home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
World of A1200
/
World_Of_A1200.iso
/
programs
/
disk
/
misc
/
hdfixer
/
hdfixer.doc
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1995-02-27
|
23KB
|
753 lines
HDFixer V2.00 User's manual
HDFixer V2.00
Copyright © 1993 Peter-Iver Edert
All rights reserved
Release date January 11, 1993
- SHAREWARE -
Disclaimer
============
The author of this program is not responsible for any damages caused by using
this program.
HDFixer is a SHAREWARE program. After 10 days of testing please send in your
SHAREWARE-Registration and US $10 (or DM 10). In this way you also support
the SHAREWARE-system. One new version/revision will be automatically sent to
you by the author free of any charge. Other updates can be ordered from the
author at minimal costs.
HDFixer can be freely distributed (only the whole package) :
The program : 'HDFixer'
The help file : 'HDFixer.HELP'
The English documentation : 'HDFixer.DOC'
The German documentation : 'HDFixer.DOK'
provided the copyright notice is intact and NO commercial use is made with it
without the written permission of the author.
None of the files of the HDFixer V2.00 package may be modified. Crunching or
achiving is allowed only if none of the HDFixer V2.00 files will be modi-
fied by it.
The author reserves the right to make changes to the software or documenta-
tion without notice.
Send your SHAREWARE-Registration, bug reports and suggestions to :
Peter-Iver Edert
Moorweg 32
W-2000 Schenefeld
Germany
Note : Please state your name and address clearly in print because sometimes
they are nearly impossible to decipher.
What is it ?
==============
Using this program owners of an Amiga with a high density floppy disk drive
are able to use the 1.71 MB sized HD disks under Kickstart V37.175.
Some of the newer A3000's have high density floppy drives. If you own an
A3000 just test it. Insert a HD disk perhaps borrowed from a PC user and for-
mat it. If the CLI command 'Info' shows a disk capacity of about 1759K you
own a HD disk drive.
In the 37.175 version of Kickstart HD disks are not completely supported in
HD mode.
A use of both disk systems DD and HD is not possible without getting write
errors on the root block. If you want to change the disk system you have to
reboot the system.
This program patches the system during every change of the disk system so
that a normal use of both disk systems HD and DD is now possible under Kick-
start V37.175.
Note : It's a senseless operation to run HDFixer V2.00 (from here on referred
to as HDFixer) under Kickstart V3.xx because version 3.xx supports
from it's self HD disk.
This is version 2.00 of HDFixer. This version is an update to version 1.12.
HDFixer V1.00, V1.10, V1.12 and V2.00 are 100% written in Assembler.
Chapter 1 Introducing HDFixer V2.00
===================================
HDFixer is a very system friendly patch program, it is fast and tries to be
as user friendly as possible.
1.1 System requirements
HDFixer should run on any Amiga system with at least 512K RAM. HDFixer re-
quires Kickstart V37.175 (see about requester of the Workbench).
Should you have any trouble running HDFixer on your machine, please write
to me with the full specifications of your machine, that is Kickstart ver-
sion, model, expansion boards etc.
1.2 About the program
If you have suggestions or remarks about this program, or if you find any
bugs, please let me know.
Note : You probably find some way to crash HDFixer that I have not tried
yet but I hope not.
When sending in bug reports, please state exactly under what circumstances
the bug occurred what equipment was used and what happened. If possible
also try to give me enough information to reproduce the bug. It is very
difficult to find bugs when you don't know exactly what happened.
1.3 Acknowledgments
- Olaf Ramcke for answering my questions on programming and for helping me
with the debugging
- Fred Fish for his AmigaLibDisks
- Commodore-Amiga for making one of the best computers money can buy
- and to all those who send in their SHAREWARE-Registration, bug reports
and suggestions !
The assembler source code occupies more than 210.000 bytes and consists of
more than 12500 lines.
Chapter 2 Getting Started
=========================
This chapter will explain how to install a complete working environment. You
should make a copy of the HDFixer package before starting to make changes. If
you are not familiar with copying a disk, see Commodore's introduction to
Amiga for informations.
2.1 Installing HDFixer on hard disk
To install HDFixer on hard disk simply copy HDFixer to a directory of your
choise. Please also copy 'HDFixer.PRF' and 'HDFixer.HELP' to the same or
the S: directory.
