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TRADEMARKS/OWNERS

AddStor /ne 3905 Bohannon Orive

Menlo Park , CA 94025 Tel: 415-688-0465 Fax:415-688-0466

SupcrStor and AddStor are trademarks of AddStor Inc.

Other products mentioncd in this document may be trademarks of their respective companies and have been used for identification purposes only.

Copyright 1991 AddStor Incorporated

P/N 100000-01 Rev A Ali Rights Reserved

043091

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ANO ON THE TIIEORY OP UABlllIY, EVEN IF ADDSTOR ORAN AUIBORIZED DEALER HAS BEE'l ADVISED OF THE POSSIBll.lTY OF SUCH DAMAGE WITHOUr UMITING TI-IE GENERAlIIY OF THE roREGOING, ADDSlDR SHAU.. Nar BE UABIE FOR ANY pffi.,... SONAL INJlJRY OR DEA1H ARISING FROM THE USE OF THE PROGRAM, OR THE IN-ABll.lTYTOUSETHEPROGRAM, IN ANYHFAI.JHCAREORREIA1ED APPUCATION. YCU ACKNOWUDGE 1HATTHE U CENSE FEE REH.ECrS TIIlS AlLOCATION OF RISK. SOME STAll5 DO Nar AUJ:)W THE UMITA110N OR EXCLUSION OR UABIUIY FOR INCIDEN-TAL OR CONSB:)UENTIAL DAMAGES, SO TI-IEABOVE EXCLUSION MAY Naf APPLY TO YOU. GENERAL: This agrcemcnt shall be govemed by thc laws of thc State o{ California. This agrcemcnt represcnts ourcntin: undeistanding and agrecmcnt n:ganl:ing thc Program, Progiam c.opies and Rclatcd Materials and supetSCdes any priorpun:hasc oroei; advcrtising, communications or n:pn:scntations, oral orwritten. If any provision, orportion thcn:of, o{ this agrccmcnt shall be found to be unlawful, void or for any n:ason unenfon:cable, it shall be scven:d from, and shall in no WiI'f affect the validity or enfon:cability of, the n:maining provisions of this agrcemcnL

U. S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS LEGEND: This Program, Progiam Copies and Rclatcd Materials an: provided with RI31RICIED RIGHTS. ie, duplicarion, or disclosun: by thc Govemment is subject to n:strictions as set forth in subdivision (e Xl Xii) of the Rights in Technical Data and Computer Softwan: Oause at 48 CFR 252.227-7013. Thc Contractor/Manufactun:r is AddStoc

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AddStor reserves the right to makc pcriodic chaoges, enhanc.ements, revisions and alterations of any kind to the software andlor usas' manual without any prior notice to any person, institution, or organization.

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Table of Contents

Chapter One - Quick Start 1 Installation Procedure . . . . . . . 1 Preparing Fer SupezSt

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Chapter Four - SuperStor Utilities 15 Running The SuperStor Utility Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Preparing A Hard Disk For Compression . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Prepare Existing Hard Orive . . . . . . . . . 17 Creating A Mountable Orive . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Creating A Compressed Aoppy . . . . . . . . . . 21 SuperStor Reserved File Names ............. 21

Mounting A "Mountable" Disk File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Mounting A "Mountable" file Using SSTOR . . . . . 23 Mounting A "Mountable" File Using MOUNf . . . 23

Dismounting A Mounted "Mountable" Disk file . . . . 24 Dismounting A "Mountable" file Using SSlOR . . . . 24 Dismounting AMountable File Using DISMOUNf . . 24

Removing ASuperStor Disk ................. 25 Displaying Compressed Disk Statistics . . . . . . . . . 26

Chapter Five - Using Your Superstor Disk 29 Using Your SuperStor Hard Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Using Fixed Partitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Using Mounl2.ble Files As Orives . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

When Would You Want To Use A Mountable Orive? . . 29 Using Multiple Mountable Orives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Mountable Files and AUfOEXF.C.BAT . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Using The Mount Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Using Mount And Dismount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Adding ANew Hard Disk Orive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Using Your SuperStor floppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Using SuperStor Compressed Aoppies .. . . ... ..... 32 Backing Up Compressed Partitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Using Backup Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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Chapter Six - Compatibility Issues 35 Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Using SuperStor With Disk Utility Programs . . . . . . . . 35 Loading The SuperStor Driver In High Memory . . . . . . 35 Using SuperStorwith Memory ManagCIS . 36 Using SuperStor On ANetwork ............. 36 Booting Your System From A Aoppy Disk . . . . . . . . . 36 Using S uperStor With WD-7000 FASST . . . . . . . . . . 37 Using SuperStor With Hardcards . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Using SuperStor With Cache Programs . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Using SuperStor With PC Tools Deluxe . . . . . . . . . 37 Using SuperStor With Norton Utilities . . . . . . 38 Compatibility Between Operating Systems . . . . . . . 38 Using SuperStor With DR DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Using SuperStor With Canpaq DOS 3.31 . . . . . . . 38 Using SuperStor With MS DOS 3.X . . . . . . . 38 Using SuperStor With MS DOS 4.01 . . . . . . . 39 Using SuperStor With RAM Disks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Using SuperSt

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Appendix A - The SuperStor Driver 47 The Block Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 The Character J)ri.ver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

A ppendix B - Bootable SuperStor Disks Sl Bootable Partition Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Making A Bootable Partition . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Appendix C - Preparing SuperStor Floppies SS SuperStor Floppies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Preparing ASuperStor FloWY . . . . . . . . . . 56 Preparing A Mountable Floppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Preparing A Bootable Floppy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Appendix D- Glossary S9

A ppendix E - Technical Support 63

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2. Backup all important data on the disk drivesyou ioteod to compress with SuperStor. Cooverting your disk data to compressed data involves altering the structure of portioos oC your disk drive. While this process has beeo made 88 safe 88 possible, a disk or power failure during critical portioos of the cooversion could result in the loss ofdata.

3. Before you install SuperStor read Chapter Six, "Com-patibility Issues", to leam about special conditions which may be aJ>Picable to your installation.

4. H you have any copy protected software on a chive you intend to repare as a SuperStor chive, remove the software and re-install it after preparing your SuperStor drive.

5. Verify the integrity of'your computer system. In order to successfully install SuperStor, the internal structures of your hard disk must be consistent. To verify the structure of your disk, enter the DOS command

CHKDSK d: [enter]

where d: is the letter of the drive you wish to verify. H any errors are reported, they must be corrected before you can comress data using SuperStor. 'Consult your DOS manual for inf ormation on correcting errors found by CHKDSK.

6. You must exit any operating environment (e.g. Win-dows, DESQView, Software Carousel, etc) before install-ing or running SuperStor. Once SuperStor is installed and your drives have been prepared you may reenter your operating environment and use your disks just like you did before installing SuperStor.

lnstalling The SuperStor Software

2

To install the SuperStor Software, insert your SuperStor Distribution Disk in a floppy disk drive (usually drive A:) andstart the installation program by typing the following command:

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The installation program will then ask if you would like to select .. AUfOMATIC or MANUAL installation. Select tbe AlJfOMATIC In-stallation.

After the SuperStor Software has been installed, your computec needs to be restarted (Booted) so that the SuperStor device drivec is enabled by DOS. The Restart option will automatically reboot the computer.

NOTE: Some Computers have trouble with a "Software Initiated _Restart" sequence. H your com-puter does not respond after the Restart option is selected, turn off your computer systeni and power it back OO.

Compressing Your Orives To begin ccmressing your chive(s) activate the SuperStor Utility pro-gram by ty:ing

SSTOR [enter}

at the DOS command p:ompt.

NOTE: Read Chapter Six, "Compatibility Issues'', and Appendix A, " The SuperStor Driver", before preparing an existing drive. These chapters provide important inf ormation about configuring systems using SuperStor.

