Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 01:29:11 +0000 (   )
From: Jeroen-bart Engelen <yeep AT xs4all DOT nl>
cc: opendos AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: ls (killing disk 0)
In-Reply-To: <E0xL9lp-0000Wi-00@kobold.verisim.com>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.93.971016012623.351G-100000@yeep.xs4all.nl>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Precedence: bulk

> In a previous message, J P Morris said:
> > Wayne wrote:
> > > Want to try something, type "type filename.exe > \dev\dsk0$" and
> > > watch your first disk disappear.
> > 
> > I tried this on one of our test machines, an IBM PS/2 55.  The
> > operating system was OpenDOS 7.02alpha3.
> > 
> > The command issued was 'type autoexec.bat > \dev\dsk0$' The result
> > was 'Invalid directory specified'.
> 
> I just had a brain wave here...  is the '$' supposed to represent
> 'Enter'?  Or do you actually type a dollar sign?  I haven't tried it
> yet, myself, but it was just a thought.

This character file, is only usable in OS/2.
Just as /dev/hda1 is only usable in a Unix.
This is OS-dependend.
DOS doesn't have these kind of files.
What DOS does do is assign 5 devices to the first five file handles.
I can't remember all the devices but among them are: Standard out, Error
our and Printer.

Ever opened a file in ASM and then stepped thru it in debug?
Watch which free file handle you get.

	Yeep