
                  OS/2 Hardware Issues             (Fidonet)

                 Saturday, 04-Dec-1999 to Friday, 10-Dec-1999

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From: George White                                      02-Dec-99 23:36:00
  To: Rob Basler                                        04-Dec-99 06:00:04
Subj: Speed up printing?

Hi Rob,

On 30-Nov-99, Rob Basler wrote to Gregory Urban:


 RB>> I've been using a Lexmark 5700 with Warp 4.  I installed the to
 RB>> a crawl. in3.x drivers for use by WinOS2.  The combination has
 RB>> been working quite well except for one thing:  speed. Anyone
 RB>> know how to speed up printing?  What is particularly frustrating
 RB>> is when printing under WinOS2, CPU usage goes through the roof
 RB>> and everything slows to a crawl.

 RB> If it is slow after it is spooled, add an /IRQ parameter to your
 RB> PRINT01.SYS line in CONFIG.SYS, on my dual celeron, printing
 RB> brings things to a crawl without the IRQ parameter.  In Windows,
 RB> turn off print directly to port, make sure it is set to print to
 RB> LPT1 not LPT1.OS2. Things that make printing (before it goes to

With the LexMark 5700 (and 7000 and 7200) you _must_ print to LPTx.OS2
(as per the WINOS2 driver installation readme) as the fact that it is
a "Winprinter" means that the rasterising has to be carried out and
that is done by the OS/2 driver.

 RB> the spooler) take a lot of CPU are the dithering options (magic
 RB> square is fastest but diffusion is prettiest) your driver may
 RB> not have settings for dithering. On my Canon bubblejet, the
 RB> newer OMNI drivers are much slower than the older (Warp 3) ones,
 RB> I doubt this is your problem, but it is something to look at.

The OMNI drivers are definitely a "red herring" as the LexMark
_requires_ the use of it's dedicated driver to do the rasterising
(which is why it takes so much CPU :-( ).


George

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From: Jonathan de Boyne Pollard                         02-Dec-99 11:37:23
  To: Ian Moote                                         04-Dec-99 06:00:04
Subj: Clocked!

 JP>> Of course, this is a textbook case of a software bodge to work
 JP>> around a bad (or at least exceedingly shortsighted) piece of
 JP>> hardware design.

 IM> Yes, I agree. And I've heard that criticism of the AT's RTC before. 

The irony is that the software bodge has relieved the hardware manufacturers
from the responsibility of providing better hardware.  Very few hardware
manufacturers have produced "PC-compatible" RTCs with proper century
registers, which is, of course, the correct way to solve the problem.

Some have, though.

According to its data sheet (which is, alas, short on details), the AMD 645
peripheral bus controller, which is one of those all-in-one "South Bridge"
chips, implements a proper century register at location 0x7F in NVRAM.  

If AMD were simply saying that "by convention, the century byte is stored
here", one would expect it not to be at location 0x7F, but at one of the
locations (such as 0x32) where the century byte *is* conventionally stored. 
The implication, since the address is not one of the conventional ones, and
since this byte *isn't* described as a "software definable" area of storage
like the rest of NVRAM is, but is described like all of the other RTC
registers are described with acceptable binary and BCD ranges, is that this is 
a proper clock register that is updated in hardware when the year register
wraps around, rather than just an ordinary area of NVRAM storage.  

Unfortunately, the data sheet simply refers one to "several industry
publications" for details of RTC and NVRAM operations, rather than providing
explicit functional descriptions of the registers.

One could always ask AMD directly for confirmation of what the 645 data sheet
implies, I suppose.

  JdeBP 

--- FleetStreet 1.22 NR
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From: Jonathan de Boyne Pollard                         02-Dec-99 11:38:27
  To: Ian Moote                                         04-Dec-99 06:00:04
Subj: Clocked!

 JdBP> According to its data sheet (which is, alas, short on details), the
 JdBP> AMD 645 peripheral bus controller, which is one of those all-in-one
 JdBP> "South Bridge" chips, implements a proper century register at location
 JdBP> 0x7F in NVRAM.  

And according to http://www.firmware.com/support/bios/year2000.htm:

        > It is possible to upgrade the clock chip in many PCs to a Y2K 
        > compliant chip. Dallas makes a chip called the 12C887, which can 
        > be used to replace 12887 and 12887A and compatible chips and in 
        > most cases can replace the 1287 and 1287A chips. This was released 
        > in December of 1997 and can be obtained through a company called 
        > Resource 800. A URL for their web site appears below. Their phone
        > number is 800-430-7030.

  JdeBP 

--- FleetStreet 1.22 NR
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From: Jonathan de Boyne Pollard                         02-Dec-99 17:52:02
  To: Ian Moote                                         04-Dec-99 06:00:04
Subj: Clocked!

 IM> Very, very sad. DOS is good until 2099. 

If you discount those portions of DOS written in the C language, which will
break in 2038; and if you discount the fact that most modern BIOSes will
implement the same windowing fix as the OS/2 CLOCK01.SYS device driver does,
meaning that the year 2079 limitation will be applied before DOS even gets a
look-in.

 IM> The RTC/CMOS itself is good up to the year 9999. 

I disagree.  Since the RTC doesn't have a century register, the RTC is really
only "good" up until the year 99.  If it doesn't properly increment a century
register when the year number wraps from 99 to 00, because it doesn't *have*
one, that doesn't qualify as "good" in my book.

It's also worth noting that there isn't a standard place for the byte holding
the century.  Because of this, the APCI standard, for example, provides a
mechanism by which BIOSes can tell operating systems where the century byte is 
actually located in NVRAM.

 IM> Too bad that IBM felt that they had to break that.

