
























                                   BigCopy 386/286



                                 A Diskette Utility



                         Copyright (C)  1991  Robert Thomas







































          BigCopy 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas










                                  Table OF Contents
          -----------------------------------------------------------------



              PREFACE................................................1

              GETTING STARTED........................................2

              COMMANDS...............................................3

              BC286 TECHNICAL NOTES..................................4

              BC386 TECHNICAL NOTES..................................4

              ERROR MESSAGES.........................................5

              UPDATE INFO............................................7

              LICENSE................................................8

              FIXES..................................................9

































          BigCopy 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas












                                       PREFACE

          -----------------------------------------------------------------


                 What  is BigCopy  ?  BigCopy is a program designed to make
          copying diskettes  easier.   After you  have copied more than one
          high density  diskette using diskcopy or xcopy you will know what
          I am  talking about.   Using  the above mentioned MS-DOS programs
          you will  have to  swap diskettes about four times to make a copy
          using diskcopy, and xcopy depends on how many files are contained
          on the  source disk.   If you have a full diskette and use xcopy,
          you will  have to  swap disks  a number  of times  just to make a
          copy.   My two  diskette utilities will save you time and trouble
          by only requiring one pass of the source disk.

                The GETTING STARTED section explains how to install the two
          programs on  to a  hard disk  or floppy  diskette.   The COMMANDS
          section explains  how to  run BC286  and BC386.    Their  command
          structure is  identical.   The  sections  BC286  and  BC386  deal
          specifically with  the requirements  of  each  program,  as  each
          program is  targeted for a different type of processor.  Finally,
          a special  section has  been designed to deal with error messages
          that you may encounter.
















                                                                          1












          BigCopy 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas









                                   GETTING STARTED

          -----------------------------------------------------------------








          The BigCopy package consists of three files:

                BC386.EXE
                BC286.EXE
                BCDOC.TXT

               If installing the files on to a hard disk drive, simply copy
          the files  into a  subdirectory which  contains  a  path  in  the
          autoexec.bat file.   For  example, most  hard disks  autoexec.bat
          file should  contain the  line; path=c:\;c:\dos.  This is how the
          MS-DOS command  interpreter finds programs and runs them when you
          are not  logged into that current drive or subdirectory.  So with
          that in mind simply type;

                   copy a:bc*.* c:\dos

          This  command   will  place   the  three   files  into   the  dos
          subdirectory.   If you  do not  have a hard drive, just leave the
          programs on  the disk,  and insert the disk when ever you wish to
          use them.












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          BigCopy 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas


                                      COMMANDS

          -----------------------------------------------------------------

          The BC286 program should be used under the following:

               * When executing on a 286 processor.
               * When executing on a 386 processor when a VCPI program is
                 running such as an EMS program (CEMM).

          The BC386 program should be used under the following:

               * When executing on a 386 processor.
               * When there is not an EMS installed that is VCPI.
               * Windows 386 (3.X) and higher.

          See the technical notes section for more information.


          BC386  SOURCE DRIVE  TARGET DRIVE  [/V]  [/M] [/N]

          BC286  SOURCE DRIVE  TARGET DRIVE  [/V]  [/M] [/N]


               The SOURCE DRIVE is the diskette drive which you want to
          make a copy of its contents.

          The TARGET DRIVE is the diskette drive which will receive the
          contents of the SOURCE DRIVE.

          The optional parameter /V, will verify the disk is copied
          properly.

          The optional parameter /M, will make multiple copies of the
          source disk.

          The optional parameter /N, will disable the copy prompts.

          EXAMPLE:
                    BC386 A: A:       - Will copy a disk in drive a: to a
                                        disk in drive a:.

                    BC286 B: A: /V    - Will copy a disk from drive b: to
                                        drive a: and verify the copy.

                    BC286 B: B: /V /M - Will make multiple copies of the
                                        source disk and verify them.

          NOTE:  BC386 and BC286 have the same command structure.

                                                                          3












          BIGCOPY 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas



                               GENERAL TECHNICAL NOTES
          -----------------------------------------------------------------

          * Both programs require formatted diskettes prior to copying.
            BigCopy does not perform formatting services.  The SOURCE disk
            and the TARGET disk must be formatted to the same type.  Drive
            types supported are: 360K, 720K, 1.2M, and 1.44M.


                                BC286 TECHNICAL NOTES

          -----------------------------------------------------------------


          * BC286 requires that a Extended or Expanded Memory Manager
            (EMS) software or hardware be present at run time. There
            are several of these programs on the market.  Such as QEMM
            from Quarterdeck, EMM386 from Microsoft, and CEMM from
            Compaq.

          * The EMS program you use should be compatible with LIMS 4.0 or
            higher.  LIMS is the  Lotus/Intel/Microsoft Expanded Memory
            Specification.  Most EMS software comply to this spec.

