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  To:      999 (all members)             
  From:    K5B (David J.MacGraw)         
  Subject: 512 and DOS+                  
                                         
  Before launching into my own collection
  of tips and the like for enhancing the 
  performance of the 512, a cautionary   
  note based on experience! Some of them 
  involve editing files/sectors at byte  
  level; always try them first on floppy 
  backups, NOT your master copies on hard
  or work disc! They have been determined
  solely by trial and error on 3 systems 
  using Master 128's as host, DOS+ v2.1, 
  expanded memory (ES), twin 5{" floppies
  and a 20M Morley hard disk, \ for DOS, 
  \ for ADFS. They are offered in good   
  faith and will, I hope, inspire others 
  to experiment further and report their 
  results, problems etc. via 8BS.        
                                         
  Some improvement in booting-up and file
  access times can be obtained simply by 
  re-organising the files on your discs. 
                                         
  Deleting, copying and editing programs 
  causes files to become 'fragmented' and
  consecutive portions of programs can be
  physically placed anywhere on the disc.
  This increases loading time because the
  read/write head must jump about to find
  each file's next sequential section.   
                                         
  Booting from floppy unfortunately means
  using ADFS 640K disks (as the DOS isn't
  yet installed) which, as all access is 
  then routed via the ADFS, is not very  
  quick (33 seconds on my system).       
                                         
  TIP: Deleting 'LOGO.SYS' (the Digital  
  Research logo display) and shuffling up
  'DOSPLUS.SYS' and 'COMMAND.COM' to fill
  the gap speeds bootup slightly. Examine
  and run the accompanying 'NOLOGO' batch
  file on a 512 Disc 1 copy to try it.   
  BETTER TIP: Install the FastBoot swram 
  by Essential Software. This boots DOS+ 
  using an 800K disc in about 14 seconds.
  EVEN BETTER: Use a Winchester hard disk
  which, although still using the ADFS,  
  sets up DOS+ in under 10 seconds.      
                                         
  TIP: When using a 640K floppy, only use
  it for booting DOS+ (ie.only 6502.SYS, 
  DOSPLUS.SYS and COMMAND.COM are needed,
  in that order). Copy all the utilities 
  that you need (plus COMMAND.COM) from  
  the 640K boot disk to an 800K type as  
  this format is accessed the quickest.  
  If you need an AUTOEXEC.BAT file, put  
  that on the 800K disc as well and call 
  it AUTO.BAT (reasons to follow later). 
                                         
  TIP: For back ups (you do, don't you?) 
  always use blank 800K discs and create 
  the sub-directory structure first, then
  COPY the files into them starting with 
  those used most often (wildcards help).
  This process re-constitutes every file 
  onto contiguous areas of what is now a 
  new work disc, enhancing use next time.
                                         
  With hard disks, file fragmentation is 
  not so apparent; however, the above tip
  is still relevant for backing up and/or
  archiving and produces a speedier load 
  if files are copied back to a 'cleaned-
  out' drive. This necessitates deleting 
  everything except 6502.SYS, DOSPLUS.SYS
  and COMMAND.COM (which, in that order, 
  should be the first files on the drive)
  re-creating the directory structure and
  COPYing back all files, oft-used first.
  With large Winchesters this is a major 
  job but is worth doing occasionally and
  keeps each file in consecutive sections
  which helps if recovery is ever needed.
                                         
  Whilst the above is probably 'old-hat' 
  to most 512 users, it bears repetition 
  if only to remind us all of the basics.
                                         
  Having booted DOS+, the 512 environment
  can be 'primed' to automatically set up
  and run a program by using an AUTOEXEC 
  batch file. More on this next time with
  some byte-level editing suggestions to 
  enhance your 512.                      
                                         
  PS. Why not send in your DOS+ tips etc?
  8BS may well be the last vestige for us
  512 users to exchange our ideas.       
                                         
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