@database SlowBoot.guide @author "Lee Kindness" @SVER: SlowBoot_Guide 1.18 @node main "SlowBoot 1.18" ________ _____ ( ______) / __ \ \ \ / /_/ ) SlowBoot version 1.18 \ \ Z Z z z z/ ___/ z z z Copyright 95 Lee Kindness \ \ / __ \ ____) \ / /_/ ) A solution for slowbooting (_______) l o w (_______/ o o t harddrives!! @{" Introduction " link INTRO } : What does it do? @{" Installation " link INSTALL } : Setup @{" Advanced Usage " link ADVANCED } : More options... @{" Technical " link TECH } : What it really does @{" Legal " link LEGAL } : Copyright, distribution... @{" History " link HISTORY } : Version history @{" Other " link wangi.txt/main} : Other programs @{" Contact " link CONTACT } : Author contact @endnode @remark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& @node INTRO "Introduction" The majority of large capacity 3.5" IDE drives take quite a while to spin upto speed. The problem is that the A600, A1200 and A4000 IDE interface does not wait for them. If the drive has not spun up within a certain time limit it is 'forgotten'. To use these drives you normally have to reboot again after a cold reboot. This is rather annoying to say the least. Also what if you wanted to turn on your Amiga via a timer switch so that you could collect email or backup your HD while you were asleep, you could not do it. SlowBoot offers a solution to this problem. Note that SlowBoot is not device dependant, it will work even with SCSI drives that are slow spinners (if such a problem exists...) @endnode @remark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& @node INSTALL "Installation" Double-clicking on the "Make_BootDisk" icon will use the CBM intaller to create a bootdisk. If you leave this disk in your drive when you boot it will automatically boot your HD without you having to reboot. The install script is self-documented, select help on any stage for more information. @endnode @remark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& @node ADVANCED "Advanced Usage" The "Make_BootDisk" script will create a a bootdisk for your use. However not all options are catered for in it. You may want to change the following line that is in the created startup-sequence: @{i}C:SlowBoot >NIL: ...@{ui} SlowBoot accepts the following template: @{i}DEVICE/A,WAIT/N/K,CMD=COMMAND/K@{ui} DEVICE -- The device name of the boot partition, normally this wiuld be DH0: but can be anything. Must be given. WAIT -- If the drive has not spun up then this is the delay (in seconds) which to wait before trying again. Defaults to 1 second. COMMAND -- The command to execute when the drive has spun upto speed. By default this executes the startup-sequence on DEVICE, ie: @{i}Execute <>CON:///-1/AmigaDOS/AUTO/NOCLOSE/SMART s:startup-sequence@{ui} A usefult feature of this would be to change the name of the startup-sequence... this would give good protection against viri that latch onto the startup-sequence!! @endnode @remark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& @node TECH "Technical" What doen SlowBoot really do? Well it first checks to see if @{"DEVICE" link ADVANCED 12} exists. If it exists then the drive has spun-up ok. If so it reassigns SYS:, C:, S:, ENVARC:, LIBS:, DEVS:, FONTS: and L: relative to @{"DEVICE" link ADVANCED 12} and executes @{"COMMAND" link ADVANCED 19} (ie execute the startup-sequence on @{"DEVICE" link ADVANCED 12}). If @{"DEVICE" link ADVANCED 12} does not exist then the computer waits @{"WAIT" link ADVANCED 15} ticks and then reboots, giving the drive more time to spin-up. @endnode @remark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& @node LEGAL "Disclaimer, Distrubution and Copyright" Disclaimer ~~~~~~~~~~ I hereby reject any liability or responsibility for these or any other consequences from the use of SlowBoot whatsoever. This includes, but is not limited to, damage to your equipment, to your data, personal injuries, financial loss or any other kinds of side effects. Although SlowBoot has been tested thoroughly on several different machines, I cannot rule out the possibility that SlowBoot 1. is somehow incompatible to your equipment 2. has bugs that show up on your equipment 3. does not do what it is supposed to do on your equipment 4. May dammage you equipment It is your responsibility to take any precautions necessary to protect yourself from these or any other effects. @{b}I explicitly reject any liability or responsibility from the consequences of you using SlowBoot@{ub} Distribution ~~~~~~~~~~~~ SlowBoot may be freely distributed and copied, as long as the following conditions are fulfilled: 1. All parts of the program and the documentation must be complete. The distribution of single parts or incomplete subsets of the original distribution is forbidden. 2. If SlowBoot is to be included in a commercial distribution (including magazines!) then I must be sent a copy of the product (or if it is a mag that I am subscribed to then an increase in subscription). It would be better if you contacted me beforehand to ensure you have the latest version. In any case full credit must be given within the program documentation or magazine. 3. If the included source code is used in another program then credit must be given in the documentation. Note To Magazines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the past I have had some of my programs included on magazine coverdisks without my permission when in the documentation it was stated that this was required... I want my programs on coverdisks but you _MUST_ read and fufil the "Distribution" section above. If you disagree then contact me or write a message in the AMIGA_MAGS echo... @endnode @remark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& @node CONTACT "Contact" I can be contacted at the following addresses: Mail: Lee Kindness 8 Craigmarn Road Old Portlethen Village Aberdeen SCOTLAND AB1 4QR Fidonet: 2:259/26.20 or 2:250/188.20 Internet: cs2lk@scms.rgu.ac.uk wangi@spuddy.mew.co.uk wangi@fido.zetnet.co.uk I hope you find the program useful. @endnode @remark &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& @node HISTORY "History" 1.12 : 11.09.95 - First release. 1.14 : 07:10.95 - DELAY now defaults to 50. 1.16 : 07.10.95 - DELAY was ignored in version 1.14, it works now. - DELAY (which was in 50ths of a second) has been replaced with WAIT (in seconds). 1.17 : - The make bootdisk script did not format the disk if SYS:System was not in your path. Fixed. 1.18 : 17.10.95 - A lock was not being freed. After WB had booted and you removed the boot disk the icon would remain. Fixed. @endnode @remark MULTIVIEW BUG BARRIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!