PC-Ditto

OTHER VERSIONS WITH THE SAME TITLE (3)

• Avant-Garde SystemsUSA · 1987
• Avant-Garde Systems (version Euro 3.64)United Kingdom · 1988
• Avant-Garde Systems (version Euro 3.96)United Kingdom · 1988

INSTRUCTIONS

    README.1ST     18 de Enero de 1987
    
    Nota preliminar:
          La actual versión de PC-DITTO ha sido acondicionada
especialmente por TOU S.A. para que funcione correctamente en
monitor monocromo. Como podrán comprobar, los programas de este
disco se leen mucho más rápidamente que los de un disco conven-
cional, y se ejecutan más rápidamente sobre todo cuando se les
somete a una mayor sobrecarga. Se ha liberado esta versión de
los errores de la primera versión monocroma suministrada por
ROBTEK. 
     ¡¡¡ No formatee nunca este disco !!!. En el momento de la
ejecución de la versión monocroma de PC-DITTO, este disco debe
estar presente en la unidad A:, pudiendo retirarse una vez que
haya salido la pantalla principal del programa. Puede realizar
copias de seguridad de este disco por los métodos habituales,
pero la versión monocroma sólo funcionará si el disco original
está en la unidad A:. En caso de deterioro del programa original,
puede borrar (no formatear) el disco original y transasarle los
programas que conserva en la copia de seguridad, con lo cual vol-
verán a funcionar. (si hay algún problema, puede acogerse a la
garantía de TOU).
    
List of files and folders on pc-ditto master disk:
   README.1ST
   CERTPGMS.DOC
   \STPROGRAMS
       PC-DMENU.PRG
       PC-DITTO.PRG
       PC-D.1
    \PCPROGRAMS
       PC-DFMT.EXE
       PC-DDRVR.SYS
       SPEEDY3.EXE
       QWICKEYS.COM
1.   README.1ST     This file:  contains information regarding the files on
     your disk, latest updates to those files, and a summary of
     general problems and solutions which have been encountered by
     users.
2.   CERTPGMS.DOC   Contains a list of software certified (i.e., tested
     fully) on pc-ditto.
3.   \STPROGRAMS    Folder containing files which run under the Atari
     GEMDOS.  These files should be copied to an Atari format disk
     (see your User manual for details).
4.   PC-DMENU.PRG   This program allows you to change the characteristics
     of pc-ditto to your taste.  Such parameters as colors used by the
     monochrome and graphics palettes, disk drive assignments, and
     others.  This program is menu driven, with built-in help.  Your
     user manual also explains how to get started.  This program
     should be run first, before pc-ditto, to ensure the configuration
     of pc-ditto is correct for your usage.
    
5.   PC-DITTO.PRG   This is the main program.  Clicking this program will
     start the IBM compatible emulation using the preferences selected
     in the pc-dmenu program above.
    
6.   PC-D.1    This is part of the pc-ditto.prg main program.  It must also
     be contained on the same disk as pc-ditto.prg for it to work
     correctly.
    
7.   \PCPROGRAMS    This is a folder containing IBM-type programs.  These
     files should be copied to an IBM format diskette.  They only run
     under PC or MS-DOS.  Again, see your user manual for more
     information concerning the copying and setup of these programs.
    
8.   PC-DFMT.EXE    This program will format 80-track high-capacity 3.5"
     disks under DOS versions below 3.2.  It will also perform regular
     formatting, similar to the FORMAT utility program.  This program
     is menu-driven with built-in help.  Please see the user manual
     for additional information on the creation and use of high-
     capacity 3.5" disks, as well as some of the problem and solutions
     below.

     By the way, since DOS versions below 3.2 do not recognize a high-
     capacity disk (720K) without a device driver, DOS versions below
     3.2 cannot be installed on a high-capacity disk (the device
     driver is not present when DOS first starts up).

     For single-sided disk owners, this program can create 80-track
     format disks, providing 360,000 characters (360K) of storage.

9.   PC-DDRVR.SYS   This is a DOS device driver used to access high-
     capacity (720K) diskettes using DOS versions below 3.2.  It can
     also be used to read and write Atari GEMDOS format disks, for
     those DOS versions that may have trouble doing so, otherwise.
     See your user manual for an in-depth discussion of high-capacity
     disks and use of this driver under your DOS.

