Re: SHK -> DSK on a PC - problems with DSK_CAT, etc

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Mike writes ...
> 
> I have been attempting to restore some SHK files back onto a blank DOS
> 3.3 DSK, and am a bit stuck :
> 
> On my Pentium 100 and 486, the MS-DOS executable DISK_CAT causes GPF's
> (if run from a DOS box under Windows), or if I boot directly into dos
> and run it from there, it locks up the entire PC (so that a hard reset
> is required).  No output is put on the screen - just lockup or crash.
>

     Noticed the same thing when running in a Win95 DOS window and when running
under DOS after a "Restart in DOS".

 
> Also, when I run DSK_OUT or DSK_IN - for even a program like HELLO or a
> simple TEXT file, I get either an empty file, or a file with a few bytes
> of garbage in it, or else something that looks like a memory dump - not
> a file dump.
>

     DOS_OUT seemed to work okay in a test (running in a Win95 DOS window) to
pull out the HELLO program from a DOS 3.3-order .dsk file. The command line
used was ...

dsk_out a TNILUTIL.DSK HELLO HELLO.BAS

The HELLO.BAS file looked okay (as viewed by a hex editor).

 

     I don't know what's wrong with cat_out; you'd think any system of programs
which can extract a file would be able to do a CATALOG without bombing.


> I have tried a variety of DSK's and files and had no luck.
> 
 ....

     This series of programs seems to be for working with only dsk disk image
files. Since the docs for the programs are dated 1993, the programs probably
require DOS 3.3 ordered disk images. Fortunately, this includes most 5.25" disk
images.




> 
> If worst comes to worst, I will KERMIT the SHK's straight over to my ][c
> and run UNSHRINK from there, and then ADT the final disk back to my PC.
 ....

     That is probably your best bet.



Rubywand