IBM *didn't* break it, though.  The RTC design was already broken, inasmuch as 
it wasn't suitable for use as the RTC chip in a personal computer design that
was to last for at least two decades.  IBM didn't break the RTC design at all. 
 It was an off the shelf part that was already designed that way.  IBM *could* 
have picked another chip, from some other manufacturer, which *did* have a
century register.  Indeed IBM, being IBM, could have manufactured such a chip
itself if no such chip were available from a third party.  IBM didn't break
anything.  The design was already broken, in that it *wasn't* good up until
the year 9999, but only up until the year 99.  What IBM did was to choose
poorly.

  JdeBP 

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From: Holger Granholm                                   03-Dec-99 21:10:00
  To: Andy Roberts                                      04-Dec-99 07:45:13
Subj: TVFS

In a message dated 12-01-99, Andy Roberts said to Holger Granholm:

Hi Andy,

 HG> If you find it please let me know where. I could at some time want
 HG> to use it.

AR>Look on that CD you got from me:

Yeah, I must learn to look at home first <BG>. I have never before
become such a big assortment of programs as on that CD.

I know pretty well what I have on the HD's but until I have made DIR
files for the BBS from the CD it's easy to overlook what's there.

One thing I noted on the CD was an USB program that wasn't usable for
my new (still uninstalled) motherboard, an ASUS P5A-B with ALI BIOS.

Maybe I threw my money down the drain when I bought that. I may have to
buy a Chaintech, TMC or Tyan instead. I was in a bit of a hurry when I
saw that most of the new mainboards are dropping ISA expansion support
and I need to have at least 2, preferably 3 ISA sockets.

The modems don't get faster in a PCI card nor does the sound card
require PCI.

Have a nice day,

Holger

___
 * MR/2 2.26 * The problem with troubleshooting is that it shoots back.



--- PCBoard (R) v15.22 (OS/2) 2
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From: Andy Roberts                                      04-Dec-99 07:39:03
  To: August Abolins                                    04-Dec-99 20:37:02
Subj: Speed up printing?

 August Abolins,

03-Dec-99 18:08:04, August Abolins wrote to Andy Roberts
          Subject: Speed up printing?

  >> I've been using a Lexmark 5700 with Warp 4.

 AR>> ...Lexmark false advertising of 4PPM that we called Lexmark T/S,
 AR>> and were told the advertised rate could be achieved with their
 AR>> test conditions. ... That left me to assume their "marketing"
 AR>> test conditions probably consisted of a single line of text.

 AA> "single line of text" is probably quite right!  <g>

 AA> It's so discouraging to hear that you're having problems with the
 AA> Lexmark.  I was going to opt for the Z31 or the Z51 model in the
 AA> very near future.  I specifically want to stick with Lexmark if
 AA> only for the waterproof ink.  And.. there are about 3 other people
 AA> I know (who live close) who have Lexmarks too (although they
 AA> primarily use them on Win95 machines).  The idea was to buy our
 AA> same-model cartridges in bulk to save money

I'll NEVER buy another Lexmark.  It is unfortunate that their company is run
by their marketing dept.  And their T/S dept is as full of BS as their
marketing dept is.  They have no intention of fixing their many bugs.  And I
have no intention of becoming more tolerant of BS.

There is a lesson to be learned from this.  Leave WinModems and WinPrinters
and any future WinJunk to the WinXX users.  Drivers, even if they can be
forced to work, can not compensate for the very poor quality and slow speed.

See this auction.

http://www.egghead.com/category/inv/00000272/02259126.htm
Epson Stylus Photo 700 Color Printer, Up to 1440 dpi

When I looked there last night, they were still going for about $60 US.  If
you don't get this msg before that particular auction closes Monday afternoon,
then do a search for Epson printers on that site.  This is at least the 3rd
group of these printers, that I have seen on auction in the last few weeks.

     Thanks and Good Luck,        Andy Roberts
                                  andy@shentel.net
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From: George White                                      03-Dec-99 08:17:23
  To: Gregory Urban                                     05-Dec-99 01:56:05
Subj: Speed up printing?

Hi Gregory,

On 01-Dec-99, Gregory Urban wrote to Jerry Nichols:

 GU>> printing?  What is particularly frustrating is when printing
 GU>> under WinOS2, CPU usage goes through the roof and everything
 GU>> slows to a crawl.

 JN>> Put a check mark for disabled in the Win-OS2 driver for LexMark
 JN>> 5700.

 GU> Huh?  The only printer driver for WinOS2 that I have installed is
 GU> for the 5700. I am unsure what you mean here...

I don't either, and I have a dual printer setup on this machine of HP
LJ4P on LPT1 & LexMark 7000 (brother to your 5700) on LPT2 (LPT2.OS2
under WINOS2).

 JN>> Make sure you have  "Fast Print direct to Port" checked in
 JN>> Control Panel & Connect options for printer.

 GU> This I do have.  Should I have it set for LPT1 or LPT1.OS2?

The readme that comes with the drivers for my 7000 says to use
LPTx.OS2.

 JN>> This page might help a little.
 JN>> http://members.xoom.com/OS2_Warp/lex.htm

 GU> I'll check it out.

Pity I havn't got Inet access or I'd go there too.

George

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From: Holger Granholm                                   04-Dec-99 20:01:00
  To: Eddy Thilleman                                    05-Dec-99 03:22:00
Subj: multi changer

In a message dated 12-01-99, Eddy Thilleman said to Jean-michel
Dossogne:

JD> from Wallonia mountains (Philippeville, 290m high :-))))

ET>wow! that sounds like the roof of the world!! ;-))))

Certainly for somebody living in Holland, <BG>.

Have a nice day,

Holger

___
 * MR/2 2.26 * Confession is good for the soul, but bad for your career.

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From: Gregory Urban                                     04-Dec-99 11:47:00
  To: Eddy Thilleman                                    05-Dec-99 06:43:20
Subj: Speed up printing?

