DOS ain't dead

UIDE etc. (Sep. 9) (Announce)

posted by Rugxulo , Usono, 11.09.2011, 01:53

> Johnson Lam has posted an updated 9-Sep-2011 DRIVERS.ZIP file, on his
> website at http://johnson.tmfc.net/dos/driver.html, which contains a "new"
> UIDE2, also updates to the other UIDE drivers.
>
> UIDE2 uses old-style "protected mode" caching, that was in UIDE until
> August, 2010. Try as I may, I simply cannot get the current all-XMS
> UIDE to run any faster in protected-mode (JEMM386 etc.). All of its
> cache tables are in XMS memory. This requires a slow Int 15h "trap"
> thru JEMM386, to "fetch" any XMS data. Absolutely NOT any fault of
> JEMM386, but due to Intel's too-complex 80386+ protected mode scheme!
>
> UIDE2 sets its binary-search table in memory beyond the driver, which
> avoids 50% of XMS accesses and saves time -- fewer Int 15h "traps" in
> protected-mode. As it uses more HMA or memory for its search table,
> UIDE2 does have cache-size limits, noted in the UIDE2.ASM file. But
> it is still up to 5% faster for protected-mode, and so UIDE2 is "Back
> in service!" for users who run JEMM386/EMM386 etc.
>
> I was also "unhappy" about UIDE-S running only 4 CD/DVD drives, since
> there may be a few "CD copier" PCs with up to 6 CDs. So, UIDE2 and
> UIDE-S now handle up to 6 CD/DVD drives! Any users who in fact have
> 7 or 8 CD/DVD drives can still use the "full" UIDE or the non-caching
> UIDEJR, which will run up to 8 CDs/DVDs (UIDEJR with its /U8 switch).
>
> UIDE2 and UIDE-S are still 7.5K-byte .SYS files, for "boot" diskettes
> or other space-limited systems. UIDE2 also handles the /N3 "No XMS"
> switch and sets the "UIDE$" default name if no CD/DVD drive is found.
> So, UIDE2 can be run with FreeDOS "automatic loader" scripts on their
> distribution CDs. (Not possible for UIDE-S, which now "barely fits"
> into 7.5K!).

Complete thread:

• UIDE etc. (Sep. 9) - Rugxulo, 11.09.2011, 01:53 (Announce)