The World of Computer Software/The World of Computer Software.iso/dskrw234.zip/DISKRW.DOC

Text File | 1992-04-14 | 27KB | 794 lines

                            D  i  s  k  -  R  W

                              Disk Read/Write



                          (c) Copyright 1989-1992

                             by Klaus Hartnegg

                          D-7835 Teningen, Germany



                         current with version 2.33






   C o n t e n t s



   1 Introduction                                              3

     1.1  Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
     1.2  Shareware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4


   2 Usage                                                     5

     2.1  Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
     2.2  Syntax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
     2.3  Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
     2.4  Sample batch files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9


   3 Technical Notes                                           9

     3.1  Default Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
     3.2  Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
     3.3  Using the /Relaxed-option . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
     3.4  A note for Unix users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10


   4 General Information                                      11

     4.1  Revision History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
     4.2  Known Bugs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     4.3  Future Plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     4.4  Included Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13


   5 Legal Stuff                                              13

     5.1  License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
     5.2  Registering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14



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   1   Introduction



   Important note for all who are already using a version of DiskRW prior
   to version 2.3: If you don't want to read the whole manual, you should
   at least look at section 4.1 "Revision History" on page 11 since the
   meanings of two options have changed significantly.



   1.1  Overview


   DiskRW is an extraordinary fast disk copy and disk image handling
   program. It copies disks of any capacity in one single step (i.e.
   you need to insert every disk only once) even if you want to create
   multiple copies of one source disk.

   It is really fast: A precise timing will make sure that DOS doesn't
   spend ages in unneccesary timing loops. This will speed up disk
   access typically by a factor of 1.5 to 2 while being fully
   compatible!

   Additionally DiskRW can store an image of a disk in a file and
   produce disk copies from such image files. Writing an image file to
   a disk will produce an exact copy of the original disk exactly like
   diskcopy, not just a file by file copy.

   With DiskRW you can copy a 1.2MB disk in only 62 seconds or create
   multiply copies in 31 seconds per copy. 40 track disks take only
   half the time. If you don't have a ram disk to store the disk
   image, it will take only a little more if you store it on hard
   disk!

   But it's really fully compatible: DiskRW has proved to work without
   any problems even on floppy disk drives installed with driver.sys!

   DiskRW always reads and writes the full contents of a disk in one
   single run. The data is being stored in a file on hard disk. This
   means that both original and source disk(s) need to be inserted
   only once. This saves even some more time (and work).

   The next version of DiskRW will be able to store the disk image
   in XMS memory instead of using disk space


   There are many useful applications of DiskRW:

   - copy disks with a speed that you never believed to be possible

   - copy disks with inserting source and destination disk only once

   - create multiple copies of one source disk with inserting
     the source disk only once

   - store the image of several disks on your hard disk to write
     them back to disks sometime later



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   - archive images of several disks on larger capacity disks, tape
     drive, cartridge, etc. You can even compress the disk images with
     you favorite compressor program before storing them thus saving a
     lot of disks.

   - send disks via network/modem. The receiver of an image file can
     create an exact copy of the original disk

   - write the image of a 5.25" disk to a (larger capacity) 3.5"
     disk without reformatting. The result will be an exact 1:1
     copy, DOS is not able to tell the difference!



   Besides the really high speed, DiskRW has several more
   interesting features:

   - automatically switch to format mode if necessary

   - completely user-configurable: you can store frequently needed
     options in a configuration file

   - detects automatically the presence of DESQview and can be run in
     a small window or in the background on 80286 and even on 8086
     computers

   - the unregistered version is not crippled in any way,
     i.e. you can immediately use all the features listed above

   - you can get the registered version for only 30 DM (approx.
     US $20)! (VISA and Mastercard accepted)

   - if you register now you will get free updates to all future
     versions with the special key file system, just by requesting
     them for a minimal copying fee or downloading then from a BBS.



   1.2  Shareware


   Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. The Shareware
   system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you
   buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has
   the ultimate money-back guarantee - if you don't use the product, you
   don't pay for it.