Greetings Eddy,

 ET> have you assigned an IRQ to the printer driver? That should lower the
 ET> CPU usage and should slow down other process much less

Well, I tried that but it caused another problem.  I have a PCMCIA reader
installed on my desktop so that I can read flashcards.  Apparently the only
IRQ left available is 7 so the Warp PCMCIA services use that for the "hard
disk" function.  If I use the /IRQ switch for the print driver I lose access
to my flashcards <sigh>.

Later,
Greg
___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR]


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From: Dave Davidson                                     04-Dec-99 05:44:05
  To: All                                               05-Dec-99 06:43:20
Subj: Warp 4 & Video Problems....

Hello All!

I'm having a devil of a time getting the video to a usable point. My system
consists of; AMD K6/2-450 3DNow, 128MB PC-100 RAM, ATI 128 Rage w/16MB Video,
Packard Bell 15" SVGA Monitor. I have the latest RAGEPRO driver bit they won't
run on my system.

Following all the directions ie; changing the video to VGA then re-booting,
the Install program (OS2INST) doesn't run, so I can't even choose the proper
drivers for ths video card.

If I boot with Full Hardware detection (F5), OS/2 loads the Rage 28000 drivers
and the screen goes totally black, requiring another re-boot and re-set to
VGA. With VGA, pictures look "solarized", in otherwords, lousy!

The card work super in WIN9x, but not with OS/2.

Any suggestions?


Regards,

 Dave Davidson                             dad50@primary.net

... URA Redneck if: You think a hot tub is a stolen bathroom fixture.
--- OS/2 * AdeptXBBS * AllFIX * GoldED+
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From: Andy Roberts                                      04-Dec-99 13:35:07
  To: Holger Granholm                                   05-Dec-99 06:43:20
Subj: TVFS & USB

 Holger Granholm,

03-Dec-99 21:10:00, Holger Granholm wrote to Andy Roberts
 HG> In a message dated 12-01-99, Andy Roberts said to Holger Granholm:
          Subject: TVFS

 HG>> If you find it please let me know where. I could at some time
 HG>> want to use it.

 HG> AR>Look on that CD you got from me:

 HG> Yeah, I must learn to look at home first <BG>. I have never before
 HG> become such a big assortment of programs as on that CD.

Bit overwhelming to suddenly have about 1500 more OS/2 files. <g>

 HG> I know pretty well what I have on the HD's

Yep, I too keep a mental note as I add files to my HD.  But that's easy, since
I only get a few dozen new files at any 1 time.

 HG> but until I have made DIR files for the BBS from the CD it's easy to
 HG> overlook what's there.

That's ok, I'll just keep reminding you until you do. <LOL>

 HG> One thing I noted on the CD was an USB program that wasn't usable
 HG> for my new (still uninstalled) motherboard, an ASUS P5A-B with ALI
 HG> BIOS.

Humm...

 HG> Maybe I threw my money down the drain when I bought that. I may
 HG> have to buy a Chaintech, TMC or Tyan instead. I was in a bit of a
 HG> hurry when I saw that most of the new mainboards are dropping ISA
 HG> expansion support and I need to have at least 2, preferably 3 ISA
 HG> sockets.

I bought the ASUS P2BL for my sister-in-law's machine.  I haven't done
anything with it's built-in USB.  It does have 2 or 3 ISA slots.  My only
complaint with that MoBo is that there is something strange about it's ATX
power management, which the dealer and I tried to force to act like an AT.  It
apparently leaves the buss powered all the time, even with the power switch
off, since the AW37Pro always complains after a cold boot but never complains
after a warm re-boot.  I RTFM and can't find a fix.  I finally removed the
audio Mixer from the automatic startup, and made it a manual Icon to load.
 
 HG> The modems don't get faster in a PCI card nor does the sound card
 HG> require PCI.

Right.

But that has little to do with OEMs rushing to make existing HW obsolete so
they can sell more new HW to do the same old thing.

                 Thanks and Good Luck,        Andy Roberts
                                              andy@shentel.net
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From: Jerry Nichols                                     04-Dec-99 19:41:04
  To: Gregory Urban                                     05-Dec-99 10:34:09
Subj: Speed up printing?

Hi Gregory Urban,

01-Dec-99 11:00:00, Gregory Urban wrote to Jerry Nichols
          Subject: Speed up printing?

 GU>> printing?  What is particularly frustrating is when printing under
 GU>> WinOS2, CPU usage goes through the roof and everything slows
 GU>> to a crawl.

 Well I guess I jumped the gun.   What I meant was put check in
 the bi-directonal slot for LexMark 5700 driver for Win-OS2.
 It helped a little for speed in Win-OS2.
 Black and White in OS/2 with 5700 maybe all right.
 Far as printing from Netscape/2 go to store get Pepsi
 and Nabs return home and it might be finished.
 I got a program PrintMaster Gold v3 Publishing Suite
 which the kids use for Greeting card and Envelops in Win-OS2
 that the 5700 worked great with after the aboved was checked.
 Far as pictures LexMark 5700 1200x1200 dpi it's great but
 from OS/2 slow.


 GU> This I do have.  Should I have it set for LPT1 or LPT1.OS2?

 Lpt1.OS2 worked here but when installing the aligment do it from
 the OS/2 driver not Win-OS2 driver at install.

 JN>> This page might help a little.
 JN>> http://members.xoom.com/OS2_Warp/lex.htm


Later,            Jerry Nichols
                  jnichols@tcia.net



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From: Ian Moote                                         05-Dec-99 10:30:00
  To: JONATHAN DE BOYNE POLLARD                         05-Dec-99 13:33:05
Subj: Clocked!

JP> The irony is that the software bodge has relieved the hardware

This thread is not going to last long enough to survive shifting it into 
another conference. I've moved it back into [OS2PROG] from where the 
thread originated. You are certainly welcome to initiate a similar 
thread here if you wish. Take care and TTYL.

---
  Wagner's music is better than it sounds.                        

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From: David Calafrancesco                               05-Dec-99 12:02:10
  To: Dave Davidson                                     06-Dec-99 00:14:21
Subj: Warp 4 & Video Problems....

