins us from AST Research, Inc., where he was Vice President of
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Systems Marketing and was responsible for launching their desktop
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computer products into the market. In addition, Mike was in charge of
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AST's advertising, public relations, and reseller development.
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Mike's background also includes experience as a General Manager, and he
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has held several senior level sales and marketing positions. Previous
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companies he has been with include Xerox Corporation, Scientific Data
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Systems, Data Card Corporation, MSI Data Corporation, and Litton
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Systems, representing over 25 years experience in the computer industry.
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Please join me in welcoming Mike to Atari.
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Best Wishes,
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Sam Tramiel
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* Roy Goldman left a message on GEnie a little over a week ago updating
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the status of Daisy-Dot 3. Here are a few things being discussed:
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*** Commands for controlling left & right margins, hanging indents,
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changing densities, centering, flush right, justification, four
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different character widths, hard spaces, hard hyphens, and changing
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fonts are all finished. Up next are multiple height options and a new
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tabbing system that should eliminate almost every alignment problem.
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Daisy-Dot 3 might be shipping in January 1990. Stay tuned for details.
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* A new version of TextPro is being worked on and according to Ron Riche
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a beta version was supposed to be available this past weekend. Here is
|
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some excerpts from his message on GEnie. *** I will send the last beta
|
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version over the service by Friday of this week. If I encounter no
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problems this version will run from high memory and use all RAM
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underneath as buffer space. The lower the MEMLO the bigger the buffer.
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The new version also has a couple of extra goodies, a control lock,
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fancy screen print, and a number of bug fixes from the original that
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were never taken care of. I am debating whether to leave the 'Binary
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Load-' option alone in S-DOS versions (it will probably never work well
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with the X-Cart) or using the DOS Connmand ture instead, which allows
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you to type a command to DOS to be Xecuted on exit. Tell me which would
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be more useful...
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* Atari's new User Group Coordinator requests that user group officers
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send in all the information about the group including the groups name,
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address (preverably a Post Office Box), a contact name, and phone
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number. Next month a revised user group listing will become available.
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For more information on user group registration, contact Bob Brodie at
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Atari Corp (408) 745-2052
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* Diamond's Alan Reeve recently announced that Diamond Write has
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started shipping as version 1.0. This version includes different fonts,
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mixing styles, search and replace, 80 column, graphics printout, ruler
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and more. A spell checker and XEP80 support has not beem included, but
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a spell checker will added shortly and become available free as an
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upgrade.
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* DataQue, the makers of the Turbo816 has announced the first program
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for the product. Turbo_Calc is a spreadsheet program with the following
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features: Runs on XL/XE with 32k or 64k of RAM, 400/800 with revision B
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Atari OS and at least 32k RAM, Turbo-816 Systems using Standard RAM or
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Expanded RAM, uses up to 8Mb of Expanded RAM, 64 Rows by 64 Columns Cell
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Grid, Shell to DOS (using MEM.SAV or equivalent if needed by DOS),
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compatible with DOS 2.x, MYDOS, DOSXL, SpartaDOS, or SPX (Standard
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memory model or less than 48k of expanded with SPX), automatic detection
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of memory type available, cell (block) move, copy, delete, kill, and
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edit, runs under Turbo-View Windowing Environment (FAST!!!) and all
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commands also have HOT key equivalents. Many help screens available via
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hot key or Turbo-View. Cartridge based, so it works with HD, or Floppy
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Systems. Suggested retail price will range between $30 and $40.00.
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Look for release of this product in mid November.
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* Nintendo announced last week it will raise its monthly output of
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Gameboy video game machines from 300,000 units per month to 400,000 per
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month by the end of the year. Nintendo has sold 710,000 Gameboys since
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April. In the US 450,000 Gameboys have been sold since it began
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shipping here at the end of July. Nintendo sells ehe hand-held video
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game for $109.95 in the US.
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* Keith Ledbetter has shipped the first batch of Express! terminal
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cartridges. The stackable cart for the 8-bit Atari gives unparalleled
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power in an instant-load package. A disk drive is not even required for
|
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simple terminal use with any standard Hayes compatible modem. It
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supports numerous batch transfer protocols at speeds up to 19,200 baud
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and will work on Atari 1030, XM301, and SX212 direct connect modems.
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Featuring windows and drop down menus (although NOT using a mouse), it's
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quite easy to use. $69.95 from Orion Microsystems, 2211 Planters Row
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Drive, Midlothian, Virginia 23113.
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ATARI 800 SOUND MODIFICATION
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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by Bob Woolley
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First of all I will not be responsible for any damages. This works and
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it worked great on my 800. I did it in one day.
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First, you need to go to Radio Shack and get a switch which has four
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connection prongs. You may want a little switch box and some extra
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wire.
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Second, you need to take the case of you computer apart. You will find
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down in the right hand corner of the computer a speaker and a little
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plug where that speaker connects. Remove the speaker for the computer
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(but mark the plug so you know which way to plug it back in); then cut
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both wires and strip them.
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Now you take the switch and solder the wires on to it or the extension
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wires you may have chosen to use. Then plug the speaker back in and put
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your CPU back together. After this you may toggle your computer sound
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on an off.
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This may also be done with a volume switch instead of a toggle type
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switch. If you have any questions you may contact me at the Reef BBS
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(S*P*A*C*E South) via E-mail or base #6 or #7. The Reef BBS (206) 848-
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3371 South Hill, Washington.
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DISK DIRECTORY SALVAGE
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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by Bob Prince
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|
Reprinted from the NACEC Newsletter
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While cleaning up some files the other day, I had a dreaded experience.
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A directory call from DOS produced the feared message -ERROR 144-. What
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was on that disk? I didn't know! All I knew was that it was a full
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double density disk of documentation files. So I booted up my trusty
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disk utility DISKWIZ 2 (vintage 1982 form Jerry Allen). Many other
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sector editors are available to let you look at the contents of a disk
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and change anything you like.
