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Absolutely Correct. (Miscellaneous)

posted by Jack R. Ellis, 08.11.2007, 23:56

> If you mean decompression just into RAM, UPX is not needed. But if
> somebody wants to decompress the driver INTO A FILE, UPX is definitely
> needed.
Absolutely correct.

> About UPX and drivers: I've tried to pack some MZ-style DOS drivers
> (USBASPI.SYS, DI1000DD.SYS, ASPI.SYS) with UPX -- sometimes effect was
> unpredictable (especially with DEVICEHIGH=...); when 15Kb driver expands
> to 45-50Kb it can damage some UMBs. But in your case risk is minimal...
Also absolutely correct, and exactly the point I tried to make in my FIRST
post about UIDE now being offered in "packed" form. Users who load UIDE
through the CONFIG.SYS file, directly after DOS is booted and when it has
plenty of available memory, should have NO problems. Users who load UIDE
at a time AFTER the CONFIG.SYS file is run, when there may NOT be a lot of
"free" memory, may have to "unpack" UIDE and load the unpacked driver, to
avoid precisely the situation you have seen.

It should also be pointed out that this is an "operational" problem with
DOS, due to its trying to "fit" programs and drivers into the least amount
of memory that will take them. However, DOS was written BEFORE "packing"
programs came into general use, and it does not KNOW that a program may be
"packed". So in cases OTHER than when .SYS files load through CONFIG.SYS
i.e. when memory availability may be a problem, an "unpacked" program or
driver may be necessary.

I say again: My drivers are .SYS files, NOT more-complex .EXE files, and
they need only normal "packing"/"unpacking" like has been done for nearly
20 years by PKZIP/PKUNZIP, RAR/UnRAR, and UPX. My drivers do NOT need any
"relocation" and thus are NOT subject to any of the bugs listed or perhaps
experienced by others who DO load more-complex files. My drivers use a
very simple absolute-image format. That keeps them simple and reliable.

> P.S. I don't understand the reason for flamewar - sources are opened,
> everybody can make non-UPXed version.
Why the "flame war" [if that is what it is]?? You are free to draw your
own conclusions. Mine are that I am forced to "deal with" a man who is
DESPERATE to avoid ADMITTING that he made MISTAKES regarding my drivers
and their use of UPX!! You are free to ask yourself: If UPX did have
such "Horror of HORRORS!" problems, why would it in fact be as successful
as it currently IS?? SORRY, if some "poor guys" using more-complex files
than my drivers have had trouble with it. I follow the K.I.S.S. principle
and have had NO problems with UPX, and I will continue to use it.

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