Dave Davidson wrote in a message to All:

 DD> I'm having a devil of a time getting the video to a usable
 DD> point. My system consists of; AMD K6/2-450 3DNow, 128MB
 DD> PC-100 RAM, ATI 128 Rage w/16MB Video, Packard Bell 15" SVGA
 DD> Monitor. I have the latest RAGEPRO driver bit they won't run
 DD> on my system.

 DD> Following all the directions ie; changing the video to VGA
 DD> then re-booting, the Install program (OS2INST) doesn't run,
 DD> so I can't even choose the proper drivers for ths video
 DD> card.

 DD> If I boot with Full Hardware detection (F5), OS/2 loads the
 DD> Rage 28000 drivers and the screen goes totally black,
 DD> requiring another re-boot and re-set to VGA. With VGA,
 DD> pictures look "solarized", in otherwords, lousy!

 DD> The card work super in WIN9x, but not with OS/2.

 DD> Any suggestions?

Check Hobbes for an older version of the drivers. I seem to recall I was using 
a version 5 beta that worked much better than the new one. Second suggestion,
get the SciTech Display Doctor for OS2 version of the drivers. They should
work better than almost anything else available. 


Dave Calafrancesco, Team OS/2
dave@drakkar.org

... They got the library at Alexandria, they're not getting mine! 
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From: Kris Steenhaut                                    04-Dec-99 11:30:05
  To: Holger Granholm                                   06-Dec-99 09:49:05
Subj: multi changer

Hello Holger,
dinsdag 30 november 1999 19.56, Holger Granholm wrote to Jean-Michel Dossogne:

 HG> For OS/2 I don't have any corresponding entry in the OS/2 config.sys
 HG> and still it works. However, some people insist that you MUST have the
 HG> /ET parameter after the AIC????.ADD file for the Adaptec controller.

We really wouldn't insist, if it should work otherwise. Moreover, the help
file:

help basedev-->Adaptec SCSI-adapters--> aic7870.add-->ET,

this help file says the /ET switch MUST be enabled to have multiple lun
support. Big Blue is insisting authority, really. We know you don't use the
switch. There must be a particular reason for, and it would be of interest to
sort that out. Maybe you can give us some hints?

On all other AIC7870.* systems I'm aware of, there is no multiple lun support
without the /ET switch.

Would be worth one's while to sort that out, really.





    Groeten uit Gent,
    Regards/2

      Kris

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From: George White                                      04-Dec-99 08:45:18
  To: Andy Roberts                                      06-Dec-99 09:49:05
Subj: Speed up printing?

Hi Andy,

On 02-Dec-99, Andy Roberts wrote to George White:

 GU>>> I've been using a Lexmark 5700 with Warp 4.  I installed the
 GU>>> Win3.x drivers for use by WinOS2.  The combination has been
 GU>>> working quite well except for one thing:  speed.  Anyone know
 GU>>> how to speed up printing?  What is particularly frustrating is
 GU>>> when

 GW>> Get a faster CPU! :-(

 AR> With a 450i and 256MB RAM the Lexmark 5700 can still take in
 AR> excess of 15 minutes to print a single page.

But it will speed it up to a crawl from a snail's pace :-).

 AR> That was so much longer than the Lexmark false advertising of 4PPM
 AR> that we called Lexmark T/S, and were told the advertised rate
 AR> could be achieved with their test conditions.  While T/S was still
 AR> on the phone we printed their supplied test, which was a very
 AR> small box about 2" square, and that took about 1-1/4 minutes IIRC.
 AR>  That left me to assume their "marketing" test conditions probably
 AR> consisted of a single line of text.

:-(. Typical hype that I, like you, find intensly irritating :-(. Print
speed should be for a standard full page (in the same way as FAX speed
is specified using a specific page of text).

 AR> Lexmark's recommendation was to return the printer to the dealer
 AR> it was purchased from for a refund or exchange for another printer
 AR> such as their Optra series (which is not a WinPrinter.)

At least they were honest.

 AR> The Lexmark rep even said he hadn't heard any complaints about the
 AR> speed of printing.  Although I know from previous calls to Lexmark
 AR> that some of their other reps have heard of those problems.  I
 AR> guess some of the reps either have selective hearing (only hear
 AR> what they want to hear) or have been dealing only with users who
 AR> have not used any other printer.  Or more likely assume all their
 AR> customers are WinXX users who have a much higher acceptance of BS.

Probably. That's their (the Winxx users) problem :-).

 AR> Anyway my sister-in-law (the 5700 is her printer and so is the
 AR> 450i with 256MB RAM) is satisfied with it.  OTOH we were
 AR> discussing Linda's comment about WinPrinters, and since she has a
 AR> 386-25, I half-jokingly commented she could probably start
 AR> printing a page and come back the middle of next week to find it
 AR> still going and going...

They are not _quite_ that bad :-). I use mine on a 486/40 occasionally
and while it is noticably slower than on this P133 the longest a page
has taken is a couple of hours. I'm happy with it for what I got it
for - occasional colour printing. It was cheap, the print quality is
good, there are OS/2 drivers, and the nozzles are in the ink
cartridges so if one blocks at least all I throw away is an
(expensive :-( ) cartridge.

 GU>>> printing under WinOS2, CPU usage goes through the roof and
 GU>>> everything slows to a crawl.

 GW>> It will :-(.

 AR> Yep, no matter how much CPU power you have.

Yep! :-(.

 AR> IMO a faster CPU is not a solution for either printing speed or
 AR> multitasking while printing with the Lexmark 5700.

 AR> The EggHead/Online auction has sent me 2 E-Mail announcements; 1
 AR> referring to over 40 the other referring to over 100,
 AR> reconditioned Epson Stylus 700 Color printers.  I don't know how
 AR> much $ they went for.  But that might be a solution.