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   Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the
   copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as
   stated below. The main difference is in the method of distribution. The
   shareware author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the
   software.

   The shareware system and the continued availability of quality shareware
   products depend on YOUR willingness to register and pay for the software
   that you use. It's the registration fees YOU pay which allows to support
   and continue to develop such products!



   2   Usage



   2.1  Installation


   Before using DiskRW you should take a few minutes to install it. It will
   also work when you do not do this but it will not reach full speed!

   During installation DiskRW will determine the optimum disk access
   parameters for every combination of drive type and disk capacity. It will
   store these parameters in a configuration file (DISKRW.CFG).

   If DiskRW can not find this configuration file, it will set both
   parameters to 0. It will work correctly with these values and produce
   correct disk copies but it will run slower.

   To install DiskRW just run it with the /i  (=install) option once for
   every disk drive and disk type that you are using. Example: if you have
   two disk drives (A: and B:) and are using 360k and 1.2MB disks in drive A:
   and 720k disks in drive B: then you have to issue the command
   DISKRW /i A: two times and DISKRW /i B: once. If you are asked to insert
   the disk, insert once a formatted 360k and once a 1.2M disk into drive A:
   and a formatted 720k disk into drive B:.

   It is not important in which order you install the different drives and
   disk types. You can also install additional drives or disk types or
   re-install already installed ones at any time. If you forgot which ones
   are already installed just look into the configuration file DISKRW.CFG.
   It's a plain ASCII file.

   During installation DiskRW will read the full disk several times. The
   first and last run are only to show you the speed difference. They can be
   aborted by pressing the ESC-key without any negative effect on the



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   parameter determination. This will save about a minute. The parameter
   determination alone will take between one and two minutes.

   The two time values displayed during installation should lay between 6
   and 9. If you get higher numbers, you might have a slow computer or slow
   disk controller. In this case try installing again with the
   /quiet-option. If this results in less total time for the last run and
   smaller parameters, you should make /quiet a default option (see
   section 3.1 on page 9).

   Make sure that you do not have a multitasker running such as
   Quarterdecks DESQview or Microsofts Windows when installing DiskRW since
   it will then determine and store wrong parameters. Also do not press the
   pause key or pop up any TSR programs while the initializing process is
   running. You can savely abort at any time by pressing Ctrl-C or Break.



   2.2  Syntax


   Syntax : DiskRW [options] source [destination]

   Parameters in brackets are not always needed.

   To read the contents of a disk and save them in a file specify the disk
   drive (followed by a colon) as source and the filename as destination.

   For writing an image file to a disk specify the filename as source and
   the disk drive as destination.

   To install DiskRW specify the /i (install) option and only one disk drive
   letter (followed by a colon).

   The next version of DiskRW will also accept disk drives both as source
   and destination. This will result in a temporary file or expanded memory
   being used to store the disk image.

   Examples:

    DiskRW A: C:\Temp\floppy.dsk   (read disk to image file)
    DiskRW C:\Temp\floppy.dsk A:   (write image file back to disk)
    DiskRW /i A:                   (install DiskRW for the disk in A:)



   2.3  Options


   Options can be specified anywhere on the command line: before, after or
   inbetween the arguments. They are not case sensitive. Every option has



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   to be preceded by the switch character (usually '/', but you can change
   this, see section 3.4 on page 10).

   Every option can be made a default option (though this might not be
   useful for all options). See Section 3.1 on page 9.



   List of all options:

    F: Format and verify destination before writing

       Format and verify every track before writing the data.

       If you know for sure that the disk is unformatted, you should also
       specify the /Overwrite-option (see below). Otherwise DiskRW will
       test whether or not the disk contains data what will take a few
       seconds on an unformatted disk.

    A: Autoform

       switch to format mode only if necessary

    O: Overwrite without warning

       Usually DiskRW will beep and ask for permission to overwrite
       non-empty disks or already existing files.

