Hi Dave, No Mail yet. Beats me. And the link to that asm times out over abd over. But when I ping that domain it averages 310ms, so go figure. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi M2Go, The only thing I can suggest then is I send a test "e" Mail to you without the attachment & you reply. see what happens then. Regards, Dave

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HiM2Go, Even the test mail has been rejected apparently the failure is due to me viewed as SPAM! (SPAMCOP) I will try to resend through the wifes "E" mail adress as that is not yahoo orientated. Regards, Dave

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Dave here, M2Go, I have resent using different "E" address, to see if that gets through. Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, Got it. I've extracted the files and I'm checking them now. Dunno about spamcop. LOL ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi M2Go, Kewl, remember this though, it is hard coded to run from a floppy. I did format a: /s to make floppy bootable added config.sys himem.sys & emm386.exe & did an autoexec.bat to auto load it from dos7.1. or From the A:\> prompt type TM.BAT that should envoke the menu. Let me know how you get on? I'm sure you can mucho improve it? Regards, Dave

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Dave, I got your email and the attachment. After looking it over, my personal recommendation would be to write it in C and make it a single small exe file that does everything you need without the 6 – 8 additional external programs that you're currently using. However, it would be an interesting project for me to write a Perl version. Perl has methods for doing everything you're doing except actually creating the ram disk, for that we'll need to make a system call to xmsdsk.exe. With a little research, I may even find a Perl solution to replace xmsdsk.exe. So, the Perl solution would be, at most, only 2 files (excluding the boot files of course), xmsdsk.exe and the Perl program (I'll call it ramsnif.exe). The difficult part for me is that for the past 10 years, the MS ports of Perl are designed to run on Win32 systems where DOS is being emulated (i.e., cmd.exe instead of command.com). So, I'll need to either use an older port which means I'll loose 75% of the current Perl functionality, or I'll need to modify the Perl C source code and compile a custom version. Compiling Perl will be a challenge for me because I don't know C. I'll be in touch. Ron

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Hi Ron, Thanks for the response, what you are proposing would be very beneficial both in terms of size & Speed of exection probably. XMSDSK would for me be better retained as I think re-writing a comparable ramdisk would be a major task & besides why re-invent the wheel & make more work? The system call to XMSDSK would I think would be better as the user has the option to include or exclude the bolt on, then the whosoever can use just as his/her fancy takes them. Possibly a menu of percentage sizes with a minimum & maximum safe guard built in would be a +? The clunky Dos version that I botched together only has a minimum size check built in. Just some thoughts! Many thanks for the reply though Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Any thoughts on the ramsniffer or any further developments or discovery's you have made? regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, I have managed to get CALC387 working to produce a Variable. So the eventual file size difference between TCALC & CALC387 is sizable. TCALC is 34.5 Kb's. CALC387 is 1Kb's 1 draw back though is CALC387 needs additional batch script and a small text file. I'll get back to you & maybe post details for others to use. Regards, Dave

