🚀 go-pugleaf

dave@maths.newcastle.edu.au (David M. Williams) wrote: 
>Hello all! 
>  My father recently bought a second-hand NEC 386DX PowerMate.  I have some 
>questions about using it, and increasing the speed of DOS and Windows. 
> 
>[1]  Firstly, the PC came with a 5 1/4" drive as A: and a 3 1/2" drive as   
B:. 
>     My father opened the case and swapped the plugs around and now a   
command 
>     such as DIR A: accesses the 3 1/2" drive as desired.  However, all   
sorts 
>     of programs (such as MSD) still believe the drives to be configured as 
>     before.  My understanding is that we need to get into the BIOS setup 
>     menu to tell the computer the new drive configuration.  Unfortunately   
we 
>     have no idea what keys to press to get into the BIOS setup!  I have   
tried 
>     DEL, CTRL/ALT/S and all sorts of things.  Does anyone know? 
 
We had an NEC 286 that needed software to set the BIOS. I don't think 
I still have that program, but I have one for Phoenix and one for Award 
BIOS, which I'd be happy to e-mail you if you want to try them. 
 
> 
>[2]  Secondly, it is a 386DX which I understand to mean has a 32-bit bus.    
Will 
>     installing the WIN32S software give increased performance in Windows?   
 If 
>     not, what is the WIN32S stuff actually for? 
 
No. Win32S is a subset of 32-bit Windows NT. The only reason to use it is 
compatibility, i.e. if some software (like Mosaic) needs it. It still is 
not a full Win32, so the 32-bit Netscape won't run on it. 
 
>[3]  What about the 32-bit disk access under the Virtual Memory setting   
from 
>     the Control Panel?  What does that do?  Presently it is off.  Should   
we 
>     turn it on? 
 
Yes. This is a significant speed boost, provided your drive controller 
is compatible. If it isn't it will soon let you know and you'll have to 
turn it off again. 
 
> 
>[4]  What is DR. DOS 6.0 like, as well?  This is the OS that came with the 
>     computer.  I would really prefer to put DOS 6.22 on which I am   
familiar 
>     with, but if DR. DOS is better than that would be the wisest choice. 
>     However, it is frustrating trying to work out the equivalent DR. DOS 
>     commands for all the MS-DOS command which I am familiar with.  I have 
>     managed to work out DISKOPT is the same as DEFRAG and EDITOR is the   
same 
>     as EDIT, but what is the DR. DOS equivalent of MEMMAKER? 
 
It's a matter of taste. There is some benefit in staying with what you are 
thoroughly familiar with. 
 
>[5]  While on the subject, can I use, say, the DOS 6.2 upgrade if I were to 
>     put MS-DOS on, or do I need to use the MS-DOS 6.22 disks which come   
with 
>     new computers? 
 
Try the MS-DOS 6.2 upgrade. The differences between 6.22 and 6.2 have more 
to do with copyrights than user benefits. 
 
Regards                           ,~,_/\ 
                                 /      \ 
                Allen Browne    {        } 
        Perth, WA, Australia =>  *_,~~\_/ 
abrowne@odyssey.apana.org.au           v 

In article <3neumd$ptm@odyssey.apana.org.au> 
Allen Browne <abrowne@odyssey.apana.org.au> writes:

>dave@maths.newcastle.edu.au (David M. Williams) wrote: 
>>Hello all! 
>>  My father recently bought a second-hand NEC 386DX PowerMate.  I have some 
>>questions about using it, and increasing the speed of DOS and Windows. 

[stuff deleted]
 
>>[4]  What is DR. DOS 6.0 like, as well?  This is the OS that came with the 
>>     computer.  I would really prefer to put DOS 6.22 on which I am   
>>     familiar 
>>     with, but if DR. DOS is better than that would be the wisest choice. 
>>     However, it is frustrating trying to work out the equivalent DR. DOS 
>>     commands for all the MS-DOS command which I am familiar with.  I have 
>>     managed to work out DISKOPT is the same as DEFRAG and EDITOR is the   
>>     same as EDIT, but what is the DR. DOS equivalent of MEMMAKER? 
> 
>It's a matter of taste. There is some benefit in staying with what you are 
>thoroughly familiar with. 

If you type HELP or DOSBOOK this will give an excellent on-line help for 
DR-DOS 6.0.  Browsing through this may relieve some of your frustration
at "non-MS" commands.  DR-DOS doesn't have a memory optimiser like
MEMMAKER.  In that regard DR-DOS 6 is like MS-DOS 5.  You can optimise
memory use yourself, by reading through Dosbook about memory use and the
options for EMM386.EXE (and any DR-DOS utilities that you may be 
using).  Then use MEM/ap to see a most excellent list of programs loaded
in memory, and change your autoexec.bat and config.sys files to suit.

The choice of whether you keep DR-DOS 6 or get MS-DOS 6.22 is up to
you.  If you value the familiarity of MS-DOS then get it, but if you
keep DR-DOS 6, then rest assured that this is an excellent and 
perfectly adequate DOS.

If you want further information about DR-DOS 6, and configuring memory
then feel free to email.

Cheers

Andrew McLachlan  mclachla@tui.lincoln.ac.nz