Preparing A Hard Disk For Compression The following procedure will convert an "Existing" partition to a Super-Stor Compressed Partition.

Hint:: If you Plan to convert more than one partition while preparing your system. Convert ali of your par-titions (converting your Bootable drive C last) then reboot your computer.

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No Additional Hardware-Required Since SuperStor does not require any additional hardware, you save valuable expansion slots, and you don't have to disassemble your com-puter for installation.

Installing SuperStor does not require you to know anything about jumpers, switches, or hardware intenupts. 1e installatioo process is very easy.

Flexible Configuration Options SuperStor offers the most flexible configuration options of any data comJX"CSSion product available today. You can compress your entire disk, or any portion of it, to maximize ease of use, com:ression ef-ficiency and system performance.

Expected Compression Using SuperStor

6

The exact amount of compression you achieve will depend on the data in the files you store on your computer. Files which use a limited num-bec of cbaracters or which contain repeated sequences of charactei-s will compress better than those which contain purely random data. Some typical COIDJX"CSSion ratios are:

Executable Program files Word Processing files Data Base files Spread Sheet files Video Image files CAD/CAM

1.4:1 2:1 2:1 2:1 2:1 3:1

Ratio 2:1 4:1 8:1 4:1 8:1 8:1

In addition to compressing the data in your files, SuperStor's file management techniques can save space on your disk because space is reserved in sector units (usually 512 byte) while a standard DOS disk reserves space in 2048 to 4096 byte units. This meaos that on files that are less than 512 bytes long SuperStorwill use 4 to 8 times less space on your disk, regardless of the data in the file.

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Specifications System Requirements In order to iostall and use SuperStor on your computer system you will need the following:

Hardware IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or 100% compatible 8086, 8088, 80286, 80386DX, 80386SSX, 80486 processors 640KB system memory Mnimum of 512KB available memory far SSTOR, INSTAIL At least one 5.25 or 3.5 inch floppy drive A hard disk is highly recommended, but riot required Software MS DOS 3.2 or later, 4.x or compatible operating system The resident device driver requires a mnimum of 32K bytes of

RAM. See Appendix A: The Block Driver for more detailed inf or-matioo.

SuperStorSpecifications Maximum number of SuperStor Partitions Maximum Partitioo Size

Version MSDOS3.3 MSDOS4.01

Physical 32MB

256MB Mnimum Recommended Partition Size

Physical lMB

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Logical 64.MB

512MB

Logical 2MB

Mnimum required free space to convert fixed partition lMB

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What Is lncluded 1 --:,~t

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In your SuperStor package you should have received:

User's Manual Registration card License agreement envelope containing

1 5.25 inch software disks 1 3.5 inch software disk

Both 5.25 and 35 inch versions of the SuperStor software are included in your package. The following files should be present in the software.

SSTORDRV.SYS SSTOR.EXE MOUNT.EXE OISMOUNT.EXE INSTALLEXE HELP.OVL README.TXT

If your package is missing any of these items picase cootact an Add.Stor customer service represer:.;.:ative.

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Chapter Three

lnstallation Installing SuperStor on your computer is a simple process.

The three main step; in the installatioo process are:

l. Prepare your computer system 2. Install theSuperStor software 3. Prepare individual disk drives f or compression

Preparing For SuperStor Installation The following step; should be taken before installing SuperStor on your computer.

Picase take time to read the Software License Agreement on the diskette envelope and compete the Warranty Registration Caed By retuming the Warranty Registration Card, you will be entitled to AddStor telephone ~istance, and will be informed about future product uwades.

Backup ali important data on the disk drives you intend to compress with SuperStor. Converting your disk data to com-pressed data involves altering the structure of portions of your disk drive. While this process has been made as safe as possible, a disk or power failure during critica( portions ofthe conversion process could result in a loss of data. __ . .

9

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-- ----------------~- - -------

Before you install SuperStor read Cbapter Six, "Compatibility Is-sues", to leam about special conditions which may be applicable to your installation.

If you have any copy protected software on a drive you intend to prepare as a SuperStor drive, remove the software and re-install it after preparing your SuperStor drive.

Verify the integrity of your computer system. In order to successf ully install SuperStor, the interna! structures of your hard cfisk must be consistent To verify the structure of your disk, enter the DOS command

CHKDSK d: [enter]

where d: is the letter of the drive you wish to verify. If any errors are reported they must be corrected bef ore you can compress data using SuperStot. Consult your DOS manual for infonnation on correcting errors found by CHKDSK.

You must exit any operating environment (e.g. Windows, DESQView, Software Carousel, etc) before installing or running SuperStor. Once SuperStor is installed and your drives have been prepared you may reenter your opezating environment and use your disks just like you did before installing SuperStor.

lnstalling The SuperStor Software To install the SuperStor Software, insert your SuperStor Disk in a flor py disk drive (usually drive A:) and start the installation program by typing the following command:

A:INSTALL

If you are installing f rom a floppy drive other than drive A, then sub--stitute that drive letter in the INSTALL command Any floppy drive will do.

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The installation program will then ask if you would like to select AUfOMATIC or MANUAL installation. The AUfOMATIC installa-tion will create a directory on your hard drive and then copy al1 of the SuperStor software into that directory. Then the system startup files will be modified, so that SuperStor is correctly installed each time you tum on your computer.

Most users will select the AUfOMATIC installation. However, if you want to be able to specify the name of the directory to contain the SuperStor software orto control the changes to the system startup files, select MANUAL installation. If you choose the MANUAL installation option, please read Appendix A for infonnation on the system startup file requirements.

After the SuperStor Software has been installed, your computer needs to be restarted (booted) so that the SuperStor device driver is enabled by DOS. There are two optioos on the Exit menu. Tbe RESTARI' op-tion will automatically reboot the computer. If the EXlT o(Xion is selected the program ex:its to the D0.5 promt. If the EXlT option is selected the user must manually reboot the comxiter in order to ac-tivate the SuperStor drivet.

NOTE: Some Computers have trouble with a "Software Initiated Restart" sequence. If your com-puter does not respond after the Restart option is selected, turn off your computer system and power it back on.

NOTE: A copy of the original CONFIG.SYS and AUfOEXF.C.BAT are placed in the C:V\DDSTOR directory. They are named CONFlG.OLD and AUfOEXF.C.OID.

The next step in the insta!! rocess is to run the SSTOR utility pugram. Before going on to this step it is necessary to understand how the Super-Stor data compression system works.

The SuperStor Data Compression System SuperStor offers the option of com:ressing an entire disk ora portion of one. You can convert the entire disk, or one oi"inore of your existing

11

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disk partitions (such as drive C or D) to a compressed drive. This type of compressed drive is referred to as a "Fixed Partitionn. When you comxess only part of a disk, a portioo of an existing uncompressed

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drive is set .mde as a file. The compressed disk file can then be in-stalled or "Mounted" as a new drive. Tbis type of compressed drive is referred to as a "Mountable Partition".

Using "F"ixed" partitions is the simplest way to begin compressing data on your system. If you prepare your entire disk as "Fixecf partitions, all existing files on your disk are automatically converted into com-pressed format, and you use your disk exactly as you did prior to install-ing Supe:Stor.

Because some files compress more than others, some users will want to comress a portian of their disk space while leaving sorne of their disk un-compressed. This can easily be done by :reparing selected existing drives as "F'ixed" compressed partitions, or by :reparing one or more "Mountable" partitions.

If you are an experienced computer user and wish to configure your system to obtain maximum performance, it is recommended that you first read Cha:ter Seven, "Performance Issues". If you are not comfort-able with the technical details of compiter operations, it is recom-mended that you follow the instructions in Chapter Four to prepare existing partitioos for compression. In either case, it is not necessaiy to initially prepare all your existing partitions as SupaStor disks.-r You -~ ~ , .