--------------------Provided at no charge----------------------------

10.  SPEEDY3.EXE    A  public-domain program which may be useful from time-
     to-time to speedup the screen display of some DOS versions;
     primarily DOS versions below 3.0.  Testing of this program has
     been limited.  Therefore, try running it after you start your DOS
     and before you run any applications.  For many applications (e.g.
     dBase series), it does speed screen displays around 30% faster.
     Other applications, such as Lotus 1-2-3, there appears to be no
     effect.  Because of the public domain nature of this program, it
     should be tested with your applications to determine if it has
     any real value.  Also, if you should encounter any flakyness
     using it, please let us know.  To date, we have not encountered
     any problems, but the possibly always exists with any product.
    
11.  QWICKEYS.COM   This program, like Speedy3.exe, is public domain.  It
     will often speed cursor and repeat key use.  Again, as with
     Speedy3.exe, please try it with your application to determine if
     any real enhancement is perceived.

     HARD DISK USERS -- PLEASE READ  -- VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION
     ---------------    -----------     --------------------------

1.   pc-ditto currently supports only one physical hard drive (logical unit
     number 0).  More drives may be supported in the future.

2.   To access the hard disk, you MUST use DOS version 3.0 or higher.
     Versions of DOS below 3.0 can not access your hard disk, and if
     used to write to the hard disk, WILL destroy information or even
     make the hard disk unusable until re-formatted.

3.   Formatting the entire physical hard disk requires you use the proper
     Atari GEMDOS hard disk utility.  Once formatted, DOS can then
     format individual partitions for its use, if you need.

     It is not necessary to format a partition with DOS FORMAT, unless you
     wish to install DOS on that partition.

***** WARNING:  DOS can not access any partition on a hard disk with less
     than 4.2 Meg (4,206,080 characters)!!!  To do so WILL mean
     disaster to files in that partition.  (Sorry, but this is a DOS
     requirement we can not get around --- and, we have tried!)

     Also, not that this will occur often, but DOS can not access
     partitions with more than 32Meg sizes.

4.   DOS may be installed on your hard disk for autoboot using the DOS
     FORMAT, SYS, and SELECT utilities.  FDISK may be used to inspect
     the partition information, but it is not allowed to actually
     update that information.

5.   If you have only one partition on your hard disk, only one operating
     system may be installed on it to AUTOBOOT.  That is, if you can
     automatically start GEMDOS from your hard disk, you cannot
     install DOS on that same partition to automatically start.  So,
     you may have one or the other; not both.

6.   Multiple partitions are supported.  Under GEMDOS, each partition is
     assigned a drive letter.  IBM XT hard drives may have more than
     one partition, but only one is active for use by DOS (the others
     are considered to have different operating systems, and thus are
     inaccessable to DOS).

     We provide a solution to this problem by treating multiple partitions
     the same way as GEMDOS does:  assign a drive letter to each
     partition.  For DOS, this means each partition is treated as
     being a separate, physical drive with only one partition.

7.   If you format a partition, whether you install DOS or not, we will
     recognize that partition as potentially bootable.  As such, DOS
     can only be booted from the first hard drive in a system (drive C:).

     This means, if you do not format the first partition on your hard
     drive, but do format the second, third, or fourth, then we must
     treat that partition as letter C:.  The remaining partitions are
     sequentially lettered for D:, E:, and F: (if used).  The letters
     are assigned in a circular fashion.  So, after the last partition
     has been assigned a letter, the first partitions are assigned the
     next letters.

     If DOS is to be booted, it must reside on the FIRST DOS bootable
     partition in the group.  In other words, if partitions 1 and 3
     are formatted as DOS drives, and partitions 0 and 2 are GEMDOS,
     DOS will be bootable only from partition 1.

     The following table will hopefully summarize this mess:

         Bootable DOS partition             Partition assigned to drive
         ----------------------             ---------------------------
    if you have four partitions                  C:   D:   E:   F:
                                                 --   --   --   --
                   0                             0    1    2    3
                   1                             1    2    3    0
                   2                             2    3    0    1
                   3                             3    0    1    2
    
    if you have three partitions
         
                   0                             0    1    2
                   1                             1    2    0
                   2                             2    0    1
    
    if you have two partitions
                   0                             0    1
                   1                             1    0

    
     We use this method, because many will set up the hard disk to autoboot
     GEMDOS.  GEM autoboot requires partition 0;  leaving partitions
     1, 2, and 3.

