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Conference 7.286::atarist

Title:Atari ST, TT, & Falcon
Notice:Please read note 1.0 and its replies before posting!
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Mon Apr 04 1988
Last Modified:Tue May 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1433
Total number of notes:10312

692.0. "RAMDISK INSTALLATION USING MWC" by MPGS::RADOFF () Thu Nov 30 1989 16:29

    I have recently into possession of Mark Williams C v3.0.  I have tried
    to setup the RAMDISK as per the instructions in the book and have not
    been successful.  My system has an autobooting hard disk.  I would like
    to install the RAMDISK and load it during autoboot.  I've tried doing
    this and only get uncertain results.  My last try cause the clock to
    foul up.  msh keeps telling me I have an illegal access to the RAMDISK. 
    Is there a foolproof method of installing the RAMDISK and editting the
    PROFILE so that it works and even a software unsophisticate like myself
    can make work?
    
    	Steve
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692.1Step by stepPRNSYS::LOMICKAJJeffrey A. LomickaFri Dec 01 1989 10:2344
>    Is there a foolproof method of installing the RAMDISK and editting the
>    PROFILE so that it works and even a software unsophisticate like myself
>    can make work?

No computer program is foolproof, because fools are so ingenious.

The MWC RAM disk trips up a lot of people, because it is so poorly documented.

In your case, since you autoboot your HARD DISK, you want to create a RAM
DISK that is NOT a boot disk.  Because it is easier to document command
line things in a NOTES file, I will give you command line instructions.  I
assume you want the RAM disk to be a 200K disk as drive letter F:

1. Put RDY.PRG and RDY.RSC in the top level C:\.

2. Run MSH.PRG.

3. To MSH, say the following, and observe the use of upper/lower case:
	cd c:\
	rdy BOOT=0 CMD=MAKE DISK=F SIZE=200 FILE="TEMP.PRG"
	temp
   The system will now reboot.

4. (This whole step is optional, but is a good idea.)  Use the desktop
"install drive" feature to create an icon for drive F:.  Do this by
selecting any other disk drive (it turns color), and select the
"install..." item from the ,"options" menu.  When the form comes up,
change the drive letter to F and the title to "RAM DISK", and be sure to
click on INSTALL (the default is CANCEL).  Save this new desktop.

5. Run MSH.PRG, and say:
	cd c:\
	mkdir F:\TMP
	rdy CMD=SAVE FILE="C:\AUTO\DISKF.PRG"

6. Using your favorite editor (Microemacs 3.10_J?), edit PROFILE, and find
the definition of TMPDIR.  Delete all the junk that tries to figure out if
you have a RAM disk or not, and just say:

	setenv TMPDIR=f:\tmp

You should be all set now.  Next time you power on your system, the ram
disk will automatically load.  Note that when the RAM disk loads, the
system will reboot, so your system may appear to boot twice.
692.2motor keeps spinning after ramdisk boot!MRSVAX::MISKINISMon Mar 05 1990 10:218
    I've noticed that when I reboot from a RAMDISK (MWC), drive A gets
    accessed for a brief moment (reading boot block?) then the light
    goes off, and everything comes up fine.
    
    BUT, the drive A floppy motor keeps spinning!  The light is off
    though...  Has anyone else seen this?
    
    _John_
692.3another tidbit...MRSVAX::MISKINISMon Mar 05 1990 10:232
    I forgot to mention that the problem goes away after I access
    A for the first time....
692.4PRNSYS::LOMICKAJJeffrey A. LomickaMon Mar 05 1990 12:533
Yep.  I've seen that.  It seems harmless, but it works better if you
keep a scratch floppy in the drive.

692.5OK, I guess I'll live with it!MRSVAX::MISKINISMon Mar 05 1990 13:053
    Great...  At least I know it's not a problem with my system...
    
    _John_
692.6MGOI02::FALKENSTEINTue Mar 06 1990 02:567
    
    
    I got the same after booting from HD but my LED stays on until first
    access of drive A. Seems not to be serious.
    
    Bernd