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can run the SuperStor Utilities at any time to convert uncompressed partitions to Supe:Stor disks.

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DriveC After Prepare "Mountable"

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mounted as chive E:

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Mounted as drive D:

13

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Chapter Four

Running The SuperStor Utility Prgram The SuperStor Utility program is a collection of routines to aid you in managing your compressed disk. Start the pugram by typing

SSTOR [enter)

at the DOS OODm111d xompt

WARNING: You must exit any operating enviroo-ment (e.g. Windows, DESQView, Software Carousel, etc) before running SuperStor. Once SuperStor your drives have been prepared and mounted you may reenter your operaring environment and use your csks just like you did bef ore installing SupaStor.

The main Menu of the SupaStor Utility pugram allows you to select one of the following functions.

Prepare. Formats and initializes a compressed "Mountable" or "fixecf' partitioo.

Mount. Mounts ''Mountable" partition.

Dismount. Dismounts "Mountable" partition.

Remove. Deletes SuperStor chive.

15

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Statistics. Displays statistics about SuperStor Orives. ~':& -... ~ _-;,,~~-

Help (Fl). Displays on-line Help about a selected item.

Exit (ESC). Retums you to DOS.

The following keys are used to communicate with the SupeiStor pro-gram:

Arrow keys. Use the arrow keys to select from a list of choices presented in menu and selection boxes.

Enter key. Press the enter key to execute the currently selected list choice or to end other p:ogram data inpuL

Escape Key. Press the escape key when you are p-ompted for input and decide that you do not wish to continue. The Es-cape key is also used to retum from a menu to the previous menu.

Fl Key. Press the F1 key to obtain)lelp on selected opera-tions.

Preparing A Hard Disk For Compression To xepare a drive for use as a compressed drive, select the PREPARE option in the SuperStor Utility program. Next you will be asked to select the type of compressed drive you wish to prepare. The choices are:

CreateMountableDrive CreateCompressedFloppy PrepareExistingHardDrive

If you are unsure which option to choa;e, you will p-obably want to prepare an existing hard drive. Select the desired option and press the enterkey.

NOTE: Read Chapter Six, "Compatibility Issues'', before preparing an existing drive._

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Prepare Existing Hard Drive If you choose to prepare an existing hard drive, the SuperStor Utility program will convert the existing, uncompressed partition of your choice (for example, drive Cor chive D) to a SupeStor compressed par-tition. After converting an existing chive to a SuperStor chive using this option, you will use the drive exactly as you did bef orc installing SuperStor. The only difference is that every time data is written to the drive, it is automatically comressed by the SuperStor software and every time data is read from the drive it is automatically decompressed.

If there is more than one hard drive partition on your system, the Supec-Stor Utility program will ask you to select the drive you want to coo-vert to a compressed partition. The available drives will be listed for you to select using the arrow keys on your keyboard. You may choose any drive listed.

After you have selected the drive to prepare with the arrow keys on your keyboard, press the enter key to begin the convasion to a Super-Stor drive.

Before the SuperStor Utility program can format your compressed disk, it must estima.te how much data will fit on the disk. The inf onnation entered at this step is used to set Ede space for the disk' s root direc-tOI)' and File Allocation Table. Unless you know your data is more com-pressible than 2:1 select the Standard option. If you know your data is more compressible than 2:1 you should select Special Purpose. Select-ing Special Purpose allows you to specify your expected compression ratio. It tells the Prepare function to allocate more space f or directories and FATs. The compression ratio selected is an upper limit for the combined comression ratio of ali the files on a SuperStor disk. The compression ratio for individual files is determined by the data in the file and can compress up to 8:1 regarclless of the comression ratio entered here. If you choose too large a compression ratio more disk space is reserved for DOS than is needed. Unless you plan to use the SupeStor disk exclusively for data which you know is highly compres-sible, selecta 2:1 (Standard) compression ratio.

The SuperStor drive preparation p:ogram will now convert the chive you selected to a compressed drive. If there are no existing files cm the drive, the conve.rsion process will be competed in a few seconds. If, however, you chose to convert existing files, the SuperStor program

17

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18

will verify the structure of the selected disk, defragment ali existing ~~ files and convert existing data into compressed format. Depending on -~~ .. the amount of data on the drive you are c:onverting and the speed of. -~ your computer, this process will take from a f ew seconds to several -~g-minutes. The completion bars in the cisplay information area indicate -~ how close to completion each operntioo is. i~'

WARNING: It Is not posslhle to lnterrupt tht pro- ,, gram during the conversioo. Aborting the conver- -~ sion by rebootlng or tumlng off power to your "Jt computer can cause a loss of data on the drive ~ being cooverted. .;ti; fJ. NOTE: The conversion pocess requires a minimum of lM bytes free space on disk. lf there is not enough free space the defragment program will abort the con-version process. Use the DIR command in DOS to verify tha1 at least lM bytes of. free space remain bef ore starting the conversion process.

NOTE: Before DOS will recognize an "Existing" drive which has been converted, your computer must be rebooted.

Hint:: lf you Plan to convert more than one partition while preparing your system. Convert all of your par-titions (converting your Bootable drive C last) then reboot your computer.

NOTE: Some Computers have trouble with a "Software Initiated Restart" sequence. lf your com-puter does not respond after the Restart option is selected, tum off your computer system and power it back on.

When the SupeiStor chive preparation is compete, exit the SuperStor Utility xogram. There are two options on the Exit menu. Tbe RES-TAR!' option will automatically reboot the computer. The EXIT option will retum the program to the DOS xompt. If you select the EXIT op-tion you must manually reboot the comxiter to activate the SuperStor Orive.

1 .:i

~ ~~ ;~ l _: ~_ -

.j' ' ~~- ).~_,

' ' ~ .. : ;J ;,,_,,,;..,_-,_..,,: ___ ,.. ____ ,_ -~-, .. ~---: -~"--~""'7:~#'.?i;"'~-:;.;:..o:t ttCSi?Z.,J 1 ( !;4.~ .. .' ~ ..

-

, =- -~~;;;:;;;::;;===-----

Creating A Mouotable Drive-"Mountable" drives are useful when you wish to canpcs.s only a por-tian of your files while leaving other files as uncompressed, or wbeo you wish to logically group certain files together. Anotber benefit of "Mountable" SupcrStor disks is that since the disk is actually a file on the host DOS

' - . .. -- . -.:,. __ .... ---- . ,,.,.,:.....-., ~ -

__......~ ---------

20

space on your drive. This allows functions such as PCTOOt.SMinor to function to work properly. It also allows you to add new device drivel'S and malee changes to your AUl'OEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files without any problems

The program will then display the total amount of free space on the disk and will ask you how much space you would like to dedicare to tbe SuperStor "Mountable" disk file. The free space reported and the file size you enterare both in units of 1 KB (1024 bytes). So, to make a 4 MB file you would specify a file size of 4000 KB. Remember that this is the size of the file on the DOS disk and tha1 the resulting Super-Stor disk will be about twice as large.

NOTE: If you are using DOS 33 and the size of the file is 16MB or greater, you must set the MAXSS =1024 switch on the SuperStor command line in CONFlG.SYS. See Appeodix A for more in-formation.

Before the SuperStor Utility program can format your compresscd disk, it must estimate how much data will fit on the disk. The information entered in this step is used to set aside space foc tbe disk's rocx direc-tory and File Allocation Table. Unless you know your data is more com-:ressable than 2:1 select the Standard optioo. If you know your data is more compressable than 2:1 you should select Special Pwpose. Select-ing Special Purpose allows you to specify your expected compression ratio. It tells the Prepare f unction to allocate more space f oc directories and FATs. The compression ratio selected is an upper limit for the combined comiression ratio of ali the files on a SuperStor disk. The comiression ratio for individual files is determined by the data in the file and can compress up to 8:1 regarciless of the com:xession ratio entered here. If you choose too large a comxession ratio more disk space is reserved for DOS than is neecled. Unless you plan to use the SuperStor disk exclusively for data which you know is highly compres-sible, selecta 2:1 (Standard) compression ratio.

