PC-DOS v7.0 Beta
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome to Guinan - the beta version of PC DOS version 7.0.  PC-DOS continues
IBM's (recent) tradition of packing a fully MS-compatible version of DOS with a
number of extra features and utilities.  Guinan includes an online Command
Reference, Error Message Reference, and REXX Reference.

I personally run different versions of DOS on the different machines that I
use for development and BBS, including MS-DOS 5.0, MS-DOS 6.20, MS-DOS 6.22,
Novell DOS 7.0, and PC-DOS 6.3.  I use PC-DOS 6.3 on my main programming
machine, and have absolutely no problems with it (although I use QEMM, not
IBM's built-in memory manager).  I think that these enhancements to PC-DOS 7.0
should prove to make it even better, the REXX support in particular (and
superior-to-drivespace Stacker support for those who use compressed drives).
I have found no apparent bugs in PC-DOS v7.0, and presume that it is quite safe
to use.

The following files are part of the PC DOS v7.0 "Guinan" package:

COMPUSER.TXT  PC DOS User's Guide
LOADDSKF.EXE  Image to Disk creation tool for disk #1 (DSK format)
XDFCOPY .EXE  Image to Disk creation tool for disks 2-5 (XDF Format)
144US1  .DSK  PC-DOS v7.0 Beta disk #1 (DSK - 1.44 meg disk)
144US2  .XDF  PC-DOS v7.0 Beta disk #2 (XDF - 1.88 meg disk)
144US3  .XDF  PC-DOS v7.0 Beta disk #3 (XDF - 1.88 meg disk)
144US4  .XDF  PC-DOS v7.0 Beta disk #4 (XDF - 1.88 meg disk)
144US5  .XDF  PC-DOS v7.0 Beta disk #5 (XDF - 1.88 meg disk)

Guinan uses 1.44 meg diskettes, but formats some of them to IBM's XDF format to
pack 1.88 megs on each floppy (before compression).  XDF disks are not readily
accessible from DOS, so a special utility must be used to write them.  Format
five 1.44 meg floppies with your current version of DOS before installing to
verify that the diskettes are good, because the image utilities don't test for
bad sectors.

The first disk in the set uses IBM's DSK format - which is basically just an
image of a 1.44 meg diskette (like .DDD or .TD0).  To unpack 144US1.DSK, use
the LOADDSKF.EXE utility to make an image:

LOADDSKF 144US1.DSK a:       (or whatever drive letter is appropriate)

To create the XDF 1.88 meg disks, use XDFCOPY.EXE:

XDFCOPY 144US2.XDF A:        (or whatever drive letter is appropriate)

Continue the process for disks 3, 4, and 5.

Guinan also adds additional features and enhancements such as:
-- Mouse support during installation
-- Flexible install, including DOSkey support and review/edit of configuration
-- RAMBoost (IBM's memory manager) handles multiple configurations now
-- E.EXE (IBM's text editor) enhances menu selection, mouse awareness,
   expanded sort capabilities, deleted record recovery, ability to change
   default settings (colors, tabs, margins, window mode, etc.), and a browse
   mode for the online F1 help.
-- File Update program, which monitors files on two computers and keeps them
   synchronized.
-- PC DOS Viewer for reading and searching online books (Command Reference,
   Error Messages manual, and REXX User's Guide).  It also provides quick
   access to help fod DOS commands, device drivers, REXX commands, DOS error
   messages, and .INI files.
-- POWER.EXE has added power management events.
-- Support for docking device drivers (DOSDOC, DDPOPUP) to dynamically load
   drivers as needed.
-- Reduced conventional memory requirements.
-- The QCONFIG command now identifies and displays additional machines,
   adapters, and planars.
-- DOS BACKUP has returned.
-- Full support for the REXX language (championed on OS/2).  REXX for DOS
   includes utilities and commands designed for PC DOS.
-- Inclusion of Stacker data compression, which can conver any existing
   SuperStor/DS (from old PC-DOS), DoubleSpace (MS-DOS 6.2), or DriveSpace
   (MS-DOS 6.22, Windows95/MS-DOS 7.0) volumes.  Will also convert standalone
   Stacker compressed drives.  Stacker support includes support for the Stacker
   DOS Toolbox and Stacker Windows Toolbox.  You may even use data on
   compressed diskettes on computers which do not have Stacker installed.
   Stacker under Guinan runs AutoProtect to ensure data integrity.
-- PCMCIA support includes easier setup procedures.
-- New version of Central Point Backup included.
-- Anti-Virus protection provided with IBM AntiVirus and IBM AntiVirus for
   Windows.  Updated with many new viruses.

The following new commands have been added to Guinan:

    ACALC          DPMS         PCMSETUP     STAC
    CHECK          FILEUP       REMOVDRV     STACKER
    CNFIGNAM       HCONVERT     REPORT       SYSINFO
    CONFIG         PASSWD       REXX         TUNER
    CREATE         PCM          SCREATE      UNCOMP
    DDPOPUP        PCMDINST     SDEFRAG      UNPACK2
    DCONVERT       PCMFDISK     SDIR         VIEW
    DOSDATA        PCMINST      SETUP (StackeXDF
    DOSDOCK        PCMRMAN      SSETUP       XDFCOPY


IBM's PC-DOS, like Novell DOS (DR-DOS) is certainly a viable alternative to
MS-DOS.  It has many more built-in features, more efficient memory management,
and bundled extras than MS-DOS does, and is fully compatible with the DOS
(and Windows) software library.  All it lacks is the marketting inertia that
Microsoft has.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I know I will..

The Byter