Note : The 'HDFixer.PRF' and 'HDFixer.HELP' files are not required to run
the program. HDFixer will display an error message but will continue
to run.
2.2 Starting HDFixer
HDFixer was written to be used by both beginners and experienced users.
HDFixer can be started from CLI or the Workbench.
2.2.1 Starting HDFixer from the CLI
To start HDFixer from the CLI simply type :
1> HDFixer
followed by a return. This loads the HDFixer program and starts it.
When you start HDFixer you can supply the same tool types within the com-
mand line (described in 2.2.3) as in the .info file.
Note : HDFixer does not detach itself from the CLI or Shell so you will
have to use Run or RunBack to prevent HDFixer from blocking the
environment of your CLI or Shell.
2.2.2 Starting HDFixer from the Workbench
Just double click on HDFixer's icon and HDFixer starts.
You can also drag HDFixer in the 'WBStartup' directory of your boot disk/
partition.
If you start HDFixer from Workbench you may enter some preferences into
the .info file which will be loaded on startup.
Note : Set the 'DONOTWAIT' tool type except from these discussed in 2.2.3
if you draged HDFixer in the WBStartup directory of your boot
disk/partition. This tool type will prevent the Workbench from
waiting until HDFixer quits.
If there is a problem so that HDFixer cannot be started e.g. if there is
not enough memory HDFixer reports the problem in a requester.
2.2.3 The tool types of HDFixer
HDFixer knows some tool types which can either be located within the
.info file or may be issued on the command line. The syntax should be of
the form of ToolType=Value. If you start the program from a command line
you can leave out the `=' and replace it by a blank.
The supported tool types :
PUBNAME=s This tool type specifies the public screen on which
HDFixer will open it's windows. Using 'DEFAULT' the de-
fault public screen (most the one of the Workbench) will
be used.
Default : DEFAULT .
CX_PRIORITY=n Sets the priority for the program's section which con-
trols the hot keys.
Default : 0 .
CX_POPUP=YES|NO You can choose whether the main window should be opened
on start up or not.
Default : YES .
FONTSENSITIVE=YES|NO
If set to 'YES' HDFixer will use the default screen font
for it's windows otherwise the standard system font will
be used.
Default : YES .
TOOLPRI=n This one is used to set the priority for the program it-
self.
Default : 0 .
SETTINGS=s Using this tool type you can specify which preferences
file HDFixer should load on startup.
If you don't use this tool type HDFixer trys to open the
default preferences file called 'HDFixer.PRF' searching
for it in the actuall or the S: directory.
Default : S:HDFixer.PRF .
HELPFILE=s This specifys the help file which will be displayed by
pressing the help key in one of HDFixer's windows.
If you don't use this tool type HDFixer trys to open the
default help file called 'HDFixer.HELP' searching for it
in the actuall or the S: directory.
Default : S:HDFixer.HELP
PRINTTO=s You can select a different file or logical device to
print to.
Default : PRT: .
Chapter 3 The HDFixer window
============================
Let's start a guided tour of the window. The main window offers several gad-
gets and menus. Just click the appropriate gadget or select a menu item to
perform an action.
The HDFixer window can be popped to the front at any time by pressing the hot
key combination : left shift left command H.
You can toggle/alter almost every action HDFixer can perform from within this
window.
All gadgets of HDFixer do have an underscored char within their label. This
one's to be used to activate/use the gadget (e.g. E for enable HDFixer). So
every time you see a gadget with an underscored char, just press this char
and you will have the gadget selected.
Note : If HDFixer's window is unzoomed the key commands are disabled.
Alternatively there are menus bound to the following :
Project, Options, Report.
Almost every item of these menus does have a short cut attached to it which
is the same as for the gadgets they stand for. So you can even access items
by pressing the right command key + underscored char.
Chapter 4 Description of the main fuctions
==========================================
4.1 : Fix DFX:
This explicitly instructs HDFixer to fix drive DFX: if it exists. This is
usefull if 'AUTO Fix DFX:' is disabled and the disk system of the selected
drive had been changed.
4.2 : AUTO Fix DFX:
IF this gadget/menu is aktive HDFixer will automaticaly fix the drive when
the disk system changes.
Note : If you have four HD disks inserted in four drives it can take up to
12 sec. until HDFixer has fixed them.
4.3 : Load PREFS...
This loads saved settings questioning for the file name.
4.4 : Save PREFS
Saves the current settings.
