Got new laptop...now can't run Direct Scan Need help

[87LtdT]

Been using my docking station at work to run DS...we just upgraded all of our PC's and I had to turn in the docking station for a new IBM Thinkpad 2367...with XP and no floppy drive...only has a hard drive and a DVD/CD-R-W drive that is removeable.

I've searched this site and found a couple things instructing me to make a boot disk...but already tried that with the CD, but it won't allow me to format it.

Any way I can run DS on this thing??

Can't modify it much as my employer might not appreciate it

Thanks, Bob

 

[T-top87GN]

Take the boot image found here: http://www.r00td0wn.net/ds.html and make a boot floppy. Then using your CD burning software, make a bootable CD and run from that. However, you will need to be using the FAT file system on the hard drive of the laptop or you will not be able to save the runs.

Another option is to go to BestBuy or CompUSA or something and buy a USB floppy drive. Then you can just use the floppy disk.

 

[xrunner123]

You should be able to make a bootable CD using your writer and copy the DS.exe to it.

And you could boot to DOS from the bootable CD but you won't have access to the XP's file system to save the DS files (unless it's fat). Maybe you can make a -W bootable in the direct write mode. So you can access files directly- never tried it though. Windows may need to be in control for that. Do a search on google.

You can't get DS to run under 2000/NT/XP- OS won't allow direct hardware writes.

Maybe...
Get an external floppy.
or
Dual boot DOS and XP
or
maybe get a USB memory stick reader and make the card bootable.
or
buy a cheapo laptop on ebay for $50
or
re-write DS to be compatible with NT/XP

 

[QuickWrench]

87LtdT, the simplest answer is that Direct Scan won't operate under Windows XP (or any other NT-based operating system). XP requires a kernel-mode driver for parallel port I/O, and Direct Scan doesn't operate this way.

Yes, you can run DS from a bootable CD, but your hard drive is most likely formatted NTFS, which Direct Scan won't be able to write to or read from.

The easiest way to run DS on a laptop with XP is to make some bootable floppy disks, and grab a USB floppy drive (like this one) for about $20, since yours doesn't have a floppy drive.

To do this, open Windows Explorer, and right-click on your floppy (A:\) drive, and choose 'Format'. In the formatting options, choose the 'Create an MS-DOS startup disk' option. After formatting, copy the DS.exe and DSpref.dat files to the floppy disk.

This simple operation will create a bootable Direct Scan disk, that will have enough free space for 4 - 7 runs, depending on size. I do this myself, and simply replace the disk after 4 runs to be safe.

Edit:
xrunner, looks like you submitted at the same time.
87Ltd, good luck...

 

[WakkoSS]

Another option is to get another laptop. I bought a 386/25 NEC unit on Ebay for $28 specifically for DS. Now if someone steals it at the track, I don't care as much as my 2,000 dollar work computer.

 

[87LtdT]

Thanks a lot guys...you PC geeks sure have a cool language

I didn't realize a 386 was fast enough...if so, I like that idea a whole bunch more than the others....cause they all involve the brand spankin new work PC at the track...lol

Seems like I remember some brands not being very compatible with DS/Car usage...

Gonna search the for sales first, and then e-bay for a 386.

Thanks again, Bob

 

[salvageV6]

Bob the most important thing is to get one with a good battery or an easily and cheaply replaceable battery. Not so easy to find.

I have an old IBM thinkpad 770 with a good battery and it's built like a battleship very rugged. Most of the cost of the unit was for that good battery however. PI, I believe at 133MHz.

A 386 or 486 should be cheaper.

Good luck.

 

[WakkoSS]

I think an 8086 might even run DS...doesn't require much at all. Good tip on the battery, mine has a bad battery so I'm required to leave it plugged into the cigarette lighter all the time which is not convenient. Plus I have a power converter lying on my floor which could be nasty in the event of a disastrous racing mistake.