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Dave, I work on the asm to get XMS size almost every day, and I'm getting nowhere. Yeah, CALC387 mat require some text to work, but the difference between it and TCALC is substantial. BTW, I just got SED and I'll give it a whirl. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, I have a Mark 2 version of the "Ramsniffer" LOL, available for anyone's perusal. I have cosmetically added features, like added warning notices, I have exchanged TCALC for CALC387 & I have a built in incremental menu that loads ramdisks from 25% of ram up to 90% of ram available, also I have placed in the batch the size of ramdisk in Kb's just before the ramdisk is loaded (Ramdisk displayed on screen from variable). Also a default timeout on option five which will load the Ramdisk at 70% of available ram after 60Secs. All this means a reduction from the MK 1 version to the MK 2 version of 28.5Kb's. It is now 78Kb,s all told instead of 106.5Kb's. [ALL FREEWARE - Currently hard coded to A:\] Here's a list of the fileset: 1)Controlling bat file (11Kb) 2)XMSDSK.EXE = Ramdisk (20Kb,s) 3)XMSTAT.EXE = In menu to test for HMA (8kb) 4)TFIND.COM = To replace MS Find.exe (4Kb) 5)MEM.EXE = FreeDos MEM [NOT MS MEM] (12Kb) 6)CHOIX.COM = Replacement for MS Choice.com (4Kb,s) 7)CHANGE.COM = Can be made from Debug script (1Kb's) 8)SETVAR.TXT = Simple VAR script, homemade (1Kb's) 9)IFNUMBER.EXE = used to limit ramdisk to 8Mb minimum (8Kb's). 10)COL.EXE = used to extract specified columns of text (8Kb's) 11)WHERE.COM = Funny thing here, Dos had difficulty in intermittantly locating CALC387 so this is used to force find it, Dunno why?(1Kb). ============================================= TOTAL if my math is correct 78Kb's. A reduction of 28.5Kb's & with more features. Here's what I did: I made a boot floppy 98SE in this fashion. Format A: /s Then added Himem.sys, emm386.exe, autoexec.bat & config.sys. Then I used Gary Tongs IOPATCH V1.4 To patch the Io.sys for floppy emulation, to install on front end of CD.(Still haven't tested that yet!). I Loaded the fileset mentioned above, edited the autoexec.bat to load the Controlling.bat & "Hey Presto" you should be in business! The floppy loads to a Main Menu with a further sub menu for sizing the Ramdisk. Dir R: illustrates the ramdisk setup, hard coded to R:\ so your last drive statement in your config.sys will need to be R+ e.g.(Z). This is purely a stopgap measure until M2Go or FishMonger come up with better alternatives or anyone else for that matter! If anyone wants a copy "E" mail me, maybe you can help with the batch scripting or suggest beneficial improvements? Bugs - I get a bad command or filename printed to the screen but it still loads OK. Things to do: Still takes to long to load approx 30 Sec's from floppy drive. Needs some clever generic pathing to run from different situations e.g. CD (floppy) hard drive etc etc. It's still "Hairy & Clunky" but for me it works! Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, "11)WHERE.COM = Funny thing here, Dos had difficulty in intermittantly locating CALC387 so this is used to force find it, Dunno why?(1Kb)." What's up with that? If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, Yes, in reply to message No 19, this was spooky! I've got a touch of the "Gremlins" LOL! A message kept saying unable to find file, that is: A:\CALC387.......bla bla etc So I tried to find a batch script that would force locate the darn thing & was unable. So whilst trawling the PC UTILS site I found WHERE.COM (1Kb). So I funnelled, if thats the right term to use, CALC387 through WHERE.COM & the problem seems fixed! It is probably something simple that I am doing wrong but I found it irratating, so the 1Kb WHERE.COM overhead was adopted. Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, Send me the latest version. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2go, Will Do! I will need to send it through Wifes "E" Mail address tonight (UK Time) when she arrives in from work (I promised her I would NOT Go on her PC - Long story so I won't even go there, LOL!!). Anyway, cannot help feeling that if either you or FM (or both!) come through with the MEM detection thingy, then a lot of the above fileset, could be dispensed with. Also the advantage of a faster load time, albeit, I know these things take time & patience? Could you help with the generic pathing & improve the batch scripting perhaps, my skills are limited to say the least! Oh! by the way found some batch script the other day called, "redirecting stdout into an evironment variable" Dunno whether it could be adapted to work in 9X: FOR /F "tokens=*" %%i in ('sometool.exe') do SET TOOLOUTPUT=%%i [all one line] Regards & best wishes, Dave

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Hi Dave, To avoid the 'blocked mail' thing and get it here sooner, use: www.yousendit.com Yeah, DOS won't do setting a var with redirected stout. There are two ways I usually go: One uses DOS only and DEBUG; the other uses CHANGE.COM; either way you create a BAT like: set myvar= with JUST those 10 chars. NO CRLF after the = then you add the string to be set like this: SOMEPROG.EXE >> the.bat So the.bat now looks like: set myvar=blah blah whatever the EXE put out If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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M2Go, I have just send the SFX Winimage file as requested via "yousendit". Let me know what you think & advice on how to improve please. Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, P.S. Forgot, many thanks for the info above! Regards as always, Dave

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Hi Dave, I'm reading your files now. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi Dave, [1] Why are you loading emm386? [2] In your autoexec, it should not be necessary to change to a: and to the root; you should already be there. And it's unecessary to prefix commands with "a:\" [It shouldn't hurt anything but less verbage is usually better.] If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Just checking in. I've been really tied up on projects at work (12-14 hr days), so I haven't had much time to work on the Perl solution. I'm thinking about throwing together a simple prototype of the UI just to get an idea of the logic I should use. If you can send me your latest version, I'll see about working up something similar.

