Re: [Freedos-user] first use of freedos
Hi, On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 2:04 AM, John R. Sowden wrote: > On 11/03/2013 11:38 PM, Rugxulo wrote: >> >> On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 1:13 AM, John R. Sowden >> wrote: >>> got a 'distribution disk' of freedos >> Where? Which version? What files? > I think I got it at the FD site. Its the fat32 version. file is > "ke386f32.zip" But (of course) that's not a full install. That's only the kernel (and sys.com to install boot sector). You still need a shell (and presumably a lot more than that!). >>> , ran the sys command. >> To / from what? Floppy? Hard drive? > read the batch. ran sys on the floppy with no arg (defaults to a:) It > didnot like installing onto itself. > The ran sys c:. This was after playing a bit, as I have hot data on the > drive. I see INSTALL.BAT, so I guess that's what you mean. Not very exhaustive, but I guess it's better than nothing. The main problem is that FreeDOS uses KERNEL.SYS instead of MSDOS.SYS + IO.SYS or IBMBIOS.COM + IBMDOS.COM (etc. etc.), hence the boot sector has to be completely different. It might even load at a different place in RAM (60h:0? 70h:0?), can't remember. That's the main point of SYS.COM, e.g. "sys a: c:". You can always manually copy files, but a boot sector isn't something that most people will construct manually. But even all of this assumes a pre-existing FAT partition via FDISK or similar. >>> copied it from the net to a floppy using ubuntu 13.10 >> Assuming the floppy is intact, I guess that would work with dd (or >> similar) if the media size is the same. > 1.4mb floppy. I have never used any of the other formats to get more stuff > on the fd. Not sure how well other formats would work. It just depends on the circumstances. I know that 1.44 MB is fairly common, or at least used to be. (Yeah, floppies ain't popular anymore.) It works, but I don't think even USB floppy drives work in all OSes, and also not necessarily with any non-standard sizes. I mean, DOS can use it via the BIOS, but other OSes avoid that. Well, I've never tried any sizes beyond 1.44 MB on my Sony USB floppy drive, and I'm not optimistic either. I personally think it's wise to avoid such things (e.g. tomsrtbt), but I guess it just depends. >>> put it in a 486 24MB windows 98 computer with the windows programs >>> removed and the MSDOS 7.10 and 4dos in place, with a network. >> I assume here that you mean you're replacing MS-DOS with FreeDOS. Was >> there a particular reason for this, some specific program that >> wouldn't run or some other restriction? > That is correct. Reason: get away from MS, use fat32, use 4dos, hopefully my > usb drivers on another > computer will work on this one. IIRC, MS-DOS 7.10 (OSR2?) supported FAT32. I still have it on (non-standard, DMF??) floppies. And 4DOS can run there too. USB drivers? Dunno, try Bret Johnson's drivers (if you only need UHCI). >>> A few issues: >>> >>> Freedos did not like 'sys'ing to the floppy that it resides on, so I >>> could boot into freedos, > Error copying command.com to itself. "SYS A: C: /BOOTONLY" should work okay if you want to (later) manually copy the shell and kernel files. (See docs/sys.txt .) >>> running the ver command shows MD DOS version 7.10. I don't know if >>> MSDOS is still there or if this is a compatibility issue. I'd sure like >>> it to say freedos, if it is. >> The shell may misunderstand, who knows. But "normally" (although I >> haven't used MS-DOS / Win9x in a few years) I wouldn't expect it to >> say "MS-DOS" unless it was in fact MS-DOS. Though indeed the FAT32 >> version of FreeDOS by default always claims to be version 7.10. > This is the fat32 version. Too bad fd does not promote itself in the > ver command. "VER" is a built-in of the shell. 4DOS should correctly identify the DOS flavor for you (since you hinted that you prefer that). FAT32 isn't enough to identify, many DOSes support that these days. I can't remember what all the different shells say (even if I had used them all at one time), but "ver /r" should say something useful. There are other ways, but outside of writing a specific util (int 21h, 33FFh? int 21h, 4452h?), I can't remember any totally obvious way besides just checking the boot sector or root drive for kernel files (and even that isn't always unique, e.g. PC-DOS vs. DR-DOS). >> Well, the obvious answer is to check (or clean) your root directory. >> If there's only KERNEL.SYS and maybe COMMAND.COM, it's definitely >> FreeDOS. >> I run lean and mean. no io.sys, no msdos.sys. Well, you don't have to store them on all media, only on the bootable ones. So you can boot from floppy and work atop a FAT partition that isn't bootable, which can lack them. But at bootup, they have to be found somewhere and loaded, obviously. > The only reason command.com is there is because > (a) freedos diagnostics, and come programs look for it. Unfortunately > foxpro 2.6 looks for the ms version of command.com in order to use the > run command (run a dos prog from inside fpd)