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What I found confirmed my worst fears - two bad sectors, sector 361 and
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362. Unless you know something about Atari file structure, the
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significance of this is not obvious.
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After all, what's the big deal about losing two sectors of text? Well
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what that means in this case is that the first two sectors of the
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DIRECTORY were lost. Short of programming to read the disk contents
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into a series of files and editing them into meaningful files, the whole
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disk was useless. (Not quite, since I did manage to copy five files,
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but you get my point).
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Back to DISKWIZ 2. I mapped the disk and found 26 files on it - all
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consecutive. Then I went to the first sector of each file and read it
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to see the name of it. Between what I was able to salvage from my disk,
|
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what I had in backups and what I found posted on local BBs's I could
|
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replace about half of them. That still left 99K bytes of information
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lost. I decided to try to salvage it. I checked the file links and was
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relieved to learn they were intact.
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I reasoned that all I had to do was reconstruct an acceptable directory
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so DOS could find the start of each file and then copy file by file to
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another disk.
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I guess it's time to have a brief discussion on how DOS manages files.
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The directory is contained on sectors 361 - 368. That's 8 sectors.
|
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Each directory sector has 128 bytes and each file takes 16 bytes to
|
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record all necessary information:
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|
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INFORMATION BYTE(S)
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===============================
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FILE STATUS 1
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FILE LENGTH (sectors) 2,3
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FILE START SECTOR 4,5
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FILENAME 6-13
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EXTENSION 14-16
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That allows 8 files per directory sector times 8 directory sectors for a
|
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maximum of 64 files per disk. For your information, all data is shown
|
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in hexidecimal (ugh!) and byte pairs are always in low byte - high byte
|
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order (for example decimal 525 equals hex 020D, but would be entered 0D
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02). File status could be never used (00), normal (42), locked (62),
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deleted (80), or open (43 or 63).
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Next I decided to enter the information from my map and manual file scan
|
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in the order and format described above. One reason I chose DISKWIZ 2
|
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for this job is that it has some handy features such as a dec-hex
|
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conversion, a directory screen print and a graphic screen dump
|
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compatible with my printer (Gemini 10X). The formatted directory proved
|
|
very useful in checking my editing, and before long I had sucessfullly
|
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completed my disk surgery...and learned quite a bit about file structure
|
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in the process.
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SEPTEMBER UPLOADS - COMPUSERVE
|
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-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Ctsy CompuServe Atari8 SIG
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The following is a list of uploads to the CompuServe Atari 8-Bit Forum
|
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for the month of September.
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LBPLUS.ARC/binary 26368
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This is LeBreak Plus. For use in the creation of ATASCII ART/TEXT
|
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Files/BBS welcome Msgs, or any Msgs you would like to create. Replaces
|
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LeBreak Ten or the Magic Cursor. Please read the DOCS before using the
|
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program. Only systems with atleast 48k can use this. This is version 2
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and it DEFINITELY works! Mike/74730,405
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=
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Z176.ARC/binary 16384
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New Release Day, New Format, New Editor. ZMagazine Issue #176
|
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<*> Editors Desk, <*> Znet Newswire, <*> 2 Type In Programs, <*>
|
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WAACE Update, <*> AUGS Announced, <*> Hard Drive Notes.
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=
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COUNTS.BAS/binary 6400
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This program will give the evaluation for a US Postal Service rural
|
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delivery route. You need the totals from PS Form 4241(x). Just input
|
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the totals and receive a printout of the route evaluation. It is
|
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written in basic and requires a printer.
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=
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ZNEWS.TXT 1557
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Press release from Rovac on ZMagazine.
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=
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CHKFRG.ARC/binary 11520
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This file check the percentage of fragmentation of files on a SpartaDos
|
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disk (Floppy, Hard, Ram). It is mainly used to see if your Hard Drive
|
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is being used in a optimal manner.
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=
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LIFE.ARC/binary 24832
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A version of the simulation of LIFE with a GEM like interface. Allows
|
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for saving, loading, and printing of patterns plus other features.
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=
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ETIME.ARC/binary 7296
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Action source and compiled program to compute elapsed time between two
|
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times you enter. This program shows the use of the SDOS.ACT routines to
|
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get parameters from SpartaDOS or to ask for values if parameters aren't
|
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passed. Also shows how to restrict typed input to a specific group of
|
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characters (numerals in this case) and trap editing characters using a
|
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routine from GETSTR.ACT. Bill Aycock
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=
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PASCAL.ARC/binary 30720
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|
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Draper Pascal 2.1 software file. Everything you need! This is the very
|
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latest version of Draper Pascal for all 8 bit Atari systems. Another
|
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file contains a 39 page manual. Draper Pascal is now Shareware!
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=
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PASDOC.ARC/binary 31744
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Draper Pascal 2.1 is now Shareware. This is a 39 page documentation
|
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file covering features, a complete tutorial, reserved words, and much
|
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more! Major 8 bit Atari software language.
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=
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Z175.ARC/binary 15744
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ZMagazine #175 for 19 September 1989. This ARCed news/reviews issue
|
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contains: Atari user group station, CIS new uploads, FACE Atari talk,
|
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GEnie new uploads, WAACE 'Fest is Alive and Well.
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=
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CHRCHG.ARC/binary 11136
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A Dungeon bug causes possession items to get garbled or disappear. Then
|
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an old character must be updated. This Dungeon utility changes what's
|
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already on that disk. Change any stat, such as strength, hit points or
|
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experience points. Change quantity of guild or carried items, the
|
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number of times you can use eyes and horns, or location. Even go into
|
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arena and palace. It also tells your direction. Thanks, Don Lebow for
|
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Zap. Use Superunarc after download.
