The Waite Group's MS-DOS Papers

MS-DOS Papers lets you exploit the MS-DOS operating system to its limit. Essays on fourteen state-of-the-art topics, written by experts and aimed at programmers and serious users, present the inner workings of the MS-DOS operating system, secrets of undocumented features and tips for creating powerful new MS-DOS applications. You'll find advanced techniques in assembly language and C. replacement shells for the DOS command line, little-known details on writing safe Terminate and Slay Resident programs, a complete examination of device drivers, and more, including: • A rare look at the cryptic and detailed internal structures of the MS-DOS operating system • PCnix, a UNIX-like shell replacement for MS-DOS, consisting of public domain utilities, batch files, and patches • Advanced techniques for using Microsoft's Macro Assembler (MASM) 5 and third-party C libraries • Writing Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs, including when to use the little- known INT 5Oh, INT 51 h, INT2fh (Multiplex Implement), and Functions 31 h (Keep Process Call) and 34h (IN_DOS Flag Call) • Exploring programming concepts of MS-Windows: queues, message streams, Windows functions, classes, regions, resources, and a complete SPY examination utility in C • The interface between the MS-DOS operating system and device drivers, with detailed information about Program Segment Prefix (PSP), Memory Control Block Chain, MS-DOS busy flog, System File Table, Device Control Blacks, and Current Directory Structure • Enhanced Graphics Adopter (EGA) programming, including control of EGA registers, latches, bit mask, and map mask, with listings for graphics routines written in C • A detailed examination of serial port control, including a complete communications package • Expanded Memory Specification (EMS) versions 3.2 and 4.0, and EEMS, including bonk switching, testing for EMM, and error code and relevant function tables This valuable reference presents a remarkable range of powerful techniques, insider shortcuts, and wizardry for the most popular operating system ever created.