Re: [Freedos-user] first use of freedos
On 11/03/2013 11:38 PM, Rugxulo wrote: > Hi, > > On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 1:13 AM, John R. Sowden > wrote: >> got a 'distribution disk' of freedos > Where? Which version? What files? > I think I got it at the FD site. Its the fat32 version. file is > "ke386f32.zip" >> , ran the sys command. > To / from what? Floppy? Hard drive? > read the batch. ran sys on the floppy with no arg (defaults to a:) It > didnot like installing onto itself. The ran sys c:. This was after playing > a bit, as I have hot data on the drive. >> copied it from the net to a floppy using ubuntu 13.10 > Assuming the floppy is intact, I guess that would work with dd (or > similar) if the media size is the same. > 1.4mb floppy. I have never used any of the other formats to get more stuff > on the fd. >> put it in a 486 24MB windows 98 computer with the windows programs >> removed and the MSDOS 7.10 and 4dos in place, with a network. > I assume here that you mean you're replacing MS-DOS with FreeDOS. Was > there a particular reason for this, some specific program that > wouldn't run or some other restriction? > That is correct. Reason: get away from MS, use fat32, use 4dos, hopefully my > usb drivers on another computer will work on this one. >> A few issues: >> >> Freedos did not like 'sys'ing to the floppy that it resides on, so I >> could boot into freedos, Error copying command.com to itself. What did it say exactly? Did you try a different physical floppy disk? "sys a: c:"? Anyways, you can always boot FreeDOS via other means, hence allowing you to still read / write via FreeDOS on an optional basis. (Heck, the "MS-DOS 8" embedded within DISKCOPY.DLL that you can still write to floppy via Windows explorer [tested on Win7] has no SYS.COM command at all.) >> running the ver command shows MD DOS version 7.10. I don't know if >> MSDOS is still there or if this is a compatibility issue. I'd sure like >> it to say freedos, if it is. > The shell may misunderstand, who knows. But "normally" (although I > haven't used MS-DOS / Win9x in a few years) I wouldn't expect it to > say "MS-DOS" unless it was in fact MS-DOS. Though indeed the FAT32 > version of FreeDOS by default always claims to be version 7.10. This is the fat32 version. Too bad fd does not promote itself in the ver command. > Well, the obvious answer is to check (or clean) your root directory. > If there's only KERNEL.SYS and maybe COMMAND.COM, it's definitely > FreeDOS. > I run lean and mean. no io.sys, no msdos.sys. The only reason command.com > is there is because (a) freedos diagnostics, and come programs look for it. Unfortunately foxpro 2.6 looks for the ms version of command.com in order to use the run command (run a dos prog from inside fpd). >> Running the defrag program (freedos version) only allowed me to do a >> 'quickie'. the real options were grayed out. I have a little dos stuff >> (about 130mb) in the middle of this huge 4.3 gb drive. I releived the >> drive of its win98 burden. I want the dos at the beginning, and the >> unused 'wiped', as the program suggests. > only 1 partition. remember I got rid of the win98 stuff, so the dos stuff is > sittin in the middle per the defrag program. I re-ran it, and got the same > results (insanity?) FAT32. the only partition is active :) Literally in the middle of the partition? How many partitions do you have? FAT16? FAT32? Primary? Active? When you say 4.3 GB, I assume you mean physical drive, not just partition. >> Freedos complains that my last drive is not high enough. > Where? At bootup? When running a specific program? Yea, during boot. I just > added lastrivehigh=j (the 10th drive) now it doesn't complain. > >> It runs, but it stops and waits for a . This will confuse my secty >> tomorrow >> morning. > I assume you mean "secretary"? Sounds like a time crunch, ugh, sorry > if this isn't more helpful. no wait now-sh'ell nevr know she not running > msdos, except for the win98 logo that comes up when booting DOS (not win98) > go figure. > > Hmmm, you don't mean prompt for date + time do you? It always does > that (IIRC) if no AUTOEXEC.BAT is found. I have a autoexec.bat. for the > last 20 years, I have