     This is not ideal  --  because now the partition drive letters are not
     the same under both DOS and GEMDOS.

     But, you can use the ASSIGN command under DOS and other DOS utilities
     to rearrange drive letters provided to partitions.  (This is an
     advanced topic.  So, we leave investigating this alternative to
     advanced DOS users).  For most of us, we prefer to keep it simple
     and just keep a list of the partitions assigned GEMDOS versus DOS.

     NOTE:     Again, this only applies when you format a partition under DOS.
     If you do not format any partitions, then the drive letters will
     be the same under both systems.

8.   When using DOS and you do the first DIR on a hard disk letter, after
     the list of programs, the DOS will provide you with free space.
     This may take a few seconds, as the DOS will read areas on the
     disk to determine the remaining space left.  This will occur only
     on the first time.  Thereafter, DOS keeps up with the free space.

9.   We recommend using the BUFFERS=16 option in the CONFIG.SYS file on
     your DOS startup drive.  (See your DOS reference guide for details).
     This can speed up hard disk operations significantly.

10.  DOS utility CHKDSK will report "Probable non-DOS disk.  Continue
     (Y/N)" on hard disk partitions not formatted by DOS.  Answer, Y.
     They are correct, but this is normal, even for some IBM compatible
     add-on hard drives.

11.  Use caution, when installing some copy-protected software on a hard
     drive.  Some software uses all kinds of information about its
     location on the hard drive to see if it has been copied (by
     relocation).  Consequently, it will fail to work if your backup
     and restores do strange things to disk formats, partition sizes,
     and so on.  There are no hard and fast rules here.  Just use caution;
     the same applies to IBM and compatible hard drive users, anyway.

12.  pc-ditto has only been tested with a single SUPRA 3.5" 20MEG drive.
     We will test additional drives, as we can obtain them, or as you
     come across new controller/drive combinations.  Please call if
     you have problems.  (Thanks).

13.  If you format a partition, but do not install DOS on it, and then try
     to boot it, you will receive "Non-system disk" message.  Just press a
     key and start the DOS from a floppy.  See the information above, if
     you have formatted more than one partition with DOS FORMAT.

STARTING DOS FROM A HARD DISK

Once you have installed DOS on your hard disk, pc-ditto will boot it:

1.   First, pc-ditto will try to boot drive A:, just in case you wish to
     override the DOS on the Hard disk.

2.   If there is no floppy disk present, then booting from the hard disk is
     tried.

3.   Finally, if there is no bootable partition, pc-ditto will ask for a
     disk in drive A:, or you may ESCape back to GEMDOS.

     If you should leave a GEM disk in a drive, pc-ditto will report an error
     and ask you to insert a DOS disk or return to GEMDOS.

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED

PROBLEM:  Because IBM compatible 3.5" diskettes are double-sided, IBM
          compatible 3.5" software can not be used in an Atari single-sided
          drive (SF 354 or equivalent.)

          (This generally applies to Atari 520 ST owners; 1040 ST machines
          contain one built-in double-sided drive.)

SOLUTION: 1.  Purchase a double-sided 3.5" drive (recommended because this
              format is the wave of the future and single-sided will become
              more rare), OR

          2.  Copy your PC-DOS and IBM compatible programs to single-sided,
              3.5" disks. (NOTE:  some copy-protected software will not copy;
              thus you're left with solution #1 above).

              Generally, you may receive assistance with transfering your
              software to single-sided disks from local Atari user groups or
              your local Atari dealer.
PROBLEM:  Your software is on 3.5" single-sided disks.  You want to use it
          on an IBM compatible with double-sided 3.5" drives.

SOLUTION: 1.  Your disks may be read/written by any Atari ST with single-
              or double-sided 3.5" drives.

              For IBM and compatibles, with 3.5" drives, the disks are usable
              only in the 40-track format.
              This is done by using the FORMAT program, (under DOS 3.2 and
              above, do not use DRIVEPARM or DRIVER.SYS).  Single-sided disks
              formatted with 40 tracks contain approximately 180,000 characters
              (180K).  Double-sided disks formatted with 40 tracks contain
              approximately 360,000 characters (360K).