       If you use the O-option, DiskRW will overwrite already existing
       data without warning. WARNING: Use this option with care!!

    R: Relaxed size test (write only)

       Usually compares the capacity of the disk being written to with the
       one the image file was created from and aborts if they are not
       identical.

       If you specify the r-option you can write the image of a 360k disk
       to a 3.5" 720k disk for use on a system with only 3.5" disk
       drives.

       You can also write the image of a disk with the old (larger) size
       back to such a (now smaller) disk sometime later.

    C: Compare mode (NOT YET IMPLEMENTED)

       This will cause DiskRW not to copy but to compare the specified disk
       and image file. You can expect DiskRW to contain this option in the
       very near future since I am already working on it.

   Nx: set number of copies (NOT YET IMPLEMENTED)

       For use together with the copy mode (that is also not yet
       implemented).



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      I: Installation

         Use this to teach DiskRW the drive parameters and speed of your disk
         drives with all different disk capacities. These parameters will be
         stored in the configuration file DISKRW.CFG. They are needed to
         achieve maximum speed.

         When using the init mode specify only one disk drive and enter a
         formatted disk into this drive.

      B: use Bios for screen output

         Use this option on not 100% compatible computers if you otherwise
         can not see the screen output. Usually DiskRW writes directly to the
         memory of the video card since this is much faster.

         Possible problem: Bios screen output is much slower and accessing
         the disk in the way DiskRW does this is very time critical. Even a
         small additional delay may cause an enormous slow down of DiskRW. If
         this happens you should also use the /Quiet switch.

      Q: Quiet, no screen output while copying

         If you have a slow computer or are using the /Bios-option, you
         should try whether DiskRW runs faster if you specify this option. If
         this is the case you should make this a default option (see
         Section 3.1 on page 9)

      E: English screen output

         this is the default, but read also the description of the D-option
         below

      D: German screen output

         DiskRW will automatically switch to German screen output if you have
         set the country code to 49 with the line country=49 in your
         CONFIG.SYS-file.

         The next version of DiskRW will also come with German documentation
         (in addition to, not instead of the english one!)

   Pn=x: set parameter n to x (n=1 or 2)

         Usually DiskRW will read the disk timing parameters from its
         configuration file DISKRW.CFG. However if you want to use other
         values just for a few disks without modifying the
         configuration file, you can specify them with this option.

         Example: /p1=1 /p2=3

      T: set number of tracks

         Usually DiskRW will determine the number of tracks to copy by
         reading these numbers from the disks boot sector. This will work



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       with all standard DOS disks. With this option you can force DiskRW
       to process a different number of tracks.

       Warning: this option is dangerous! Use it only if you know precisely
       what you are doing since it can make a disk unusable!

    S: set number of sectors

       Same as /t except it affects the number of sectors instead the
       number of tracks. Same warning applies here too!



   2.4  Sample batch files


   I have included two sample batch files to automate two common
   applications of DiskRW:

    DiskRW1 will create one copy each of one or more source disks
            Syntax:   DiskRW1 [options] source destination
            Example:  DiskRW1 A: B:


    DiskRW2 will create multiple copies of one source disk
            Syntax:   DiskRW2 [options] drive
            Example:  DiskRW2 B:

   All specified options will be passed to DiskRW. Make sure that the file
   DISKRW.EXE can be found either in the current directory or in one listed
   in your path variable (please read a DOS manual if it doesn't work and
   you don't know what the path variable is).



   3   Technical Notes



   3.1  Default Options


   You can easily specify default options to be used automatically every
   time you execute DiskRW. Just write them into a file with the name
   DISKRW.OPT and place this file either in the current directory or in the
   same directory as DISKRW.EXE.

   In this file the options must not be preceded by the switch character
   ('/' or '-') but they have to be separated by each other with blanks.

