Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!ucbvax!WATER.FIT.QUT.EDU.AU!i0046145
From: i0046145@WATER.FIT.QUT.EDU.AU (Lukacz Alex)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Multitasking (was re:Powermonger etc.)
Message-ID: <9012130059.AA08767@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 13 Dec 90 17:01:35 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Lines: 35

I've been having major problems with multitasking lately, anyone care to tell
me what exactly is happening or a fix?

1)  When using DiskMaster (V1.4) and NComm (V1.9) I often copy files or unarc
    just-downloaded files while online.  Trouble is, when I try to get a 
    directory (through the 1.3 'List' or 'Dir' commands) whilst unarcing is
    taking place, the disk drive managed to 'crunch, crunch' back and forth
    for MINUTES.

I think what is happening here is that the dir command is trying to get to the
tracks around 880 for the list of files whilst the arcing program is still
trying to unarc the program which would be spread over the tracks of the disk.

Now I think this is rather silly.  Surely one task should take priority over
the other, so the 'dir' could intercept the unarcing and get the list of files
and then let arc get back to work.

I have tried changing the task priority of 'dir' and 'list' but it doesn't seem
to have much (read: any) effect.

2)  When online a BBS or the VAX/UNIX, the text output to my monitor slows 
    down IMMENSELY if I'm doing disk-accesses at the same time.  For example,
    I'm looking for a particular file which I wish to upload.  I am certain
    it is on one of two disks sitting in my disk-mailer.  I wish to get a 
    directory of both disks so I can find out which one the file is on.  I
    change windows to the CLI window and then issue 'dir'.  Click back to the
    NComm window and SHAZAAM! - text output is slowed to an annoyingly slow
    rate.  This happens both at 2400 and 9600 baud.

I have absolutely no idea of what is going on here.


Any hints/solutions (no flames, send 'em to /dev/null) would be appreciated.

Alex.