Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!ria!uwovax!baer
From: baer@uwovax.uwo.ca
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Re: multitasking needed for an 8088 PC
Message-ID: <7885.27517aae@uwovax.uwo.ca>
Date: 27 Nov 90 01:27:25 GMT
References: <47366@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> <1990Nov25.005159.6136@xrtll.uucp>
Lines: 46

In article <1990Nov25.005159.6136@xrtll.uucp>, silver@xrtll.uucp (Hi Ho Silver) writes:
> In article <47366@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> v087mxgb@ubvmsa.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
> $I do a lot of file transfers on my PC (8088), and would like to do them
> $in the background. I have tried DoubleDos. This worked satisafactorily,
> $except that the transfer progress updates would constantly show up in the
> $middle of my other application's screen (and if using a text editor or
> $word processor, it would enter those number into my text).
> 
>    Offhand, two possible solutions come to mind:
> 
> - use Crosstalk for your communications needs.  It does background file
>   transfers.  Just keep in mind that it's one of the most awkward programs
>   known to mankind, so you may have some difficulty learning it.
> 
> - use Desqview as your multitasker.  It will run on an 8088.
> 
> DISCLAIMER:  I don't use either of the aforementioned products, and have
> 	very limited experience with either of them, so take these sugg-
> 	estions with a grain of salt.

I used DoubleDos ages ago, and recall the same problem.  I *believe* there
are some screen setting parameters that you can tinker with -- check the
DoubleDos manual.  I seem to recall having no trouble when the comm. package
I was using was Kermit.  Kermit takes up about 128k, which leaves 512k.  I
forget how much DoubleDos itself gobbles up, but this should leave you with
a nice 450k partition.   The trouble with Desqview on an XT is that the
program itself gobbles up a hefty chunk of RAM.  This is not a problem on 
an AT or 386 with LIM 4.0 memory -- the program can locate itself in 
expanded memory -- but on most XTs, there isn't that much memory left
for applications.  Usually around 435k (maybe a bit more with newer
versions of DV) total -- so if your comm. application eats up 128k
(many comm. applications require 200k+), you don't have much left for
foreground tasks.  

You can add an EEMS memory card to an XT to give Desqview more "room",
but I'd be careful here: 1) you actually have to "unplug" some of your
existing motherboard memory and 2) many EMS cards aren't fully 4.0 
compatible (even if advertised as such) and hence don't help much -- 
I fell into that trap 2 years ago when I tried to add an EMS card to my
old XT (suffice it to say I no longer use my XT).



Douglas Baer, 
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6A 5C2
Internet: BAER@UWO.CA    Bitnet: BAER@UWOVAX