The final task in creating a mountable SuperStor Disk is to eoter the name of the file which will contain the SuperStor Disk data. You can select any valid DOS file name but you will probably find it beliul to select a name which suggests the grouping of files on the disk. For ex-

.----- --- a- - .1-- ______.....~ . -

.:~~--$1---- __ .., - .~ ..... --~ --"- .. . ., ... . -.

-...:~ -- .;..,.;;.---.. -

ample if you are aeating a SuperStor disk that will primarily contain word rocessing files, you might choose the oame WORDPROC.DSK.

After acatlng a mountable SupeiStor disk, it must be mounted before you can access the disk. You can either mount the disk now while you are already in tbe SupeiStor Utility rogram or you can mount the disk Iater, using the Mount command More information oo mounting SupeiStor disks is included in the chapter titled "Using Your SuperStor Disk".

NOTE: You may want to include Mount commands for your "Mountable" files in your AUfOEXEC.BAT file so they are already motmted each time you reboot your computer. An exampe command line is shown below.

MOUNr C:\WORDPROC.DSK d:

This command would mount tbe "Mountable" file WORDPROC.OSK on drive C: as SuperStor drive d:

Creating A Compressed Floppy ASupeiStor floppy is actually a floppy containing a "Mountable" file. That file can then be attached to the SupeiStor driver by using the MOUNT command or by selecting tbe MOUNT option in the Super-Stor Utility program.

After selecting the "Create Com:xessed Floppy" option in the Super-Stor Utility program, the p:ogram will ask you to select the DOS drive on which to create the compressed disk file and will list the available floppy drives. Select the drive you wish to contain the compressed disk file. See Appendix C - "Preparing SupeiStor Floppies" for furthec inf ormation on SuperStor floJ'Pes.

SuperStor Reserved File Names The f ollowing file names are reserved and should not be used to name "Mountable" files on "F'ixed" drives. Tbe SuperStor driver looks for these names and will take special actioos based on these file names. See the discussion on bootable floppy disks and "Mountable" files on floppies.

21

--~_........ ....... ..... ,---~~. ;.;~ ~___...c .... ~-~~-~.- :: :..-:-..-....;:: ,. ~ ..... ~ .. ;....:_----:~ .. -~ _.,_-- _______________________ ,,.,.

22

SSPAKI'SS.ADD BO

. ---~ ......... . ----- - -- ~--~- ,-,- :, ~~::a:: -- -- 2 . < "-- -~ ..___

---- -- .. ~- -'"- --~- -~~--"'"!

24

Dismounting A Mounted "Mountable" Disk File When using multiple "Mountable" files wbere each "Mountable" file represents a different application's data, you might want to dismount one application's "Mountable" file and then mount the second's "Mountable" file bef ore starting the second application. (See also sec-tion on Using Multiple Mountable Orives in Cbapter Five.) You should Dismount a "Mountable" file wben you want to backup the compressed file.

There are two ways of dismounting SuperStor "Mountable" Orives. The fir5t uses tbe SuperStor Utility (SSTOR), the second uses the DIS-MOUNT program in tbe Superstor Distribution Disks.

NOTE: It is not possible to dismount tbe currently active drive.

Dismounting A "Mountable" file Using SSTOR After selecting the Dismount command from tbe SSTOR menu, you are prompted to select a mounted ''Mountable" file drive letter from the menu if there is more than one mounted file. The selected file is then dismounted.

Dismounting A Mountable File Using DISMOUNT To dismount a "Mountable" file using the Dismount command, type the following command line at the command prompt:

DISMOUNTd:

Where d: identifies a SuperStor mounted drive letter.

The DISMOUNT command can also be added to a batch file.

.~ .. -- - -~ .. -~ - -- - . - ..

-- - ----------""-'-~~---------------

Removing A SuperStor Disk The Remove command will cismount and delete a SupeiStor "Mount-able" file or it will delete a SuperStor "F'txed" partition.

WARNING: Removing a "Mountable" file or "Fixed" partition will delete aU data contained in the "Mountable" me / "Fixed" partition. Make sure you have backed up any data you want to keep before selecting the Remove option.

NOTE: It is not possible to remove the currently ac-tive drive.

25

'~

~'11! \

. -

;::f:L Ir

High

26

1 - ........ - . . ... . - - - -- ~ ...... -- - ----

Displaying Compressed Disk Statistics Selecting tbc Statistics ortion from the SS10R menu displays the com-prcssion statistics about a compressed "Fixed" or "Mountable" parti-tioo. If more than onc SuperStor partition is mounted you will be promXed to sclcct the partition Cor which you want the statistics dis-played.

The Compession Statistics display shows the logical size of the Super-Stor disk, the actual physical size of the partition, the Compression Ratio anda graph showing the number of DOS sectors stored fu each disk clustec.

Orive E Comxession Statistics

SS10R Bytes Used: SS10RFree(est): SS10R Total (est): Actual Bytes Used: Actual Free: Actual Total: ~J

