INFO-ATARI16 Digest Thu, 9 Nov 89 Volume 89 : Issue 626 Today's Topics: Hard Drive Problems MODULA 2 SPOOLER source-code wanted! ST parts source? What does the TT Buy me?? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 9 Nov 89 19:29:42 GMT From: microsoft!w-darekm@uunet.uu.net (Darek Mihocka) Subject: Hard Drive Problems In article <480034@hpdml93.HP.COM> rona@hpdml93.HP.COM (Ron Abramson) writes: > >Quite some time ago, Allan Pratt posted the following: > >Here's how to remove problem accessories and AUTO folder programs: > >Turn off your ST, plug your hard disk in, and turn the hard disk on. >Put the disk called BOOT DISK in Drive A:. Now turn on your ST, and >when the Drive A: light comes on, press and hold the "Alternate" key. ... An even easier method is to use a program like Desk Manager or Superboot which allows you to select your desk accessories and AUTO programs. Just make sure that Desk Manager is the very first file in the AUTO folder and that way it will always load before the crashing TSR or accessory. Then you just nuke it after the first time it bombs. Another way to do it, if you're a masochist, is to stick a command line interpreter in the AUTO folder so you can rename the files manually. - Darek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Darek Mihocka ST Xformer II CIS: 73657,2714 Box 2624, Station B Quick Utilities GEnie: DAREKM Kitchener, Ontario MegaBlit SSG SPX DELPHI: DAREKM N2H 6N2 Shareware, not Vaporware BIX: darekm Canada Amiga 3000 has a 68030! CheapNet: microsoft!w-darekm (519)-747-0386 A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so JUST SAY NO TO TOS. Opinions expressed are my own and not those of anyone not named Darek Mihocka. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Nov 89 19:54 From: "Thomas Koenig" Subject: MODULA 2 I know a pretty good Modula2 compiler in Germany. It is SPC-Modula (current version V1.42). Included are a graphical shell, an editor, several utilities (a filer, a printer, an online manual, a course in Modula, ...), all of Wirth's standard modules, a post-mortem- debugger, GEM libraries, a window system and a few things more. The produced code is not as fast as that of Turbo C, but fast nonetheless. The handbook and the online manual and language course are in German, the (more important) module documentation in English. As far as I know, the English documentation is being worked on. It is a good product (I use it quite a lot). Its main drawback is a restriction of data type size to 32KBytes. All in all, it is quite a professional product. The price is about DM 400 (something like US$ 220). As far as I know, it is the official ATARI Modula in Germany. Selling this product is: Advanced Applications Viczena GmbH Sperlingsweg 19 D - 7500 Karlsruhe F.R.G. phone: +49 721 700912 fax : +49 721 786572 I think they might be quite willing to sell their product to the US or anywhere else. Disclaimer : I don't work for them, I just happen to know the boss personally. Thomas Koenig UI0T@DKAUNI2.BITNET UI0T%DKAUNI2.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (soon: new address, old machine) UI0T@IBM3090.RZ.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DBP.DE 'Ich dachte nicht, ich untersuchte.' Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen ------------------------------ Date: 9 Nov 89 20:26:08 GMT From: bucsb!harryk@CS.BU.EDU (Harry Karayiannis) Subject: SPOOLER source-code wanted! Hi neters!!! I really need to find any C-source code concerning a printer spooler! Any ideas of where to find one, or directly mailed one to me would be greately appreciated! Thanks in advance! ------------------------------ Date: 9 Nov 89 18:55:37 GMT From: orion.oac.uci.edu!mnelson%vmsa.oac.uci.edu@ucsd.edu Subject: ST parts source? does anybody know of a source for hard-to-find replacement parts (electronic components, that is...) for Atari equipment (prefereably in the L.A. or Orange Co. areas)? specifically, a friend of mine needs, and is having trouble finding, just one part: a capacitor, 2.2uF, 50V non-polar, radial leads, over-sized (to dissipate heat better). note that this is an odd one; most non-polars are axial, and this is physically like 4 times bigger than most caps of that value. it was found ozzing and bubbling in an Atari ST monochrome