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Hi M2Go, I thought EMM386 & HIMEM.SYS went together when dealing with High MEM area? Yes it would collectively save valuable Kb's in the bat file to use the A:\ less. This is one of the things that is needed I feel the ability to install it in various situations A:\ C:\ D:\ removable drives & it be able to run. I don't know anything regarding generic pathing though? Maybe you could tweak to resolve these issues. Have you tried running it? Regards, Dave

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Hi FM, I just sent you what Dave sent me. Do you do asm? Or know somebody? TY If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Thanks M2, I got it. I'm just heading into work and will try to work on this today; the boss will be out most of the day, so maybe I can play a little. :)

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Hi Dave, What are you trying to do with there lines? if exist R:\XMSS.BAT | A:\TFIND "yes" >> R:\YES.BAT if not exist R:\XMSS.BAT | A:\TFIND "yes" >> R:\NO.BAT If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi All, A further thought on the min/max sizing of the ramdisk the Mark 1/2 version has consideration for the minimum size of 8Mb (Which could also be included or excluded within a menu system) just thinking about max flexibility issues. The max size of the XMSDSK wasn't considered to much as XMSDSK has a set max size of 2Gig anyway. Incidently that is why the problem of the blank leading spaces cropped up as the numbers could be bigger than the mem size I was working with. e.g. say I was dealing with ram that was in excess of 1 gig+ some of those leading spaces would have been swallowed up. Do you think it may be worth contacting the author Franc Uberto of Xmsdsk to see what he thinks of what we are trying to achieve or do you think it is early days yet? He would be an expert on MEM/RAM and probably ASM etc? Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, When XMSTAT runs it print the results of what it finds to screen so I have redirected the results of the findings to a temp file (XMSS.BAT). If "yes" text is not found within the file (Details in relation to HMA) then NO.BAT is created if it isn't found. Then a test is done to see if YES.BAT exists if not the answer must be No to HMA being available. Yes I think I see what you are driving at I don't need the NO.BAT file cus either YES.BAT Exists or not Ummm Sorry! regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, You're correct that either some file exists ir it doesn't. My point is that a line like this won't work: if exist R:\XMSS.BAT | A:\TFIND "yes" >> R:\YES.BAT Valid syntax would be something like: if exist R:\XMSS.BAT TFIND "yes" filename Beyong that, what are you doing with HMA? If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Also, I doubt that DOS will use anything like 2GB. From what I read some versions of winders can barely handle 512MB. And sure, why not contact the author? If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, Yes your right HMA high memory area is the wrong place to be, maybe best drop that option from the menu. Good job you are around. I will contact the Author of XMSDSK & briefly outline what we are trying to do and see what response I get will keep you informed. Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, This chunk: ################## SET AMIN=8192 IFNUMBER.EXE %RESULT% biggerequivalthan %AMIN% >nul if errorlevel 1 GOTO TRUE if errorlevel 0 GOTO FALSE GOTO END ################### can be replaced with this: ############################# calc387 %result% - 8192 > diff find "-" < diff > nul if errorlevel 1 goto true goto false ############################## That will save 6KB by getting rid of ifnumber. And the 'goto end' will never be reached. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, Will encorporate script tomorrow, & give it a go, THANKS! Will reduce the total to 72Kb. regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Re: Response Number 38 I cut and pasted the, "can be replaced with this", script & removed, "this chunk", but for some reason it didn't work, no error messages were displayed on the screen even after removing the > nul on the calc387 (I was simply redirected to the Main Menu, tried with & without > nul to see if an error message would be displayed). Also tried with A:\WHERE.COM | thingy in front of calc387 but still would not work, sorry! Try it on your copy of Ramsniff see what you get just in case it is something I am doing wrong? I have removed the XMSTAT option from the Menu also, saving 2Kb's on the controlling bat & 6.5Kb from the XMSTAT.EXE, 8.5Kb trimmed. Regards, Dave

