About the stupidity at WD to pack Dos programs in Windows EXEs

[Wolfi]

Smartguy, because the VAST majority of people who build computers, using OEM
drives, which don't come with the DOS software, already have other computers
that are running Windows.

Aahh, and when you're running Windows you don't also automatically have DOS
as well?

And it is not about DOS or Not-DOS, it is about why don't they use (maybe
selfextracting) zip archives and a DOS program to create the floppy?

Linux can run DOS, OS/2 has built-in DOS, any DOS can run DOS and if you
know it or not, also Windows can run DOS programs.
But why would you at all be interested to use the Non-Windows version of
those DLG Tools, so *you* wouldn't be affected anyway.

A DOS solution for the Non-Windows version would run everywhere.
Or just simply provide the floppy image file for the Non-Windows versions.
For every OS there are tools to write an image file back to a floppy, but
for those Non-Windows OS it is the greatest stupidity to expect them, to be
able run Windows programs to create those floppies.

That's my whole point.

Wolfi

 

[Wolfi]

<Snip>

Dear Wolfi,

You made a lot of good points if you ignore the fact that Western Digital is
accurately assuming that the type of person who is downloading the program
knows or thinks near to nothing about non-Windows OS's and, therefore, is
going to use a separate, Windows endowed computer to turn the DOS file into
a bootable floppy.

Sorry, but you are in the minority, unaccounted for, and will have to make
do. Most people who buy OEM drives have the ability to make a DOS floppy
from within Windows.

Aaahh all thos rapidly increasing millions of Linux, BSD and other *x users
surely can do as well. LOL

If those files require Windows to create those floppies, only a MORON can
advice them for NON-WINDOWS systems. And that's excatly what WD does.

If you can't find a way around your problem, then I

suggest downloading a "trial" version of Windows from your favorite file
sharing network, so that you won't have to suffer the injustice of purca$ing
the program.

That really would be the very last thing on earth, to hunt for an OS I don't
want and am very glad not to have anywhere near me, just to become part of
all those Windows-only and -forever lemmings, that then in its very own
arrogance starts to manipulate and destroy existing partitions and boot
sectors on my HDDs. I don't think so. Absolutely not.

But I will continue to make some stink at WD to hopefully make them realise,
what kind of nonsense they are doing.

P.S. I'm not sure how it is Windows that is pushing you against a wall if
W.D. is doing the pushing, unless they are conspirators.

They are, because they try to force me to use Windows only that I finally am
able to create floppies with their diagnostic tools described as being for
DOS systems.
Then why the heck would I need Windows at all, when they are for NON-Windows
systems.
Did you now finally get the (Non-)logic in it?

There still is no law, forcing everybody to run only Windows.
There still are better alternatives to Windows, but only noticable by those
who are able to view beyond the edge of their own soup bowl.

Wolfi

 

[Conor Turton]

Which part of "I need Windows to create bootable DOS floppies" don't you
understand? If those files are announced to be for *NON-Windows* systems to
create those bootable floppies, containing WD's DLG-tools, why then do they
*FORCE* me to *have* Windows to create them?????

You don't need to have Windows installed to create bootable floppies. I
can create bootable DOS floppies in Mandrake/Redhat etc. Just because
your limited experience means you only think you can do this in Windows
doesn't mean it's impossible.

 

[Conor Turton]

Aaahh all thos rapidly increasing millions of Linux, BSD and other *x users
surely can do as well. LOL

Err, yes actually. Most distros include a command line app to do this.

 

[JAD]

WHY DO YOU NEED WINDOWS TO CREATE BOOTABLE FLOPPIES? have you never copy 'filename' before? never been to bootdisk.com?

Highjack.. cause yours was the only post that I could understand....what a stupid thread.... why would a HD manufacturers want to
tell you what operating system you have to use or what type file system.....????

