CompuServe Thread

#EVO-9650

7 messages in this thread
#78618From: David J. MarksJan 24, 1994 11:00 AM
I'm hoping you're up for a challenge and have a few minutes to spare… We have been running EVO-9650's using DQ-232 and/or VTR-9650.EXP successfully for nearly 2 years now. However we have run into a problem now that Lantastic is running. The problem seems to be memory or hardware address related and neither Diaquest nor Lantastic support can nail it down. During DISK-TO-VTR operations, rendering direct to tape, or even tape editting via Diaquest batch commands, I very regularly lock up in the edit sequence. I need not be accessing the network; just having REDIR and/or SERVER loaded causes the hang-up. When running properly, the disk-to-VTR sequence happens as follows: Message appears "Recording frame nnn of NAME*.TGA", Frame memory switches from DNR to Buffer, VTR Queues up tape to inpoint, VTR prerolls 3:00 seconds, VTR rolls tape and records frame, Sequence repeats. When Lantastic is active, the VTR appears to hang just after the edit sequence begins. Just prior to queuing up to the inpoint, the VTR hangs. I can generally free it by laying on the <esc> key. The problem occurs somewhat randomly. Sometimes after 5 frames, other times near 50 frames. It seems more frequent the longer I let it run. Do you have any clues? Thanks.
#78662From: John EllisJan 24, 1994 1:00 PM
David, I'll look into this as well, as I just put my systems on Lantastic and I also have an EVO. I typically render to disk and then output to tape. -JE
#78673From: David J. MarksJan 24, 1994 2:11 PM
Thanks John. I really suspect some unique conflict here. We hooked up an associates computer to the net, and recorded to tape from his system and framebuffer without incident. Both of my available systems had the problem and they have quite different hardware arrangements.
#78751From: Gus GrubbaJan 24, 1994 8:56 PM
If you have QEMM, run MFT and generate a complete report (you may skip the Windows stuff). If not, run MSD (found in either Windows or DOS 6.0/2 directory). Zip the report and upload it to me. I have Lantastic and haven't seen any problem. It might be a combination of sorts.
#78852From: David J. MarksJan 25, 1994 8:45 AM
>>It might be a combination of sorts. I'm pretty sure it is, but I'm at a loss. Check your e-mail later today for the system reports you asked for. Thanks.
#79327From: Jim PopeJan 27, 1994 12:59 AM
I used a Diaquest 422 card two years ago and ran into problems with Lantastic. I found that the Diaquest driver used software interrupt 14 and so did the REDIR program from Lantastic. This is different from the hardware IRQ's you usually have to play attention to. One of my clients is an AT&T installation here in Denver, and they also have a problem with the Diaquest Driver for their 422 card and LAN Manager, I haven't had time to work that one out yet. The solution for my Lantastic problem was to spend a couple of hours tweaking the loading sequence of the network and other drivers until I found the right combination. Regards, Jim Pope
#79357From: Gus GrubbaJan 27, 1994 6:56 AM
You hit the nail in the head. I knew Diaquest used int 14 for communication between the resident code and its utilities but I never thought Lantastic would mess with that since he (David) wasn't redirecting any printer. I traced the code and found that SERVER.EXE will trap int 14 and do all kinds of stuff with it. This is what causes the "delay" once in a while. I could not find any references in the Lantastic docs telling how to disable that "feature". One way to fix this is making sure you (David) load the Diaquest driver "After" the Lantastic stuff. That way, the Diaquest driver will trap int 14 after SERVER thus "owning" it. As long as you don't try to redirect a "serial" printer, SERVER will never notice it.