home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Tech Arsenal 1
/
Tech Arsenal (Arsenal Computer).ISO
/
tek-17
/
offdisk.zip
/
OFFDISK.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-04-05
|
7KB
|
188 lines
╔═╗ ╔══ ╔══ ╦ ╦ ╔═╗ ╦ ╒═
║ ║ ╠═ ╠═ ╔═╣ ║ ╚═╗ ╠═╧╗
╚═╝ ╩ ╩ ╚═╩ ╩ ╚═╝ ╩ ╩
VER. 1.0
by ROB TAULER
_______________________________________________________________________________
DISCLAIMER
The author of this software shalt not be liable for any consequential
damages caused by the use or misuse of this program. Neither will he
be liable for any loss of profits or savings incurred by such damages.
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Register this software by sending a check for $20 per computer to:
Rob Tauler
5065 n. Keating
Chicago, IL 60630-1742
This product is presented as shareware allowing the user to sample it
and decide whether if it suits his or her needs. If the user feels
this software is the answer to his or her problems then he or she may
wish to register with the author for $20 per computer.
This program is fully operational and with the exception of the
BURDEN OF GUILT, it carries with it no built-in punishment for
unregistered use. Continued unregistered use of this software is
a violation of copyright laws!!!!!
If a company wishes to sell or use this software in an unlimited
fashion feel free to contact me. I can customize the softrware
to suit your specific needs or packaging.
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Brief History
I am the owner of an XT type computer. I had recently
upgraded my hard drive to 80 megs. 80 megs is approximately
equal to 240 5 1/4 floppies in backup discs. Further more
I found that software is getting more scarce in th 5 1/4
format. So for Christmas my wife gave me a 1.44meg
floppy and the nightmare began.
Like most of you reading this document I went through a
realization that most tech. supports and plenty of books
know little on the subject of getting high density floppies
to work on an XT. As a matter of fact most of the popularly
distributed info was dead wrong !!!
Since this was my wife's present I was driven to make it work.
I started writing a series of test programs to analyze why
the machine did not perform correctly. What I found was
interesting. My first BIOS fix was written in thirty minutes.
(after 3 months of tests of course).
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Theory of Operation
The BIOS is the soul of PC type machines, each BIOS has it's
name imbedded at address F000:FFFEh. A BIOS with the ID byte
of FEh or FFh offer no support for high-density drives since
these BIOS dates back as far as 4/24/81. Unlike other pro-
grams which set themselves up as drivers this program brid-
ges the gap between the FEh BIOS and the FCh BIOS of 1/10/86.
Once loaded,the resident part of the program (which is less
than 1K) will transparently work with DOS and allow DOS to
carry out it's instructions smoothly.
TO FIND YOUR BIOS ID USE THE PROGRAM BIOSTYPE.COM SUPPLIED
WITH OFFDISK. BIOS DATE DOES NOT NECESSARILY IMPLY
INCOMPATIBILITY WITH OFFDISK. ON SOME BIOS THE ID BYTE MAY
NOT BE PRESENT.
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
Loading OFFDISK
In order to run offdisk you must use your DRIVPARM command
in you CONFIG.SYS file to set the high-density disk up for DOS.
Example:
drivparm=/d:1 /f:7
Check your DOS manual for the parameters that apply to you.
One note never use /c for XT's this can create problems.
Next add the OFFDISK disk command first in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file
using the following syntax:
_______________________________________________________________________________
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
SYNTAX: [drive:path] offdisk q d d q /n
Q or H = High density drive type
D or L = Double density drive type
I = Ignore, non-standard device
/n= Is used to denote that a second con-
troller card at 370h. The value of
'n' is the first physical drive num-
ber used by the second controller
(0-3). If only one card is installed
(3f0h) then omit this command.
Up to 4 drives can be defined from lowest
physical drive to highest. Put first in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
If your drive 0 is 360k, your drive 1 is 1.44m and
OFFDISK is in your root directory use in the following:
c:\offdisk l h
If your drive 0 is 360k, your drive 1 is 360k,OFFDISK is
in your root directory and you have a drive 2 on a second
controller card use the following:
c:\offdisk l l h /2
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If you are still having problems give me a call 1-(312)-736-4218.
I'll be happy to help a registered user.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, ROB TAULER
REGISTER NOW!!!!!!!!!!
CLEANSE YOURSELF OF THE GUILT!!!!!!!!