it run another program with the good stuf in it (4dos > compiled). autoexec,.at is unprotected, of the install programs can trash > it. I go back find what the want to do, fix my other program if necessary > (usually not) and edit the autoexec.bat command bacl to @startdos.bat > >> I run a network called "little big lan" (love it). It has a >> program to set the last drive called netunits. I have it set to 10. >> This computer has a floppy, a hd, and a cd. No more. 10 has been enough >> for msdos 7.1 for the last decade. Raising it to 12 had no effect. > You mean LASTDRIVE in CONFIG.SYS? No, it sounds like "netunits" (never > heard of it). I'm far from experienced in networking, esp. old MS-DOS > LAN stuff, but the normal way to increase drives is via LASTDRIVE. > Though t
Re: [Freedos-user] first use of freedos
Hi, On Mon, Nov 4, 2013 at 1:13 AM, John R. Sowden wrote: > > got a 'distribution disk' of freedos Where? Which version? What files? > , ran the sys command. To / from what? Floppy? Hard drive? > copied it from the net to a floppy using ubuntu 13.10 Assuming the floppy is intact, I guess that would work with dd (or similar) if the media size is the same. > put it in a 486 24MB windows 98 computer with the windows programs > removed and the MSDOS 7.10 and 4dos in place, with a network. I assume here that you mean you're replacing MS-DOS with FreeDOS. Was there a particular reason for this, some specific program that wouldn't run or some other restriction? > A few issues: > > Freedos did not like 'sys'ing to the floppy that it resides on, so I > could boot into freedos, What did it say exactly? Did you try a different physical floppy disk? "sys a: c:"? Anyways, you can always boot FreeDOS via other means, hence allowing you to still read / write via FreeDOS on an optional basis. (Heck, the "MS-DOS 8" embedded within DISKCOPY.DLL that you can still write to floppy via Windows explorer [tested on Win7] has no SYS.COM command at all.) > running the ver command shows MD DOS version 7.10. I don't know if > MSDOS is still there or if this is a compatibility issue. I'd sure like > it to say freedos, if it is. The shell may misunderstand, who knows. But "normally" (although I haven't used MS-DOS / Win9x in a few years) I wouldn't expect it to say "MS-DOS" unless it was in fact MS-DOS. Though indeed the FAT32 version of FreeDOS by default always claims to be version 7.10. Well, the obvious answer is to check (or clean) your root directory. If there's only KERNEL.SYS and maybe COMMAND.COM, it's definitely FreeDOS. > Running the defrag program (freedos version) only allowed me to do a > 'quickie'. the real options were grayed out. I have a little dos stuff > (about 130mb) in the middle of this huge 4.3 gb drive. I releived the > drive of its win98 burden. I want the dos at the beginning, and the > unused 'wiped', as the program suggests. Literally in the middle of the partition? How many partitions do you have? FAT16? FAT32? Primary? Active? When you say 4.3 GB, I assume you mean physical drive, not just partition. > Freedos complains that my last drive is not high enough. Where? At bootup? When running a specific program? > It runs, but it stops and waits for a . This will confuse my secty > tomorrow > morning. I assume you mean "secretary"? Sounds like a time crunch, ugh, sorry if this isn't more helpful. Hmmm, you don't mean prompt for date + time do you? It always does that (IIRC) if no AUTOEXEC.BAT is found. > I run a network called "little big lan" (love it). It has a > program to set the last drive called netunits. I have it set to 10. > This computer has a floppy, a hd, and a cd. No more. 10 has been enough > for msdos 7.1 for the last decade. Raising it to 12 had no effect. You mean LASTDRIVE in CONFIG.SYS? No, it sounds like "netunits" (never heard of it). I'm far from experienced in networking, esp. old MS-DOS LAN stuff, but the normal way to increase drives is via LASTDRIVE. Though that's fairly common, so I assume you tried that. But that's all I can think of (and obviously that only uses letters, not numbers). Maybe you meant FILES? Nah, doubt it. > Thoughts? > > John (wordstar 5.5 and foxpro/dos forever!) "Just use Li..." ... Sorry, got carried away there. ;-) -- Android is increasing in popularity, but the open development platform that developers love is also attractive to malware creators. Download this white paper to learn more about secure code signing practices that can help keep Android apps secure. http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/clk?id=65839951&iu=/4140/ostg.clktrk ___ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