Compression Low

Compression Ratio =2.2:1 Space Saving =54.5 %

Compression Statistics display

15614157 9306112

24920269 7097344 4653056

11750400

-~ ~1-

-~~z. ~f

.-:-.._;::-~~=~

. ..... ,,.

~~~ ..... ~

._.~ .:::

}l~-~-r.~ . . ..:'"!:. . . :.

-,_-~ {~ :~?tt -~ :;: ,-,:;-

j.: .,~

:}: ~~~;

.. ..

. t .. : t- ~~- . t!JE: ;-~~3,~..;,...~,------- h~ ... . ~ - ._ .,. p -~ .., w 'TT;;:: r.---,,cnr== ...._

- -- SSTOR Bytes Used is the total numberof bytes allocated by DOS to store data 00 the compressed Orive. This numbec is calculated bY mul-tiplying the number of clustcrs allocated by the cluster size in bY~~

SSI'OR Total (est.) is the total nmnberofbytes theSupeiStor Driver estimates can be stored oo the co~ drive. This nmnber is initial-ly 2x (3x, etc) the piysical size of the drive, depen

,:...,....;.. ... .-_..-~~-~-- ~ - . ; :~.-- .- ...... -::_ . ................ --- ----- _:.o:_, ; .. __ _ _.,, -h ...... ... . _ .

28

sector is used to store orie i5os Cluster (DOS Ousters are in units of 16 sectors). On the histogram shown, the vertical over the lettec H rep-resents 16:1 compression. Vertical units overthe ccnterposition rexe-sent 2:1 compression, and units over the letter 'w' in "Low" represent 1:1 orno compression. 1he Histogram shows more data was com-pressed with a 16:1 compression ratio(the bar over the H) than with a 1:1 compression ratio (tbe bar over the 'w' . . Tue information in this chart may be useful in tuning your system. See Cbapter 7, "Perfor-mance lssues".

File by File Compression Statistics

To Oieck the compressibility of subdirectories and files, use the SSDIR Command

At tbe .DU5 Prom~ type

l. SSDIR - For statistics of the whole directory. 2. SSDIR Subdirectory - For stats on certain Subdirectories

3. SSDIR Subdirectory 'f"tle name xxx - For Stats on certain Files

O Use a /P at the end of the command line to pause between screens.

. ~ - ... - ~ ...... =----~~,_-.... ... ..... . .... _. - _

~; .-:""' :-:::r -~">

---

30

2. With a floppy. This allows you to store twice the data on each floppy.

3. On a Fixed, uncompressed partition. Using "Mountable" partitions allows you to keep

some of your fdes compressed and others uncom:ressed. This can help you tune the performanceof yoursystem.

Groupingdataon"Mountable" compresseddisks (such as a spread sheet disk, word processing disk ... etc.) allows foreasy backupof thesegroups of files as well as storing each group of files in its own file cabinet. ~ When using DOS 3.3, by keeping the physical partition size under 16M Bytes you can leave the

sector size at 512 bytes. This provides f or better performanceandabettercompressionratiowhen using small files.

4. On S but the physical file system is dif-f eccnt from IX>S (WD 7000-FASST and RAM disks for example). This allows you to use SuperStor anddouble the amount of data stored on disk subsystems which are not compatible with the S upezStor "Prepare Fxisting" function.

Using Multiple Mountable Drives When you have organized your hard disk with multiple "Morintable" files you must set the SuperStor driver /MAXMOUNf =NN parameter on the SuperStor driver line in the CONFlG.SYS file. You should set the NN parameter to one more than the number of "Mountable" files you pan to have mounted at one time. The extra drive is provided so you can mount a floppy or other "Mmmtable"' file without first dis-mounting one of your "Mountable"' drives.

This sampe SuperStor command line in CONFlG.SYS

DEVICE=SSTORDRV.SYS/MAXMOUNT =i!

r~

~~ .....

., . -:..1i...:.--.:.-~~~-- .. - - 7""f -.- :1":.-.1 :.:;..- ... .1-----~- - --- ... -- ....... ~.- -~.:..:- ~ -------~~-- . ~i -~~ ... ===-==="""'==""'~~

provides for one mountable drive that you can mount from your AUfOEXEC.BAT file and an extra "Mountable" file which you can use to mount a SuperStor floppy.

Mountable Files and AUTOEXEC.BAT The next thing you should do for each of the "Mountable" drives which you pan to use each time you boot is pace a MOUNT command in your AUI'OEXEC.BAT file to make the "Mountable"' drive accessible each time you boot. An example of the command line is shown below.

MOUNT C:\WORDPROC.DSK F:

The above command line would mount the file C:\WORDPROC.DSK as drive F:. The "Mountable"' drive letters are displayed on the saeen when the SupezStor driver is loaded during the Boot process.

NOTE: Each Mount command in your AUTOEXI;C.BAT file will inaease the size of the SuperStor driver by 4K: i.e. you will have 4K bytes less memory per Mount command available for your applications.

Using The Mount Command The Mount command is most commonly used in your AUfOEXEC.BAT file to mount "Mountable" partitions you use regularly. For example, if you keep your word rocessing files in a "Mountable" file, for exampe WORDPROC.DSK on drive C you would probably want to include the following Iine in your AUfOFXEC.BAT file.

MOUNT C:\WORDPROC.DSK d:

Where C:\WORDPROC.DSK is the "Mountable" file and d: is a Super-Stor drive letter.

If you have selected multiple "Mountable" drives using the MAX-MOUNT parameter to the driver (See Appendix A) you may want to include more than one mount command in your AUI'OFXEC.BAT file. However, if you have decided to allow only one "Mountable" drive in

31

.......,_,.. ... ... -- --~~eJI.~ ------,..-- -- --- - ...

1

-=..=..::=:=::.:::.=..=.~:. ~=-. . - l --

your SuperStor configwation you may want to acate several batch files ~ shown in the following example to start individual applications each with their own "Mountable" file.

U sing Mount And Dismount In some applications you may want to change the "Mountable" file to select the data and executable files for a new application bef ore it starts. The following example assumes you have acom:ressed ftle WORDPROC.DSK oo your C: chive. The following batch file could be used to start your word xocessor.

REM DISMOUNT MOUNrABLEFilEATrACHED TO E: DISMOUNTE: REM MOUNTWORDPROCAS DRIVEE: MOUNT C:\WORDPROCDSK E: REM MAKE E: THEACilVEDRIVE E: REM STARf WORD PROCESSING PROGRAM WORDPROC

Adding A New Hard Disk Drive You can add another hard disk chive at any time to a system that ~ SuperStor in.stalled. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for hard disk installatioo. Then prepare the new chive's partitiom using SSTOR to acate SuperStor "F"ixed" or "Mountable" partitiom oo the new drive. The only eff ect on your system is the p:>SSible re-assignmeot of disk drive letters. The reassignmeot of drive letters is done automat-ically wheo you add a oew hard drive by DOS.

If the new hard drive requires a special driver, you may need to recon-figure your CONFlG.SYS file. See Apx!ncix A and B.

Using Your SuperStor Floppy

32

U sing SuperStor Compressed Floppies You use a SuperStor Compressed Floppy just like a regular floppy ex-cept it must be mounted bef ore use. You can change the com:ressed floppy while an application program is running provided, the floppy

__ was prepared using the SuperStor ~parc F.xisting optioo. Each time a floppy is changed it is automatically dismountOO. TbC SuperStOrdrlver

--- ..:::--- -i - , : ... . . ,. . ' :; .... ,:, ... - -----------~~= __ .. :;----. .~-!~.:-"-~:--,= - .........:.11 .,. - -- r .... .. - .. ..... ....

will automatically remouot a changed fio)py if the "Mountable" file SSPARI'SSADD is preseot on the new floppy disk.

See Appendix C f

. ~-.-~ .. - ~--.=.::r--~~

- --- . - . -;e:,, nr= u t::=

34

l. d: Select Orive to backup.

2. CD \ Go to Roar of partition. 3. BACKUP ds:. dd: IS where ds: is source drive

letter and dd: is destination SupeiStor Orive letter.

One advantage of using "Mountable" file partitions is that you can BACKUP to uncompressed floppies using compressed data. This will double ( depending on compression ratio) the amount of data stored on each floppy in the backup set. Backup; created by backing up a "Mountable" file are restorable on machines using the same DOS level, however only machines using SupeiStor will be able to~ the data in the "Mountable" file. The following example shows how to backup the "Mountable" file WORDPRQC.DSK.

l. Dismmmt the partition you want to baclrup using either SSTOR or the Dismount command

2. d: Select drive that holds "Mountable" file. 3. CD \ Go to ROOT of partition. 4. BACKUP ds:\WORDPROC.DSK dd: backup the

"Mountable" file WORDPROC.DSK on drive ds: to the destination floppy dd:.

UsingBackup Utilities The above procedures for backing up to floppies also apply when ming backup utilities , i.e. PCIOOLS Backup, Fastback, Backit Remember if you are backing up to a Mounted floppy drive you should tum the backup utility's com:ression oXion "Off". If you are backing up toan unmounted floppy drive, you can tum the backup utilities compression "off" or "on" depending on your pref erence.

Remember when backing up to a mounted floppy that the backup des-tination will be a SuperStor drive lettec (i.e.

' '

...... ----- ~- - ~ . ------,..,--~.~=~.-....-."-~ ;~:~:.-.. ;::-.; .,.,Mr ........,, r .. - - ...

36

,.

Using SuperStorwith Memory Managers SuperStor is compatible with ~popular memory management software products on the market today. In miez' to load the SupeiStor drivec into the high memory area between 640K and 1MB the memory managec cbiver must be Ioaded fust in your CONFIG.SYS. Tbis meaos that the SupeiStor cbiver should be tbe second line in your CON-FlG.SYS file. H you expericncc any cooflicts by changing the :>00-tions of the SupeiStor cbiver and tbe memory manager cbivec.

SuperStor is not compatible with the QEMM "opimize" command

U sing SuperStor On A Network SuperStor doesn't currently support operating systems other than DOS. It will co-exist peacefully with other operaling systems n their own disaete partitions.

SuperStor can be used on W

~-~~ ~-~: -.~: .~:.. : .. :- ... -:........ .... -- .... -- -- - ' . . . ~ .... -.. .. , ~ .. ~.- __ _ , _ _._. - --

38

----- ----

Using SuperStor With Norton Utilities SupetStor is very compatible with The Norton Utilities except for the previously noted defragmentation part of "speed disk" and disk doc-toc. However, some functions within The Norton Utilities do not n:c

- . bdorc thc Supc:iStor Driv~ On a Bootablc Cartridgc thc Bcmoulli Driver must be in the uncamrc:sscd pmtition aloog with OONFlG.SYS and thc SupcrStor driv~ Thc fust two lincs of thc OONHG.SYS file should be as shown Jelow for a system with one or two floppies anda

_ Bcmoulli ~ dve._ (See AA>endix B.) ,X _:--- .

. ~.-~ ::_;'=;:-::.;:;.. - ~ - .

DEVIcERCD.SYS DEVICE-ssroRDRV.SYS

. thcJ ~ ~~~ -~ ~ "Mountablc" or ~isting plrlitiom. - ,,.; - ,... :~-~~ ~-Riio Hoi~ .. _'Ji.,.._;.;;-..,.: ,i.,;:-,;; _ - _ '1!'

!(

. 1 ............... ~ ...... _ ..... ___.. ......... ~- " - .,- .... ' .~ ........ ~..........,_. '"'""."'- -......... --.. . ,_,,. . ..._..--.:J ..... : -::::::;::::::. - -=--v: ~

