Message-Id: <199704300713.JAA12958@grendel.sylaba.poznan.pl>
Comments: Authenticated sender is <grendel@[150.254.113.14]>
From: "Mark Habersack" <grendel AT hoth DOT amu DOT edu DOT pl>
Organization: PPP (Pesticide Powered Pumpkins)
To: Jonathan Purvis <jap5 AT waikato DOT ac DOT nz>
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 09:14:10 +0100
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Subject: Re: File Systems (was Re: Usage of directory entries
Reply-to: grendel AT hoth DOT amu DOT edu DOT pl
CC: grendel AT hoth DOT amu DOT edu DOT pl, alaric AT abwillms DOT demon DOT co DOT uk,
        opendos-developer AT delorie DOT com
References: <862258398 DOT 1011862 DOT 0 AT abwillms DOT demon DOT co DOT uk>
In-reply-to: <Pine.LNX.3.91.970429114422.2709A-100000@lab5-31.cs.waikato.ac.nz>
Precedence: bulk

Once upon a time (on 29 Apr 97 at 11:47) Jonathan Purvis said:

> > The mounting is done invisibly. Typing a: is just a change directory; we
> > don't have to type "a:" when a new disk is inserted, we just type DIR
> > again, or whatever we want from the disk. There is no operation that has
> > to be taken to inform the system of disk changes because it knows, all on
> > it's own!
> 
> Well, on an XT, there is no disk change sensor, so DOS has to re-mount
> the disk everytime it accesses it.  On an AT, there is a disk change line,
> so it can keep a copy of the FAT and directories in memory.  This is how
> things like Norton Backup can automagically know when a disk is put in.
Yes, also diskdupe uses that technique. But still, DOS updates its internal 
structures on every access to a floppy.
-------------------
Are we trigger happy? Russian roulette in the waiting room. Empty
chambers embracing the end, puzzled visions haunt the ripples of a trevi
moon, dream coins for the fountain or to cover your eyes...
We reached the ignition point from the sparks of plasantries. Sensed the
smoke advancing from horizons - you must've know that I was considering
an escape...
----