¢DOS overview¢¢ by Oliver Rosenkranz¢¢ Many Thanks to all the guys who supported me :¢¢¢=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=¢¢DOS - Disk Operating System¢¢¢No ATARI 8 bit computer (the original ones) have an operting system onboard¢which is able to control/use a disk drive. This is because (a) ATARI computers¢have be developed in the 1970s when diskette technology was expensive,¢(b) such a DOS needs lots of memory which programs loaded by cassette can use,¢(c) ATARI didn't want to waste ROM (ROM was expensive, too), (d) a ROM-¢installed DOS would have set the standard of 1970s-software for the '80s and¢'90s (with their further hardware developments).¢¢So, ATARI decided to give the user a disk-based tool named DOS.¢And because of this decision DOS 1.0 found its way to the ATARI community.¢But this tool was full of bugs and was not very user-friendly.¢So ATARI and others began to write new DOSses for the 8 bit and through the¢years new disk drives and floppy speeders gave the ATARIans a desire for¢better software to take full advantage of their hardware.¢¢Now, in 1993 the number of different (?) DOS variants has been increased¢in a way that the 'normal' user isn't able anymore to overview them.¢¢¢I don't want to begin a never-ending discussion about the best or worst DOS¢ever published. Every user has its special interests and hardware configura-¢tions, needs other features and has his own requirements to a DOS.¢¢I hope that I give YOU (whether you are an ATARI enthusiast or novice user)¢a little help and/or guideline through this jungle of different programs.¢¢It's a matter of fact that I can't neither own all the DOS versions ever pro-¢duced for the 8 bit nor know all the features a every DOS offers.¢So, if you're missing a DOS or even a fact here, don't flame me but send me¢a mail (rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de) telling me about it. Write down all the details¢you did't see here and I will write them down and add them to the list.¢¢I NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT IF THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE A HELP FOR OTHERS.¢Thank you in advance.¢--==rossi==--¢¢Oliver Rosenkranz¢rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de¢¢=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=¢¢THE BASICS :¢------------¢Each Disk Operating System for the 400/800/800XL/600XL/1200XL/130XE (and others)¢has to offer several basic functions to control a disk environment. If some/¢a lot/all of those important features are absent, the program should better¢be called other than DOS.¢These functions are :¢¢* to show (and maybe print) a disk directory¢* to format/initialize a diskette¢* to load a file into memory¢* to save memory to a disk file¢* to rename a file¢* to lock/unlock a file¢* to delete a file from disk¢* to copy a file from a disk to a disk¢* to copy a whole diskette¢* to go to a memory address (to start a program)¢* to write a executeable DOS to a diskette¢* to go to a cartridge (BASIC for XL/XE)¢¢-------------------------------------------------------------------------------¢¢Each DOS has special advantages/disadvantages.¢For example :¢A disk directory must not contain more than 64 (128) entries. So it's a¢difference whether the DOS is only one file or two or maybe 15 files.¢Many programmers use BASIC to write programs. But the more memory DOS uses¢the less memory is free for BASIC programs.¢Or...or...or...¢¢So, here is a tabular in which some of the most important features are given¢to you. Compare them with each other...¢¢A (user interface) - in which way does DOS communicate with the user¢B (? FRE(0) ) - how much memory can be accessed under ATARI BASIC when¢ using a DOS¢C (memory residence) - is the WHOLE DOS (i.e. DOS.SYS and DUP.SYS) still in¢ memory when you leave it (maybe to BASIC) and do you¢ have to reload it when you want to return to DOS ?