Re: [ql-users] QL2004

[Malcolm Cadman]

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Dilwyn Jones
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

The QL Emulators CD that Dilwyn and Darren produced, for example, was
a
great idea. Once the GUI's area available it would be good to do this
again ... and more.
Thanks. I hadn't really thought of using Launchpad or QDT in this
context, but who knows?
Have CD that would 'auto magically' produce and set up a QL
environment
on a MAC or PC, etc.  It will have to be easy and 'done on a plate'
to
get new users involved.  They won't have the time to catch up on all
the
things that those of still involved may know about.
This is one of the shortcomings of the present CD, I didn't know
enough about the 'other computers' to do auto-setups etc, which is why
it's only a home brew-DIY tinkerers setup and readme.txt's etc. Anyone
who'd like to do this is welcome to have a copy to provide such a
setup, but please make it flexible enough to allow for whatever might
happen, for example, the latest CD (v1.24) now has QL2K and the
Windows version of uQLx, just added "as is" with additions to the
readme files.

I hope someone will have the skill and time in a packaged way ... it
--
Malcolm Cadman
This is an Idea I had some time ago. Actually, back when the late Colin
Baskett was editor of QUANTA Magazine, I came up with a version of QPC1
demo (the old original DOS version) that went on a floppy, and had its own
boot file and autoexec.bat file, and would boot up as a QL and also ran a
little boot file and loaded up some PD programs, including Xchange and some
useful freeware stuff, and so ran directly when inserted into the floppy
drive of a PC and reset the machine - most PC's will try to boot from the
floppy first by default (this is set in the BIOS) and then the hard drive,
with newer BIOSes adding the option to boot directly from CD too. My floppy
didn't even use MS-DOS - I used a freeware alternative called free-dos AND
THIS MADE THE ENTIRE THING FREELY -DISTRIBUTABLE :-))  I gave a copy to
Colin, but don't think it ever ended up in the library.....
OK ... trust you !  So my idea is not that original :-)

The latter might be the way to go - have a bootable CD and have it load
maybe QPC2 or QL2K - although this would be harder to do as Windows must be
initiated and running first!!
I was thinking of the CD booting up when installed in the drive ... as 
is common ... when Windows or MAC OS10, etc, already running.

I'm on hols next week so will try and look into it.......hopefully can get
something that works. I also have a bootable disk that does the same thing
on an amiga (any version) and will boot the kick rom and the amiga/QL
emulator from asingle floppy disk direct from a reset too, so no user
knowledge is needed to get it up and running.,
OK, enjoy the 'hols' :-)

Incidentally has everyone tried the QPCdemo on Marcel's site ... this 
loads the QPCdemo and a small QXL.WIN with lots of software on it. 
Indicative of what can done. Give it a try ...

--
Malcolm Cadman