   You can use any word processor to create this file. Just make sure to
   save it as plain ASCII file. Alternatively you can also create it with
   this command: ECHO (your default options here) > DISKRW.OPT



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   3.2  Compatibility


   DiskRW can read and write any type of floppy disks including but not re-
   stricted to the most common ones: 360 kByte, 720 kByte, 1.2 MByte and
   1.44 MByte. I haven't tried 2.88 MB disks yet but they should work too.

   It will also work with disks having an unusual number of tracks and/or
   sectors such as 820k 5.25" disks. However formatting of some of these
   non-standard disk formats might not be possible (formatting 720k and
   820k 5.25" disks does work!).



   3.3  Using the /Relaxed-option


   Writing the image of a disk with higher capacity to a smaller one will only
   work if the disk was once formatted to higher capacity but then the image
   of a smaller disk was written onto it.

   Writing the image of a smaller disk to a larger one should always work.
   However: capacity alone is not the really important item. The destination
   disk has to be formatted with the same or higher number of tracks,
   sectors, sides and the number of bytes per sector. If only one of theses
   numbers is smaller it will fail.



   3.4  A note for Unix users


   This program will usually accept both

    a) '/' and '-' as switch character (to start an option)

    b) '\' and '/' as path separator

   But: you can not start a filename with '/'.

   However if you have your switch character variable set to a different
   value than the default (the default is '/', changing it is not possible
   any more with Dos 5) then

    a) your value OR '-' can be used as switch character (or only '-' if
       this is your value)

    b) filenames are allowed to start with '/'



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   4   General Information



   4.1  Revision History


   1.2 translated program and documentation to english

   1.3 added /r (relaxed) option for disks with different capacity

   1.4
     - speed increase by factor of 1.5-2 by using other DOS interrupt
     - Break and Ctrl-C detection

   2.0 (29-July-1991)
     - combined the two programs DiskRead and DiskWrite to one executable
       that is only slightly larger than the old DiskWrite
     - DiskRW will now also work with all disk drives installed with a
       device=driver.sys statement in the CONFIG.SYS file.

   2.1 (8-Aug-1991)
     - user has now the choice to abort or retry on disk errors
     - better Ctrl-Break handler, previous one flushed keyboard buffer
     - several more error traps
     - bypassing BIOS for screen output for higher speed on slow computers
     - added options Bios and Quiet for compatibility
     - circumventing a bug of MS-DOS that causes a delay when the data
       buffer passes a 64k barrier

   2.12 α (13-Aug-1991)
     - using optimized disk access for higher speed
     - further speed increase
     - options /s1 and /s2 for tests

   2.2 (5-Sep-1991)
     - enormous speed increase by using precise timing of disk accesses
     - removed /force switch, use /relax instead

   2.3 (11-Oct-1991)
     - read parameters from file DISKRW.CFG
     - new options /Format and /Autoformat
     - renamed /s to /p (parameters)
     - new options /Tracks and /Sectors

   2.31 (26-Oct-1991)
     - forgot to include the sample batch files in previous release
     - /q was not handled properly if used together with /i
     - included possibility to skip two non-vital installation steps by
       pressing ESC



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   2.32 (6-Nov-1991)
     - /o (overwrite) option affected only overwriting of disks, will now
       work with image files too.
     - formatting of 5.25" 720k disks possible now

   2.33 (06-Feb-1992)
     - formatting is much faster now: formatting, writing and verifying a
       5.25 HD takes 106 seconds now versus 133 seconds in version 2.32.
       This is now very close to the absolute minimum that the hardware
       allows!
     - if DESQview is present, write directly to its screen buffer
     - if running in compatibility box of OS/2 don't reset disk after
       writing with the /r option (OS/2 doesn't support IOCTL)
     - a few more error traps

   2.34 (14-Apr-1992)
     - only the docs have changed


   4.2  Known Bugs


   DiskRW will run extremely slow in the compatibility(?) box of OS/2. This
   is not an error of DiskRW but rather a communication problem between DOS
   and OS/2. Better don't use DiskRW in this penalty(!) box. I haven't tried
   yet with OS/2 2.0 - maybe this is corrected there.