¢D (language) - many DOS variants are written by people thinking of¢ local interests¢E (number of files) - how many files do you have to put on a disk if you want¢ to load a complete DOS¢F (number of sectors)- how many sectors are allocated by DOS¢G (densities) - which disk densities are supported by DOS¢S - single density¢M - medium density¢D - double density¢Q - quad density¢O - other density¢H (# of sectors DOS) - how many sectors do you have to reserve for DOS.SYS¢I (# of sectors DUP) - " " " " " " " " " " " DUP.SYS¢J (RESET) - is the WHOLE DOS still in memory when RESET has been¢ pressed ?¢¢Name ABC DE F G H I J¢¢DOS 1.0menu28814yes english1 64 S 64 - no¢DOS 2.0menu32274no english2 81 S 39 42 no¢DOS 2.5menu32418no english/nl/ 2 79 SM 37 42 no¢ german¢DOS 3.0menu32274yes english/? ? O ? ? no¢ german¢DOS II+/D 4.3Mcommand32085yes english1 37 SM 37 - yes¢DOS II+/D 6.1command 31502yes english1 38 SMD 38 - yes¢Happy DOS 1050menu31176yes english2 71 SMD 37 34 yes¢DOS 2.5mmenu32418no german2 79 SM 37 42 no¢Funny DOS 3.0menu32274no english2 115 O 39 76 no¢K-DOScommand26956yes english9 151 S 81 - no¢DOS XL 2.20command 30990 yes english? ? SMD 46 ? yes¢DOS XL 2.30command30990yes english19 628 SMD 46 59 yes¢Top-DOS .2menu31758yes english2 106 SDQ 38 68 choose¢Top-DOS 1.5amenu32014yes english2 126 SDQ 37 89 choose¢SpartaDOS 1.1command31502yes english4 ? O ? ? yes¢SpartaDOS 3.2ccommand32654yes english3 ? O ? ? yes¢MultiBoot XL4.0 menu-no english- - O - - no¢SmartDOS 6.1Dmenu31734no english2 104 SD 34 70 choose¢SmartDOS 8.2Dmenu32502no english2 104 SD 34 70 choose¢DOS 2.6fmenu32274no english2 115 S 39 76 no¢DOS 2.9menu32274no english2 115 O 39 76 no¢OS/A+ V2.0/4DOS command31630yes english1 44 S 44 - yes¢MyDOS 3.013menu32424no english2 70 SD 28 42 yes¢MyDOS 4.50dmenu31781no english2 89 SD 35 54 yes¢XL-TOS 1.0desktop32418no english5 493 SD 37 50 no¢G.O.S. 1.3desktop32274no english/5 228 S 37 168 no¢ german¢MachDOS 2.6XLmenu30222no english3 94 SD 37 50 yes¢BiboDOS 5.4RNmenu31765yes german2 84 SMD 39 45 yes¢BiboDOS 5.4RFmenu31216 yes german2 84 SMD 39 45 yes¢BiboDOS 5.4RFXF menu31569yes german2 84 SMDQ 39 45 yes¢BiboDOS 5.5RFmenu31901yes german2 84 SMD(Q)39 45 yes¢ANTIC DOS 4.0menu39967?no english2 ? SMD ? 48 no¢1050 WS DOS 2.0menu23754no english2 81 SD 39 42 no¢Action! DOScommand31758yes english1 38 S 38 - yes¢GEM-DOSdesktop -no english7 216 S 39 - no¢DOS IIsmenu32274no english2 81 S 39 42 no¢TurboDOS XE 2.0command31890no english/2 73 SMDQ 33 40 yes¢------------------------------------------------------------------------------¢¢How man disk drives can be connected to your ATARI when using DOS :¢¢NameD1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8 D9¢DOS 1.0****¢DOS 2.0****¢DOS 2.5****¢DOS 2.5m****¢DOS 3.0********¢DOS 2.6f****¢DOS 2.9****¢Funny DOS 3.0****¢DOS II+/D 4.3M****¢DOS II+/D 6.1********¢Happy DOS 1050********¢K-DOS****¢DOS XL 2.20********¢DOS XL 2.30********¢Top-DOS .2********¢Top-DOS 1.5a********¢SpartaDOS 1.1???¢SpartaDOS 3.2c???¢MultiBoot XL4.0*¢SmartDOS 6.1D****¢SmartDOS 8.2D****¢OS/A+ V2.0/4DOS******** *¢MyDOS 3.013******** *¢MyDOS 4.50d********¢XL-TOS 1.0**¢G.O.S. 1.3***¢MachDOS 2.6XL****¢BiboDOS (all)********¢ANTIC! DOS 4.0???¢1050 WS DOS 2.0******** *¢Action! DOS******** *¢GEM-DOS**¢DOS IIs****¢TurboDOS XE 2.0********¢¢-------------------------------------------------------------------------------¢But statistics isn't all....¢¢Here are the features the DOS variants are standing for...¢¢¢DOS 1.0-devine device-full of bugs¢¢DOS 2.0-standard-not very user-friendly¢¢DOS 2.5-better than DOS 2.0 but not really user-friendly¢¢DOS 3.0-uses system files-not kompatible to DOS 2.5¢-convert DOS 2 -Files-online help¢-create your own commands¢¢DOS 2.5m-like DOS 2.5 but without the need to press RETURN¢ after the command letter¢¢DOS II+/D 4.3M-clear disk (delete files & new dir)¢-diskname¢-mini ml monitor (mem-dump,mem-change,show registers)¢-12KB RANdisk (build-in,M: $5000 - $7F00)¢¢DOS II+/D 6.1-like version 4.3M¢-other features ???