          2.  If you are not technically experienced and can not obtain
              technical assistance, we recommend you purchase a double-sided
              drive.  The cost of the drive will most likely be worth avoiding
              the technical frustrations you will encounter.

          3.  However, if you are technically experienced or fearless and
              brave, the following explains the procedure for creating a 3.5"
              disk readable by both the Atari ST and IBM compatible.

              A.  To format a 3.5" disk for single-sided, 40-
                    track operation under DOS using
    
                        FORMAT x:/1
    
                    where x is the letter of the drive
                    containing the 3.5" disk.
    
                    Then, use the disk as you would any other,
                    except for the much limited space.  This means
                    you may copy files to and from it, as well as
                    read and write it on an IBM or  compatible.
    
                B.  To format a 3.5" disk for double-sided, 40-
                    track operation under DOS using
    
                        FORMAT x:
    
                    where x is the letter of the drive
                    containing the 3.5" disk.
    
                    Then, use the disk as you would any other,
                    except for the much limited space.  This means
                    you may copy files to and from it, as well as
                    read and write it on an IBM or  compatible.
    
              
    
PROBLEM:  You have a 5.25" disk drive and a 3.5" disk drive attached to my
          Atari ST.  You have selected drive A:  to be the 3.5" drive.
          But, my copy-protected software on 5.25" disk does not start.

SOLUTION: Most copy-protected, 5.25" software expects to be started in
          drive A:.  This means that you must select the 5.25" drive as
          drive A:.
    
PROBLEM:  My software is on 5.25" diskettes and requires two drives (A: and
          B:), but my B: drive is a 3.5" drive.

SOLUTION: Copy the second 5.25" disk (normally in B: drive) to a blank 3.5"
          disk.  Then, use the first disk in the 5.25" drive and THE COPY
          of the second in the 3.5" drive.
          (The type of drive and size of media is generally tranparent to
          DOS and its programs).

PROBLEM:  You have a double-sided, 3.5" disk drive, but when you format the
          disk you only get 360K instead of 720K data space.

SOLUTION: 1.  For DOS versions below 3.2, you should use the PC-DFMT
              program on your master pc-ditto disk.  See your pc-ditto manual
              for copying the PC-DFMT program to an IBM format disk, if you
              have not already done so.

              The menu option tracks per disk should be set to 80 and the sides
              per disk set to 2.  This will provide 720K usable space.  (For
              your DOS to access this special disk, you must use the PC-
              DDRVR.SYS file, also (as described in your pc-ditto user manual).

          2.  For DOS versions 3.2 and higher, you may use the DOS
              utilities FORMAT and DRIVER.SYS, (both described in your DOS
              reference guide).  Or, you may continue to use the utilities
              mentioned in 1. above.
    
              Because many people have experienced problems using DOS 3.2 and
              3.3 to create 720K disks, the following is an example of
              procedures we use when starting with a master DOS diskette:
    
    
    STEP                WHAT YOU TYPE                 REASON
    
    1. Boot new DOS                                   We must be operating
    3.2 or 3.3                                        under the correct
                                                      DOS when using its
                                                      FORMAT and DISKCOPY
                                                      utilities.
    
    2. Format a         FORMAT x:/S                   Replace x
    blank diskette                                    with A or B (whichever is
    a double-sided.                                   3.5" drive).
    
    3. Copy the files   Copy FORMAT:COM B:            You will need
    FORMAT.COM and      Copy DRIVER:SYS B:            these files to
    DRIVER.SYS to the                                 to format the
    newly formatted                                   720K Disk later
    disk in drive X:                                       
    
    4. Create CONFIG.   Copy CON:  CONFIG.SYS
    SYS file on the     DEVICE=DRIVER.SYS/D:0
    newly formatted     DEVICE=DRIVER.SYS/D:0
    disk in drive X:    {Press F6 key} {Press RETURN}
                   
    5. Tell pc-ditto    (use pc-dmenu; see            You must use this
    drive A: is to      your user manual              newly formatted
    be the 3.5" disk    for more information)         disk to use the
    in drive x:                                       new file, CONFIG.SYS
    
