Msg: 6780 *Conference*

08-29-96 16:47:32

From: RON WIESEN

To : ROBERT BENSON

Subj: REPLY TO MSG #6776 (OS FOR RAMPAK)

Don't have TS-DOS in ROM form, have it in disk form.  But I agree that it's
doubtful TS-DOS is a factor.  What I don't understand is this.  I use NPL for
backup of my RAMPACs to diskettes - you know, in case I muck up one of the
RAMPACs which I rarely do.  But on occasion I have altered the directory in a
RAMPAC and restored everything from diskette via NPL.  So NPL is used to
backup, and NPL is used to recover.  No mix of anything else (TS-DOS, FLOPPY,
etc.) with NPL so my backup process works.  Nevertheless, for each RAMPAC I
reserve two diskettes: one for .DO file backup, one for .BA and .CO backup.
 
Consider the diskette which has .BA and .CO files.  These were placed on the
disk media by NPL.  There have been times where I,ve used disk file transfer
utilities (usually TEENY, sometimes TS-DOS) to load one or two .BA or .CO files
into laptop RAM.  Such occasions have been where I didn't have the "right"
RAMPAC with me but I did have its backup diskette and a disk drive with me.
Rarely happens but with dedicated RAMPACs (work versus home use) and travel for
work purposes sometimes I get a brainstorm related to home while on the road
and have only the "work" RAMPAC along.  I'VE USED DISK TRANSFER UTILITIES UNDER
THIS CIRCUMSTANCE TO GET A "HOME" .BA OR .CO FILE INTO RAM FROM THE "HOME"
BACKUP (STORED VIA NPL) DISKETTE.  So how is it I don't get problems with a .BA
as you do???
 
My rationale for using two diskettes per RAMPAC is based mostly on the .DO
inconsistancy (EOF) we know about.  Secondary benefit is that a 202K diskette
capacity is sufficient as backup for a 256K (255K ignoring directory) RAMPAC
because even with a saturated RAMPAC there's enough .BA and .CO files to leave
the total .BA file capacity well below 202K.  Tertiary benefit is that the
backup diskette with a mix of .BA and .CO files can be used (those rare
occasions) by any disk transfer utility to obtain a few commonly needed files.
 
Guess I'll just have to grab one of those .BA files tonite when I get home -
just as a test.  Could my recollection infrequent past events be faulty???
WITH AGE MEMORY FALTERS, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHO SAID SO!