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Cream of the Crop 21
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Cream of the Crop 21 (Terry Blount) (October 1996).iso
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HWINFO.DOC
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1996-08-14
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╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ HWiNFO - Copyright (c)1995-96 RealSoft, All Rights Reserved. ║
║ ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ║
║ Version 3.00 ; Last Update: Aug-14-1996 ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
*** Any comments, logfiles or questions are welcome: malik@us.svf.stuba.sk ***
**************************************************** malik@elf.stuba.sk ******
################ Don't mail to: malik@iris.elf.stuba.sk ! ####################
┌──────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ USE THIS PROGRAM ONLY AT YOUR OWN RISK │
└──────────────────────────────────────────┘
HWiNFO is a !POWERFUL! hardware detection program. The whole code is written
in pure assembler (btw about 28,000 lines), thus it's so tiny. It is simple,
quick and on most systems very efficient. It "tries" to give only Important
information about all the physical things in your computer so, that you must
not look inside the PC to see what's there. The most routines access directly
hardware, to avoid some programs to emulate non-existing computer hardware.
I have excluded all the unnecessary information, such as CMOS, Interrupts,
Drivers, Partitions info and many others (like Norton Sysinfo, Check-It :-)),
cause as for me, nobody can use it. I hope, you don't want HWiNFO to
determine your mouse cable lenght or the speed of your computer ventilator...
The newest version is always (immediately) available at:
SAC ftp - ftp.elf.stuba.sk /pub/pc/utilmisc
SAC BBS - ++42 7 5438 232 (19,200 Baud)
++42 7 5438 295 (28,800 Baud)
At other sitez/BBS later...
SimTel - ftp.simtel.net /pub/simtelnet/msdos/sysinfo
SAC mirrors - ftp.vse.cz /pub/msdos/SAC/pub/pc/utilmisc
ftp.cs.tu-berlin.de /pub/msdos/mirrors/ftp.elf.stuba.sk/pub/pc/utilmisc
ftp-beer.bke.hu /pub/sac/pc/utilmisc
192.217.228.45 /SAC/pub/pc/utilmisc
Garbo archive - garbo.uwasa.fi /pc/sysinfo
## Requirements ##############################################################
- DOS 3.0 or newer
- cca. 260 KBytes of free system memory
- Needs to be executed from directory in which it's installed in !
(I suggest, you don't rename the executable file)
Well, that's all. I hope, it will work on all machines.
## Registration ##############################################################
HWiNFO is shareware, meaning that you can test the program free and check
if it is useful for you. The public version is Unregistered, but works at
FULL Power! It's of no use to make such a Shareware version of hardware
detection program with limited abilities. The only disadvantage is the
message, that HWiNFO isn't registered and to press a random key while the
results are showen.
If you think you could use this program and don't want to see that stupid
message, or if you continue using it after a trial period of 30 days, you
should register. Otherwise after this period HWiNFO becomes an illegal copy
and you have to delete it.
If you decide to register, you should print out the file "REGISTER.FRM", fill
it and send to this address:
Martin Malík
Jakubovo nám. 3
811 09 Bratislava
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
EUROPE
If you include your Internet e-mail address, you will receive the keys via
e-mail, otherwise snail mail.
Once you have obtained the five Keys needed to register, put exactly the same
name (as included in REGISTER.FRM), all keys in the [Register] menu of HWiNFO
and the current version will become registered.
Note: Remember the name string, you've send me in REGISTER.FRM, because the
Registration Keys depend on it !
Well, the Registration fee is:
Single Registration -> $15 / 20 DM
or 300.- Sk/KC (Slovak/Czech people)
Multiple Registrations (Companies) -> Contact me first for special
arrangements.
A single registration is valid for all future versions. And there will be
a lot of newer versions of course.
You should register Now !
## Comments... ###############################################################
The CPU ID is available only on 386+ CPUs and HWiNFO uses three ways to
obtain this ID:
Method 1 - Does Reset the CPU while A20 is Enabled.
This method works on all systems, but the Reset handler gets
control after BIOS. And some BIOSes (some newer AMI/Award BIOSes)
destroy CPU ID (EDX) and therefore this ID could be invalid.
This method is default <Enabled> in Setup section.
Method 2 - Does Reset the CPU while A20 is Disabled.
This method works only on some machines, which do have a
Fully-Terminated bus. It's a better way to obtain CPU ID, because
it gets control immediately after Reset (the BIOS can't destroy
EDX).
This method is default <Disabled> in Setup section.
Method 3 - Try to use this method if your BIOS destroys CPU ID. But it works
only on systems, which do not have Main BIOS Write-Protected,
because it modifies it for a bit, and then restores back. (This
method works well on my machine and is the only way to get CPU ID).
This method is default <Enabled> in Setup setction.
HWiNFO tries to determine CPU ID this way, via: 1. CPUID instruction
2. BIOS (INT 15h)
3. Method 2 (if Enabled)
4. Method 3
5. Method 1
If you have an UMC U5SX/SD/SLV/486DX2/SX2, Enhanced Am486DX2/DX4/DX4-WB,
Intel 486DX/SX/DX2 SL-Enhanced, IntelDX4, IntelSX2, IntelDX2 W-B Enh. or
Intel Pentium(TM) and above, there is no need to Reset the CPU (these CPU
support CPUID instruction). The most CPUs today support CPUID instruction.
Note: Nx586 and Cyrix 5x86 do NOT support CPUID instruction yet.
Disabling "CPU ID detection via Method 1, 2 and 3" reduces your CPU detection
range! And if there's no other way to obtain ID (via BIOS or CPUID
instruction), it won't identify 386SL, i386CX/EX, 486DX2, IBM 486... and some
other CPUs. Do this only if your system hangs while CPU detection.
Some BIOSes (like - AMI PCI PnP WinBIOS 12/15/93) simply OVERWRITE the
CPU ID (EDX) :-< ! In this case is an invalid CPU ID displayed and the CPU
problably not correctly identified. If this problem occurs, try to use
Method 3 (but your Main BIOS must be Write-Enabled !). If it doesn't work,
try to use Method 2 (but you must have a Fully-Terminated bus !). And if
HWiNFO still displays, that Method 1 was used to obtain CPU ID, not Method 2
nor 3 can obtain it.
!! ARIA sound card, Stacker Compression Card and 3Com EtherLink III Adapter
!! detection routines cause crash or reconfiguration of some Network cards.
!! You can disable them the in Setup section (ARIA and Stacker check are
!! default disabled and 3Com EtherLink III is enabled).
On some old motherboards are random number obtained from not used I/O ports
and this may cause invalid identification of Aria sound card or Hitachi
CD-ROM. I don't know how to solve this problem.
The Mainboard Chipset indentification works only on newer (≈ 1991 and above)
AMI and newer AWARD BIOSes.
HWiNFO is also able to detect: Intel 82420TX SATURN
Intel 82420EX ARIES
Intel 82430LX NEPTUNE