4.5 : Save PREFS As...
Saves the current settings questioning for the file name.
Note : Save/Load PREFS saves/restores even any kind of settings such as
window positions, position and size of file requesters, the 'AUTO
Fix' settings of cause, the name of the report file and so on.
4.6 : Dynamic buffer
If this item is not checked HDFixer allocates 22528 bytes of memory as a
trackdisk buffer as long as terminated. But for DD's the buffer only needs
to be half as large. So using dynamic buffering HDFixer allocates the
needed memory dynamically when fixing a drive. When HDFixer fixed a drive
the allocated memory will be released.
4.7 : Enable
This enables the AUTO Fix functions of HDFixer.
4.8 : Disable
This disables HDFixer so that no drives will be automatically fixed even
when it's mode is set to AUTO Fix.
To enable HDFixer again select 'Enable' or choose the 'Enable' gadget of
'Exchange'.
4.9 : Hide
Selecting this action the main window of HDFixer will be hidden.
To pop it up again press the hot key combination or choose the 'Show' gad-
get of 'Exchange'.
Note : HDFixer fixes the drives even when it's window is hidden.
4.10 : Hide a moment
Selecting this the window of HDFixer hides for a moment.
Why do we have this feature ?
To change the screen mode of the Workbench all windows except drawers must
be closed. So if a requester as the following is displayed just select this
and press the 'Retry' gadget of the requester. The window will be hidden
for a moment and after the screen mode had changed it will be opened again.
+---------------------------------------+--+
|Intuition preferences |FB| Nice, eh ? :-)
+---------------------------------------+--+
| |
| To reset Workbench screen, |
| please close all windows, except drawers.|
| |
+------------------------------------------+
|+--------+ +--------+|
|| Retry | | Cancel ||
|+--------+ +--------+|
+------------------------------------------+
4.11 : Window ziped
This zooms/unzooms HDFixer's main window.
4.12 : Help...
This shows up the help window of HDFixer. You can also press the help key.
Use cursor keys, gadgets or menus to control the text display.
4.13 : About HDFixer...
Selecting about some information about HDFixer will be shown in a reques-
ter. Hit 'OK' to continue or 'Print registration card' to print a SHARE-
WARE Registration form.
Note : If you have to wait a long time (about 10 seconds) and nothing
happens, please check your printer is online. HDFixer will not be
able to report an error until the default time out period is passed
(usually 30 seconds) or until the user set the printer online.
4.14 : Quit...
This quits HDFixer.
Chapter 5 The report functions
==============================
A lot of people asked me to include a report function in HDFixer for easyer
handling of HDFixer in networks so I includes this function in HDFixer V2.00.
5.1 : Generate report
This instructs HDFixer to open the selected report file and to store any
kind of fixing action message in it.
5.2 : Report
With this cycle gadget you are able to specify what fixing messages
HDFixer should report in the report file.
5.2.1 : Everything
If this mode is selected HDFixer will write any fixing messages to the
report file if 'Generate report' is check.
5.2.2 : Only errors
Using this mode HDFixer will only report error messages.
5.3 : Report to
In this string gadget the name of the current report file is displayed and
can be changed to an other one.
Note : You can also alter a device name such as PRT:, in this case the fix-
ing message will be printed out.
5.4 : Get
Gives you the possibility to select a report file via a file requester.
5.5 : Report PREFS
This shows up a window in what you can specify which entrys HDFixer should
make in the report file.
5.5.1 : Generate Header
If active at the beginning of each report a short header like the follo-
wing will title your report :
HDFixer V2.00 Report file. Generated on Monday the 01-04-93 at 16:36:38
=========================================================================
5.5.2 : Use
5.5.2.1 : Drive name
This uses the drive name for the report entry.
5.5.2.2 : Disk name
In this mode HDFixer will use the name of the disk instead of the
drive.
5.5.3 : Report date
This places the actual date in front of the report entry.
5.5.4 : Report time
This places the actual time in front of the report entry.
5.5.5 : American date
Using this you can choose between the European and the American date for-
mat.
5.5.6 : Hide
Closes the 'ReportPREFS' window.
5.6 : Overwrite old report
If checked the report file will be overwritten after every restart of
HDFixer, otherwise the report messages will be joined to the already
existing file.