~~~~I.~~:_~-

---~,:;;P<

44

~=~:~_-/. :. ........ .;.: ~ 11 ' bQjf ' tt . l'.'~-": .. :.:----.C:::::.:.:::...-~ _____...

Most of the additional time is spent doing processor intensive calcula-tions. 1\vo factors aff ect this speed. The first is the speed of the proces-soi: The f aster the processor, the less any delay will be noticcd by the user. The second is the compressibility of tbe data. Highly compres-sible data processes f aster than uncompressible data.

Overall, SupezStor read operations are faster than write operations. Write operatioos are slower because the "FAT' and "Directory" struc-tures must be read and written and because the compression algorithm takes longer than the decompression algorithm to execute. Whereas read operations are faster because the read operation only needs toread tbe FAT, directory, and data and execute the decompression algorithm.

Applications . Most com.mon compiter application5. spend most o their execution time processing data which is stored in memOI}', only occasiooally transfeni.ng data to and from the computer's cfisk drives. Word ~ing and s:read sheet rograms are examples of this type of "xocessor intensive" applicalioo. Other applications spend a much highec percent-age of their cxecution time transfening data to and from the cfisk. Ex-amples of tbesC "

~ ,....._.,.. ~--- - - ! . ..:. ..;.: _.,;.,. .. ,,u~~-t',.-~--- --_. .. .- .7_-:.- , ,,. .........._~ ~ .. ~: . .r...-J. ..:. .--- ' --:-==_ - ,e-~-'--

46

Small DOS Partitioo. Malee a small DOS physical partitioo (2 to 5 MBytes). Keep this parti-tioo uncompressed. This will speed up your boot process and malee in-stalling new applicatioos easier. (You probably woo't have to manually change your CONflG.SYS and AUfOEXEC.BAT files.) In this parti-tion keep your boot files, DOS, disk drivers (SupeiStor), memcxy managCzs, CONflG.SYS, AUI'OEXEC.BAT, etc.

Note: You will now be installirig your applications on a drive other than e

Large Application Partitioo Malee large Xiysical application partition(s) up to 32MB for .DOS 3.3 or 256MB for DOS 4.01. Keep your executable files and data ftles for processor intensive apXications in compressed partitions. Keep data fes for disk intensive apXications and temporary files in uncom-pressed partitions. The easiest way to ac.complish this is to use "Mount-able" partitions.

Note: Wben using MSDOS 3.3, keeing the l~cal sector size at 512 bytes will provide the highest per-formance. This is accomplished by keeping the physical partition size at 16 MB or less.

This method of setting up your disk is a bit more complicated than using one or two "Fixed" DOS partitions, but it gives you the flexibility to tune the performance of your system.

__ ;.,:

- -,

- ... ~- . - ..... l.

.:t' - - ,; ... #. ,, ..... .......,._.~ ... ->:::"'~-.,..._ ... :::J .. ;,. .. , e. .,., .. ff... .. ~.~:.'...;~: ..... '( ' 1111 ,,__,__.:::-. --.::.:.=------'---- llltt" . .-... . ------.::::... ----------- ;,wiii4 --

AppendixA __,,=-=''""' ' - The- SuperStor Driver

In order for the SupeiStor Driver to be activated in your system a DEVICE= command must be included in your CONflG.SYS file. This line must be the firstline in the CONflG.SYS file. The ooly ex-ceptioos to this rule are when your hard disk subsystem requires a driver to ta1k to the hardware. (e.g. WD 7000-FASST, . etc) orwhen your memory managec must be loaded first so the SupeiStor driver can be loaded into high memory.

Only the SupeiStor Block driver is specified in the OONflG.SYS file for SuperStor compressed systems. The SuperStor Character driver SSBOOT.SYS is automatically installed if needed by the repare process. You must never include it in your CONFIG.sYS me.

The Block Driver The Block Driver manages your compressed volumes. It automatically detects SuperStor Fl.Xed partitions and attaches (mounts) them during the boot process. The drivec also allocates chive letters for mountable drives based on the /MAXMOUNT switch on the driver command line. The ''Mountable" drive letters are displayed during the boot process. The Block Driver also detects when a SuperStor floppy has been changed and automatically remounts the changed floppy.

The Block Driver occupies a minimum of 28K bytes. The Block

!

;111

mr

Driver will increase in size by about 4K bytes for each fixed or mount- .,,-. able chive allcx_:ar:ed in y~ system. It will als~ increase in size by 8K ! : bytes for each mcrement m BUF'SIZ (Buffer S1ze).

~- _. --- ,_ .. _ ..... - . 4- _...- ~ --.--....... -- - - -., ~ -_ .... _, ....... .

47

. .

...... :-~.-~~- ...,_" __ ....,: ......... . ... . ____ .... - - . - ... l ...... 4_. _..;...:.....___.. .~ ..... - ~.--".z--~-:-:-:-;_~_-... : . ~-~--~.::=:-:-:::...-:;: __ -===:-. ______ _

: -- .:,.:_;;-. -:.:,_. -,:___;:: . -..;: ~~ -~

48

.'

NOTE: The Block Driver can be loaded into high memory using memOI}' manager programs such as QEMM, 386MAX and QRAM. See your memory manager documentation on bow to do this. See Chapter Six for other notes on using SuperStor with memory managers.

In order to use the SuperStor data compression system the block driver command line must be included in your CONFIG.SYS file.

The format for the command to load the SuperStor block driver is:

DEVICE=(Drive:'fath]'$STORDRV.SYS [/OPTION =VALUE . ]

where:

Drive: \Path. Orive and path of the directory where the Super-Stor driver resides. This can be any drive and ~ that are valid at boot time. Because SuperStor drives are not valid until after DOS loa

........ -- --, ., ... -.- ~ J { "J"C) .. , . rt . ... -;--.'.'"; .. ::..... '. .. -~ .. ~ .... ,......_.._ .... , .......... -.~:--: '"!-. ~=;_~-~ ..... ta- .. $ ... ~- --~ --

- ~-~, ~ .. ~, ... , ..... ... ...,:... . .. --r .---.;.. --- .. ;; ....... .

-::- ... _.. ~-.:.=:--: :-- :_::;;,. . --= - -

50

: r\-~~\ ... ~ ---.... .~~:" .. ,. e na T' t ..... .,.__. - - ..,,.. .. ~- -- ~: ... __...~.~~~---:

- ---:::..;.. :....,_.:.:.:;> =r -~ --------~ - -....:.~ --..=..:--.....::=:.,_..---::z..-:-:=:-'

AppendixB ~1~~cg.- a; 1 11 ; m mm;rn; ! :1 l! .11:1asmss11w: -~

Bootable SuperStor Disks

Bootable Partitlon Requirements The following is a list of the requirements for a bootable SuperStor Disk.

