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Article View: comp.sys.dec.micro
Article #1171

MS-DOS v3.10

#1171
From: Fred Einstein
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1987 00:29
44 lines
2650 bytes
	I am the author of MS-DOS v3.10 for the Rainbow.  I would like to 
warn people about certain problems with bootlegged copies of this software.
The software was essentially complete when I left DEC two years ago.  The
added features of v3.10 were the following:

-- PrtScr Key support (DO NOT USE PRTSCR.COM with MS-DOS v3.10 -- I wrote 
                       that utility as well).  By pressing CTRL/SHIFT/PrtScr,
		       the current alphanumeric screen will be printed.

-- An FDISK utility which allowed you to partition your hard disk in one
   megabyte increments.  It had support for disks of up to 67 megabytes.

-- Improved DISKCOPY & FORMAT utilities which would format diskettes and
   hard disks more reliably.  The DISKCOPY would also format a diskette 
   while copying

-- Support for hard disk partition sizes of up to 32 megabytes.  The previous
   limit was 8 megabytes per partition.

	I advise against using bootleg copies of this operating system.  The
only reliable copies are the ones that say:

MS-DOS v3.10

upon bootup.  If your copy says:

MS-DOS v3.10.0xx  (where xx is some number)
Preliminary!!! For Internal Use Only!

You will very likely run into a problem with hard disk reads which may 
compromise your data, especially with a V20 installed.  
	I don't believe that DEC will ever release v3.10.  It was never 
even a project at DEC.  I did it after hours just to increase my own 
knowledge of MS-DOS internals.   I cannot supply copies of v3.10.  It is
copyrighted by DEC.  I believe that MS-DOS v3.10 could have supplied a lot
of added utility to the Rainbow.  The disk partition size limitation alone
crippled the Rainbow under v2.11.  It would be nice if DECUS would release
it as an unsupported product.  It is not in DEC's best interest to do so
however since Microsoft would still need to be paid a licensing fee for
it.  If you are lucky enough to find the final version of v3.10 (the one
without the PRELIMINARY!!! stuff in the bootup message), than I believe
that you'll find it quite useful.  Again, I advise against using any version
that has a PRELIMINARY!! message.
Technical Details
Message-ID: <888@microsoft.UUCP>
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!microsoft!fredei

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Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!microsoft!fredei
From: fredei@microsoft.UUCP (Fred Einstein)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec.micro
Subject: MS-DOS v3.10
Message-ID: <888@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 24-Oct-87 19:29:37 EST
Article-I.D.: microsof.888
Posted: Sat Oct 24 19:29:37 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 26-Oct-87 05:52:45 EST
Organization: Microsoft, Inc., Redmond, Washington
Lines: 44
Keywords: Rainbow MS-DOS