=-=-=-=›    8-bit Disaster Averted.›    by  Joseph  E.  Hicswa,  President› Jersey  ATARI  Computer Club, NJ, and› member  OL' HACKERS ATARI User Group,› NY›› One of the advantages of  owning  and› using  an  ATARI  130XE  or  upgraded› 800XL  8 BIT computer--they both have› a RAMDISK!›› WHAT IS A RAMDISK, ANYWAY???›› A RAMDISK is an internal  disk  drive› in  a  computer.  Its  like haveing a› spare Disk Drive. The disadvantage is› when  the  computer  is  closed down;› RAMDISK files are  lost  unless  they› were  DOS  copied, SAVEd or LISTed to› Tape, Floppy Disk, or Hard drive.›› This article is about  the  advantage› of a RAMDISK.›› THE GREAT EXPERIMENT FORMULA!›› I  heard,  (probably  misheard)  that› when  a  SAVEd BASIC language file is› DELETED (DOS D),  it  is  immediately› restored by using wildcard "*":  LOAD› "D:*".›› "Ah haaa something new!", I gloated.› › THE ACTUAL TRIAL RUN!›› Anxiously and hastily I  dashed  home› to experiment.  Quickly my TV monitor› and drive were switched on.  When red› busy  light  went out, a DOS disk was› inserted into the drive, door closed,› and  computer  switch  flipped. I was› impatient for my bOOTUP to  complete.› At  READY  prompt,  I typed DOS; it's› MENU was displayed  on  screen.   "A"› listed  all files on disk directory. › I chose a FILENAME; wrote it on paper› to  not  forget  it;  pressed  DOS  D› (Delete),  typed  in the Filename and› pressed RETURN  followed  by  Y  when› computer asked if I was sure. I WAS!›› Whirring      stopped,      directory› displayed.  Yep,  the  file  was   no› longer  there. It was deleted!  DOS B› (Return to Basic) gave me control  of› the computer.›› "Now!", thought I glowingly, "I'll be› able to demo this at a meeting."›› LOAD "D:*" was typed and followed  by› RETURN.   I crossed my arms, sat back› and watched the screen intently.›› THE BIG FAILURE!›› There on the screen was:› ERROR 170  (FILE NOT FOUND).›› "What happened?" shouted my surprised› and  disappointed mind.  "The file is› lost.  What shall I do now".›› RAMDISK TO THE RESCUE!›› This   is   the  way  it  might  have› happened were it not  for  the  130XE› ramdisk.›› At original boot up, and prior to the› experiment, the file (that was to  be› deleted)  was  copied  from  disk  in› drive 1 to Ramdisk D8:.›› The ramdisk D8:filename was deleted. › The experiment  failed.   My  program› was  still  intact  on floppy disk in› drive 1. How about that!›› MORAL TO THE STORY-& WHAT YOU  CAN DO› › I hope readers unaware  of  disasters› that  could befall them, have learned› a lesson. Perhaps you have  something› to  share  with  us--a  disaster  you› encountered or averted. Send it in to› the EDITOR, and when printed, it will› help  some  other  poor  soul avert a› disaster.›  ------------- E N D --------------››