RAREAD & RAWRITE (Utilities to read and write raw diskette images)

RAREAD

RAREAD copies a diskette to a diskette image file. The image file is not compressed or truncated in any way. The program is available in two versions; both are provided in this release.

There is a pure 32-bit version, which runs only on OS/2 version 2.0 and above; this is the smaller, more functional version. There is also a 16-bit dual mode version, that will run on any version of OS/2, and will also run on any version of DOS as long as it is version 3.2 or later. Additionally, it will run in a command window on Windows NT although there are some (NT imposed) limitations in this mode.

The program works only with 3.5 inch diskettes; it is unlikely that functionality for 5.25 inch diskettes is required. It does, however, work with 720KB, 1.44MB and 2.88MB 3.5 inch diskettes.

RAREAD attempts to discover the size of the output diskette dynamically, by attempting a hardware media sense. This seems to work on MCA systems, but not on some others (e.g., it doesn't work on a PC Server 325 (8639-PT0). If the media sense fails, a flag can be used to force a particular diskette size. Media sense will not work at all with the 16-bit version.

The package includes the following:

• The 32-bit executable file (RAREAD.EXE)
• The 16-bit executable file (RAREADB.EXE)
• The associated README.TXT file
• Source code

RAWRITE

RAWRITE is a utility to copy a diskette image file to a diskette. The image file can be the same size as a diskette, or smaller. If the image is smaller, the rest of the last used track is set to zeros, and the rest of the diskette is left untouched. The program is available in two versions; both are provided in this release.

There is a pure 32-bit version, which runs only on OS/2 version 2.0 and above; this is the smaller, more functional version. There is also a 16-bit dual mode version, that will run on any version of OS/2, and will also run on any version of DOS as long as it is version 3.2 or later. Additionally, it will run in a command window on Windows NT although there are some (NT imposed) limitations in this mode.

The program works only with 3.5 inch diskettes; it is unlikely that functionality for 5.25 inch diskettes is required. It does, however, work with 720KB, 1.44MB and 2.88MB 3.5 inch diskettes.

RAWRITE attempts to discover the size of the output diskette dynamically. First, it attempts a hardware media sense. This seems to work on MCA systems, but not on some others (e.g., it doesn't work on a PC Server 325 (8639-PT0). If the media sense fails, the program uses the size of the image file as a clue, assuming the smallest diskette size that is sufficient to accept the whole of the image. In case this guess is incorrect, or the media sense is inaccurate, a flag can be used to force a particular diskette size. Media sense will not work at all with the 16-bit version.

The package includes the following:

• The 32-bit executable file (RAWRITE.EXE)
• The 16-bit executable file (RAWRITEB.EXE)
• The associated README.TXT file
• Source code