Which part of "I need Windows to create bootable DOS floppies" don't you
understand? If those files are announced to be for *NON-Windows* systems to
create those bootable floppies, containing WD's DLG-tools, why then do they
*FORCE* me to *have* Windows to create them?????

Are you now able to follow?

give 10 disks or a CD ROM providing every OS
available?

Aaahhh, so where does come the *free* version of Windows, which I need but
wouldn't want at all, just to get those ****ing 2 program files, to write
their contents to a floppy, which then would be a bootable DOS floppy with
the WD DLG-tools?

Wolfi

 

[JAD]

dos on XP? DOS in ME is hard enough to get to.

Aahh, and when you're running Windows you don't also automatically have DOS
as well?

And it is not about DOS or Not-DOS, it is about why don't they use (maybe
selfextracting) zip archives and a DOS program to create the floppy?

Linux can run DOS, OS/2 has built-in DOS, any DOS can run DOS and if you
know it or not, also Windows can run DOS programs.
But why would you at all be interested to use the Non-Windows version of
those DLG Tools, so *you* wouldn't be affected anyway.

A DOS solution for the Non-Windows version would run everywhere.
Or just simply provide the floppy image file for the Non-Windows versions.
For every OS there are tools to write an image file back to a floppy, but
for those Non-Windows OS it is the greatest stupidity to expect them, to be
able run Windows programs to create those floppies.

That's my whole point.

Wolfi

 

[Shep©]

WHY DO YOU NEED WINDOWS TO CREATE BOOTABLE FLOPPIES? have you never copy 'filename' before? never been to bootdisk.com?

Try decaffe ;-)

Which part of "I need Windows to create bootable DOS floppies" don't you
understand? If those files are announced to be for *NON-Windows* systems to
create those bootable floppies, containing WD's DLG-tools, why then do they
*FORCE* me to *have* Windows to create them?????

Are you now able to follow?


Aaahhh, so where does come the *free* version of Windows, which I need but
wouldn't want at all, just to get those ****ing 2 program files, to write
their contents to a floppy, which then would be a bootable DOS floppy with
the WD DLG-tools?

Wolfi

--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
email shepATpartyheld.de
Free songs download,
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/nomessiahsmusic.htm

 

[JAD]

stupid caps lock and I got lazy

WHY DO YOU NEED WINDOWS TO CREATE BOOTABLE FLOPPIES? have you never copy 'filename' before? never been to bootdisk.com?

Try decaffe ;-)

 

[Wolfi]

You don't need to have Windows installed to create bootable floppies. I
can create bootable DOS floppies in Mandrake/Redhat etc. Just because
your limited experience means you only think you can do this in Windows
doesn't mean it's impossible.

Aahhh, so Mandrake, SuSE, Redhat et al now are capable of running 32bit
Windows executables (without WINE) to create floppies? Hear, Hear!!!

Why don't you just simply d/l either one of those linked files and try to
crate such a floppy from within your distri, rather than giving bogos advice
about what you can do and where I'm not experienced enough to do as well.

Wolfi

 

[Wolfi]

WHY DO YOU NEED WINDOWS TO CREATE BOOTABLE FLOPPIES? have you never copy 'filename' before? never been to bootdisk.com?

You didn't get anything at all of what I wrote so far.

Just d/l either one of those linked files and *try* to create the floppies
WITHOUT using Windows to do so.

And then come back and report how you did it.

Wolfi

 

[Conor Turton]

Aahhh, so Mandrake, SuSE, Redhat et al now are capable of running 32bit
Windows executables (without WINE) to create floppies? Hear, Hear!!!

WINE comes with SuSE. WINE is also free. Point is that you don't need
to use Windows.

 

[JAD]

you know I don't have to...actually I've done it many times...

