** 2 pages Q&A / ? words **
** I've resent the unused AC4 stuff again **
** Recycle any leftovers for AC6! **

** boxout **
Following on from your review of the US Robotics Sportster Voice 33.6 
Modem in AC#3 there's no need to wait for Atarians to program voice mail 
(Answerphone run by computer).
The registered v2.46 of ConNect supports the ZyXEL voice modems and TIA 
TR29.2 standard modems.
The Sportster acts like a ZyXEL machine giving you the oportunity to
record your own messages through the 'ext mic' option so long as:
** bulleted list **
* Your serial interface supports 38600 baud
* You set up the recording directory yourself
* You SHOUT!
** end list ** 
Peter Swan, Bristol


** Q **
** TIMESLCE.GIF here **
Every time I install Stewart, the MagiC customiser, I get a crash and an 
alert box reports "68000 exception error", why?
** A **
This happens with a number of programs under MagiC. The solution is to 
disable timeslicing during booting. This is achieved by commenting out the 
#_TSL line in MAGX.INF (add a ; character at the start of the line in any 
ASCII editor). Once at the desktop open the TSLICE.CPX and turn on 
pre-emptive multitasking - which reactivates timeslicing. You only need to 
do the first time after editing MAGX.INF and it solves these problems for 
good.
Harry Sideras


External File Systems
** Q **
I recently came across a reference to loadable filesystems, and was told 
these can be used on my Atari ST. Now I do not consider myself to be a 
beginner when it comes to ST matters, but this is the first time I have 
heard of loadable file systems. I have a 4Mb STe with 330Mb hard disk. 
Please explain what loadable filesystems are, and how I could set one up.
Paul Dion, Warwick.
** A **
The TOS filesystem (TOSFS) is adequate for most tasks you are likely to 
carry out. It takes care of things such as file attributes and the way 
files are structured on disk. However it is lacking in some areas: 
loadable filesystems fill the gap. You can add these by loading from disk, 
giving you enhanced features over TOSFS.
Loadable filesystems are characterised by the extension (.XFS). The main 
ones available are CD filesystem (CDFS), Minix filesystem (MinixFS), and 
RAM filesystem (RAMFS). CDFS implements the ISO9660 filesystem standard 
which is what CDs use, and RAMFS is a dynamically resizeable RAMdisk. 
MinixFS is the most commonly used one. Using MinixFS, you are not limited 
to short filenames of the 8+3 format, but filenames of upto 64 characters 
and in mixed case! MinixFS is more UNIX like, supporting symbolic and hard 
links, ie. a file can be in different places on the disk, taking up the 
space of one. In addition files are given ownership attributes under a 
multi-user system. Hard disks can have huge partitions without increasing 
the sector size. In general, MinixFS is faster and more robust than TOSFS. 
Whats more, these three filesystems are free, being available from any PD 
library.
However, you will require MiNT or MultiTOS to use these. MinixFS is 
incompatible with TOSFS thus needing a seperate disk partition. 
Defragmentation programs for TOS disks do not work with Minix disks, and 
non-MiNT aware programs are not able to access the long filenames. 
Installing the filesystems is easy. Here is a step by step guide to 
installing a MinixFS on your hard disk. I cannot emphasise how important 
it is that you backup your hard drive before installing this. You may want 
to practice installing it on a floppy disk...
From the MinixFS distribution, click on MINIT.TTP, and enter the following 
parameters:
-V -n 2 -P F:
This creates a filesystem on drive F, where you can have a disk as big as 
you want (as long as the driver supports it), with the ability to have 30 
character filenames, and disk protection so that you don't damage the disk 
when mistakenly copying files from a TOS partition to a Minix partition. 
There are other parameters, which are covered extensively in the 
documentation. However, setting up with these parameters is adequate for 
most.
Once done, place MINIXFS.XFS into either C:\MINT or C:\MULTITOS, where C 
is the boot partition. If you have MultiTOS installed, then choose the 
second path.
Now reboot with MiNT/MultiTOS, and you should be able to use the MinixFS 
partition.
Denesh Bhabuta
** FREEDOM.GIF **
** Caption **
Freedom installed under MultiTOS shows that long filenames in mixed 
case are possible using MinixFS
** end **


Dead floppy
** Q **
Is it possible to find a replacement for my dead and broken internal 
floppy drive?
James Greenstreet, Sheffield
** A **
Yes, standard PC drives should work in theory, although some need slight 
modification. Buy from an Atari dealer and you'll avoid any potential 
headaches.
Phil Hough

PC Rodents
** Q **
Is there any way to use a PC mouse on my Atari? My overused and damaged 
original Atari mouse wants to retire.
Martin Quested, London
** Q **
You can still buy a proper Atari specific mouse from Atari dealers and 
they're generally nicer to use than the original. These typically cost 
between œ10 and œ15 pounds.
It is possible to use a serial PC mouse plugged into the serial port along 
with a PD utility imaginatively called Mouse v2.5. It works well but 
doesn't feel exactly the same as a 'real' Atari mouse. Obviously if you're 
already using the serial port for a modem this isn't a feasible idea.
Phil Hough


