DOS 4.2

[w1k]

yesterday i found it in one old cassette.

dos42.zip

[Mclaneinc]

Sure I have it but thanks anyway..

[+Stephen]

Is that an earlier version of MyDOS?

[+Larry]

I would say yes MyDos. Looks like someone "customized" it. Here is a screen shot of MyDos 4.2.

 

A couple of trivia points about MyDos (from memory) -- the difference between MyDos 3.X and 4.X is hard drive support. The later 3.X versions supported subdirectories, and with the start of 4.X added 16 MB hard drive support. MyDos 3.X was just as fast as Dos 2.0/2.5, but the added hard disk support of the 4 series slows the access some. And alas, with every new feature supported, MEMLO moved up. To me, the biggest issue is the 64-file limit. (But in view of the 40-column screen and having subdirectories, 64 files is not unreasonable.) The 4.X versions prior to 4.5 (Marslett/Puff) were fairly buggy. 4.5 and its "children" are very capable releases. AFAIK, only one other "Atari Dos" supported hard drives -- Top Dos Professional. It is interesting, but I always found it cumbersome. If one doesn't care for Sparta, MyDos is still a very usable alternative.

 

-Larry

[w1k]

and here is XEX file, you can choose RAMDISK size

 

hint: see 8: directory

dos42.zip

[Mathy]

Hello guys

 

I'm sorry, but the DOS 4.2 mentioned by the TS is not a version of MyDOS. It looks like a (patched) version of Atari DOS. MyDOS started using lower cap characters in its menu's very early on.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

[+Larry]

Why do you say that -- did you look for code similarities in Atari Dos (or)?

 

I didn't look at the code, but the menu is very similar to MyDos. Atari Dos never had subdirectories and didn't have a "change configuration" as did MyDos.

 

Not saying you are wrong, but what is your evidence (other than a lack of lower case)?

 

-Larry

[Mathy]

Hello Larry

 

Yes, lower case. Plus the fact the MyDOS always has "MYDOS" in the upper left hand corner of the menu. I just checked MyDOS version 3.011 (which seems to be the only version of MyDOS 3 that I have as an ATR) and it already has lower case characters in the menu.

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

[a8isa1]

Why do you say that -- did you look for code similarities in Atari Dos (or)?

 

I didn't look at the code, but the menu is very similar to MyDos. Atari Dos never had subdirectories and didn't have a "change configuration" as did MyDos.

 

Not saying you are wrong, but what is your evidence (other than a lack of lower case)?

 

-Larry

Yeah, without yet trying it I also have to say this looks like a MyDOS variant, based on the following additional clues:

 

"DISKS: 1H" - H for high capacity

"8R" - integral RAMDISK

"1-8" - drive directory hotkeys

"D: = D1:" - current directory indicator

 

-SteveS

Edited July 14, 2013 by a8isa1

[+Larry]

Not to belabor this too much -- someone might think this is becoming like a "problem ordering..." thread...

 

I'm satisfied that it is a version of MyDos. A reasonable explanation is that it could have been WIP beta? (If it were a beta, it very well might not have had the "MyDos" title/copyright info.) Anyway, here is some additional info:

 

I looked at the code with a sector editor. I find the same text messages in the same places as MyDos 4.2 (but in upper case).

 

Here's a little table of the file lengths:

 

MyDos 4.0----Dos.Sys 34 sectors----Dup.Sys 46 sectors

MyDos 4.2----Dos.Sys 35 sectors----Dup.Sys 47 sectors

??Dos 4.2----Dos.Sys 35 sectors----Dup.Sys 47 sectors

 

To me, here is the "clincher" -- I took the MyDos 4.0 Ramboot.Aut file and copied it to the ??Dos 4.2 image as Autorun.Sys. Ditto for the 4.2 ramboot file. Then I set the dos up for a ramdisk and rewrote the dos files. Booted the image and the ramdisk sets up perfectly. What are the odds of that working correctly if this were from a different "family" of dos?

 

-Larry

[www.atarimania.com]

The program is probably just a hack, it wouldn't be the first title to be pirated and renamed. Considering this was found on a tape coming from Eastern Europe and no copy has been located elsewhere, I find it hard to believe this could be a beta.

 

--

Atari Frog

http://www.atarimania.com

[w1k]

i dont have any more info.. it was classic old tape from 80-90 years..

in ATR file i see some texts.. but inside is nothing, interesting

[+Larry]

Trust me, I knew I was being charitable...

-Larry

 

The program is probably just a hack, it wouldn't be the first title to be pirated and renamed. Considering this was found on a tape coming from Eastern Europe and no copy has been located elsewhere, I find it hard to believe this could be a beta.

 

--

Atari Frog

http://www.atarimania.com

[+Roydea6]

What was the first version of MyDos that was distributed as asm code so a user could assemble and change anything . This is probably just that someone had the assembler code and worked it the way 'HE SHE IT' wanted it to look for personal preference.

 

Larry your version 4.2 under the 'O' and return what are the options and are they similar to this version 4.2. Just wondering what the CONTROL ADDRESS(HEX) refers to ..

AND the format command 'I' has the options 'Y' or ('A').....

[+Larry]

Hi Roy-

 

AFAIK, it was 4.50 -- the first version released as "freeware." I believe that Charles released some earlier source code after-the-fact, and most/all can be found at Mathy's site.

 

Yes, the "Change Configuration" questions are identical. The banking control address could be inserted if someone had an oddball expanded memory setup. I've never had to use anything but the default for the XE. The 800 Axlon Rampower had a different mapping, so the choices are either (RETURN=default XE $D301) or $CFFF for the Axlon.

 

I have original docs for 4.1 which came with disk version 4.2. IIRC, I got this version with a Newell 256 KB XL upgrade. (?) My first MyDos was 3.07 about 1984 or '85.

 

-Larry

[1050]

It's not a beta, source code is not needed to do this quite easily, any decent disk editor could replace the text and just a little code search/reading would allow for a change in the screen color brought about again with a disk editor. Only a moderate skill set is needed too, a hacker's first tool is a disk editor for many good reasons.

 

The real "clincher" is the option N. LOAD MEM.SAV No other DOS has that function from the menu nor those same words - it just has to be MyDOS. I'm left to wonder why it's on a cassette and the intended purpose of loading it into memory like that.

 

Format still has the Y and A options, A is for Enhanced Density formats, the Y is for either SD or DD depending on how you have the drive configured either thru the O or the P options, or it's current state. Just in case that was a question...