Message-Id: <199702141534.JAA06294@saucer.cc.umr.edu>
Subject: Re: [opendos] Stacker and OpenDos
To: soabs AT hermes DOT svf DOT uib DOT no
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 09:34:45 -0600 (CST)
From: "Kerry Lee High Jr" <khigh01 AT umr DOT edu>
Cc: opendos AT mail DOT tacoma DOT net
In-Reply-To: <199702140743.IAA29256@taxus.uib.no> from "soabs@hermes.svf.uib.no" at Feb 14, 97 08:40:36 am
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> 
> OpenDos and Stacker: 
> 
> 1) I understand that OpenDos comes with a version of the Stacker 
> compression software. Currently I use Stacker version 4.0 + 
> (with update) on my 60 MB ESDI disk, with PC-DOS 6.1. My question 
> is if the Stacker software which ships with OpenDos is the same as my
> current Stacker v. 4.0? How do they compare? Will OpenDos allow me to
> keep and use my current Stacker or does it install its own version by
> default, and will this version try to *convert* my existing Stacker 
> compressed volumes? 
The version of stacker that comes with opendos is not the same. Opendos 
will not install stacker by default; it will keep the version of stacker 
that is already installed. (I beleive it will do the same with 
doublespace and drivespace, except drivespace 3)

> 3) How would I go about installing OpenDos on a Stacker compressed 
> drive, when Stacker pre-loads compression? For instance, if I boot the 
> computer and intercept compression (CTRL+alt+shift), I guess OpenDos 
> would not see copies of the ibmdos.com and ibmdos.sys which also 
> resides on the compressed volume. Thus after installing OpenDos this 
> way, I guess it would not be able to mount the compressed volume?
> If so, does this mean I should install OpenDos with the compressed 
> volume mounted (with compression pre-loaded)? 
ibmbio.com and ibmdos.com are installed on both the compressed drive, and 
the uncompressed drive. To install opendos, boot from the hard drive and 
run the setup program.

> 4) Maybe drifting off-topic, but with so much knowledge present on this 
> list, I can resist asking:   I have noticed several people, also on 
> this list, warn against disk compression, preferring file compression - 
> if any at all. Of course I would have chosen not to use disk 
> compression, if only my disk was a bit larger than 60 MB. 
> I guess you can say Stacker keeps up and alive. (With lots of help from 
> my Iomega Zip drive :-)
I've had about as many problems with stacker, doublespace, drivespace as 
without them.