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RUNDOWN.DOC
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1993-01-04
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RUNDOWN
Copyright CSD, Inc. 1992
RUNDOWN performs two basic functions for a laptop computer: 1) It will
exercise the hard disk and "type" to the screen until the stored energy
in the batteries has been completely depleted and 2) It will maintain a
record of the most recent 23 times you have depleted the batteries and
print this record on demand (23 just happens to fit nicely on the
screen).
Why would you run down the batteries on your laptop and accomplish virtually
nothing in the process? Most batteries used to power laptop computers
will be subjected to a repeated partial rundown and re-charge during
normal use. This partial discharge/charge cycle will cause the battery
to develop a "memory". The battery will soon act as if the total
discharge state is the level of partial discharge that it is repeatedly
taken to and subsequently charged from (ie if you use 50% of the total
capacity of your battery and recharge it from that point often enough,
the battery will act as if it has only 50% of its rated capacity).
To prevent this "memory" from developing, it is advisable to totally
discharge the batteries on a regular basis. RUNDOWN performs this task
for you and attempts to discharge the batteries in a manner typical of
your usage of the laptop. RUNDOWN writes to the disk periodically and
"types" to the screen the remainder of the time. The time required to
discharge the batteries is recorded to allow you to monitor your battery
performance.
The syntax for execution of RUNDOWN is...
RUNDOWN [/R|/T] [/F:filesize] [/D:delay time] [/C:comment]
where /R is the switch which causes RUNDOWN to discharge the batteries.
/T is the switch which causes RUNDOWN to display the time required
to discharge the batteries the last 23 times the /R option was
selected.
/F:filesize is the size of the file you wish to have written to
disk expressed in kilobytes(ie 512). The default is 256k.
/D:delay time is the amount of time between disk writes during
which RUNDOWN will "type" to the screen (the default is 3
minutes).
/C:comment is a comment which will be recorded in the rundown
record on disk. Maximum of 30 characters.
Examples:
RUNDOWN /R /D:2 /F:512 /C:Overnight Charge
Discharge the batteries, pause 2 minutes between disk writes,
write a 512k file to disk, and place "Overnight Charge" in
the history record.
RUNDOWN /T Display the times required to discharge the batteries
for the last 23 discharge cycles.
RUNDOWN Prompt me for either the /R option or the /T option. If /R
then pause 3 minutes between cycles and write a 256k file.
IMPORTANT NOTE!!!
Most laptop computers contain a device driver or other means to conserve
the power used by the hard disk drive, the screen, and in recent
machines, the CPU. This feature needs to be disabled prior to
running RUNDOWN. I recommend that you create a floppy boot disk
which contains the necessary boot files, a config.sys without the
driver that conserves power within your laptop, and an AUTOEXEC.BAT
file that executes RUNDOWN.
IMPORTANT NOTE 2!!!
If your laptop battery "dies" during the writing of the dummy file to
disk, the FAT table will not be properly updated. To rid your disk
of this unconnected file and return the space to the freespace area
on disk, use the DOS utility CHKDSK.
You should execute CHKDSK with the /F option ("create a file from any
lost clusters). After running with CHKDSK, delete the files from
disk. You should refer to your DOS manual but it should go
something like this...
C: <enter>
CD \
CHKDSK /F
Convert lost chains to files (Y/N)?...Yes
DIR FILE*.CHK
Verify that all these files are to be deleted
ERASE FILE*.CHK (if you are deleting any files)
POWERBATCH
"A Batch File Compiler"
During the "typing" process of RUNDOWN, an on-screen advertisement for
POWERBATCH was made. For those of you who are interested in trying an
ASP shareware product that will create "batch files" (POWERBATCH really
creates programs), here are some of the capabilities of this fine
product.
POWERBATCH is a tool for those who want to create "batch" files with speed
and flexibility not available with the standard DOS batch facility.
POWERBATCH is a replacement for the DOS batch facility which produces
compiled batch programs. POWERBATCH provides more than 40 additional
functions in addition to the capability in DOS.
POWERBATCH provides:
» Execution speed only a compiled .EXE program can deliver » Commands to
create professional screen displays with boxes, colors, direct
cursor positioning, and keyboard input.
» Commands to validate drives, directories, files, and your DOS search
path
» Commands to retrieve environment variables, current date and time, and
disk capacities and free space.
» String and numeric comparisons for intelligent branching within your
batch program.
» Ability to create variables and constants to be used in any of the
POWERBATCH commands or DOS commands.
» Ability to create a batch program that cannot be exited by pressing
the break key (or any other key).
With POWERBATCH you only deliver to the user the compiled runtime module
not any source file or extra "batch enhancer" programs. Your POWERBATCH
programs will never be modified by the user and can be made "escape
proof".
Run the PBDEMO program included in this download. It is an example of the
power and flexibility of POWERBATCH.
POWERBATCH................US $30.00
For additional information contact the author, Joel Harper at:
CSD, Inc.
4437 Ormond Trace
Marietta, GA 30066
VOICE (404) 926-9565
FAX (404) 926-9590
----------------end-of-author's-documentation---------------
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