¢¢Happy DOS 1050-1011 free sectors (1010 are normal)¢-revive file-no RETURN after command¢¢FunnyDOS 3.0-931 free sectors-drive speed test¢-radix convert (hex,dec)-check sectors¢-copy sectors¢(DOS 2.9 is like this one but with a black background)¢¢DOS 2.6f-like Funny DOS 3.0 but only 707 free sectors¢ (for ATARI 810 users)¢¢K-DOS-uses system files-revive file¢-ml monitor (procede,examine,alter register)¢-boots system if RESET is pressed¢-kill-UDC¢¢DOS XL 2.20-uses system files¢-other features ???¢¢DOS XL 2.30-uses system files¢-other features ???¢¢Top-DOS .2-undelete-create your own commands¢-ml monitor (read,edit)-bypass-cartridge (choosable)¢-set left margin-Auto-RS232 (choosable)¢-system drive#-number of buffers¢¢Top-DOS 1.5a-like version .2¢-choosable RAMdisk#¢-set time-out-error list¢-online help-number conversion¢¢SpartaDOS 1.1-diskname-uses system files¢-sub-directories-not compatible with DOS 2.5¢-different dir (name,bytes,date,time)¢-undelete-system clock¢¢SpartaDOS 3.2c-like version 1.1-extra date/time line¢-easy multifile copy-various disk init formats¢-speed check-sector copy¢¢MultiBoot XL! 4.0-not really a DOS but a disk/cassette-copy/load utility¢-not compatible with DOS 2.5¢-it options : write MB4.0, load boot prg cass/disk,¢ write boot prg cass/disk, copy file¢ rename file,sector copy,format disk¢ delete file¢¢SmartDOS 6.1D-copy sectors-test sectors¢(RANA-DOS)-speed check-easy to use¢¢SmartDOS 8.2D-like version 6.1D¢-less memory needed-other features ???¢¢OS/A+ V.2.00/4 DOS-uses system files¢-other features ???¢¢MyDOS 3.013-drive configuration-choose system drive#¢-directory name¢¢XL-TOS 1.0-uses windows,icons,pull-down-menues¢-no wrtieTOS,save file,copy file/disk, go address¢ feature¢¢G.O.S. 1.3-uses window/icons/pull-down-menues¢-sub-directories-change colors¢-directory name-disk name/drive name¢-print file-edit file¢¢MachDOS v2.6XL-choose system drive#-convert files¢¢BiboDOS 5.4 RN-good RAMdisk support-easy to use¢-configuration (#of buffers, RAMdisk resident?,¢ RAMdisk?,keyboard buffer?)¢ -startup edit-1011 free sectors¢ -undelete-dir when number-key is pressed¢ -supports XF551¢¢BiboDOS 5.4 RF-like version 5.4RN-supports several disk speeders¢¢BiboDOS 5.4 RN/XF-like version 5.4RN-especially written for XF551¢ users¢¢BiboDOS 5.5 RF-like version 5.4RF-BASIC on/off¢-clear disk-show file¢-special configuration (repeat frequence,wait time)¢¢ANTIC! DOS 4.0???¢¢1050 Warp Speed DOS 2.0-like DOS 2.0-supports warp speed¢¢Action! DOS-like OS/A+ DOS-dir shows a line '# of files'¢¢GEM-DOS-uses windows,icons,pull-down-menues,icons for files¢-full of bugs¢¢DOS IIs-like DOS 2.0-special copy routine¢¢Turbo-DOS XE V2.0 HS-short info about all commands (without disk access)¢-uses system files-show/edit system variables¢-radix convert(hex,dez,ATASCII)¢-hexdump/edit-BASIC on/off¢-recognizes automatically the density of the disk¢-look at load/start addresses/areas of files¢-get file checksum-show files¢-clear dir-give command chain to cartridge¢-write fileloaderDOS to disk (GAMEDOS)¢-batch files-disk copy with density-mix¢-supports disk speeder-complex but easy to use options for most commands¢-online help-support for XF551¢¢----------------------- without any guarantees --------------------------------¢¢This list is incomplete. To make it more complete and help all users to¢choose between DOS variants, please check out this list for failures or/and¢lecks of information. If you find some facts I didn't pay attention for,¢drop me a line via email (rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de) and I will update this list¢and put your name to it, if the hint is new to me/the list.¢Even if you have a new DOS or another DOS version you don't find on this list¢gimme a description of it with all the facts you know about it which are impor-¢tant for the list...¢¢Thank you in advance¢--==rossi==--¢Oliver Rosenkranz¢rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de¢¢¢