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Try thjis bat by itself: ::== chksize.bat @echo off set result=9000 calc387 %result% - 8192 > diff Tfind "-" < diff > nul if errorlevel 1 goto true goto false :: DONE When I run it I get: The system cannot find the batch label specified - true which tells me that the logic works and the line: if errorlevel 1 GOTO TRUE is getting errorlevel as 1 and is trying to GOTO TRUE. BTW, that chunk can be rewritten, but one thing at a time. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, I copied the second script (Response 41) into the controlling .BAT file and ran it (NOT CHKSIZE.BAT) I just rem'd out the original batch text & "Hey, Presto it works". So IfNumber.exe can now be dumped also. Any other gems like that, Kewl? Any thoughts on the generic pathing aspect? Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, Why are you using emm386? If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, See response 29 "I thought EMM386 & HIMEM.SYS went together when dealing with High MEM area?" But if you know it will work without it that can go as well, a little here a little there, great! I did say I was no expert LOL! Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, You don't need emm386. BTW, the xmsdsk would not load in a DOS box in NT. I booted in DOS 7 and it works fine. ### I would get rid of all the a: cd \ and stick to getting everything working right before throwing in references to other drives. #### The WHERE is a 'file finder' [AFAIK] and as such, this syntax means nothing: where | blahblah If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, Will clean up the script and git rid of emm386.exe, will also retry the calc without where.com & retest. Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Cleaned the A:\ CD\ thing from the control .bat removed emm386.exe Where.com etc. But in the autoexec.bat placed this path statement: PATH=A:\;R:\ Re: response 41, one obsevation though I have noticed that the diff file is written to the A:\ not R:\ seeing as R:\ is going to get unloaded in one fell swoop clearing all the temp files created, before the final xmsdsk is loaded. (hope that makes sense?) All seems to be still working well! Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, We can skip the creation of a file and just pipe the calc result to TFIND: ::== chksize2.bat set result=9000 calc387 %result% - 8192 |Tfind "-" > nul if errorlevel 1 goto true goto false :: DONE ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi M2Go, Did the TFIND pipe thing above, (Respose 48) works a treat no diff file created. Just for info the current size is down to 50.6 or 53kb's size on disk, 20Kb's of that is the XMSDSK itself. Would it be advisable to place the path statement PATH=A:\;R:\ in the controlling .bat rather than the Autoexec.bat? Regards, Dave

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In general, it's unwise to set a path to a drive/directory which doesn't exist. BTW, I compressed XMSDSK and it seems to work OK. [new size 13K] I'll send it to you to try. sent ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi M2Go, Got it, (Compressed XMSDSK) will test run on our test floppy. How did you do that by the way will it work on any program? Will test it & get back to you. Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Tried it on every single menu Item to check it would works & "IT DOES". Regards, Dave

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I use LZEXE. Anybody's guess whether the compressed exe will work. You just have to try 'em out. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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M2, to answer your question: sorry, no I don't know asm. Ok, I've worked up a prototype of the UI. It's not quite finished, but it's far enough along to show you. I'm emailing each of you the exe file and its source code. There are a few things I should point out. 1) The only external file it needs (but at the moment doesn't use) is xmsdsk.exe. 2) I compiled it on a W2K system, which means it won't create the ram disk or run on DOS, as of yet. But I did test run it on Win98, W2k, and XP. 3) Since the Perl interpretor needs to be compiled into the exe and it was compiled on W2K, the file file size is larger than desired. However, the DOS compiled version should be much less, since it won't need the Windows dll's. 4) The first time it's run system after boot up it's slow in loading, but after that it loads fast. I'm expecting the DOS version to load much faster because it won't need the added overhead of the Windows stuff. 5) In the majority of your posts you point out that you were able to tweak it to reduce the overall size of the combined required files. The Perl solution won't help in that area, but if it's that important, you should really consider writing this in C. This will allow you to tailor it do do exactly what you want without the need for the extra external utilities and it will have the smallest file size.

