Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!agate!ucbvax!dog.ee.lbl.gov!ucsd!telesoft!jdart From: jdart@telesoft.com (Jon Dart @lone) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer Subject: Re: Good MS-DOS/PC-DOS BIOS Cookbook wanted Summary: Recommendations Keywords: book assembly msdos Message-ID: <1240@telesoft.com> Date: 24 Apr 91 17:50:37 GMT References: Organization: TeleSoft, San Diego, CA. Lines: 40 In article , mike@x.co.uk (Mike Moore) writes: > with my 'new' machine, so I'm looking for good manuals describing PC-DOS BIOS, > general cookbooks for DOS systems, how to use graphics cards direct from > assembly (i.e. how to do my own things without using BIOS calls) ... The two best BIOS books are: Advanced MSDOS Programming by Ray Duncan (2nd ed). Microsoft Press, 1988. The New Peter Norton Progammer's Guide to the IBM PC and PS/2 by Peter Norton and Richard Wilton (2nd ed.) Microsoft Press, 1988. Alas, both books contain errors. The definitive source is: IBM Personal System/2 and Personal Computer BIOS Interface Technical Reference. Also useful is: IBM Technical Reference - Personal Computer AT This last book is now somewhat dated, but contains source for the IBM AT BIOS, which is sometimes the only way to find out how things really work. The techical reference books are available only from IBM and are rather expensive. For graphics programming, the best book is Richard Wilton's Programmer's Guide to PC and PS/2 Video Systems. However, it won't tell you everything you need to know - in particular, it doesn't discuss clone video cards much. Hope this helps. -- Jon Dart | 5959 Cornerstone Ct. W., | jdart@telesoft.com Sr. Software Engineer | San Diego, CA 92121 | ..uscd.edu! TeleSoft, Inc. | (619)-457-2700 | telesoft.com!jdart