I won't by an Epson Stylus printer, the fact that the printheads are
built into the printer meant that I threw one away when the printheads
blocked (lack of regular use) as I could find no way of accessing them
:-(. I didn't like the way it was made either... :-(

 AR> I really love my HP4L that can really print 4PPM, even if it is
 AR> only B&W.

I have much the same feeings about my HP LJ4P (the same print engine),
I'll only let it go when it breaks beyond repair or I get to a state
where I can't use computers :-). Pages churn out reliably at 4ppm
provided the data can be transferred fast enough. Especially now I've
upgraded the memory to 10Meg :-)

George

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From: George White                                      04-Dec-99 10:35:14
  To: August Abolins                                    06-Dec-99 09:49:05
Subj: Speed up printing?

Hi August,

On 02-Dec-99, August Abolins wrote to Rob Basler:


 AA> Hi Rob!

 RB>> .... In Windows, turn off print directly to port, make sure it is
 RB>> set to print to LPT1 not LPT1.OS2.

 AA> But it *should* be set to LPT1.OS2 in "DOS" applications, right?
 AA> I've experienced similar s-l-o-w printing from DOS and Windows
 AA> apps, even still with /IRQ added.  But the LPT1.OS2 .vs. LPT1
 AA> issue still seems vague

According to the LexMark information in the OS/2 driver package it
should be to LPTx.OS2 under WINOS2.


George

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From: Rob Basler                                        05-Dec-99 23:36:01
  To: Dave Davidson                                     06-Dec-99 09:49:05
Subj: Warp 4 & Video Problems.

DD>I'm having a devil of a time getting the video to a usable
DD>point. My system consists of; AMD K6/2-450 3DNow, 128MB PC-
DD>100 RAM, ATI 128 Rage w/16MB Video,

You could try the GRADD Vesa driver, it should work on most modern
cards.  It isn't quick, but it gives you full color depth and higher
resolutions.  It requires Warp 4 fixpack 5.  (The same as the Scitech
drivers which are also based on GRADD but will be a lot faster if they
work.)

Rob.
___
 X SLMR 2.1a X Trust no one.

--- Maximus/2 3.01
 * Origin: Frog Hollow Port Moody BC 604-469-0264/0284 (1:153/290)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Gregory Urban                                     05-Dec-99 23:11:00
  To: All                                               06-Dec-99 09:49:05
Subj: Prints faster!

Greetings,

Thanks to everyone that gave me input regarding the problem
I had with print jobs bogging down the system when using
the Lexmark 5700.  It works much better now.

The solution for my system is that I had to set the printer
driver to LPT1 rather than LPT1.OS2.  I also disabled "fast
printing direct to port" which oddly speeded up WinOS2 jobs.
Go figure.  I also set up the alignment in both the Warp and
WinOS2 drivers and things look better now.

Thanks,
Greg
___ Blue Wave/OS2 v2.30 [NR]

--- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0671
 * Origin: AirPower-telnet://bbs.airpower.dynip.com 610-259-2198 (1:273/408)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: George White                                      05-Dec-99 15:33:04
  To: Andy Roberts                                      07-Dec-99 01:35:01
Subj: Speed up printing?

Hi Andy,

On 03-Dec-99, Andy Roberts wrote to August Abolins:

 RB>>> .... In Windows, turn off print directly to port, make sure it
 RB>>> is set to print to LPT1 not LPT1.OS2.

 AA>> But it *should* be set to LPT1.OS2 in "DOS" applications, right?
 AA>> I've experienced similar s-l-o-w printing from DOS and Windows
 AA>> apps, even still with /IRQ added.  But the LPT1.OS2 .vs. LPT1
 AA>> issue still seems vague

 AR> That issue is extremely vague to Lexmark also.  Their driver for
 AR> the 5700 required the Win-OS/2 Control Setup Printer Default to be
 AR> set to LPT1 in order to perform the initial alignment, but it
 AR> won't print anything else that way. To print from any other app,
 AR> the Win-OS/2 Control Setup Printer Default must be set to LPT1.OS2

For the 7000 I have here it is always pointed to LPTx.OS2, the
alignment is done by the OS/2 drivers and according to the LexMark
documentation the Windows drivers pick the required settings from the
OS/2 drivers.

 AR> AFAIK Lexmark is the only OEM that got that screwed up.  AFAIK
 AR> normally other printers do use LPT1.OS2 for the Win-OS/2 Control
 AR> Setup Printer Default for everything.

They seem to have sorted it out on the 7000.

<snip>

 AR> I notice Jerry didn't do the alignment under Win-OS/2.  IMO that
 AR> alignment is necessary under Win9x, native OS/2 and Win-OS/2 (all
 AR> 3) individually (every time you change an ink cartridge), since
 AR> the setting changes are saved in software not hardware.

The WINOS2 readme for the 7000 drivers specifically says the alignment
need only be done under OS/2 and will automatically be picked up by
the WINOS2 drivers.

George

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+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Holger Granholm                                   06-Dec-99 18:29:00
  To: Kris Steenhaut                                    07-Dec-99 05:58:03
Subj: multi changer

In a message dated 12-04-99, Kris Steenhaut said to Holger Granholm:

KS>On all other AIC7870.* systems I'm aware of, there is no multiple
KS>lun support without the /ET switch.

I'm running 7770.add on the machine with the changer :-(

Seasons Greetings,

Holger

___
 * MR/2 2.26 * The Christmas spirit is not something you drink.

--- PCBoard (R) v15.22 (OS/2) 2
 * Origin: Coming to you from the Sunny Aland Islands. (2:20/228)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Holger Granholm                                   06-Dec-99 18:29:00
  To: Andy Roberts                                      07-Dec-99 05:58:03
Subj: TVFS & USB

In a message dated 12-04-99, Andy Roberts said to Holger Granholm:

Hi Andy,

 HG> One thing I noted on the CD was an USB program that wasn't usable
 HG> for my new (still uninstalled) motherboard, an ASUS P5A-B with ALI
 HG> BIOS.