<Just d/l either one of those linked files> . linked to the ftp site I'm downloading from? cause they are not linked anywhere to
anything

linked to what?

download files to temp directory, enter dos... copy *.* c:/temp a:

 

[@drian]

At http://support.wdc.com/download/ WD clearly states
"Data Lifeguard v11.0 for DOS"
http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlgsetup11_dos.zip and
"DLG Diagnostic" http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlgdiag11.zip
as opposed to
"Data Lifeguard Diagnostics - DLGDIAG for Windows"
http://support.wdc.com/download/windlg/windlg10.exe.

But after having downloaded both files for use in a Window$-free environment
and no intentional or accidental access to 32bit Windows, which I really
don't want to have, you'll find, that those programs announced to be used
with DOS, are packed not in a (possibly self extracting) Zip-file, as every
reasonable person would possibly choose to do for that purpose, oooohhh no,
but in a Win32 executable instead!!!!!!!!

For what it is worth, if WD makes a program for DOS and zip's it up, it
should be pure DOS and not involve anything to do with Windows. Same if
they made a download for Linux which is in TAR format, it shouldn't have any
Win32 files or executables inside it. That makes sense to me.

@drian.

 

[Wolfi]

WINE comes with SuSE. WINE is also free. Point is that you don't need
to use Windows.

.... if it is working there.
Can you create those WD floppies using WINE?

Wolfi

 

[Wolfi]

you know I don't have to...actually I've done it many times...

<Just d/l either one of those linked files> . linked to the ftp site I'm downloading from? cause they are not linked anywhere to
anything

linked to what?

"Data Lifeguard v11.0 for DOS"
http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlgsetup11_dos.zip and
"DLG Diagnostic" http://support.wdc.com/download/dlg/dlgdiag11.zip

download files to temp directory, enter dos... copy *.* c:/temp a:

*What* are you copying to A:?

dlgsetup11_dos.zip, which only is 1.599.505 Bytes large and unfortunately
won't fit on your floppy, or DLGDiag.exe, which only is 1.884.876Bytes large
and also has some minor problems to find place on said floppy?

Pleeeeaaaase tell us, how you manage to squeeze those files on a 1.44 MB floppy.

We all are eager to learn from your extraordinary experience.

And after you managed to do this little miracle, how does a simple dos...
copy *.* c:/temp a: then make this floppy bootable with either
dlgsetup11_dos.zip or DLGDiag.exe on it?

I'm so anxious to participate in the wealth of your skills, which quite
obvious, I don't have yet ;-(

Wolfi

 

[Conor Turton]

*What* are you copying to A:?

dlgsetup11_dos.zip, which only is 1.599.505 Bytes large and unfortunately
won't fit on your floppy, or DLGDiag.exe, which only is 1.884.876Bytes large
and also has some minor problems to find place on said floppy?

Pleeeeaaaase tell us, how you manage to squeeze those files on a 1.44 MB floppy.

We all are eager to learn from your extraordinary experience.

Well ye of a blinkered view, please learn to think more laterally....

With a CDR now costing LESS than a floppy disc, create a bootable CDROM
with the program on. Far more reliable than floppies.

 

[JAD]

I thought it was a "bootdisk" topic, not the diagnostic disk ...I was not paying attention to that

 

[stacey]

Well ye of a blinkered view, please learn to think more laterally....

With a CDR now costing LESS than a floppy disc, create a bootable CDROM
with the program on. Far more reliable than floppies.

Still need a 32bit OS to run the "program" on which it then looks for the
floppy drive that you don't think a system needs anymore!

 

[Wolfi]

Well ye of a blinkered view, please learn to think more laterally....

With a CDR now costing LESS than a floppy disc, create a bootable CDROM
with the program on. Far more reliable than floppies.

Why the **** should I now suddenly use a CD to get this test finally running?
Do you genius even know if all of my boxes do have a CD drive or can boot
off of one?

Why not go to the ISS and try it from a space orbit or maybe even better,
ask an alien for help?

More of these stunning proposals?

Wolfi

 

[JAD]

ok so we don't have your answer.....and YOU can't come up with a solution... yet you get testy..
l8tr