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Hi FM & M2Go, The combined files are down to: 43.5Kb's 44,635bytes & size on disk reports 46Kb's 47,104bytes with XMSDSK on board, Xmsdsk compressed of course. I have up to now been unable to track down the XMSDSK author but will retry tonight. Do you both want a copy, (of shall we call it) the Mark 3 version, let me know if you do? Unfortunately in respect of coding FM, I am useless but wait in antiscipation for the Dos progey U R putting together. Thanks all for your efforts and valued time. Regards, Dave

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Hi FM & Dave, Got the perl. Send the MK3. I started banging around with QBASIC & C but it comes right back to 'inline asm' and I can't figure out why it won't work. FWIW, even a trivial QBASIC prog compiles to 30~40KB. C is smaller. I posted this asm problem over a year ago. LOL no interest from any of the real programmers like SN, Chi Happens et al. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi FM & M2Go, Sent you both the latest Mark3 vers of "Ramsniffer" in Winimage SFX. Wish I could help you guys with the coding but I'm afraid I'm a lame duck there! I will mess with Mem.exe & see if it can be compressed further. Regards, Dave

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Dave, I got MK3 ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi all, Just Quickie to report that LZEXE didn't work with freedos mem.exe, states unable to compress, some you win, some you lose, LOL! Regards, Dave

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"some you win, some you lose" some get rained out ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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It's Me, Dave again, Two things: been experimenting again..... 1stly I was messing around with the controlling bat file in the following manner. 1) Grabbed a copy of Douglas Boilings BAT2EXE V1.5 & ran it on the .bat file with the hope of using M2Go's LZEXE program to compress it back to a reasonable sized .exe file, however to cut a long story short it bombed out again. So I did a really stupid thing & decided to run the newly created .exe on an XP PC within the Command Prompt Box & guess what it ran the menu ETC but crassed at: A:\SET RESULT=? out of environment space. My point here is that I expected it to crash but didn't expect it to run at all, but because of the conversion to .exe it runs at the command prompt of an XP PC. So with tweaking & the right programs maybe a win9x (Cus I don't think XMSDSK will run on NT systems but possibly other ramdisks will?) varient could be made either independant of what we have created or built in within the menu e.g. if this goto, if that goto, just a thought! It would make it more flexible but bigger etc. Another disadvantage of the bat2exe conversion is that the .bat is = 9Kb's but the new resultant .exe is 13Kb's a further sizing consideration. Maybe something to consider further down the line maybe? 2ndly - Do you think some form of minimal help file say a wordpad doc could be included to give the user guidance on the useage of ramsniffer? I know of programs that will convert text files to .EXE's 2. Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, If that's the BAT2EXE which has been floating around since the late 80s, save yourself wasting a few hunderd hours like I did. It's useless on all but the most trivial BATs. If it "worked" it's main value would be to prevent snooping/tinkering. NOT, as you discovered, make things smaller. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi Ron, I have been running your little gizmo "Ramsniffer" & I must say I like it, particulaly the user input for the percentage sized ramdisk, rather than the menu that is in what I call the mark 3 version (dos). Would we need to specify a minimum value say 10% (Timed out) the default you currently offer & say a max of 90% so between the figures of 10 to 90, then the user can indicate his own preference? I have looked at the text file also but as earlier I indicated i am useless at coding M2Go may be able to elaborate here. The other thought was Horst's WBAT has a Gui interface (not that I have had much experience in using it!)in dos but would be an additional overhead. I suppose the minimalist approach is only really applicable in the case of floppy disks where you want to cram as much as you can in a small space. Recovery boot floppies and the like, its a question of balancing our options I suppose, just thinking out aloud, what do you both think? Also you will be pleased to here that I will be unavailable for the next 2 days LOL!, family duties, visiting etc. Will catch up with you both later on, mant thanks though! Regards, Dave

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I think a plainbat is best. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, Sounds good to me, just pitching some options, any thoughts on the generic pathing etc? Anyway, I've gotta go, as in response 63 CYA Regards, Dave