monitor, near the high voltage coil. it's obviously some sort of a high-frequency filtering cap (for the flyback circuit?). (it was really something to behold... after tracking down 2 blown voltage regulators, we noticed this capacitor which had blown up. it spewed it's plastic-like guts all over neighboring components, leaving a curtain of goop draped between them all. quite visually apealling, actually. and it smelled like roasting peanuts!) please e-mail responses, as i dont regularly read this group (sorry, but i'm a die-hard Amigan :-) thanx in advance. -matt ------------------------------ Date: 9 Nov 89 18:11:40 GMT From: asuvax!mcdphx!hrc!force!covertr@handies.ucar.edu (Richard E. Covert) Subject: What does the TT Buy me?? Ok, lets try changing the approach to the TT subject. I own a complete Mega ST4 with TOS 1.4, Turbo16, the SLM804 laser printer, and a dual Seagte 65 meg (total = 130 megs) hard drive from ABCO Computers, both Atari monitors (color and monochrome). I have used STs since 1986. I state these facts to show that I am NOT an Atari Basher, rather that I am disappointed with Atari The Company. Also, I own Calamus and PageStream and Mark Williams C and a host of other EXCELLENT software for the ST. My point all along has been : # # ###### # # # # # ## ##### # # #### ###### #### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # # # # ##### #### # # # # # ###### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ## # # # # # ###### #### ###### #### ####### ####### ####### # # # ###### # # # # # # # # # ###### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # ###### # # ##### ##### # # # # # # ## ## ###### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # # # ##### ### ### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### #### # # # ###### # # And I mean the TT/Plastic as it is the most likely TT to make it to the USA. I get the following: 1) GDOS with ALL of its WARTS and faults 2) TOS 1.6, with only single tasking 3) An increase in speed 4) A higher rez color mode (640x480 in 16 colors) Except for the higher color rez I don't see anything in the TT that would make me want to dump my investment in my current ST hardware. What would make me buy an Atari computer: 1) A FAST CPU, at least a 25 Mhz 68030, with an option to go to 33 Mhz or even 50 Mhz as Motorola releases the faster cpus. 2) ability to change to a 68040 CPU without buying a whole new computer. That is why I can Atari computers disposable. In order to upgrade to a different CPU you have to "dispose" of your older computer. 3) A true multi-tasking, multi-windowing OS. I mean, heck the Amiga has had multi-tasking since the first A1000 was released. 4) An open buss so that 3rd party vendors can develop boards for the TT. 5) Better Developer support from Atari, with real discounts given to Developers for Atari hardware. 6) Real color graphics ala the Macintosh. 640x480 in 16 colors is a joke, and Atari should be ashamed for introducing a new machine with such limited grpahics?? The TT will be the Atari machine for the early 1990s and should be better then that!! 7) A replacement for GDOS. Something that uses outline fonts. The Mac system beats GDOS all the way to the North Pole!! GDOS is such a memory hog that even 4 megs in my ST is limiting!! Sure these items all add to the cost of a computer but they should at least be options. That way a Power User should spend the extra bucks a Home User wouldn't have to. By the time the 16 Mhz TT/Plastic makes it to the USA Motorola will be selling 50 Mhz 68030 cpus. All in all, everything about the TT says if it had been released in Jan 1989 instead of July 1990 it MIGHT have been an acceptable computer. But by the Summer of 1990, when we can reasonable expect to see the TT on USA shelves, it will already be outdated by the Amiga A3000, and the Mac IIcx, Mac IIci. What has happened to Atari Corp?? why can't they design and produce a new machine as nice as the ST was back in 1985?? The ST beat other computers hands down in 1985. I wish the TT could do the same in 1990!! Richard (Tired of Bashing the TT) Covert ------------------------------ End of INFO-ATARI16 Digest V89 Issue #626 ***************************************** =========================================================================