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From: jimc@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: 640K-360Kb Boots Everywhere?
Message-ID: <5420@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: Tue, 7-Apr-87 12:24:31 EST
Article-I.D.: shemp.5420
Posted: Tue Apr  7 12:24:31 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 10-Apr-87 03:45:29 EST
Sender: root@CS.UCLA.EDU
Reply-To: jimc@CS.UCLA.EDU (Jim Carter)
Distribution: world
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 31

I got AST's book yesterday.  Wow!  MINIX is a monumental achievement.
I have a few questions:

1.  Will A 640K distribution boot on a 256K PC, and will there be enough
    free memory to run mount, ls, size and chmem?  The user can then adjust
    the sizes of make, etc. so they fit.  It is understood that the "C"
    compiler is too big.  I anticipate increasing memory to 640K and would
    like to get the "right" distribution, with cc, the first time.  If
    somebody has both the 256K and the 640K distribution, a diff file on
    the sizes would help in shrinking the 640K version.  Thanking in
    advance...

2.  In DOS, an AT-type 1.2Mb drive can read (and sort of write) 360Kb discs.
    Will the MINIX boot block do the same?  In other words, will a 640K
    360Kb distribution boot in an AT?

3.  Do I read kernel/floppy.c correctly, that if you do "mkfs /dev/fd0 720"
    on an AT drive you will successfully get a 720 Kb filesystem (with auto
    track spacing selection)?  And that, the NR_SECTORS being hard-coded at
    9 sectors per track, you aren't going to get 1.2Mb unless you recompile
    the driver -- which would be feasible?  It would seem prudent for AT-oid
    owners, who might have to change machines later, to get the 360Kb
    distribution and to make up a working 720Kb disc following the
    instructions in sect. D.5.

4.  Do I interpret C.3.2 correctly, that fsck can be run on any filesystem
    during system boot, but it can't be run as a command once MINIX is up?

James F. Carter            (213) 206-1306
UCLA-SEASnet; 2567 Boelter Hall; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024-1600
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