HybriSwitch RAM Disk Documentation
version 1.1 - 08/12/88
Copyright 1988 John Eidsvoog
SETTING UP HybriSwitch RAM Disk:
Copy the file HRAMDSK2.PRG into your AUTO folder (make a folder on
your boot disk named AUTO). Whenever the ST boots up, it runs all programs
with the extension .PRG in the AUTO folder. If you are booting from hard disk,
your AUTO folder will need to be in your boot partition. You may also run
HRAMDSK2.PRG directly from the desktop.
USING HybriSwitch RAM Disk:
When HRAMDSK2.PRG is run from the AUTO folder, it will pause for about
5 seconds. If you don't respond by pressing a key or moving the mouse within
5 seconds, the program will proceed automatically with the rest of your bootup
procedure. The action that will be taken will be noted at the bottom of the
screen by one of the following 2 messages:
(on time-out, will automatically install)
or
(on time-out, will automatically by-pass)
As soon as you press a key or move the mouse, this message will dis-
appear, the time-out will be aborted, and you will have as long as you want to
decide what to do. The following are valid keys:
C-P = set the drive letter to use
1-9, A-W (upper or lower case) = install, using the size shown on screen
Esc, or Undo = quit without installing RAM disk
Arrow keys and mouse movements = move the cursor around on the screen
Space bar = does nothing (expect abort time-out)
Help, or any other key = display information about the program
Delete = do a cold boot (if already installed,
and pressed before run)
Every time HRAMDSK2 is run, it saves the current size chosen, the
drive letter selected, and whether the RAM disk was installed or by-
passed. Then the next time the program is run, the previous settings
will be used as default values. If you do not want this information
saved every time, you must write-protect your disk. It is still much
more preferable (to me) to have your 'favorite' drive and size appear
as the default size and action each time you run it, and if you're not
there to respond within 5 seconds, it'll go ahead and do the same
thing you did last time.
In order to use the RAM disk from the desktop, you will have to
install a drive icon. Do this by clicking on an existing drive icon.
It will become selected by inverting its colors. Now go up to the
Options drop-down and click on 'Install Disk Drive...'. A dialog box
will appear. Enter the drive letter that you have chosen for your RAM
disk, and the name you'd like to appear on the icon. Make sure you
click the mouse on 'Install' because using the 'Return' key will
'Cancel'. If you have problems, your Owner's Manual describes this
whole process.
REMOVING HybriSwitch RAM Disk:
In order to remove this RAM disk, you must do a 'cold' reset. One way
to do this is to turn off the power switch in the back of your ST. To insure
that you truly have a 'clean' machine, you must wait at least 5 seconds, maybe
10, before turning it back on. If this seems a nuisance, just be aware that
this feature, depending on your individual ST, might make it possible to
recover files on your RAM disk even if the machine is turned off for a few
seconds!! You can also do a cold reset by running HRAMDSK2 from the desktop.
The alert box that appears will show 'Cold Boot' as one of the choices. One
final way to remove the RAM disk is to press the 'Delete' key before HRAMDSK2
runs (re-initializing the RAM disk). This key must be pressed before the
installation message appears.
This RAM disk only allows sizing by 64K increments. HybriSwitch
allows you to configure to any size. If you install a RAM disk from
HybriSwitch that is between the available sizes of this RAM disk, the
warm reset install message
will show the next lower size. The same size RAM disk will still be used
internally. To find out the exact number of bytes available, you should do a
'Show Info' from the desktop.