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=
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SDOS.ACT 3617
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This file contains source code for Action! routines that allow you to
|
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access SpartaDOS's command line. These routines will let you pull
|
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parameters from the command line one by one, or you can get the entire
|
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line at once if you wish. Demo routine is included - I recommend that
|
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you compile and run the demo until you know how the routines will
|
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behave. Bill Aycock
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=
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Z174R.ARC/binary 13696
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|
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ZMagazine #174 re-release for 12 September 1989. This ARCed news/
|
|
reviews issue contains: Editor's monitor, Computer Talk, Jersey Atari
|
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Computer Group, The Mouse Loses its Tail, and Crazy Eights.
|
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=
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WOFDAT.BAS/binary 18176
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|
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Now the best Wheel of Fortune is even better. If 900 puzzles weren't
|
|
enough or if you just wanted to be able to write your own puzzles,
|
|
here's a puzzle file maker for WOF.DCM. This is an improved version of
|
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the puzzle maker and allows the space and -&- characters to be used in
|
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the category. Read the DOC file WOFDAT.DOC.
|
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=
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WOFDAT.DOC 7164
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|
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Documentation for WOFDAT.BAS -- puzzle maker for Wheel Of Fortune file
|
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WOF.DCM
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=
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|
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ZREAD.BAS/binary 3456
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|
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Read ZMAGS (8-Bit) by entering only the three numbers; as long as the Z
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is on the disk as ZMAGxxx.TXT. Enjoy. *Andrew*
|
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=
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WOF.DCM/binary 69632
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|
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This is the Best Ever WHEEL OF FORTUNE game. It has 900 puzzles and
|
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plays just like the original TV version. It requires 48K & ATARI BASIC.
|
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Originally uploaded as WOFSCR.XMO, it was included in the BEST OF ATARI8
|
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catalog. Extract with DISCOM to make the program disk. Instructions in
|
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WOFDCM.DOC. Y ou can make your own puzzles using WOFDAT.BAS. An
|
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additional disk of 900 MORE puzzles is available in WOFPUZ.DCM! -Warren
|
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Silberstein-
|
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=
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|
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WOFDCM.DOC 19300
|
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|
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Documentation for WOF.DCM -- Wheel of Fortune simulation in Atari Basic.
|
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=
|
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|
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WOFPUZ.DCM/binary 40448
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|
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A Disc full of 900 more puzzles for the Best WHEEL OF FORTUNE. For use
|
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with WOF.DCM (previously WOFSCR.XMO). Use DISCOM to turn this file into
|
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a disc.
|
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=
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|
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AND1.TXT 11689
|
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|
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This is Atari NewsDesk Volume 1, Number 1. Atari NewsDesk is a new
|
|
monthly newsletter supplement published by the Atari Exchange Of
|
|
Louisville, Ky. This month... Kentuckiana AtariFest Cancelled,
|
|
Washington AtariFest Announced, And more!
|
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=
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|
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BBSREP.TXT 3819
|
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|
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This is the Atari Scene! BBS Report 09/15/89 edition.
|
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=
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|
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CLRDSK.ARC/binary 4224
|
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|
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This program will clear (write zeros) to any SpartaDos Disk device,
|
|
i.e. MIO RamDisks, Hard Drives, Disk Drives, that will return their
|
|
configuration. It is used from the command line. Includes Mac65 source
|
|
code.
|
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=
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MIOLCK.ARC/binary 2048
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|
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This file will toggle the Lock status on your MIO Ramdisks and Hard
|
|
Disks from the SpartaDos 3.2 or SDX command line. Includes Mac65 source
|
|
code.
|
|
=
|
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|
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WHATIS.ARC/binary 8448
|
|
|
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WHATIS 2.4 now recognizes 37 types of files - AlfCrunch, ARC, DiskCom,
|
|
ML, pictures, and many other file types for various computers. Load
|
|
from any DOS (DOS-XE too!) and enter the name of the file(s) or
|
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directory to check. Sparta users may pass the filespec on the command
|
|
line. Brief docs with a list of file types WHATIS will recognize is
|
|
included in the ARC. (v2.4 adds a number of picture types to the list.)
|
|
Bill Aycock
|
|
=
|
|
|
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HWSALE.TXT 2353
|
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|
|
Read this ASCII file for a listing of current Hardware items we have on
|
|
SALE! -Mark- -IC-
|
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=
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SEPTEMBER UPLOADS - GENIE
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Ctsy GEnie Atari8 Roundtable
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here is a capture, (re-edited), of available files for downloading on
|
|
GEnie which have been uploaded during the month of September.
