Bootsector Technician v1.0 Copyright 1991 Magnum Software * PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE FILE BEFORE STARTING * Bootsector Technician is the result of many additions made to Shotz II. The following is a description of its functions: WHEN FIRST RAN - When first ran, the program will try to read the bootsector on the disk in drive A. If it could not be read, An error message will appear, and BUFFER 1 will be filled with zeros. READ BOOTSECTOR - Attempts to read the bootsector, on the disk, in drive A and load its contents into the current buffer. If it could not be read, An error message will appear, and the current buffer will be filled with zeros. WRITE BOOTSECTOR - You will be asked if you would like write the entire current buffer to the bootsector (NEW), on the disk in drive A, or write all EXCEPT the Bios Parameter Block (OLD) (i.e. BPB hold info about the # of tracks, sector per track, etc.). You will then be prompted for final confirma- tion. NOTE: If OLD is selected, and the buffer is executable, you will have to enable the bootsector on the disk again (See CHANGE EXECUTION). The old BPB will then be entered into the current buffer. SHOW BUFFER BPB - Displays information about the Bios Parameter Block of the sector in the current buffer. Also informs you if it is executable or not. CHANGE EXECUTION - You will first be asked if you would like to ENABLE or DISABLE a bootsector. Next you will be asked if the selected action should be performed upon the bootsector in the current BUFFER or the BOOTsector, of the disk, in drive A. If BOOT is selected, you will then be promted for final confirmation. Additionally, if BOOT is selected, it will be loaded into the current buffer afer the operation takes place. If an error occurs, an error message will appear, and the current buffer will be filled with zeros. CHECK EXECUTION - Tells you if the bootsector, on the disk, in drive A is executable or not. You will then be asked if you would like the bootsector loaded into the current buffer (See READ BOOTSECTOR). IMMUNIZE DISK - Writes a small executable program to the bootsector in drive A. This program is NOT harmful to you system or disks. It will merely display a message at boot-up that says "YOUR BOOT DISK IS FREE OF VIRUSES." With this immunized boot sector on each of your disks, they will be less likely to "catch" a virus. This is because most known viruses will only infect a disk if the bootsector is NOT executable. With an executable bootsector alraedy on the disk, it will most likely be left alone. BUFFER 1 (BUFFER 2) - This is a switch to select which buffer is the current buffer. Very useful for temporarily saving a bootsector in one buffer while you work on another in the current buffer. NOTE: Funtions will only affect the current buffer and NEVER the hidden buffer. BUFFER > FILE - Writes the current buffer to a bootsector file that you select. NOTE: Sector file format is described and discussed below. FILE > BUFFER - Loads the selected bootsector file into the current buffer. EDIT CURRENT BUFFER - To edit the current buffer, simply click the mouse pointer in the hexadecimal area of the buffer display. You may use either set of number keys, a-f, A-F, the arrow keys, and or to page up or down. or take you out of edit mode. The keypad works like this: *SHOWN* *WORKS* ( ) / * A B C D 7 8 9 - 7 8 9 E 4 5 6 + 4 5 6 F 1 2 3 e 1 2 3 e 0 0 . n 0 0 . n NOTE: You cannot "undo" any entered information nor can you edit ASCII. ******************************************************************************* Bootsector Technician is shareware and may NOT be sold by ANYONE. (Note: Users groups may include it in their PD library.) Bootsector Technician is Copyright 1991 by Magnum Software and may not be altered in any way. Magnum Software holds no liability whatsoever as to the condition or performance of this program. Please report any bugs immedialty. To receive the latest disk of Shareware programs and product demos, send $7 to: Magnum Software BT10 2871 S. 124th St. Milwaukee, WI 53227 GEnie's "Gift of Time" is also greatly appreciated. Direct comments or questions to the address above or: on CompuServe: 72550,2542 on GEnie : MAG.SOFTWARE ******************************************************************************* Description & Discussion of Sector, Track and Disk Files -------------------------------------------------------- For compatability, Magnum Software uses the following format for sector, track and disk files. This is also a proposal for a "standard" for these types of files. SECTOR FILE FORMAT (*.SCT) - WORD 0 - Track BYTE 2 - Sector BYTE 3 - Side BYTE 4 - Bytes of data: 0 - 128 1 - 256 2 - 512 3 - 1024 4 - 2048 5 - 4096 6 - 8192 7 - 16384 8 - 32768 BYTE 5 - Data -- -- BYTE n - Data TRACK FILE FORMAT (*.TRK) - WORD 0 - Track BYTE 2 - Sector BYTE 3 - Side BYTE 4 - Bytes of data for sector 1: 0 - 128 1 - 256 2 - 512 3 - 1024 4 - 2048 5 - 4096 6 - 8192 7 - 16384 8 - 32768 BYTE 5 - Bytes of data for sector 2: -- -- BYTE n - Bytes of data for sector n: BYTE n - Data -- -- BYTE n - Data DISK FILE FORMAT (*.DSK) - WORD 0 - Tracks TRACK HEADER - TRACK DATA \ \ -- -- > Repeat for # of tracks in WORD 0. / TRACK HEADER / TRACK DATA - -------------------------------------- For comments, contact Magnum Software: on CompuServe: 72550,2542 on GEnie : MAG.SOFTWARE --------------------------------------