When the HDFixer window isn't hidden HDFixer reports its actions as a text
in the title bar of the window. Fixing e.g. a DD Disk in drive DF0: HDFixer
reports :
'Fixing drive DF0: to DD'.
5.7 : Pop up fixing error requesters
If checked a requester will be poped up on the front screen which informs
you that HDFixer isn't able to fix the drive into DD or HD mode.
5.8 : Display beep
This is another possibility to get to know that something went wrong during
the fixing process is a system beep. To use this feature check this item.
Chapter 5 Hints tips and tricks
================================
Don't check the items of DD drives, because fixing DD drives is not necessa-
ry.
If your Amiga is low on memory use the dynamic buffering.
Fixing your grandma's Turbo Toaster (TM) is not necessary at all, because it
toasts allmost every disk format. Ever eat a MS-Toast formated disk 8^) ?
Appendix a glossary
===================
A
Amiga
Spanish: female friend
AmigaDOS
The disk operating system (DOS) is used by Amiga computers.
application gadget
A graphics image that appears within a program which can be manipulated
with the mouse to perform a certain function.
assembler
A programming language
B
boot
The startup process for a computer. It comes from the expression
"pulling yourself up by the bootstraps."
bug
A mistake in a program
C
check box
A gadget used to let a user turn an option on or off. When a check mark
appears in the box, the selection is considered to be "on."
CLI (Command Line Interface)
A means of communicating with the Amiga by issuing commands from the key-
board.
click
To press and release a mouse button
close gadget
A system gadget used to close windows. It appears in the upper left cor-
ner of the window.
cycle gadget
An application gadget that allows the user to select one of several op-
tions. One option is displayed at a time and, as the gadget is selected,
the other options become visible. The displayed option is the selected
option.
D
default
Initial setting, that will be used if nothing else is supplied.
device
A physical mechanism, such as a disk drive, used as a source or destina-
tion for information.
directory
A subdivision in a computer's filing system. Directories are represented
on the Workbench as drawer icons.
disk
A medium for storage of computer data.
double click
To press and release the mouse's selection button twice.
drawer
See 'directory'
drive name
The name assigned to a floppy disk drive or hard disk such as Work:,
WB2.x: or DF0:. It is the same as the device name.
F
FastFileSystem (FFS)
An enhanced Amiga file system usable with both floppy and hard disk. A
volume is formatted as either FFS or OldFileSystem (OFS). The advantages
of FFS are increased storage capacity and faster access of files.
file
A collection of data
filename
The name by which a program or a data file is known to the Amiga when you
want to access it on disk or hard disk.
G
gadget
Any graphics image that can be found in a window or on a screen and
which can be manipulated with the mouse to perform a certain function.
H
hot key
A special key or key combination that triggers a certain action.
I
icon
An image appearing on the screen to represent a disk, drawer, project or
tool. Icons can be moved and selected with the mouse to allow you to work
with the items they represent.
K
K
Kilobyte. 1024 bytes.
Kickstart
Software that is read from disk and used to boot the Amiga. Also refers
to the portion of the OS that is in ROM. HDFixer requires version 2.04 of
the Kickstart.
L
library
A related set of functions that can be shared by various programs.
HDFixer uses for example the asl.library to display a file requester.
M
menu
A list of on screen options, displayed by using the menu button, from
which users can choose commands that control a program.
menu button
The right mouse button
menu item
An option that appears in a menu
O
OldFileSystem (OFS)
The file system used by pre-2.0 AmigaDOS.
R
RAM
Random Access Memory. Part of the Amiga's internal memory that can be
used for data storage and is directly accessible by the CPU. Data in RAM
is lost when the Amiga is rebooted or powered off.
reboot
To reset the Amiga by pressing the keys Ctrl, left and right command
simultaneously. Also called a warm boot.
requester
A window that allows the user to control options, access files or confirm
actions.
root directory
The main directory of a volume. All other directories are created in the
root. The word comes from the analogy between the structure of the file
system and the shape of a tree.
S
selection button
The left mouse button.
subdirectory
A directory within another directory
T
Tool types
A method for passing arguments from the Workbench to a program. HDFixer
uses the tool types to store the user preferences.
V
volume
A floppy disk or a hard disk partition
volume name
The name given to a disk or partition
W
Workbench
The Amiga's icon-based GUI.
write-enable
To allow information to be written onto a disk.
write-protect
To prevent information from being written onto a disk.
11 January 1993, Peter-Iver Edert