Detecting Drive Types

Article View: comp.os.msdos.programmer

Article #8064

Back to comp.os.msdos.programmer Previous Next

#8064

From: Tom Vosseler
Date: Sat, 01 Dec 1990 23:25

27 lines
2146 bytes

I was wondering if anyone knew how to accurately detect disk drives
and other equipment in various types of PCs.  I have tried everything
from C Express to assembly language programs and calling interrupts.  
Nothing has given me accurate results with differing machine
configurations.  Machines with a CMOS are not a problem but 8088/86
machines don't seem to have any way of detecting what type of disk
drive is attached without a disk in the drive.  And PS/2s have their
own quirks.

I know it can be done because Norton Utilities does it.  Norton even
does it without accessing the drive.

I would really appreciate it if someone could send me the C code for
finding out such machine information.  Assembly language code would be
good too but I would rather have the C code.

Thanx...

/---------------------------------------------------------------------------\
> Tom Vosseler                  ! Without a song, a man ain't got a friend  <
> Site/Network Manager          ! Without a song, the day would never end   <
> Microcomputer Resource Center ! Without, without a song the world would   <
> Rutgers University            !     never bend.  Without a song.          <
> VOSSELER@ZODIAC.RUTGERS.EDU   ! So I keep sing'n the songs      -EP [TCB] <
\---------------------------------------------------------------------------/

Technical Details

Message-ID: <Dec.1.18.25.58.1990.971@newport.rutgers.edu>

Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!gmdzi!unido!mcsun!uunet!uvaarpa!mcnc!rutgers!elbereth.rutgers.edu!newport.rutgers.edu!vosseler

Show Full Headers

Complete Article Headers

X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit
X-Google-Thread: 10f6aa,f31d4cd48d1063e7,start
X-Google-Attributes: gid10f6aa,public
X-Google-Thread: fe659,f31d4cd48d1063e7,start
X-Google-Attributes: gidfe659,public
X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1990-12-02 09:52:45 PST
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!gmdzi!unido!mcsun!uunet!uvaarpa!mcnc!rutgers!elbereth.rutgers.edu!newport.rutgers.edu!vosseler
From: vosseler@newport.rutgers.edu (Tom Vosseler)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer,bit.listserv.novell
Subject: Detecting Drive Types
Keywords: disk drive types formats configuration cmos
Message-ID: <Dec.1.18.25.58.1990.971@newport.rutgers.edu>
Date: 1 Dec 90 23:25:58 GMT
Followup-To: alt.msdos.programmer
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 27
Posted: Sun Dec  2 00:25:58 1990