SCSI Masterclass
** Q **
Why does my Falcon hard disk keep locking up? The external 340Mb Quantum 
external MiniS hard disk keeps locking up with the message "Your output 
device is not receiving data". I'm running HD Driver and my Falcon has 
all the stability mods fitted.
Copying a file from C: to D: can set it off. Sometimes direct to disk 
recording will work other times it won't. Worst of all if I start a 
raytracing and go to bed then get up in the morning to find POV on line 3 
displaying that darn alert. ARGH!
Scott Forshaw, via CIX
** A **
SCSI lock-ups do seem to afflict Falcon owners more than other machines, 
although other machines can be affected. The problem generally seems to 
get worse if you burden the system with an enlarged desktop and/or a large 
colour palette.
** TREECHK.GIF here **
If you have a copy of Kobold (or Egale) run the Tree check utility and 
check each SCSI partition against itself in every screen resolution you 
normally use (in 2, 16 and 256 colours). If you get a problem or mismatch 
is any of these tests then you do have a SCSI problem.
Suggested treatments and possible cures!
** bulleted list **
* SCSI termination: Whatever you've read SCSI termination rules are made 
to be broken - experiment! In case you're wondering the Falcon is 
terminated internally on the motherboard.
* Try disconnecting any other SCSI devices.
* Try substituting a different SCSI cable - the shorter the better rule 
applies.
* Run in mono at the lowest practical resolution for the task in hand.
* The hard disk driver software and buffer method employed by individual 
applications is crucial. Programs which buffer data in large chunks (such 
as D2D software) are more prone to lock-ups. Try changing your hard disk 
driver software as follows:
** If you're using ICD, HD Driver or any AHDI version other than AHDI 
  v6.05c try changing to this particular version - it's slightly slower 
  and cures lock-ups for some people.
** If you're using AHDI v6.05c try HD Driver or AHDI v6.06.
* Changing from TOS to MagiC or Geneva also affect the speed of the 
system and may make a difference.
* Fitting Nemesis may well fix the problem because the installation 
procedure includes a complete diagnostic of the SCSI subsystem and fitting 
of specially selected suppression components.
* Back-up, reformat and partition (BURP), preferably using HD Driver v6 
(don't use any HD-Driver v5.x - they were buggy).
* Work from a RAM disk where feasible.
* Switch over to an IDE drive - no SCSI lock-ups!
* If you're running a Falcon or TT turn SCSI arbitration on using HD 
Driver, or other utility, then it can control and reset the SCSI bus if it 
hangs. There's an annoying timeout so be patient because it avoids having 
to power off then on again. The SCSI arbitration setting is stored as part 
of the boot-configuration data stored in non-volatile memory (NVRAM).
** end list **
Joe Connor, Darryl Piper, Martyn Dryden, Bob Culveston, Andy Humphreys, 
Daron Brewood, Doug Little, Al Goold, Derryck Croker, Keith Jackson and 
the rest of the CIX gang.


Quantum light
** Q **
Some time ago I acquired a battered TT with no hard drive. Since 
resurrecting it for my college studies I have bought a new Quantum drive 
mechanism, which works fine except I don't know where to plug in the drive 
activity light?! I've been told by various sources that it goes into 
various places (including the motherboard) but none of them worked. There 
are some small sockets on the drive itself but the plug is too big for any 
of them.
David Dobson via email
** A **
The drive light socket is usually small white socket on the drive 
somewhere. Exactly where this socket is depends on the drive model (which 
you don't mention) so check out Quantum's web site, which provides 
excellent technical information:
** BC on **
http://www.quantum.com
** BC off **
You should be able to obtain a miniature plug from any good electronics 
supplier.
Shiuming Lai


IMG-ination
** Q **
Can you recommend a decent package to edit IMG pictures? My setup is a 
Mega ST 4 with NEC 3D Multisync monitor.
Melanie Ferris, Billericay
** A **
You'll find dozens to choose from in any PC/Shareware catalogue but 
here's a shortlist of currently supported alternatives:
** bulleted list **
* The demo version of PixArt can load and save monochrome images - to save 
colour images you can buy the full package from 16/32 (in the UK).
* If monochrome is all you need take a look at Munch, an excellent 
shareware package supported by InterActive.
* Gribnif's Arabesque Professional (available from Titan Designs in the 
UK) is fast, feature packed and also supports vector graphics in the form 
of GEM or Calamus vector graphics.
** end list **
Shiuming Lai


Ready to float!
** Q **
I have the opportunity to buy a used Motorola 68882 FPU quite cheaply. Is 
this the one that's suitable for Mega STe computers?
Gary Manley, Co Durham
** A **
Yes, so long as it's in a PLCC package (flat and square with legs on the 
sides - like the main processor). However it's not a Plug&Play upgrade 
because you'll also need a PAL interface chip to enable your computer to 
recognise the coprocessor. Take advice from System Solutions or The 
Upgrade Shop...
Shiuming Lai


Whining STe
** Q **
My Atari 1040STe is connected to my HiFi system via a pair of RCA phono 
leads and when the volume is turned up there is a high pitch whining 
noise. Is my computer broken? I have disconnected the HiFi in case I 
damage it.
Bob Morro, London
** A **
No, this is a problem with the design of the machine. The STe audio system 
is not properly isolated from the rest of the components so it inherently 
picks up noise. Adjusting the graphic equaliser on your HiFi system may 
alleviate the problem.
Shiuming Lai