EASIER THAN AUTOMAKE?
Dear PAGE 6,
While browsing through the September/October issue of
PAGE 6, I was surprised to see your AUTOMAKE program for disks. I
agree that it is a lot easier than typing RUN "D:filename" but I
have found a much easier way, using DOS 2.5. First insert the DOS
master disk and boot it up, when the DOS menu appears select 'L' to
load a binary file. When the prompt appears, type SETUP.COM and
press return. The drive will then load and run the program. A menu
will appear, select option '3' SETUP AUTORUN FOR BOOT. Another menu
will then appear, select option '2'. It will then ask you the name
of the file you wish to Autorun. Type in the filename, for example
D:PAGE then insert the disk that you want the Autorun on, (Remember
it must have the program on e.g. PAGE), press return and it will now
create the AUTORUN SYS file. To re-load switch off the computer and
switch on again, it will now autorun your file
Michael Jaques,
Manchester
We are aware of the use of SETUP.COM but a lot of
users do not have a full copy of DOS 2.5 which includes this utility
and are you sure it's easier than using AUTOMAKE? It seems to us
that typing RUN "D:AUTOMAKE" and then typing in your filename is
easier for beginners than having to remember about Binary loads and
such like.
OH NO! NOT DOS 4!
Dear PAGE 6
Help! I am one of those unfortunates that upgraded to
DOS 4 and have since discovered that I would be far better off with
DOS 2.5. Can anyone suggest a way of converting my files from DOS 4
to DOS 2.5? I don't own a cassette unit so I can't make the
transition via tape. Please help!
Andrew J. Yates
Oswestry
And we thought everyone had started out with a
tape deck! Sorry, but the only simple way of doing the conversion
that we know of would be by means of CSAVEing the files and then
CLOADing them into the DOS 2.5 format. Unless some other reader in
the same situation has written a conversion program?
GAUNTLET BUGS!
Dear PAGE 6,
Like John Davison in his review in Issue 29, I have
had similar problems when loading Disk 2 and when selecting a
character.
The Dungeon disk appears to be heavily copy
protected, and remembering an article on copy protection using
non-standard sectors which indicates that some drives have problems
reading these sectors, I reconfigured my drives to make the newer
one Drive A. On re-booting, the dungeons loaded perfectly and there
have been no problems with crashing when selecting a character. I
also tried sending one character to Exit 4 and the other at Exit 8.
There was no crash and the character at '8' waited patiently for the
other to join him the long way.
The problems with crashing could therefore be related
to the method of copyright protection used, a slightly below
standard drive having trouble reading these non-standard sectors.
M.S. Silvester
Aldershot.
COPYING FASTER
Dear Sir,
I bought Vol.2 No.2 of the FASTER disk magazine at
the PCW Show. Can the games and utilities be put onto another disk
and if so how?
P.T. Whitley
Southampton
You may copy any of the FASTER disks, so long as
it is for personal back up only, otherwise you will be in breach of
copyright. Assuming that you have a single drive system, click and
hold the left mouse button on the application you are going
to copy, then drag it over on to the B: disk drive icon. From there
follow the on screen prompts. It is quite simple but your must
ensure that any associated files such as Resource files (with the
extender .RSC ) are also copied.
GOOD ADVICE!
Dear PAGE 6,
I would like to offer some advice to
people having trouble with mail order companies. When writing to
these companies, have the letter sent by recorded delivery. It costs
around 40p for first class, but the company in question can't tell
you it's been lost in the post. If this brings no joy, contact your
local trading standards officer or consumer protection department.
They should be able to make things move. Also keep a copy of any
correspondence that is sent or received.
S.A. Collett
Kings Norton, Birmingham.
ASTRONOMERS UP IN ARMS!
Dear PAGE 6,
Why does there not seem to be any Atari astronomical
software on the market? B.B.C., Crummydore and Spectrash have this
type of software currently available but Atari seem to have omitted
the possibility that people using an Atari have need of astronomical
programs.
I cannot believe that Atari have neglected us amateur
astronomers since Atari is big in the U.S.A and astronomy is a very
popular pastime across the Atlantic.
I would be grateful for any help regarding the above.
Lynne Lancaster
Secretary
Blackpool & District Astronomical Society
Several programs, although not commercial, come to mind. For the
ST there is SKY MAP from the public domain. For the 8-bit there is
Observational Astronomy from ANALOG's issue 13 or Skyscape from
COMPUTE!, Issue 66. You might be able to get these back issues
through the Contact column. Atari themselves have an astronomy
program for the 8-bit although it seems to have only been released
in the States. You could try a retailer such as Ladbroke Computing
of Preston who specialise in importing software from the U.S.A.
Maybe some of our American readers could suggest other programs?
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