SuperStorbootabledisksmust beformatted withthe system option.

FORMATd:/S e There must be a CONIFG.SYS file with the line

..... --. . .. ... .

DEVICE=SS'IORDRV.SYS as the first line in the file.

NOTE: Wben using disks that require a driver, for example, Western Digital 7000 series controller.;, the device driver for the disk must be called before the SuperStor Driver.

The files SSTORDRV.SYS and SSBOOT.SYS must be present in the uncompressed ROOf partition.

NOTE: Hardware disk or memory manager drivers which are called out befare the SuperStor driver in the CONFlG.SYS file must be in the uncompressed ROOT partition.

The SuperStor Mountable file with the reserved name SSPARfSS.ADD must be in the root directory. All other required boot

51

~:~,~~M rrrea-e- t -- '! .. -.v. "-""':' ~~~--'""'"""....,. __ _ --::-- - '! 7 .~. ~ ... ........ ~~-- . --

files (COMMAND.COM, AUfOEXF.C.BAT anda copy of OONHG.SYS and driver files) must be in the Mountable F'tle SSPARfSS.ADD.

Maklng A Bootable Partition

52

When your system requires a hardware disk chiver or other driver (such as a memory manager) to be loaded befare the SuperStor Driver, this is a non-standard configuration. Making a bootable compressed floppy is also another case of a non-standard configuration.

In n

..... ,,...._ __ -~- - -;- .. ~: . ..__....~ ...... ~:, ... -"":" ;": . -~-- - ........ ... -- - - - ~1 -...;::::s..~r-===- -,e;~:_---:.::,...... ::::c:;;::::::zM :X: ._ --.-----::-.... ____.... .. , ~

54

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AppendixC s.

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'

56

Preparing A SuperStor Floppy You should prepare several SuperStor compressed floppies so they' 11 be ready when you ne.ed them.

The procedure for preparing SuperStor floppies is shown below:

l. Format the floppy as a Data Disk (See your DOS manual for how to use the f'ORMAT command.)

FORMATd:/v 2. Use the SuperStor Utility program SSTOR to acate a

mountable drive oo the floppy using the "Create Floppy" option.

NOTE: A Supe:Stor floppy cannot have any files oo it befare the "Create Floppy" command is executed.

Preparing A Mountable Floppy If you want to specify the name of the mountable file on your floppy, use the SS10R Prepare Mountable command Floppies prepared using the prepare mountable command are not automatically remounted when changed.

It is recommended that the entire disk be used as the mountable file.

The procedure for preparing mountable floppies is shown below:

l. Format the floppy as a Data Disk (See your DOS manual for how to use the f'ORMAT command.)

FORMATd:/v 2. Use the SuperStor Utility program SSTOR to acate a

mountable drive on the floppy with the "Create Mountable" option.

~'

Preparing A Bootable Floppy A floppy can be made into a bootable compressed SuperStor floppy by the following rocedure.

NOTE: To acate a bootable SuperStor floppy com-pletes~ 1-3 below:

l. Format the floppy as a system drive using the FORMAT d:/s/v

DOS command(wheredisAorB)

2. Copy the SuperStor Driver SSTORDRV.SYS to d:. 3. Create a CONFIG.SYS file on the floppy which contains

the followingline. See your DOS manual on how to acate CONFIG.SYS.

DEVICE =SSTORDRV.SYS

4. Using the SuperStor Utility :rogram SS10R, create a mountable drive on the floppy with the reseIVed name SSPARI'SS.ADD. The size of the file should equal the size of thedisk.

5. Mount the floppy file SSPARrSS.ADD and copy OOM-MAND.OOM CONFIG.SYS and the desired program/data files to the compressed floppy.

__., ~-

57

..._ __ ...... -- --- .. ,, "::.,, _____ ._ - -~-:~.:"::.s:;i;.~>::":~= ~::_;";.._:-.~._, ;:;;..::~}i~ = ~ -~---

58

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AppendixD .. 'll:i~l!ll:!l:ms:38!:11181!3B8&9113!11!1!ilm~~;;~;a1131;~";;a ;;::m;:; ;i :; 1 ~'$1!28!! 11 nm 1 Glossa~

Arrow Keys. The ( f L - -} up, down, right and left keys oo your keyboard. These keys are used in the AddStor software to allow you to select menu choices --

AUTOEXEC.BAT File. The last thing DOS does in its initial start se-quence is ex:ecute a series of user selected commands. SuperStor modifies the AUI'OEXEC.BAT file to inform DOS where to find the SupezStor software.

Block Device. One of two ways DOS uses to ta11c to peripheral devices. Block devices pass data to and from DOS in fixed sized (typi-cally 512 bytes or multi:ies of 512 bytes) blocks. See a.lSoOiaracter Device.

Boot. The process of starting up your computer and loading the operat-ing system. See a1so Restart.

Boot Drive. The chive (hard or floppy) which contains the operating system and system start up files used during the boot process.

Character Device. One of two ways DOS uses to ta11c to peripheral devices. Character devices pass data to and from DOS one byte (char-acter) ata time. See also Block Device.

Compatibility. The ability of a software (hardware) product to be in-serted into your system without causing any problems or chanpjnp; the way you work.

~-

59

... ...: .. -~ ....

-_..:w:........_ .... : . ...t~ .- . ~~ --';-:- : - ~-.-..;. ...... ...- ... - - r- -._ , ,. 1: - i...,, ~-~-'.:.-.-..~.- ::.-- -~ ~ - - ._-:...: - -~-----

62

Realdme, On-the-Oy. A process, such as compression or decompres-sion, that takcs pace continuously with no apparent delays in normal -operation. SupeiStor is a real-time data compression system.

Reboot / Restart. Thc xocess of starting up your computec and load-ing the operating system.

.

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,

--

64

8. What Application Software was running at the time you encouotered the xoblem. What was the software doing (rcading cfisk, writing disk, copying files, etc) when you encouoted a problem?

9. What the problem was that you encountered.

AddStor Customer Service is available from 8:00AM to 5:00 PM PST (PDT) Monday through Friday. Picase call (415) 688 -0465.

It is ma;t helpful if you are actually sitting at the computer system that is ex:periencing the xoblem when you call. This allows us to deter-mine immediately if we have corrected your problem. Also, it saves you the time and money of making repeated calls to AddStor.

-' ........... - .r.

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.llpgrllillg from MS DOS 3.30 o_r below to MS-DOS 5. O with Supecstor 1nstal1ed

lf you are upgrading from MS-DOS 3.30 or below to MS-DOS S.O and bave Supentor installed on your system follow these steps.

Step 1. Ba.ckup your entire hard drive and ali of its partitions. You can do this with either DOS's BACKUP command or your favorite ba.ckup utility. You -i ~ ~ or your data will be lost forever.

Step 2. Imert Supentor floppy A in drive A: and type: A: .

Step 3. From the A:> type: dismouot C: . You will see a reply, dismouated. Repea.t tbis ~ umil you bave dismounted all of the compressed partitiom on your hard disk.

Step 4. Delete any file called "SSPARTSS.ADD."

Step S. Follow the imtructiom in DOS S.O for upgrading to MS-DOS S.O. *note: This is the perfect time to repartition your disk with DOS S.O to make

bigger partitiom if you would like. One beoefit of repartitioning is you bave fewer partitiom to compresa. This saves 4K for ea.ch partition you don't bave on your system. Follow the DOS instructiom for partitiooing with FDISK and refonmuing under DOS S.O.

Step 6. Alter your system is upgraded to DOS S.O imert the Supemor distribution diskeue and follow the Supentor imuuctions for compressing an entire partition.

Step 7. Restore your files from the bacltup of your system tbat you made.

You bave successfully upgraded and are oow ready to use your system as you bave before.