AR>Humm...

Yes, look at the txt file of usbuhcd.zip.

AR>......  My only complaint with that MoBo is that there is something
AR>strange about it's ATX power management, which the dealer and I
AR>tried to force to act like an AT.

I'm not taking any chances with ATX mobos. I've got a huge (2ft 1") AT
tower for my work machine. It will now go through its third upgrade with
said mobo and an K6-III 400 - 450 MHz.

It came to a standstill because I didn't buy the memory at the same time
as I couldn't see that I had the time to do the upgrade at that time.
Now we all know where the prices went. I can afford to buy it now but if
I wait a bit prices may go down again (or up).

AR>It apparently leaves the buss powered all the time, even with the
AR>power switch off, since the AW37Pro always complains after a cold
AR>boot but never complains after a warm re-boot.

Yes it apparently does. THAT is one thing I don't like with those ATX
boards. When you shut it off I'd expect it to really be dead. Same thing
when starting up, I don't fancy the use of two switches before it starts

Happy Holidays,

Holger

___
 * MR/2 2.26 * Cats are not pets; they own the house and let you live there.


--- PCBoard (R) v15.22 (OS/2) 2
 * Origin: Coming to you from the Sunny Aland Islands. (2:20/228)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Holger Granholm                                   06-Dec-99 18:29:00
  To: Andy Roberts                                      07-Dec-99 05:58:03
Subj: Speed up printing?

In a message dated 12-04-99, Andy Roberts said to August Abolins:

Hi Andy,

AR>There is a lesson to be learned from this.  Leave WinModems and
AR>WinPrinters and any future WinJunk to the WinXX users.  Drivers,
AR>even if they can be forced to work, can not compensate for the very
AR>poor quality and slow speed.

A lesson learned long ago.

Have a nice day,

Holger

___
 * MR/2 2.26 * I'm not a complete idiot... Several parts are missing!


--- PCBoard (R) v15.22 (OS/2) 2
 * Origin: Coming to you from the Sunny Aland Islands. (2:20/228)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Gene Tucker                                       07-Dec-99 08:27:00
  To: Rob Basler                                        07-Dec-99 08:27:00
Subj: Warp 4 & Video Problems.

In a message dated 12-05-99, Rob Basler said to Dave Davidson:


DD>I'm having a devil of a time getting the video to a usable
DD>point. My system consists of; AMD K6/2-450 3DNow, 128MB PC-
DD>100 RAM, ATI 128 Rage w/16MB Video,

RB>You could try the GRADD Vesa driver, it should work on most modern
RB>cards.  It isn't quick, but it gives you full color depth and higher
RB>resolutions.  It requires Warp 4 fixpack 5.  (The same as the Scitech
RB>drivers which are also based on GRADD but will be a lot faster if they
RB>work.)



Seeing what his configuration is then Scitech Display Doctor is just what he
needs since they support that card. A few things to remember is that they are
still a beta though and accelaration is not yet put into the package althogh I
will admit from tests that I have run the last 2 betas have gotten faster
results than the previous tests.
___
 X MR/2 2.26 #30 X I'm at the corner of Walk and Don't Walk.

--- Maximus/2 2.02
 * Origin: OS/2 Shareware BBS, telnet://bbs.os2bbs.com (1:109/347)


+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Eddy Thilleman                                    06-Dec-99 10:01:05
  To: Gregory Urban                                     07-Dec-99 17:25:27
Subj: Speed up printing?

Hello Gregory,

04 Dec 99 11:47, Gregory Urban wrote to Eddy Thilleman:

GU> Well, I tried that but it caused another problem.  I have a PCMCIA
GU> reader installed on my desktop so that I can read flashcards.
GU> Apparently the only IRQ left available is 7 so the Warp PCMCIA
GU> services use that for the "hard disk" function.  If I use the /IRQ
GU> switch for the print driver I lose access to my flashcards <sigh>.

OK, that caused an IRQ conflict, so that's out of the picture. Other than
buying another printer with its own CPU so that it can work without help from
your system and that it can work under plain DOS, I don't have suggestions.

  Greetings   -=Eddy=-        email: eddy.thilleman@net.hcc.nl

... Be vewwy vewwy quiet ... I'm hunting for tagwines!
--- GoldED/2 3.0.1
 * Origin: Windows98 is a graphic DOS extender (2:280/5143.7)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Eddy Thilleman                                    06-Dec-99 10:04:19
  To: Holger Granholm                                   07-Dec-99 17:25:27
Subj: multi changer

Hello Holger,

04 Dec 99 20:01, Holger Granholm wrote to Eddy Thilleman:

JD>> from Wallonia mountains (Philippeville, 290m high :-))))

ET>> wow! that sounds like the roof of the world!! ;-))))

HG> Certainly for somebody living in Holland, <BG>.

And equally for someone who lives on a small island. ;-))

  Greetings   -=Eddy=-        email: eddy.thilleman@net.hcc.nl

... Windows NT? New Technology?  I don't think so...
--- GoldED/2 3.0.1
 * Origin: Windows98 is a graphic DOS extender (2:280/5143.7)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Eddy Thilleman                                    06-Dec-99 12:09:18
  To: Dave Davidson                                     07-Dec-99 17:25:27
Subj: Warp 4 & Video Problems....

Hello Dave,

04 Dec 99 05:44, Dave Davidson wrote to All:

DD> I'm having a devil of a time getting the video to a usable point. My
DD> system consists of; AMD K6/2-450 3DNow, 128MB PC-100 RAM, ATI 128 Rage
DD> w/16MB Video, Packard Bell 15" SVGA Monitor. I have the latest RAGEPRO
DD> driver bit they won't run on my system.

My videocard is a Matrox MGA-G200 AGP with VGA BIOS v2.3 and Matrox OS/2 video 
driver v2.21, runs great. :)

I don't have an ATI videocard and never have, so I can't speak for ATI. Maybe
you can try another driver?

