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1991-12-08
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7KB
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152 lines
DDPC version 2.50
The Multiple Hard Disc Parking Utility
Copyright (C) 1990-1991 Daniel Baumberger
Dynamic Designs Software
STANDARD DISCLAIMER
===================
This software is provided AS-IS. There is no warranty,
either expressed or implied. The author is NOT responsible
for damage either through use or misuse of this program.
INTRODUCTION
============
DDPC is a utility that will park the heads of ALL hard
drives installed in a system (up to 32,727). DDPC includes
such features as:
* An "info" mode that gives the BIOS' view of your hard
drive.
* A "single park" mode that lets you park a single (or more)
drives and continue working on another.
* A "windowed screen saver" so that you can park you drives
and leave the computer on. DDPC will display a moving
window on the screen so that it will not burn in. It also
informs anyone looking at the screen that the computer is
not off, but rather is idle.
DDPC version 2.50 is a complete rewrite from version 2.3.
The major addition is the bouncing window in the screen
saver mode. The screen save should work on all video
systems using 80 columns.
The single park mode has changed from version 2.3.
Instead of giving DDPC the MS-DOS names, you give the
"physical number" of the drive. This was to ensure that you
don't try to park some "partitions" that are not physical
drives. Refer to the section SINGLE PARK MODE for details.
GENERAL SYNTAX
==============
DDPC works like this:
DDPC [/Clear] [/Status] [/Info] [U#]
Arguments in the square brackets are optional. If DDPC is
run with no command line arguments, it will park all hard
drives and wait for the <ENTER> key to be pressed. When
ENTER is pressed, DDPC will drop back to MS-DOS. After,
DDPC displays that message, the drive is safe to turn off.
To display the help screen, run DDPC /?.
CLEAR MODE
==========
The "clear" mode is DDPC's screen saver. When run this
way, DDPC will park all the hard drives, and display a
bouncing window. Anytime, you can press any key and DDPC
will drop back to MS-DOS.
The "clear" mode should work with any display adapter that
uses an 80 column text mode. If the screen mode is NOT 80
columns, DDPC will abort with an error message.
The "clear" switch can be shortened to /C.
STATUS MODE
===========
Status mode is similar to running DDPC with no command
line arguments. However, it displays information about the
drives as it parks them. It is mainly for curiosity's sake.
The Status mode can be shortened to /S.
INFO MODE
=========
The information mode displays the information about each
physical drive as reported by the BIOS. It displays the
number of heads, cylinders, and the sectors per track.
Then, it makes a guess at the size of the hard disc. NOTE:
if the size that DDPC estimates is MUCH different from
yours, then the controller is lying to the BIOS. Some hard
disc controller do this. It is nothing to worry about.
The Info mode can be shortened to /I.
SINGLE PARK MODE
================
The single park mode is for parking, say, a second drive
while still using the first. In a prior version of DDPC,
the MS-DOS drive letter could be used to specify which
single drive to park. This has been removed. Instead, the
drive is specified by its BIOS unit number. The first hard
drive (usually C) is unit 0, or U0.
For example, if two hard drives are installed, the second
can be parked like this:
DDPC U1
DDPC will park unit 1 and exit back to MS-DOS. If an
error occurred, DDPC will inform you.
INTO THE FUTURE
===============
What is to come? I was considering adding a time display
to the bouncing window. Changing the amount of delay would
also be added.
If you would like to make suggestions, comments,
questions, or anything else, I can be reached at one (or
more) of the following:
Internet E-Mail (Preferred): baumb@cs.washington.edu
US-Mail: (Sept - June):
Dan Baumberger
A206 Hansee, GR-10
University Of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
(June - Sept)
Dan Baumberger
811 S South Nevada Dr
Longview, WA 98632
REGISTRATION:
=============
DDPC is NOT free. You are granted a limited license to use
DDPC to see if it meets your needs. After a short period,
you must register your copy with the author by sending $10
(U.S., checks payable to DANIEL BAUMBERGER) to one of the
two addresses above. Please include your name, address,
internet address (if you have one), and the version that
you have.
Upon receiving your registration, you will receive the latest
version (or the next available version), along with all
other Dynamic Designs utilities. You will also be notified
of all new products and updates. You will receive two
free updates after the intial one.
Thank you for your support!