LAP.COM Version 1.0 ^^^^^^^ This is purely a Z-system utility designed to replace the two programs LDR.COM & PATH.COM in start-up aliases. It offers an improvement in speed and an increase in the space available within your alias script. If you are interested read on... My old start-up alias script used to look like this:- :LDR SYS.ENV,SYS.FCP,SYS.NDR,SYS.FCP :PATH RAM COM HLEVEL UTIL and these two lines would typically take 7 seconds to execute, even with a relatively well optimized emplacement of the relevant files on disk. My new start-up alias script replaces these two lines with:- :LAP and this single line typically executes in 2.5 seconds. Additionally I have released 57 characters from the script, these being available for less mundane activities. The program works by capturing a snap-shot of your system segments (a LAP SNAP!) and storing an enlarged version of itself to disk. It is this installed version which is run to load up the system segments and external path. The size of the installed version of LAP depends solely on the size and number of your system segments. INSTALLATION ++++++++++++ 1/ If you are not running ZCPR33 then install LAP.COM using Z-RIP or Z3INS in the usual way. Not a bad idea even if you do have ZCPR33. 2/ With LAP.COM on your current disk and user area run it by typing "LAP MYLAP.COM /C" at the system prompt followed by a carriage return. The program understands named directories etc. but why complicate things? This will result in the program capturing the external path and the .ENV, .FCP, .IOP, .NDR & .RCP system segments. It will then write a fully installed copy of itself to disk using the filename MYLAP.COM. 3/ There is no step 3/. That's it. IN USE ++++++ If you specified the name of the fully installed version of LAP.COM as "MYLAP.COM" then to (re)load the external path and system segments back up into the operating system run the program MYLAP.COM. THOUGHTS ++++++++ Do not throw away LDR.COM or PATH.COM just yet. They are the 'watch-makers screwdrivers' compared to LAPs 'industrial wrench' and are the tools to allow a more selective manipulation and installation of the system. PATCHES +++++++ 1/ The program adjusts its verboseness depending on the state of the QUIET flag. If you also like bells ringing all over the place then use your favourite patching utility to change the byte at location 0000DH (0010DH in RAM) from 0FFH to 000H. 2/ As supplied the program disables interrupts while it installs the system segments, does a CALL to the IOP INIT routine (if an IOP was loaded) and then enables interrupts. If this is a problem on your system then you will need to know that the DI instruction is at 007C7H (008C7H in RAM) and the EI instruction is at 007FCH (008FCH in RAM). Patching NOPs into either or both of these locations may provide a solution. GOTCHAS +++++++ If your IOP INIT routine is not re-entrant (i.e. you cannot re- initialize an already initialized IOP then you have a problem. You can get around it by patching your IOP into a fully installed version of LAP.COM. Rather you than me! That said why would anyone write an IOP initialization routine which cannot re-initialize its IOP? It is not a problem with the DUMMY IOP created by the BIOS loader anyway. WINDDOWN ++++++++ Hope the program is of use. I am placing it in the public domain and so accept no responsibility for it or its effects on your system. That said it runs well for me. You can write to me at 5 Baines Close, Bourton-on-the-Water, Glos. GL54 2PU. England. and I will endeavour to answer (polite) letters!! Regards, Bob Andersson.