  Greetings   -=Eddy=-        email: eddy.thilleman@net.hcc.nl

... Dj GUI: Feeling you've been waiting for Windoze..and waiting...and
--- GoldED/2 3.0.1
 * Origin: Windows95 is a graphic DOS extender (2:280/5143.7)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Andy Roberts                                      07-Dec-99 07:02:29
  To: Holger Granholm                                   07-Dec-99 19:44:14
Subj: TVFS & USB

 Holger Granholm,

06-Dec-99 18:29:00, Holger Granholm wrote to Andy Roberts
 HG> 12-04-99, Andy Roberts said to Holger Granholm:
          Subject: TVFS & USB

 HG>> One thing I noted on the CD was an USB program that wasn't usable
 HG>> for my new (still uninstalled) motherboard, an ASUS P5A-B with
 HG>> ALI BIOS.

 AR>> Humm...

 HG> Yes, look at the txt file of usbuhcd.zip.

--- Excerpt usbuhcd.txt ---
This is a modified version of IBM's OS/2 driver (Jan-06-99) for UHCI style 
USB host controllers. It should support mainboards equipped with an INTEL, 
VIA or ETEQ(?) chipset, as well as VIA USB addon cards.

USB chipsets from OPTI, SIS, NEC, CMD, ALI/ACER or AMD are not supported,
as their OHCI architecture is totally different.
---
1. Q: Will there be support for OHCI style USB chipsets soon?
   A: Most likely not. Use a cheap "VIA 83C572" USB addon card instead.
--- End Quote ---

For the extra cost of an addon card, you might as well have bought an Intel
and avoided a slew of incompatibility problems.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in favor of supporting an over priced near
monopoly OEM.  But many years ago I was beta testing software on a
AMD386-DX40 that was very popular and had a timing problem in the cache.
After all the other testers and the author were satisfied, I still had many
problems.  We spent another month working out my problems before public
release.  When it was all done, that version became renowned as the most
solid version ever, even better than later versions.  I seriously doubt most
authors are willing to go to the extra effort and time to achieve near 100%
compatibility, but they almost always find a way to work with Intel.  Seeing
how that incident cost me several hundred lost hours, that I wasn't getting
paid for, after that I always insisted on Intel.  Sure that costs me more $
than AMD or most any other OEM, but my time is worth something and I'm
getting too old to put up with aggravation I can do without.  Granted that
was a long time ago, but I've followed the many reports of quirks with newer
non-Intel HW that may have had some little advantage in a specific area, but
almost always had an undesirable side effect, such as requiring a special
MoBo that could handle more power consumption, and a special power supply to
deliver that extra power.  Or gaining in 1 function, but losing performance
in another function.  AFAIK it was and still is always a trade-off or a
compromise to use non-Intel HW.

While almost always non-Intel HW will be considerably cheaper.  And in many
cases non-Intel HW will perform quite well.  IMO all too often, when you least
expect it, some little incompatibility shows up that doesn't exist with Intel.

In your case I don't know whether to blame USB or ALI or the driver author.
But considering the long list of other non-supported chipsets, it looks like
USB is far from standard.

About ASUS P2BL ATX:
 AR>> ......  My only complaint with that MoBo is that there is something
 AR>> strange about it's ATX power management, which the dealer and I tried
 AR>> to force to act like an AT.

 HG> I'm not taking any chances with ATX mobos.

I had several reasons for selecting the ASUS P2BL and ATX.  ASUS is near
top-of-the-line and claims support for OS/2.  And it has the Adaptec SCSI
controller built-in.  If I had to buy that Adaptec controller separately,
then it would have cost me as much as the MoBo.  So I figured I was getting
the MoBo free for the expense of the SCSI controller.  I had read that the
power management could be forced to act like an AT.  I like the positive
pressure air flow of the ATX design.  I like the massive heat-sink design of
the PII 450i.  And I needed another case, since this was for a new system.

I will admit that a year ago when I bought that ATX, I didn't know as much as
I do now about the undesirable side effects.  And while the matched case has
only 1 power switch, it does not seem work well with the AW37Pro.  The AW37Pro
works fine in the AT machine.

 HG> I've got a huge (2ft 1") AT tower for my work machine.

I've got 1 of those here and I love it.  I converted it to positive pressure.

 HG> It will now go through its third upgrade with said mobo and an K6-III
 HG> 400 - 450 MHz.

 HG> It came to a standstill because I didn't buy the memory at the
 HG> same time as I couldn't see that I had the time to do the upgrade
 HG> at that time.  Now we all know where the prices went. I can afford
 HG> to buy it now but if I wait a bit prices may go down again (or
 HG> up).

Seasonally November through January is not a good time for bargains.

About ATX:
 AR>> It apparently leaves the buss powered all the time, even with the
 AR>> power switch off, since the AW37Pro always complains after a cold
 AR>> boot but never complains after a warm re-boot.

 HG> Yes it apparently does. THAT is one thing I don't like with those
 HG> ATX boards. When you shut it off I'd expect it to really be dead.
 HG> Same thing when starting up, I don't fancy the use of two switches
 HG> before it starts

This case/PS only has 1 power switch.  And yes it is a real ATX PS with the
proper plugs, but no additional switch on it.  If I had known in advance, I
would have gladly put up with 2 switches rather than fight the other problems.

     Thanks and Good Luck,        Andy Roberts
                                  andy@shentel.net
--- Terminate 5.00/Pro*at 
 * Origin: OS/2: penthouse. DOS: poorhouse. Windows: outhouse. (1:109/921.1)
347

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Bryan Rubingh                                     08-Dec-99 16:03:00
  To: All                                               08-Dec-99 16:03:00
Subj: Torisan CD-ROM Drive


Has anyone gotten OS/2 to work with a Torisan model CDR-S112?  I've
tried about everything I can think of.  I've tried using DANIS506.ADD
and it recognizes the drive, but then the PC locks up after it loads the
CD driver os2cdrom.dmd.  If I use IBM1S506.ADD, then OS2CDROM.DMD says
it can't load and the boot proceeds and I have no access to the CD-ROM.