!JFgrading from MS-DOS 1.01 to MS-DOS 5.0 with Superstor iost,alled.

Sit.uio. A lnstallin MS-DOS S.O before Supentor is imtaJled

Step 1. Follow the imuuctiom in the Microsoft manual for upgradin to or imtallin MS-DOS S.O.

Step 2. lnstaJl Supentor as per the imtructions in the Supen;tor manual.

. ....... -.

s._aa- B lnstaJling MS-DOS S.0 on an MS-DOS 4.01 system with Supentor imtalled andan - ... rnu41 boot drive, drive C:.

Step 1. Rename the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT in the following manner: At the C:\ prompt type: rename CONFIG.SYS CONFIO.HLD renameAUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.HLD

Step 2. Hold down the k.ey combina.tion to reboot your system.

Step 3. Insert the MS-DOS S.O setup disk in drive A:.. O.nge_ the A: drive and type: S.tup ; Follow the remaining Microsoft instructions for imtalling MS-DOS S.O.

Step '4. Restore your original CONFIO.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT in the followin maaoer: At the C:\ prompt type: remme CONFIO.HLD CONFIO.SYS remme AUTOEXEC.HLD AUTOEXEC.BAT

Step S. Use the by combim.tion to reboot your syswm.

You have oow upgraded your sysiem from MS-DOS '4.01 to.MS-DOS S.O. Your computer is ready to \De nonally. ~ , '

Si...a-C ,,. Installing MS-DOS S.O a.fter Supentor is imtalled on an MS-DOS '4.01 system with a ca 1n111 'bootahle e drive.

~~~P4 , f40. Q il> + ..

Step 1. Boot from a DOS '4 .01 bootahle floppy disk.

Step 2. Make a copy of the MS-DOS S.O up~ disb by: a) Insert the DOS S.O setup disk in drive A:. b) Changie to drive A:. e) Type: setup /F d) Follow the insttuctiom for making MS-DOS S.O floppy disk:s. You will oeed 7 S .is of '4 3.S- disk:s.

Step 3. Boot from your compreued, bootable C: drive.

Step 4. OJange directories to the DOS directory. Delete ali of the old DOS files. Type: . del*.* .

..

. .,,

, ~ -

Step S. Copy all of the DOS S.O floppy disks to your C:\DOS direciory. For ea.ch disk type: copy A:\*.* C:\DOS .

Step 6. Copy command.com to C:\ by ioserting the DOS S.O Startup disk in drive A: and type: copy A:\command.com C: .

Step 7. With tbe MS-DOS S.O Staz1Up disk in drive A:, reboot your computer.

Step 8. Confinn that you booted DOS S.O by typin: ver . You should see: "MS-DOS Version S.O."

Step 9. lnstall DOS S.0 on your physical drive C: by inserting tbe DOS 5.0 disk labeled "Support" and type: sys C: . You will be asked to insert tbe DOS S .O system disk. lmert the DOS 5 .O disk labelled stanup and presa tbe tey. DOS 5_.~w be tnmfened.

Step 10. Remove tbe floppy from tbe drive and reboot from your bard disk boot partition. You now bave rebooted from DOS S.O. Your computer is upgnded and ready to use normally.

SShrigt . --------------

SSHRINK is med to mab tbe Supentor compreaed drive amller. Ita main purpose is to remove any bad bloclts tba1 Supemor has created to keep DOS from attempting to write past tbe end of tbe physical disk. SSHRINK is also meful in adjtsting tbe size of any compc-d partition, indudin mouma.ble dri.._. To me SSHRINK, perform tbe followin: .

Step 1. Place tbe Superstor floppy B in drive A:.

Step 2. Make drive A: active by typin: A: .

Step 3. From tbe A:> prompt, type: dismount C: (wbere any compreaed drive leuer can be substituted for C:.) Tbe system will reply, "dismounted."

Step '4. Type: "ahrink C:\sspartss.add xxx" . Substitute for C: the drive leuer of the compressed drive you just dismotmted, and for xxx, substituae tbe oumber of kbytes by wbich you wish to shrink the compressed partition. Tbe number xxx must be a wbole number and can be u low u 1. lf you try to sbrink SSPARTSS.ADD by too lare a number you will be prompted by etror mes:sages about your Rquest. lf you a.mwer "N", for oo, SSHRINK will abort and no cha.nges will be wriuen to your disk. lf you answw "Y-, for yes, Superstor's SSHRINK command will automa.tically adjust your Rquest to a safe amount and proceed with tbe oper.uion.

."-

. .:::---:;:?:-:

I

1 )

Step S. When SSHRINK finishes adjusting the size of your compressed drive you will see tbe meaage, "SSHRINK completed OK."

Step 6 . Reboot the system.

R.w+i4 BU Blocb widt SSllRIN~

When a user fills up the physical disk, Superstor keeps DOS from writing past tbe end of tbe physical disk by telling DOS tba1 tbe logical disk is full of bad blocks. These bad bloclts are phony. To remove them perfonn tbe following S1eps:

Step 1. Delete some files from tbe bard disk.

Step 2. Follow tbe instructiom for nmning"Supemor's SSHRINK utility. Wben you enter tbe SSHRINK command, type: "abrink C:\aparta.add 1." This tells SSHRJNK to only decrease the size of tbe compreaed disk by 1 kbyte.

Step 3. After you reboot tbe system, run CHKDSK and aU of tbe bad blocks reported by Supentor sbould be ~wd. . .__ ._ .:e~ .

~~ ........... --- ' - .. -

Note: Al tbis point you ma.y wish 10 run Supemor's SSXP ANO utility to regain tbe 1 kbyte of space you decreued your compreaed disk by.

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Supemor's SSXP AND utility is med to iocreue tbe size of tbe compressed drive. Tbe main purpose of XXPAND is to retum tbe compressed disk back to ita origim.1 size after SSHRINKing il to remow bad blocks. SSXPAND can be med on any compreaed partition, iocluding mountable drives, to make them larer. To me SSXPAND, perform tbe follo"trin steps .

Step 1. Place tbe . Superstor floppy B in drive A:.

Step 2. Make drive A: a.ctive by typing: A: .

Step 3. Dismount tbe compreaed partition by typin: dismount e:. (where any compreaed driw leuer can be substituted for C: . ) The system will reply, "dismoumed."

Step '4. Type: SSXPAND C:\apart.add xxx

- ~7 $

Substitule for C: the drive leu.er of the compreaed partition you just dismounted, and for xxx, substitule the number of kbytes by wbich you wish to expand the compreaed disk. Uaua.Uy this oumber will be the same oumber you used with the SSHRINK command. lf you enter an iocorrect value for XXX, SSEXPAND will prompt you with error rnessases. lf you answer "N", for DO, SSEXPAND will abort and DO clDngea will be made to the disk. lf you anawer y, for yes, SSXPAND will a.utoma.tically make the neceaaJY a.djustments in your requeat and proceed aafely.

Step 5. Wbeo SSXPAND fmisms adjustin the size of your compresaed drive you will aee the memge, "SSXPAND compleled OK to*"*****" c c c c c c will be the oew size, in actual bytes, of the compresaed drive.

Step 6. Reboot the ayat.em.

SllPDATE

SUPDATE is used to auaom:Wcally move dri~ to the pbysic:al boot area of a bard disk. Typically, memory manager driver.s, Disk Manager' DMDRIVER., and aecondary hard disk and b:ardcanl driwrs are enmpics of file men will . wam to load befon the Supemor driver, SSTORDRV.SYS. lf a driver is to be 1

~ ~~ s~g:~:~~i~u~ in the p~~-boo~U:. ,~ the--" - ,~ -~,.~ Step 1. UsinJ the text editor, edit your C:\CONFIO.SYS file. Pbce any 1

devioe= lioe you want to nm Wore Supentor as the lioe(a) preceding j device=\sstordrv .sys. .

Step 2. Wben e