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Hi all I'm Back, Whilst I was away FishMongers Menu items put me onto this idea. Instead of having the incremental selections 10% to 90% menu items, maybe (as in Fishmongers idea) it would be better to let the user select the percentage option within the given parameters of the 10% to 90% limitation. So how can this be done? I went onto the WWW. & searched for a SMALL Dos progey that would permit this feature (As I know M2Go likes 'em' small) & came up with a program called INPUT.COM (1176Bytes) complete with help Doc which in summary/theory allows this: The user is prompted for a reply to the keyboard input & that reply, say a number is placed in a %Variable%. The theory is that this VAR could be placed within the CALC387 script todo the calculation, however Calc387 needs to be able to do a percentages the calculation dependant on the input from the user. Lets just say for arguments sake the user inserts the default number 10, this number would be inserted within the VAR. ANS=10 %ANS% would need to be incorporated within the text script of CALC387 todo 10% of the prevoiusly determined number which is the total RAM size. It is really a question of whether CALC387 can calculate Percentages? In this way, instead of having the second sub-menu the user is asked to input the percentage size he/she wants with a no less than 8192Kb figure (Haven't even considered the MAX value yet!). Also it may be the case that INPUT.COM (Which is a smaller Program than CHOIX) could replace CHOIX.COM of all the menu selections, just a thought. What do you think M2Go & FM? I can forward the INPUT.COM & DOC to you for your Perusal if you want. Do you think this feature would be beneficial? Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, Please send INPUT. Yes, CHOIX may be a better way of getting the user input into a var. Once you have that, it seems not a prob for calc387. Look at this chunk: ######### :: let calc387 get size from vars @echo off set XMSavail=9000 set ANS=50 calc387 %XMSavail% * .%ANS% ########## If you used CHOIX or wahtever to set ERRORLEVEL, the ANS var would work about as well whether it was set to 50 or 5. BTW, do me a favor. [It's too much trouble to reboot in DOS.] At a DOS 7 prompt: echo %ERRORLEVEL% I think this is no go in DOS, but let's find out. BTW2 I'm continuing the work in c/c++ which, obviously, can handle all the calc etc. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, The INPUT.COM file inc of help doc has been sent Via www.yousendit.com, see your "E". Have a look and see what you think? Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, 1stly did the echo %ERRORLEVEL% then pressed <ENTER> this is the result output to screen: ECHO is on 2ndly I have got the INPUT.COM program working with intro details so now we can, with user input specifying a percentage specific ram disk of available Total memory however it needs cleaning up and there is no timed default in it. Good luck with the C/C++ route I'm afraid I cannot help there sorry! Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Also forgot sorry! the input.com program at this stage is being run in conjunction with Choix.com. Not sure we can dump Choix as it is used for timed messages e.g. 9 sec's etc. Suppose we could use Pause as we are relying on user input anyway. What do you think? Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, No email yet. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, Strange, I have resent Input.com File see how that goes? Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, One email got deleted because of the ZIP. If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2go, Will rename the .ZIP extension to .ZI_ & try that. I thought yousendit would be ok with file extensions on files. Anyway here's 3rd attempt. Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Do you remember I stated or hinted that a friend was looking at this "Ramsniffer" also Well he has come up with a kewl varient which will run in dos & within the Dos Box (9X) M2Go you will probably know him as roamer_1. I have asked his permisson & he has agreed that I can forward what he has done onto you. His method uses Horsts LMOD as a filter & uses MS Mem.exe which states could be adapted to the Freedos if you were so inclined. Anyway I will forward to you through yousendit.com as usual See what you think. It certainly looks impressive & he says that if you want to contact him you are at liberty to do so. Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, I got the RAMSZ.ZI_. I assume that ram106.ex_ is the compiled perl from FM. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi M2Go, No this is the version that has been compiled by Roamer_1 a friend that I said was also looking at "Ramsniffer". See what you think, he is looking at it from a different approach. It is not Fishmongers version. Regards, Dave

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Hi M2go, I have received further version from Roamer_1, he informs me that that the greater bat which determines the greater than less than calc breaks. So I will forward the latest version to you. Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave. I got 107. What about INPUT? ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi M2Go, Urgggh! I have sent the input.com file to you and apparently all indications suggested it was ok. I will try & find a link for you tonight it may be a quicker way of getting it to you. Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Here is the link to the input.com file as requested, scroll down the page displayed to just beyond half the total and it should be there. http://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/batchutil.html This is the version that I have adopted for use within the latest DOS version of "Ramsniffer". You can have a copy of that (Mk4) if you want but it will need cleaning up slightly! Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, Got the INPUT. The version of your stuff which I have as MK4 has this: 01-05-2006 19:59 74,108 RAM106.exe ##### I think we're rapidly approaching version mania. LOL ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2Go