   This one is not really a bug, but also a restriction: DiskRW will not run
   with DOS prior to version 3.0. With versions prior to 3.2 it will run but
   it can't tell DOS that the disk has changed after writing. It will notify
   you that you have to remove and re-insert the disk before accessing it.

   If you find one more problem please tell me so and I will try to solve it!



   4.3  Future Plans

     - new option /n=x: set the number of copies

     - new option /c: compare image file with disk

     - move all functionality from the sample batch files into the program
       itself, i.e. "DISKRW A: B:" will copy directly from A: to B:

     - higher speed when running in a multitasker without affecting other
       tasks more than necessary

     - use extended memory

     - complete german documentation

     You can encourage me to spend much more time on the futher development
     of this program by paying the registration fee!



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   4.4  Included Files


    DISKRW   .DOC  this documentation
    DISKRW   .EXE  executable
    DISKRW1  .BAT  sample batch: create one copy each of several disks
    DISKRW2  .BAT  sample batch: create multiple copies of one disk
    ORDER    .FRM  order form
    HARTNEGG .LST  list of all my shareware programs



   5   Legal Stuff



   All trademarks mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered
   trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.



   5.1  License


   Users of DiskRW must accept this disclaimer of warranty: DiskRW is
   supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or
   implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of
   merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author assumes no
   liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from
   the use of DiskRW.

   DiskRW is a "shareware program" and thus not free. It is fully
   protected by international copyright laws.

   You are free to copy and distribute DiskRW as long as all files belonging
   to it are distributed together and are not modified in any way. You are
   encouraged to pass a copy of DiskRW along to your friends for evaluation.
   If possible please distribute the original ZIP archive. Please do not
   give it away altered or as part of another system.

   The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal
   computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to
   provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products.

   If you find this program useful and find that you are using DiskRW and
   continue to use DiskRW after a reasonable trial period, then you are both
   under legal and moral obligations to make a registration payment to Klaus
   Hartnegg Shareware (see separate file ORDER.FRM for a registration form,
   VISA card accepted!).

   The registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at



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   any one time. You must treat this software just like a book. An example
   is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be
   freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is
   no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at
   another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the
   same time.

   You must never give the key-file away (see below). This file is proof of
   your registration and contains your name and a serial number.

   Commercial users of DiskRW must register and pay for their copies of
   DiskRW within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn.
   Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting Klaus Hartnegg
   Shareware.

   Anyone distributing DiskRW for any kind of remuneration must first
   contact Klaus Hartnegg Shareware at the address below for authorization.
   This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors
   recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware
   distributors, and such distributors may begin offering DiskRW immediately
   (However Klaus Hartnegg Shareware must still be advised so that the
   distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of DiskRW).



   5.2  Registering


   To register complete the file ORDER.FRM, print and mail it to my address
   below.

   With registration, you get the right to continue using the software and
   free technical support by mail or e-mail. Also within one or two weeks
   you will receive a diskette with
     - the key-file(s) for the program(s) that you registered (if any of
       my programs finds its corresponding key-file it will not display the
       annoying shareware reminder any more)
     - the current version of this program that may already include some or
       all of the features listed above in section "Future Plans"
     - unregistered versions of all programs that I am currently
       distributing as shareware


   Please note that the key file system means that you get FREE UPDATE to
   ALL future versions since the key-files will not only work for the
   present, but also for all future versions of the same program!!

   The technical support will answer questions and fix serious bugs. For
   problems involving a specific hardware or software environment or



                                    14



   feature, I may choose not to modify the program. In that case, if the
   problem is reported within three months after purchase, I will refund the
   price.

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

   Klaus Hartnegg Shareware
   Kleist-str. 7
   D-7835 Teningen
   Germany



   This software is under development. Error reports and other comments are
   welcome. Please do not hesitate to use electronic mail for communication.
   Send e-mail to "[e-mail]" (this address may
   be valid only until end of 1992)



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