          * BC286 will run under Windows and or MS-DOS 3.X and higher.

          * As the name implies BC286 needs at least a 286 processor and
            2.5 megabytes of expanded or extended memory.



                                BC386 TECHNICAL NOTES

          -----------------------------------------------------------------


          *  BC386 does not use an EMS but uses DPMI.  DPMI is the Dos
             Protected Mode Interface.

          *  BC386 is compliant with DPMI 0.9.

          *  BC386 will NOT operate with VCPI dos extenders such as those
             from Phar-Lap or Compaq's CEMM (there may be others).

          *  BC386 will run with Windows 3.X and or MS-DOS 3.X or higher.

          *  As the name implies BC386 needs at least a 386SX processor and
             2.5 megabytes of extended memory.

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          BigCopy 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas


                                   ERROR MESSAGES
          -----------------------------------------------------------------


          * "Had problems reading from the disk."

             Diskette has bad sectors, cannot be copied using BigCopy.


          * "Had problems writing to the disk."

             Diskette has bad sectors, try reformatting or a different
             disk.


          * "No drive(s) specified."

             No drive(s) were specified when BigCopy was run.  See
             the COMMANDS section.


          * "Drive argument not valid."

             The drive specified was not a valid drive letter, or drive
             does not exist.


          * "Media density could not be established."

             The diskette is not a valid MS-DOS disk, or the disk has not
             been formatted.


          *  "Unable to reset drive."

             BigCopy was not able to talk to the diskette drives.


          *  "Not enough extended memory."

             BigCopy needs more memory than is in your system.


          *  "The target disk is not the same as the source disk."

             The target disk has a different format than the source disk,
             or the disk has not been formatted.



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          BigCopy 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas




          *  "The specified drive is a fixed disk drive."

             BigCopy cannot copy to or from fixed disk drives.


          *  "No Extended or Expanded Memory Manager found."  BC286

             BigCopy cannot find an EMS Memory Manager.  Check your
             config.sys file.


          *  "Malfunction in Extended or Expanded Memory Manager."  BC286

             An error occurred in the EMS Memory Manager.


          *  "EMS Version 4.0 or greater needed."  BC286

             Your version of EMS software is outdated.


          * "Conflicting protected mode environment."  BC386

            Another protected mode program is currently executing which
            does NOT support the DPMI dos extender.























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          BigCopy 386/286          Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas





                              UPDATE INFO & OTHER STUFF

          -----------------------------------------------------------------


          Updates will be performed on a as needed basis.


          Bugs and enhancement suggestions may be sent to the following
          address:


                       Robert Thomas
                       12662 Hickory Bend
                       Houston, Texas   77070


          Contributions  will   be  accepted.     Enhancement   suggestions
          accompanying  a   contribution  will   get  my  attention.    For
          contributions greater  than or  equal to  thirty dollars will get
          you the next release shipped on diskette.


























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          BigCopy 386/286               Copyright (C)  1991   Robert Thomas







                                       LICENSE

          -----------------------------------------------------------------



          THIS SOFTWARE PRODUCT IS PROVIDED AS IS, NO WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED
          OR IMPLIED.   I  WILL NOT  BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR
          LOSSES THAT  MAY ARISE  FROM USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING LOSS
          OF PROFITS  AND DATA.  THE USER OF THIS PRODUCT ASSUMES ALL RISKS
          PERTAINING TO THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT.


          THIS REFERENCE  MANUAL IS  PROVIDED AS  IS.   I WILL  NOT BE HELD
          RESPONSIBLE  FOR  TECHNICAL  OR  EDITORIAL  ERRORS  OR  OMISSIONS
          CONTAINED IN  THIS DOCUMENT.   THE  USER ASSUMES ALL RISKS TO THE
          USE OF THIS MANUAL.


          THIS SOFTWARE  PRODUCT AND  ITS  ACCOMPANYING  DOCUMENTATION  ARE
          SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.


          THIS SOFTWARE  AND DOCUMENTATION  MAY BE TRANSMITTED BY ANY MEANS
          POSSIBLE AS  LONG AS THE EXECUTABLE PROGRAMS AND THE DOC FILE ARE
          TOGETHER.


          THIS SOFTWARE IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN AND MAY NOT BE SOLD FOR
          PROFIT WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF ITS AUTHOR.















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          BigCopy 386/286          Copyright 1991 (C)  1991   Robert Thomas


                                        FIXES
          -----------------------------------------------------------------


          VERSION  DESCRIPTION
          -------  --------------------------------------------------------
              2.1  BC286 - Fixed EMS errors on 1.44M copies.
              2.1  BC386 - Changed prompt message line feeds.
















