|
|
|
|
Number: 4623
|
|
Name: CONTENTS78.TXT
|
|
Address: C.WALNUM
|
|
Bytes: 3780 Library: 23
|
|
|
|
Description: This is the table of contents from the November 1989 issue
|
|
of ANALOG Computing/ST-Log.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4622
|
|
Name: CALENDAR TOOL.ARC
|
|
Address: TOM.ROBINSON
|
|
Bytes: 16380 Library: 9
|
|
|
|
Description: This calendar is customizable, versatile, and has fast
|
|
search abilities among its features. Multiple printing options, day-
|
|
specific reminders or annual messages-- pretty handy! Good docs with
|
|
it, and it's NOT written in BASIC. It's author released it into the
|
|
public domain some time back (it was once commercially available). I
|
|
haven't tested it in-depth with many DOSes, but it has no problems with
|
|
Atari DOS 2.5 and seems to be fine with SpartaDOS.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4621
|
|
Name: ZMAG176.TXT
|
|
Address: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Bytes: 32760 Library: 13
|
|
|
|
Description: NEW RELEASE DAY, NEW EDITOR, NEW FORMAT. <*> Editors
|
|
Desk, <*> ZNet Newswire, <*> 2 Type-In Programs, <*> WAACE Update,
|
|
<*> Hard Drive Notes. This is the same as ZMAG176.ARC, except you can
|
|
<L>ist this online, or download it without having to UNARC it. Text is
|
|
ASCII.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4620
|
|
Name: EDITBAS.LST
|
|
Address: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Bytes: 3780 Library: 13
|
|
|
|
Description: This BASIC source was extracted from Issue #176 of
|
|
ZMagazine. Article can be <L>isted online, or downloaded then ENTERED
|
|
into your program editor. File is ASCII. See ZMAG176.ARC/ZMAG176.TXT
|
|
in this library for details.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4619
|
|
Name: TEXT_FILE.LST
|
|
Address: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Bytes: 5040 Library: 13
|
|
|
|
Description: This TURBO BASIC source was extracted from Issue #176 of
|
|
ZMagazine. Article can be <L>isted online, or downloaded then ENTERED
|
|
into your program editor. File is ASCII. See ZMAG176.ARC/ZMAG176.TXT
|
|
in this library for details.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4618
|
|
Name: KENFIG.ARC
|
|
Address: BOB.PUFF
|
|
Bytes: 5040 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: This is a utility program from Frank Walters that allows
|
|
you to manipulate your MIO configuration with MYDOS, TOPDOS, and
|
|
SpartaDOS. It also allows you to use MYDOS with the MIO ramdisk(s).
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4614
|
|
Name: ZMAG176.ARC
|
|
Address: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Bytes: 17640 Library: 13
|
|
|
|
Description: See above file for contents.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4613
|
|
Name: KEYMASTER.DOC
|
|
Address: E.HABBERSTAD
|
|
Bytes: 6300 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: Documentation for Keymaster, the XL/XE keyboard
|
|
enhancement program for basic and MAC65 users.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4612
|
|
Name: KEYMASTER.COM
|
|
Address: E.HABBERSTAD
|
|
Bytes: 7560 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: XL/XE keyboard and screen editor enhancement for everyday
|
|
use by users of Basic and MAC65. Features 32 byte key buffer, nine
|
|
special function keys, 26 unit macro table, choice of qwerty or dvorak
|
|
keyboards, and special three line bottom of screen display showing
|
|
Dvorak, graphics or international character keyboard layouts.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4611
|
|
Name: CALENDAR1990.TXT
|
|
Address: K.HELM
|
|
Bytes: 11340
|
|
|
|
No description available.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4610
|
|
Name: COUNTSHT.BAS
|
|
Address: H.KING
|
|
Bytes: 7560 Library: 9
|
|
|
|
Description: Written in basic and requires a printer.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4609
|
|
Name: Z175.ARC
|
|
Address: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Bytes: 16380 Library: 13
|
|
|
|
Description: ZMagazine #175 for 19 September '89. This ARCed news/
|
|
reviews issue contains: Atari User Group Station, CIS new uploads, FACE
|
|
Atari Talk, GEnie new uploads, WAACE 'Fest is Alive and Well.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4608
|
|
Name: SEPT89.TXT
|
|
Address: E.LAMBETH1
|
|
Bytes: 5040 Library: 12
|
|
|
|
Description: This is the fall 1989 issue of Atari Talk. Atari Talk is
|
|
the official newsletter of the Federation of Atari Computer Enthusiasts,
|
|
an international Atari users group.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4607
|
|
Name: AUGSPR.TXT
|
|
Address: MARTY.A
|
|
Bytes: 7560 Library: 12
|
|
|
|
Description: This ASCII text file is a press release about a *new*
|
|
service for ALL Atari User Groups called AUGS (The Atari User Group
|
|
Station). May be downloaded or read online with the <L>ist command.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4605
|
|
Name: PASDOC.ARC
|
|
Address: N.DRAPER
|
|
Bytes: 34020 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: This is a 39 page documentation file for the latest
|
|
version of Draper Pascal. It is now Shareware! This is a major
|
|
language for the Atari 8 bit systems. Another uploaded file contains
|
|
the complete Draper Pascal 2.1 software. This file contains a
|
|
description of the Draper Pascal features, a complete tutorial,
|
|
Compiler, Editor, System information, and much more!
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4604
|
|
Name: PASCAL.ARC
|
|
Address: N.DRAPER
|
|
Bytes: 32760 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: This is the latest version of Draper Pascal for Atari 8
|
|
bit systems. It is now Shareware! This is a major language for the
|
|
Atari 8 bit systems. Another uploaded file contains a 39 page manual
|
|
describing the many features of Draper Pascal, a complete tutorial,
|
|
Pascal definitions, and more.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4603
|
|
Name: SEABAT.ARC
|
|
Address: T.CRAWFORD1
|
|
Bytes: 7560 Library: 10
|
|
|
|
Description: This is a game programmed in Atari BASIC that is played
|
|
like Milton-Bradley's game called Battle Ship. It's nothing fancy, but
|
|
I think it's fun and can be helpful in learning to program in BASIC.
|
|
Respect and credit go to Milton-Bradley for their marketing of the REAL
|
|
Battle Ship. Copyrighted by Tim Crawford, but released to PD. Feel
|
|
free to modify to your own liking, but remember 'from whence it comest'!
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4602
|
|
Name: LQUEST.BAS
|
|
Address: T.CRAWFORD1
|
|
Bytes: 8820 Library: 10
|
|
|
|
Description: Game for up to 4 players - copyrighted, but PD by Tim
|
|
Crawford. Works similar in object and play to 'Wheel of Fortune'.
|
|
Programmed in regular interpretive BASIC; modify to suit your taste,
|
|
but remember the author (please!).