    6. Reboot computer
    using newly formatted
    disk containing DOS
    
    You will get messages                             This means drive C:
    "Loading External                                 and D: refer to
    Disk for Drive C"                                 720K disks, explicitly
    "Loading External
    Disk for Drive D"                                 Drive C: and A: are
                                                      the same drive. Drive
                                                      D: and B: are the same.
                                                      C: and D: are just
                                                      used in FORMAT and
                                                      diskcopy for creating
                                                      or copying 720K disks.
                                                      A: & B: may contain
                                                      any format disk, but
                                                      may only Format/Copy
                                                      disks under 720K
                                                      (320K or 36K or 180K
                                                      or 160K).
    
    7. To format a           For Example:
    720K diskette,           FORMAT C:/S
    specifying drive
    C: or D:
    
    8. Create a CONFIG.      Now you have
    SYS on that disk         a 720K, bootable
    (see step 4 above)       DOS diskette
    
    To Disk-copy 720K disk to another 720K disk using double-sided diskettes
    
    1. DISKCOPY C: C:                                      1. This copies a
            or                                             3.5" diskette
    2. DISKCOPY C: D:                                      to another 3.5"
                                                           diskette using
                                                           the same disk
                                                           drive.
    
                                                           2. This copies a
                                                           3.5" diskette
                                                           to another 3.5"
                                                           diskette using
                                                           two disk drives.
    
    
PROBLEM:  You have on 3.5" drive and one 5.25" drive connected to your ST.
          Your software requests the disk in the 5.25" drive be placed in
          the 3.5" drive.

SOLUTION: This problem is most often encountered when installing a software
          program (i.e. customizing a package for user's taste).  The
          software master disk is in one drive, then moved to another for
          installation.

          1. In the PC-DMenu, select B: drive as (none) and A: drive as the
             drive you will use for installation. Then restart pc-ditto.  DOS
             will have only one drive, and will request that you swap disks in
             and out of the single drive.
                                            OR
          2. Because of the technical complexities and changes in new
             versions of software, contact your local Atari user group or
             dealer for assistance.

PROBLEM:  Copying files to/from IBM disk to Atari disk on the Atari ST

SOLUTION: The Atari GEMDOS can read and write almost any format of MSDOS
          disk used on an IBM PC or compatible.

          Also, files may be copied to/from IBM/compatible disks on the
          Atari.

          These facts are obscure, as they are not heavily promoted by
          Atari Corporation.

          CAUTION:  Atari disks created/formated by the GEMDOS, however,
          can not always be read by PC/MS-DOS (even versions 3.2 or
          higher).  This brings us to the next problem and solution.

PROBLEM:  I tried to read a GEMDOS disk using DOS.  I tried this on the
          Atari using pc-ditto, and on an IBM compatible.  But, the disk
          appears to not be readable.

SOLUTION: The GEMDOS format is almost compatible with the DOS version 3.2
          720K 3.5" format, but not quite.

          1.  You may use our device driver, pc_ddrvr.sys, to read and
              write your GEMDOS disks under DOS;

                             OR

          2.  You may copy them to a disk which was formatted by PC/MSDOS.
              This may be done on either an IBM/Compatible, or by using pc-
              ditto on the ST.    Then, use that disk on your PC/compatible.

          NOTE:     Any files may be copied, except for copy-protected programs,
              but the most common use is to transfer a text file between the
              two computers.

PROBLEM:  I have a second 5.25" drive connected to my Atari ST.  But, when
          I try to use it, no disk I try will read properly using GEMDOS.

SOLUTION: There are several technical reasons why your drive may not
          respond when using GEMDOS.

          First, if you can use the drive with pc-ditto, then electrically
          your connection is probably sound.  Therefore, you may need to
          tell GEMDOS about the drive speed.  One program we have found
          success with is SIXMS.PRG, a public domain product, available on
          many public domain bullentin board systems.  Use of this program
          permits you to read and write 5.25" diskettes.

          Second, if you can not use the drive with pc-ditto, then it most
          likely is connected incorrectly.  In that case, you may need to
          seek help from your local dealer, the company who sold the drive,
          or even a local Atari ST user group.

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ST / Amiga Format · March, 1989Rating: 3/5