Re: SEUL: Observatons

[jfm2@club-internet.fr]

   Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 01:07:05 -0400

   Luka (Peter) wrote:

   > if the question is linux-boot vs. a preliminary install based on the
   > current os, then i have to say the answer is clearly the former.
   > we do _not_ want to support an install based on n different platforms

       I may be wrong but if SEUL ignores the information already on the
   computer (whatever it is currently using) aren't we in effect shooting
   ourselves in our collective feet and making SEUL even more difficult
   then it has to be.  There are basically two types of systems that we are
   aiming at a pc and a mac (SGI, ALPHA and the rest, at least to my mind
   are not used in a home enviroment.  Maybe I am under a misconception
   here.  From using a pc I know that there is a wealth of information
   pertaining to the system already stored in the computer.  Why take the
   approach of 1) hunting for the information by rummaging through the
   computers memory or 2) asking the user when most of it is already
   there??

We do not need freedos for hunting this information.  Linux can mount
the DOS partition and the install hunt the parameters.  And you have
more powerful tools for that in LINUX (perl, gawk) than with DOS.
Also where are the parameters stored in Win95: in character format in
known files like in Win3.1 or in the register base in binary format?

Of course we could have a Win95 program the user will start before
installing for extracting parms from the register base and putting
them into a file in case register base is a non-open format.

   > the benefit of using freedos, assuming that we can rely on its
   > stability (i have not actually used it), is that it is small.
   > we put it on a floppy, along with a lot of programs for kicking
   > off the installation, and it is not too hard to fit it all.
   > you put in the disk, and it runs the installer.  just like a linux
   > boot[+root] floppy, but smaller and thus (hopefully) easier for
   > us to put together.
   >

   I understand now, the above is an anti MSDOS rant.  Before getting
   p.o.ed just consider a moment.  It has been suggested that SEUL 'borrow'
   what is good from various Linux distributions so why not do the same
   with MSDOS (i.e. floppy format).  This may be a somewhat simple example,
   but if it is there why not use it to our benefit.  Just because you
   don't like Microsoft business tactics/policies/whatever doesn't mean
   that it is something to be done away with.  Don't forget, whatever you
   may think of Micro$soft it was they and they alone that brought
   computers into the home.

I fear than freedos will not help you to extract info from Win95 and I
am not sure Win95 will accept being started by it.  The info from
DOS/Win3.1 can be extracted from LINUX.

-- 
			Jean Francois Martinez

==================== The Linux.  Use the Linux, Luke! =======================

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