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4601
|
|
Name: SOFTSALE.TXT
|
|
Address: C.MICHAUD
|
|
Bytes: 1260 Library: 11
|
|
|
|
Description: Good 8-Bit Software for sale at low prices. Graphics
|
|
Interface which no 8-bit owner with a dot matrix printer should be
|
|
without. You must check out this file. List online or download. (Not
|
|
Compressed)
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4600
|
|
Name: Z174R.ARC
|
|
Address: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Bytes: 15120 Library: 13
|
|
|
|
Description: ZMagazine #174 re-release for 12 September 1989. This
|
|
ARCed news/reviews issue contains: Editor's monitor, Jersey Atari
|
|
Computer Group, The Mouse loses its tail, and Crazy Eights. This re-
|
|
release supercedes the previous issue #174.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4598
|
|
Name: TICTACTOE3D.ARC
|
|
Address: L.KIRKPATRI1
|
|
Bytes: 6300 Library: 10
|
|
|
|
Description: This is a multi-level three dimentional tic-tac-toe game.
|
|
You can play human versus human, human versus the computer or computer
|
|
versus computer. GTIA chip is required in a 48K 8-bit Atari.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4597
|
|
Name: MAXEDIT.ARC
|
|
Address: MARTY.A
|
|
Bytes: 12600 Library: 27
|
|
|
|
Description: This program, when UnARC'd, will let Oasis BBS v4.x and
|
|
older edit nearly ALL the parameters saved in the pass word files. This
|
|
is an OFFLINE editor and can not be used online.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4596
|
|
Name: CLRHLPR.ARC
|
|
Address: MARTY.A
|
|
Bytes: 5040 Library: 27
|
|
|
|
Description: This program, when UnARC'd, will help you set the screen
|
|
colors for the various MBEs on the Oasis BBS. Can also be used to
|
|
determine the values needed to get whatever screen color that you want
|
|
for other programs/reasons.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4595
|
|
Name: PC_MYDOS.ARC
|
|
Address: G.HINES
|
|
Bytes: 26460 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: Get this file to an MSDOS machine. Unarc and use the
|
|
program to format a diskette on the PC. Use the program to copy from
|
|
MSDOS to this new diskette and then read it on any Atari single sided
|
|
drive in double density. Use MyDos, SpartaDos, etc.. I have had
|
|
problems using SpartaDos X but the 3.2 version is fine. *SysOp's Note*
|
|
This is an MSDOS program, NOT an Atari program!!!
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4594
|
|
Name: ILBMRD14.ARC
|
|
Address: JDPOTTER
|
|
Bytes: 12600 Library: 4
|
|
|
|
Description: Version 1.4 of ILBMREAD program to view Amiga IFF/ILBM
|
|
picture files. This version adds a few features like quiet I/O,
|
|
selectable monochrome mode, toggle Antic off for faster loading, and
|
|
unsticking XF551 drives. This program is ShareWare: please send
|
|
feedback. Enjoy!
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4592
|
|
Name: VIEW9.ARC
|
|
Address: J.WARD8
|
|
Bytes: 1260 Library: 4
|
|
|
|
Description: This is a single file graphics 9 (PI9) viewer that I wrote
|
|
to save hauling out a slideshow program to check out new pics. It may
|
|
be run from the Sparta command line as VIEW9 Filename.ext, or it will
|
|
prompt you to enter the name from any other dos. Short and sweet, it's
|
|
only about 500 bytes!
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4591
|
|
Name: Z173.ARC
|
|
Address: ZMAGAZINE
|
|
Bytes: 16380 Library: 13
|
|
|
|
Description: ZMagazine #173 for 5 September 1989. This ARCed news
|
|
issue contains: User Group Notice--New Jersey, Surge protection, Analog
|
|
October Contents, 130XE upgraded, Black Box information, Washington DC
|
|
Atarifest update, and more.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4590
|
|
Name: CRAZY8.TXT
|
|
Address: LAKE31
|
|
Bytes: 8820 Library: 12
|
|
|
|
Description: Odds and Ends and more info concerning the Crazy-Eights
|
|
contest food for thought and a chance to win fifty dollars. Whadya say?
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4589
|
|
Name: DOS2DOS3CONV.ARC
|
|
Address: I.RODRIGUEZ
|
|
Bytes: 2520 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: This program can convert any file from a DOS 2 disk to
|
|
DOS 3. It can copy true double density files (true double density drive
|
|
required) and from enhanced density DOS 2.5 disks (the files that appear
|
|
as <filenameext> in the directory) as well as the standard DOS 2.0s
|
|
files. You may also want to download the docs for this file (#4587) and
|
|
its twin brother: Convert DOS 3 to DOS 2 (file #4588).
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4588
|
|
Name: DOS3DOS2CONV.ARC
|
|
Address: I.RODRIGUEZ
|
|
Bytes: 2520 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: This program is for converting files from DOS 3 to DOS 2
|
|
disks. It is a new version of the program I uploaded more than a year
|
|
ago. The difference with the previous version is that this one can make
|
|
multiple passes and corrects a few bugs of the older version. You may
|
|
also want to download the docs for this file (#4587) and the twin
|
|
brother of this program: Convert DOS 2 to DOS 3. That program can
|
|
convert files from true double density disks to DOS 3. It is file #4589
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4587
|
|
Name: DOSCONVDOC.ARC
|
|
Address: I.RODRIGUEZ
|
|
Bytes: 5040 Library: 2
|
|
|
|
Description: This file contains the docs for the two converting
|
|
utilities. Since both versions, the 3 to 2 and the 2 to 3, are used in
|
|
the same way there's only one doc file to download.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
Number: 4586
|
|
Name: VCTEMPS.ARC
|
|
Address: MARTY.A
|
|
Bytes: 28980 Library: 9
|
|
|
|
Description: This ARC'd file contains a number of different templates
|
|
for use with VisiCalc. Note that you MUST have VisiCalc to use these!!
