README FILE FOR
PARALLEL PORT Utilities (c)SyDOS, 1992, 1993
Release 2.81 April 1993
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The files contained in this release are listed below with a brief
description of each. Additional information is available in your user
manual and on-line help files.
PAR.EXE
PAR is the device driver for your Puma Removable Cartridge Drive.
SYPREP.EXE
HELP
INDEX
SYPREP is the utility program that aids in preparing a new cartridge for
use by DOS. Note <ENTER> always selects a menu item, and <ESC> always
takes you back to the previous screen without executing the function.
The <F1> key provides extensive on-line help from any screen.
HELP and INDEX are associated files for on-line help.
NOTE:
HELP and INDEX must be in the current directory when you start SYPREP.EXE.
or else the program will report:
" No Help Found. End..." when you hit F1 key.
Even through the program allows you to partition your cartridge any way
you desire, we recommend that you select the "Automatic DOS preparation".
This will avoid drive letter assignment conflicts, when you use the
cartridge on other systems.
COPYSAVE.EXE
CSHELP
CSINDEX
This utility program is very useful when you need to copy files to/from
a SyDOS Removable Cartridge Drive. It is most useful, when you want to
copy files from one cartridge to another in the same drive.
CSHELP and CSINDEX are associated files for on-line help.
SYDRIVER.SYS
CONFIG.NEW
These files are installed by SYPREP.EXE during "Automatic DOS Preparation"
to create a bootable cartridge drive for compatibility with other SyDOS
and SyQuest products.
LOCK.EXE
UNLOCK.EXE
LOCK.EXE allows the drive door of your SyDOS Removable Cartridge Drive
to be locked, preventing accidental removal of the media. UNLOCK.EXE
releases the lock.
The LOCK and UNLOCK commands take a single argument which is the physical
drive index to which PAR.EXE is linked. You can determine this index
from the message displayed by PAR.EXE when it loads. For example, if
PAR.EXE loaded with the message:
Volume F Added on Drive number 0x81. Volume Name = xxxx_xxxxxx
Volume G Added on Drive number 0x81. Volume Name = xxxx_xxxxxx
then the physical address of your drive is 0x81 which corresponds to
the physical drive index 1. Thus you should use "LOCK 1" and "UNLOCK 1"
for your Puma volumes F: and G:. Similarly, physical drive address 0x80
would correspond to physical drive 0.
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QUICK INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Create a subdirectory on your hard drive and copy all the files from the
product diskette to that subdirectory. Modify your AUTOEXEC.BAT to load
PAR.EXE as the last statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, so that when
your system is booted, PAR is automatically loaded.
For example, if you want to keep the software in the \PARPORT directory
on your C: drive:
MKDIR C:\PARPORT create directory for Puma software
COPY A:*.* C:\PARPORT copy Puma files to directory
Add the following line to the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT:
C:\PARPORT\PAR
Refer to your User's Manual for details on options to PAR.EXE, particularly
if you will be using DBLSPACE under DOS 6.0.
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USING YOUR SYDOS REMOVABLE CARTRIDGE DRIVE WITH DOS 6.0
The utility software supplied with this release is compatible with DOS
6.0. The following summarize special considerations and cautions to
must be exercised when working with DOS 6.0. Please refer to the DOS
6.0 section of your User Manual for further details.
1. Remember to either comment PAR.EXE out of your AUTOEXEC.BAT or
uninstall it using the /U option before installing DOS 6.0.
After DOS 6.0 is installed, the driver can be reinstalled.
2. Using DBLSPACE:
Use the DBLSPACE Tools/Options menu to set your LastDrive value and
Removable Media count. This will determine what drive letter
PAR.EXE uses. Refer to your DOS 6.0 documentation and your SyDOS
User's Manual for details.
In order to compress a partition on your SyDOS Removable Cartridge
Drive, PAR.EXE must be loaded without the /D option. Afterwards,
PAR.EXE should be loaded with the /D option to prevent the DBLSPACE
LastDrive value from incrementing when compressed volumes are
mounted.
Use the "DBLSPACE /UNMOUNT x:" command before removing the cartridge
from your from your Puma Removable Cartridge drive (where x: is the
compressed volume drive letter). Data corruption may result if this
step is not done.
Use the "DBLSPACE /MOUNT x:" to access a compressed volume on your
Puma Removable Cartridge drive (where x: is the drive letter).
Remember that DBLSPACE creates a secondary Host drive for the
uncompressed volume. If you do not /MOUNT the volume, you can only
access the uncompressed volume on drive x:. This typically contains
the READTHIS.TXT file.
You must exit Windows to compress, mount or unmount any DBLSPACE
drives. Refer to the DOS 6.0 documentation for details.
The SMARTDRV program enables the read cache on removable volumes
that are mounted with DBLSPACE. You can enable the write cache
on your Puma volume to increase performance. If you do so, make
sure to disable it before unmounting the cartridge, or you will
corrupt your data. To enable write caching on drive x:, use the
"SMARTDRV x+" command. To disable write caching on drive x:, use
the "SMARTDRV x" command.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.