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Hi M2Go, Ain't that a fact, (version mania!) suppose it is nature of the beast, tweak/improve this, tweak/improve that LOL!!. One advantage though if you/the user want to be able to input the percentage size of the ramdisk the latest version affords this. I suppose many would be content with an incremental percentages, horses for courses & all that! I will send it you if you would like to have a copy of it, let me know? Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, In your response No82 you mention this: "The version of your stuff which I have as MK4 has this: 01-05-2006 19:59 74,108 RAM106.exe" This NOT my stuff, this is the friend I asked to have a look at "Ramsniffer". He has come up with an alternative that uses Horsts LMOD & uses Greater.bat He will probably be known to to you as "Roamer_1" & uses computing.net from time to time. Hope this clears up the confusion. Regards, Dave

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Hi All, Just to update the "Ramsniffer" gizmo I have made a couple of alterations & these are as follows: I have written a small text HELP/README to accompany the usual files. I have also on the screen which previously displayed confirmation of setting up the ramdisk & size displayed, used Choix.com to ask the user a YES/NO question to accept the shown size & if no selection is made then after 60 seconds the ramdisk size is accepted. Thereafter the size of ramdisk is shown as usual OR if you select N (NO) you are redirected back to the Main Menu to select a new size you want! This will be the MK4 version fella's & I am reluctant to do any further tweaking until we see whether M2Go and/or Fishmonger come up with the "C" or Perl program as previously suggested, no offence intended! Keep us posted Guys on how you are getting on! If anyone wants the MK4 version "E" Mail me & I will send it to you. Regards, Dave

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Well Hi all again, Will be going on vacation from the 23/05/06 to 06/06/06 so will not be avaiable, Sorry! Here is the Mk4 version as discussed in post No 85 for "Ramsniffer", again please consider this a stop gap measure until M2Go & FM write their code to condense this routine (It is with grateful thanks to these individuals that this project has been possible). The fileset is as follows: I have exchanged TCALC for CALC387 & I have a built a routine that permits the user to select the percentage size to size the ramdisk with added feature to return to the main menu also the user is now informed on the same screen the size of Total Memory on PC. (Thanks to FM for his perl script that he previously produced) All this means a slight size increase as Input.com has now been added. [ALL FREEWARE - Currently hard coded to A:\ & No MS stuff to skirt copyright concerns] Here's a list of the fileset: 1)Controlling bat file TRAM.BAT(reduced from 11Kb to 8Kb's) 2)XMSDSK.EXE = Ramdisk (13Kb,s compacted from circa 20Kb's to 13Kb's [THANX M2GO]) 4)TFIND.COM = To replace MS Find.exe (4Kb) 5)MEM.EXE = FreeDos MEM [NOT MS MEM!] (12Kb) 6)CHOIX.COM = Replacement for MS Choice.com (4Kb,s) 7)CHANGE.COM = Can be made from Debug script (1Kb's) 8)SETVAR.TXT = Simple VAR script, homemade (1Kb's) 9)COL.EXE = used to extract specified columns of text (8Kb's) 10)INPUT.COM for user % selection (2Kb's) 11)CALC387.COM todo the MATH (1Kb's) ============================================= TOTAL if my math is correct 46.5Kb's. I now consider a resonable sized routine! Here's what I did: I made a boot floppy 98SE in this fashion. Format A: /s Then added Himem.sys, (emm386.exe removed), config.sys which is added. Then I used Gary Tong's IOPATCH V1.4 To patch the Io.sys for floppy emulation, to install on front end of CD.(sorry, Still haven't tested that yet!). I Loaded the fileset mentioned above, edited the autoexec.bat to load the TRAM.BAT & "Hey Presto" you should be in business! The floppy loads to a Main Menu with a further screen for sizing the Ramdisk. Dir R: illustrates the ramdisk setup, hard coded to R:\ so your last drive statement in your config.sys will need to be R+ e.g.(Z). If anyone wants a copy "E" mail me, maybe you can help with the batch scripting or suggest beneficial improvements? Bugs - I get a bad command or filename printed to the screen but it still loads OK. Things to do: Still takes to long to load! Needs some clever generic pathing to run from different situations e.g. CD (floppy) hard drive etc etc. It's still "Hairy & Clunky" but for me it works! How are you Guys doing M2Go & FM? Regards, Dave