|
|
This is a re-upload of an older file <TEMPLATES.VC #1498> in ARC format
|
|
to reduce the size for faster transfers.
|
|
=
|
|
|
|
|
|
FUN MEMO
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Compliments of (GEnie) A.DUTRA
|
|
|
|
|
|
_______________, 19___
|
|
|
|
TO: ______________________________
|
|
|
|
[] As per our agreement [] In spite of our agreement
|
|
[] Congratulations on your New Baby/Retirement/New House/Old House/Pay
|
|
Increase/Birthday/Wedding/Divorce [] Keep your comments to yourself
|
|
[] Put a stamp on your next letter! [] Please don't try to explain
|
|
[] Please return [] Please explain
|
|
[] For your eyes only [] No use explaining
|
|
[] Thanks for the loan [] Please sign and return
|
|
[] We will accept your insults [] Please sign keep
|
|
[] We'll no longer accept your insults
|
|
[] You know what you can do with this [] Merry Christmas
|
|
[] Please sign and throw away [] Happy New Year
|
|
[] Everything is in order [] Happy Hanukkah
|
|
[] Don't worry [] Happy Easter
|
|
[] Worry [] Lazy Labor Day
|
|
[] Greetings to your secretary [] Happy Mother's Day
|
|
[] Greetings to your wife [] For your guidance
|
|
[] Is your hunting dog available? [] You need guidance
|
|
[] Is your secretary available? [] Don't bother to read
|
|
[] Is your spouse available? [] Have you considered dieting?
|
|
[] Is your date available? [] Good luck on your new diet
|
|
[] Were you born that stupid? [] The worst is behind you now
|
|
[] Considered a personality transplant?
|
|
[] Considered a brain transplant?
|
|
[] (K)eep (I)t (S)imple (S)tupid [] KISS
|
|
[] Were you really born that way?
|
|
[] I bet you slobber when you sleep [] Are you on drugs?
|
|
[] Would you haunt a house for me? [] Did you train your own dog?
|
|
[] Do you date professionally? [] Did your dog train you?
|
|
[] How about a date?
|
|
[] What is your ridiculous excuse?
|
|
[] Do you need help getting a date?
|
|
[] If BS was asphalt you'd be a freeway
|
|
[] No charge [] It's been nice knowing you
|
|
[] Charge [] Kindest regards
|
|
[] Use your credit card [] Regards
|
|
[] You will hear further from us [] Sincerely,
|
|
[] You will hear from our lawyer [] Yours truly,
|
|
[] See you in Court [] Yours respectfully,
|
|
[] You will hear from my wife
|
|
[] Yours till the stars lose their glory
|
|
[] You will hear from my mother-in-law
|
|
[] Eventually Yours (for undertakers)
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Notes:
|
|
|
|
_______________________________________________________________________
|
|
_______________________________________________________________________
|
|
_______________________________________________________________________
|
|
_______________________________________________________________________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ZMAG ARCHIVES - REPRINT
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
February 23, 1987, Issue 40
|
|
|
|
Headlines:
|
|
<*> ATARI CORP. POSTS EARNINGS--1986 A PROFITABLE YEAR
|
|
<*> EXPRESS! STATUS REPORT--NEW VERSIONS FORTHCOMING
|
|
<*> LEDBETTER RESIGNS AS SIG*ATARI SYSOP
|
|
<*> WHAT'S NEW IN THE ATARI MAGS
|
|
<*> GAMES COMPUTERS PLAY NOW PLAYING WITH THE ST'S
|
|
<*> FIRM ACCUSED OF PIRATING SHAREWARE PROGRAMS
|
|
<*> ADDING A HARD DRIVE TO YOUR ATARI 8-BIT--STEP BY STEP
|
|
|
|
....Hard Disks For The 8-Bits.......
|
|
|
|
This is the story of how one user achieved the 8-bit Atari owner's
|
|
dream--upgrading his floppy disk system to 1/4 meg RAM and a 10 megabyte
|
|
hard disk.
|
|
|
|
It all began when I heard the rumors about a device called MIO promised
|
|
from a little cottage industry company called ICD in Rockford, Ill. The
|
|
specs for the MIO looked impressive enough; RS-232 Serial interface,
|
|
parallel interface, built in print spooler, additional memory for
|
|
RAMdisk in 256K or 1mb flavors, resident configuration program in ROM
|
|
and communication along the long neglected Atari parallel buss.
|
|
|
|
What really captured my imagination, was the promise of a SCSI/SASI
|
|
interface!
|
|
|
|
The original impression that I got was that you could hook up a Hard
|
|
Drive right to the MIO and be in business. Not quite! Admittedly, ICD
|
|
had done most of the difficult stuff inside the MIO, but there are
|
|
several important steps to follow before getting your HD online.
|
|
|
|
Before I go on, let me say a word about a subject that people have given
|
|
me a rough time about for quite some time. Yes, I confess, (just like
|
|
the Kellogg Frosted Flake commercials) I am a SpartaDOS user, and I love
|
|
it! A lot of people have said to me, -how can you USE SpartaDOS, there
|
|
are so many commands to learn, and there is no prompting!-.
|
|
|
|
Since I use MS-DOS based systems so heavily at work, the similar
|
|
commands in SpartaDOS are welcome indeed. For those of you who don't
|
|
feel good without a menu, SpartaDOS 3.2 has a MENU command file built in
|
|
that looks similar enough to good old Atari DOS 2.x to get most people
|
|
up to speed. Programmers and people who keep big software libraries
|
|
will appreciate the Time/Date stamping of each file too. When all is
|
|
said and done, SpartaDOS brings your Atari into the -Big Time,- but
|
|
still keeps full DOS 2.x compatibility.
|
|
|
|
Back to the hard drive. What they really don't explain very clearly is
|
|
a minimum parts list for a successful HD installation on an 8-bit Atari.