The CDR-S112 is a 16x ATAPI device and I have it connected as the master
(and only device) on the second IDE port.  The DUMPIDE provided with
DANIS506.ADD reports the drives firmware level as 2.06.

  Thanks,
  Bryan Rubingh


... Rube Ink - Custom Programming/Computer Solutions

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20

--- Maximus/2 2.02
 * Origin: OS/2 Shareware BBS, telnet://bbs.os2bbs.com (1:109/347)


+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Bryan Rubingh                                     08-Dec-99 22:04:00
  To: All                                               08-Dec-99 22:04:00
Subj: Torisan CD-ROM


Thanks for any and all who may have responded to my question regarding
the Torisan CD-ROM drive.  I have solved the problem.  I obtained the
IBM1S506.ADD from fixpack 41 of OS/2 version 3.  Once I put that on my
boot disk everything came up fine.

I suspect that the problem was actually due to the fact that I installed
one 20 GB hard disk.  Under my original configuration the 20GB was the
second HD on the primary IDE port.  The master was a 512 MB hd.  The CD
was master on the second IDE port with no slave.  In any case, the
problem is solved.

  Thanks,
  Bryan Rubingh


... Rube Ink - Custom Programming/Computer Solutions

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20

--- Maximus/2 2.02
 * Origin: OS/2 Shareware BBS, telnet://bbs.os2bbs.com (1:109/347)


+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: George White                                      06-Dec-99 08:37:02
  To: Andy Roberts                                      10-Dec-99 06:58:06
Subj: TVFS & USB

Hi Andy,

On 04-Dec-99, Andy Roberts wrote to Holger Granholm:

 HG>> Yeah, I must learn to look at home first <BG>. I have never
 HG>> before become such a big assortment of programs as on that CD.

 AR> Bit overwhelming to suddenly have about 1500 more OS/2 files. <g>

:-). It must be a bit like looking through the first Hobbes CD I
bought. Overwhelming :-).

 HG>> I know pretty well what I have on the HD's

 AR> Yep, I too keep a mental note as I add files to my HD.  But that's
 AR> easy, since I only get a few dozen new files at any 1 time.

It's easy knowing you've got it, my usual problem is remembering
_where_ on the LAN I put it! :-).

<snip>

 HG>> The modems don't get faster in a PCI card nor does the sound card
 HG>> require PCI.

 AR> Right.

 AR> But that has little to do with OEMs rushing to make existing HW
 AR> obsolete so they can sell more new HW to do the same old thing.

There is an easy answer to that :-). Keep running the old HW in the
old MBs (as I do), I'll be running 486s here for a long while for
tasks that don't need the CPU horsepower we are forced to buy these
days :-(. I've got lots of the stuff about (and I may even get a
486->586 upgrade CPU to help keep it going at a better speed <g>).

George

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+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Holger Granholm                                   08-Dec-99 20:43:00
  To: Eddy Thilleman                                    10-Dec-99 06:58:06
Subj: multi changer

In a message dated 12-06-99, Eddy Thilleman said to Holger Granholm:

JD>> from Wallonia mountains (Philippeville, 290m high :-))))

ET>> wow! that sounds like the roof of the world!! ;-))))

HG> Certainly for somebody living in Holland, <BG>.

ET>And equally for someone who lives on a small island. ;-))

OK Eddy, come over here and see for yourself.  I've seen Holland.

Have a nice day,

Holger

___
 * MR/2 2.26 * So easy, a child can do it.  (Child sold separately.)


--- PCBoard (R) v15.22 (OS/2) 2
 * Origin: Coming to you from the Sunny Aland Islands. (2:20/228)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

From: Holger Granholm                                   08-Dec-99 20:43:00
  To: Andy Roberts                                      10-Dec-99 06:58:06
Subj: TVFS & USB

In a message dated 12-07-99, Andy Roberts said to Holger Granholm:

Hi Andy,

AR>For the extra cost of an addon card, you might as well have bought
AR>an Intel and avoided a slew of incompatibility problems.

I don't like Intel mobos. The only quirk I know of with them is the
nonstandard header for the serial ports. While everybody else has two
separate 10-pin headers for the ports, Intel has (had) one long for both

Well, maybe I'm too an ordinary user but I haven't had any quirks with
this mobo/AMD combination. OK, it doesn't cache more than 16 Mb RAM but
neither did other old mobos.

AR>In your case I don't know whether to blame USB or ALI or the driver
AR>author. But considering the long list of other non-supported
AR>chipsets, it looks like USB is far from standard.

I agree. USB isn't that important that I couldn't live without it ;-)

AR>I had several reasons for selecting the ASUS P2BL and ATX.  ASUS is
AR>near top-of-the-line and claims support for OS/2.  And it has the
AR>Adaptec SCSI controller built-in.

I see. I've got so many SCSI controllers laying around that I don't know
what to do with'em all. Since my first computer I have only used SCSI.

AR>I will admit that a year ago when I bought that ATX, I didn't know
AR>as much as I do now about the undesirable side effects.  And while
AR>the matched case has only 1 power switch, it does not seem work well
AR>with the AW37Pro.  The AW37Pro works fine in the AT machine.

If it has only one power switch it may mean that the computer isn't
really totally switched off but in some sort of sleep mode.

AR>Seasonally November through January is not a good time for bargains.

I agree. Everybody is stocking up for Xmas.

Have a nice day,

Holger

___
 * MR/2 2.26 * - Hiroshima '45  Chernobyl '86  Windows '95 -



--- PCBoard (R) v15.22 (OS/2) 2
 * Origin: Coming to you from the Sunny Aland Islands. (2:20/228)

+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

+============================================================================+