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Hi M2Go, Added little Titbit I found in respect of your response No 45: "BTW, the xmsdsk would not load in a DOS box in NT. I booted in DOS 7 and it works fine." Maybe this maybe a workaround for you.... Windows NT can run MS-DOS programs through the use of the NTVDM, and the 16-bit command.com interpreter taken from MS-DOS 5.0 is still included to maintain application compatibility with programs that still expect it. The command "ver" returns the string "Microsoft(R) Windows DOS" when done from command.com, but "Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]" (or similar depending on the version of NT) when run from CMD. VDMs appeared with Windows/386 2.1 and are present in all subsequent versions of Windows. In the Windows NT family, they are however relegated to running DOS and Windows 3.x programs and do not participate in the implementation of the Windows API anymore. The Windows NT executable which is used to handle a single DOS (and Windows 3.x) environment is called ntvdm.exe. Description: Windows NT Virtual DOS Machine (NTVDM) for running 16-bit tasks on the 32-bit OS's (Windows NT, 2K and XP). Required if hardware on a machine with these OS's needs 16-bit DOS drivers. Hope this helps in some way???? Goto http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup/NTVDM.EXE/NTVDM.php Right click on NTVDM.exe & save to selected destination to download too (When U left click on it nothing happens). You can download it try it it might work for you? Regards as always, Dave

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Hi Dave, That NTVDM link is pretty much useless. If these guys make their pages much more fancy, nothing will get done. Anyway, I have NTVDM.exe in \winnt\system32 which is probably 'the right stuff', dated 30-10-2001; 387K. Zooming out for the larger view, glad to hear you're off on vacation. I'm totally lost with the inline asm in C/C++ [same goes for BASIC] but I'll keep at it. A perl script is about as 'compact' as it gets. Sadly, it requires either compiling or the install of the perl. For now, I think you're present approach of honing the BAT and using the best choices of EXEs etc is the way to go. Send us a postcard. Remember those? Maybe not. LOL ;*) ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go/FM Back off vacation! Been thinking again sorry! Going back a little while M2Go you wrote a Ramsniffer for Win2k if I'm not mistaken I think it was hard coded to creating a ramdisk at 70% of the total ram (Ramdsiz). I was wondering whether it was worth developing that a little further putting an extra menu item in the TRAM.BAT file that would, if exist M2GO.BAT would setup the 2K variation. If it didn't find the (M2Go.bat) install bat i.e. if not exist would redirect you back to the main menu. Certain files are common to both varients but others alas would not. The menu Bat would call either or & you would be then returned to the main menu upon completion or at least that is the theory. What do you think? The user could then have the option of including either or 9x or 2K versions or both maybe. I have also reduced the TRAM.BAT to 7Kb's but I think it could be rationalised still further by cropping/reducing the 1st screen, a lot of the info on the first screen could be included in the readme or help file? Also any joy with the NTVDM thingy? How are you getting on at your end FM? "Anything to declare," as the customs asked me on re-entry into the UK LOL!!! Regards, Dave

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Hi Dave, I keep getting this: C:\temp\->xmsdsk g: /y Invalid drive (increase LASTDRIVE ?). Setting lastdrive doesn't help. I'll get back to that later. I think your ideas about the bats/menus are OK. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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Hi M2Go, I do not recognise the batch script? This is not in conection with Ramsniffer is it? As it appears that you are setting up XMSDSK without specifying the size of the ramdisk you require (in Kb's), also you are nominating G: as your ramdisk drive? The only problem I am facing in respect of the 2K batch is that I will be unable to test it fully as I only have Win98SE & XP sorry! Have you or communicated with Ron AKA FM lately? Regards as always, Dave

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Hi Dave, Sorry for the confusion fasctor. The failure of xmsdsk to load in w2k CMD is an issue sepatrate from your batch. I haven't heard from FM for a while. Best regards, If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

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