|
|
The following list gives you an idea of how much a hard drive and its
|
|
associated cables and interfaces will set you back:
|
|
|
|
ICD MIO 256K model $199.00
|
|
Adaptec 4000a Controller 135.00 (if you can find one)
|
|
Controller to MIO Cable 14.95
|
|
Controller to HD Cable 12.95
|
|
Power Supply (HD & Cont.) 40.00
|
|
Case For PS, HD, Cont (opt.) 30.00
|
|
Hard Disk (10mb) 250.00
|
|
|
|
Now Put on Your Peril-Sensitve Sunglasses- The answer is: $681.90!!
|
|
|
|
I guess that the only good news on this price chart is that adding
|
|
another HD Unit will only cost you the drive itself as the controller
|
|
will support 2 HD units and the MIO will support 2 controllers.
|
|
According to ICD, a single 8-bit Atari now has a practical maximum
|
|
storage size of just a shade under 100 million bytes.
|
|
|
|
Now that we have the cost factor out of the way, if you are still with
|
|
us, let's go through the steps needed to install a HD on an 800XL (XE's
|
|
require an additonal $20 adapter for the ECI).
|
|
|
|
Hooking up the MIO to your Atari is easy, just take a screwdriver and
|
|
pop the cover off of the parallel buss cover plate on the back. This
|
|
done, carefully slip the short ribbon cable on the front of the MIO into
|
|
the buss opening and onto the edge connector. It is a perfect fit. You
|
|
should have no problem doing it right the first time. Next, plug in the
|
|
MIO power supply (actually the same as an 850 p/s or a Disk Drive p/s).
|
|
The MIO installation part is now done unless you have serial or parallel
|
|
devices to connect.
|
|
|
|
The first stumbling block that I ran into was finding a 50-conductor
|
|
SCSI cable to connect the MIO to the Adaptec Controller. I looked
|
|
around the area a bit, and even asked some computer repair shops that I
|
|
do business with, but had no luck. I finally gave up and bought one
|
|
from ICD directly. They sent me a cable that was about 50 times longer
|
|
than I really needed, so if you are going to install one sometime soon,
|
|
let me know; since I have a LOT of cable left over after I shortened it
|
|
to a more manageable length (two feet).
|
|
|
|
If you buy a MIO with the intent of hooking up a HD to it, save yourself
|
|
some hassle and buy all of the cables that you need at the same time,
|
|
their prices at ICD aren't too bad.
|
|
|
|
Once you have the cable in your paw, you need to get a flat file and
|
|
take about 1/16- off of the ends of the cable clamp that will go into
|
|
the MIO. Maybe it was the cable that I had, but it was just barely too
|
|
wide to slip into the slot on the right side of the MIO. Make sure that
|
|
the colored stripe on the cable points toward the REAR of the MIO as
|
|
this identifies pin#1.
|
|
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This is an ongoing problem with connecting cables in this installation.
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|
Most ribbon cables are -keyed- so that you can't put them on wrong. ALL
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of the supplied cables and hardware are NOT KEYED, so it's easy to put
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|
them on wrong and go nuts wondering why things don't work right.
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|
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The next task is to connect the SCSI cable to the Adaptec controller.
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Before we do that, I might suggest that you make a modification to your
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controller board that I did.
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Place the controller board on a flat surface with the -select- LED in
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the upper right-hand corner (away from you). The Drive control edge
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|
card pins can be seen on the lower left side next to the power jack.
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|
The drive control connector is marked -J2- in white letters on the PCB.
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With GREAT CARE, take a fine-tooth hacksaw and CAREFULLY cut a notch in
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the PCB between pins 2 and 3 of J2. This will -key- J2 so that you can
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|
use standard cables that are keyed on the pin 1 end. The reason that I
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|
did this is because I was making my own cables out of junk cables and
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|
had only keyed female edge connectors. If you buy ICD's cables YOU DO
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NOT have to do this.
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|
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|
That done, hook the SCSI cable from the MIO to the 50 pin connector on
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|
the top right side of the controller (next to the red LED). BE SURE to
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|
have the controller on a flat surface so that you don't screw up the PCB
|
|
traces when plugging in cables! Make sure that the colored stripe on
|
|
the cable points toward the LED or things won't work right.
|
|
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|
Now is a good time to hook up the data line cable, it should be a 20 pin
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|
ribbon cable. Plug it into the plug on the lower right side. This plug
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|
is marked -J0- and has an identical plug right next to it, the second
|
|
plug would be used if you were hooking up 2 disk drives to one
|
|
controller. Make sure that the colored stripe on the cable points to
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|
the LEFT. I am using a Seagate ST-412 MFM Disk drive, so I did not want
|
|
any special options enabled on the board.
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|
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|
Make sure that there are no jumpers between the jumper blocks (marked
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|
J5) in the middle part of the board (as they come from ICD they are set
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|
up with no jumpers). There is only one other jumper set to worry about,
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|
It is not identified on the PCB, but is in plain sight just above the
|
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plug marked -J1-. Most drives should have this jumper set for R-PU
|
|
(Write Precompensation Turned off for both drives), fortunately this is
|
|
how they come from ICD, so unless you are using a weird drive, you
|
|
should not change ANY jumpers on the controller.
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|
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|
The manual that comes with the Adaptec ACB-4000 series controller is
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very clearly illustrated and contains more information than you will
|
|
ever need. Just for the record, I never had to refer to it once during
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my installation.
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Once both drive cables are attached to the Controller board, you need to
|
|
find the corresponding edge connectors on the back of your hard drive.
|
|
In the case of the Seagate, the connectors are clearly marked and keyed
|
|
so there should be no problems with hookup. Just be sure that the
|
|
colored wire on the cable points to the side of the connector marked
|
|
-pin one- or maybe just with a -1-.
