Re: ProDOS questions

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <mnementhCtozqw.DCM@netcom.com>,
David R. Villegas <mnementh@netcom.com> wrote:
> I've been going through the ProDOS tech. notes and have a few questions:
> 
> Where can I get the _ProDOS 8 Update_ or any info for versions of ProDOS
> past 1.5?

There is a technote which lists changes in ProDOS and BASIC.SYSTEM up
to versions 2.0.1 and 1.5 respectively.  It hasn't been updated for
IIgs System 6.0.1 (P8 2.0.3) but the changes for P8 2.0.3 are listed
in the release notes for System 6.0.1.  I don't have any information
on 2.0.2, as it wasn't released with IIgs System Software.

The technote should be on ftp.apple.com.  I'm not sure what number it
is (one of the TN.PDOS.xxx files, and there aren't too many of them).

I've never seen a "ProDOS-8 Update" beyond version 1.4.

> And one of the tech notes mentions the following about ProDOS 2.0.3:
> 
>    o   The file's been rearranged again, so if you have a program that
>        patches the P8 file, it probably breaks now.  Please learn your lesson
>        and write a .SYSTEM program that patches ProDOS 8 in memory and not on
>        disk.
> 
> I'm using PC Transporter software version 2.0.2 and now that I have 4 drives
> hooked up to the PCT, ProDOS likes to hang or even crash once in a while.

This is nothing to do with the above note.  The PC Transporter
software doesn't patch ProDOS, except for the pre-loading of the
AEPC.DISKS driver (which is transparent to ProDOS).

It could be a problem with the SmartPort driver on the PC Transporter,
since P8 2.x will be using it for all calls (earlier versions of P8
will use the ProDOS block driver on the PC Transporter).

I haven't had any problems with one device (RAM disk).  The AEPC.DISKS
driver (that is patched onto the PRODOS file) hasn't been updated
since PCT software 2.0.0, as far as I know.

> (This only started happening when I hooked up the 4th drive recently.)

Sounds like a bug in the PCT firmware (AEPC.DISKS) or a problem with
your fourth drive.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand