Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rice!uupsi!sunic!dkuug!daimi!jt!pingel
From: pingel@jt.dk (Soren Pingel Dalsgaard)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer
Subject: CMOS read/write & CPU + CPU SPEED tester
Summary: How to read/write CMOS, find CPU type and speed
Keywords: CMOS, CPU, SPEED
Message-ID: <824@jt.dk>
Date: 21 Jun 91 08:10:55 GMT
Organization: Jutland Telephone Co. Denmark
Lines: 47

Hi everybody!

  I found a program the reads the CMOS of a 286+ machine, and (because it
was a bit buggy) took the information about the CMOS (sparsely written in
the source) and wrote another version, which I intend to turn into a device
driver that will show you system's configuration at boot time.

  I also have two different programs that will tell what CPU is installed
and test for the presence of a numeric coprocessor. These programs works
almost satisfactory, except that one of them sometimes call a 386SX a 286,
and the other simply halt the computer.

  Problem 1: The CMOS on a IBM PS/2 model 55 SX and the model 70 386 seems
             to differ a little in the CMOS layout. Century and harddisk
             type are two examples. 

  Problem 2: Any fool proof method of determining the CPU type would be of
             great interest. Whether there is a coprocessor or not, should
             also be tested. By the way: Is it possible to mix CPU type and
             coprocessor? e.g. 386 + 287 or 286 + 387 etc, or is it enough
             to test for CPU type and coprocessor, and then the coprocessor
             will be same type as the CPU?

  Problem 3: Testing for CPU speed (in MHz). Norton does this in the sysinfo
             tool, but can other people do this too? I though of dis-
             assembling some parts of sysinfo to see the method, and then
             rewrite a piece of code to do it, but I'd rather not. (copy-
             rights and the size of the sysinfo file are major reasons)

  Problem 4: Since all the information I have about the CMOS is from a
             PD program (which only read the CMOS), I would like to get
             some information about writing the CMOS as well.

Do *YOU* have the solution (whole or partial) to any of the above problems
then don NOT hesitate to e-mail any piece of information to me. If (and I
do have a feeling that it will) a usefull program is the result of this
request, I will dedicate it to the public domain, and you will be the first
to get a copy.

E-mail to the following address:     pingel@jt.dk
                                 or  pingel@daimi.aau.dk
                                 or  both :-)

Can't wait to read my mailbox next week....
   -pingel

"Whenever somebody mention the word 'association', I can't help thinking of
oranges."   -- my girl friend.