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|
You might want to check the switch settings or jumpers on your HD to be
|
|
sure that it is set as unit #0 and that it has a TERMINATION RESISTOR
|
|
installed (most drives come this way from the factory). You may have to
|
|
consult your drive manual for more information on this. Again, I lucked
|
|
out and didn't have to change a thing.
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|
The last step on the hardware side is to hook up your power supply to
|
|
both the controller and the HD. If you are using a standard HD power
|
|
supply it will have white Keyed power plugs that are difficult to
|
|
install wrong. They are a bit of a snug fit though, so take it easy,
|
|
especially on the controller board. At last, plug in and turn on your
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MIO and HD Power supply.
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|
Basically there are 6 steps you have to go through to -prepare- the HD
|
|
before use.
|
|
|
|
Step One: SET MIO CONFIGURATION.
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|
|
After you have Booted your 800XL from a SpartaDOS diskette and set the
|
|
date and time, hold down SELECT and press RESET. This will take you to
|
|
the MIO configuration menu.
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|
|
|
Now you have to tell the MIO what device you want the HD to be. It can
|
|
be any device number from D1: to D8:. Make sure that you do not have
|
|
address conflicts with diskettes and RamDisks already on the system
|
|
(including the MIO ramdisk). The slick part of this is that later you
|
|
can SWAP drives after the system is up! If you want to make your HD
|
|
Drive 2 and a diskette Drive 1, you can change your mind later and SWAP
|
|
addresses for these devices. This makes it possible to BOOT from the
|
|
HD, or from a RamDisk for that matter! This is an extremely powerful
|
|
feature.
|
|
|
|
In configuring the MIO for the HD, you need to know some specs on your
|
|
hard drive, such as: the number of drive heads, cylinders, and max
|
|
number of sectors for your type of drive. MIO manual appendix D lists
|
|
33 popular HD types by manufacturer.
|
|
|
|
The ST412 is a 4 head, 306 cyl, 39,168 sector device. Just enter this
|
|
information in on the configuration menu. Make sure that if you are
|
|
using one controller and drive that ID/LUN is 0/0. This is not well
|
|
explained in the docs. Press RESET when you are done and you will
|
|
return to DOS.
|
|
|
|
Step Two: PHYSICALLY FORMAT THE HD
|
|
|
|
The MIO comes with a diskette of utilities to help you set up the HD.
|
|
The low-level format program is called HDFMTPH.COM in the docs and on
|
|
the disk. I found out when I bought the MIO that there was a revised
|
|
HDFMTPH program called HDFMTPH4.COM. You can get this revision off of
|
|
the ICD BBS.
|
|
|
|
This program asks you some questions about the HD hardware much the same
|
|
as the MIO config does. Enter in the # of heads, etc. etc. at the
|
|
prompts. The actual formatting takes a while, so go out and have a
|
|
beer. Mine took about 15 min for the format process.
|
|
|
|
When the program finishes, it will display a -total number of available
|
|
sectors on drive- which may be different than the -official- number of
|
|
sectors for your drive. Make sure that you write this number down,
|
|
because you will need to change the MIO configuration to reflect the
|
|
actual number of sectors formatted.
|
|
|
|
The reason that this is important is that the Physical Format Program
|
|
will -lock out- bad sectors it finds on the media, and the MIO config
|
|
needs to be told of the exact number of available sectors. Just for
|
|
information, mine came out a little larger than its -official- specs.
|
|
The number? 40,392 double density sectors- about 10.3mb!
|
|
|
|
Step Three: PARTITION THE DRIVE
|
|
|
|
This is only necessary if you have a drive that is larger than the
|
|
SpartaDOS maximum of 16mb or 65535 double density sectors. This is done
|
|
by going back to the MIO config program by pressing SELECT-RESET and
|
|
entering in the Start sector (in my case -0-) and End Sector+1 (in my
|
|
case 40393). The configuration menu is well documented in the MIO
|
|
manual so you should have no trouble with this.
|
|
|
|
Step Four: SAVE THE CONFIGURATION
|
|
|
|
When you take option -4- from the MIO config menu and answer -Y- to the
|
|
-Are you sure?- prompt, the entire MIO configuration is written to HD
|
|
number 0/0. This will automatically reconfigure the MIO if you should
|
|
happen to turn it off by saving the config. information to sector 0 of
|
|
the HD.
|
|
|
|
Step Five: DIRECTORY BUILD
|
|
|
|
Again, ICD supplies a utility to write a main SpartaDOS directory to
|
|
your HD. If you are using another DOS, you will have to fend for
|
|
yourself. When asked for the -drive number?,- give the DOS ID number
|
|
for the LOGICAL unit, such as D1:, D2: etc. (in my case I entered in
|
|
-2-. This program takes about 30 seconds to create the main directory.
|
|
|
|
Final Step: SET UP DOS
|
|
|
|
Copy SpartaDOS 3.2d to each logical Drive partition that you may want to
|
|
boot from, as I said earlier, the MIO will let you boot from whatever
|
|
drive you want, so there is no reason not to have DOS on your HD even if
|
|
it is not D1:. Once DOS is copied into the Main directory, use the
|
|
-BOOT- command to set the boot flag to that file. The syntax is -BOOT
|
|
Dn:X32D.DOS- where -n- is your drive ID. The BOOT command is well
|
|
documented in the MIO manual and in the SDCS manual.
|
|
|
|
That's it!! Now you are ready to amaze your friends with HUGE online
|
|
storage! Even with making up cables, the total time for installation
|
|
for me was around 1 hour. If you are a BBS operator or a user with a
|
|
large file inventory, it makes good sense to upgrade to a hard drive.
|
|
If you've got the bucks to do it, it's easy!
|
|
|
|
=======================================================================
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|
ZMagazine Issue #177 October 1, 1989
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=======================================================================
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