

   D2D/98                    Free Disc Copy Program                    D2D/98


        NAME

             d2d - disc-to-disc copy program

        SYNOPSIS

             d2d from to [/number] [/a] [/bstring] [/D] [/enumber] [/n]
             [/o] [/q] [/r] [/tdrive:[directory]] [/u] [/v[s]] [/w]
             [/xnumber] [/?]

        DESCRIPTION

             D2D/98 is a program to copy floppy discs.

             The first specified disc denotes  the  source  whereas  the
             second disc denotes the destination of the copy operation.

             Source  and  destination  may be identical. D2D/98 reads in
             the  source  and  writes  the  contents  of   it   to   the
             destination.  Both, the source and destination disc's drive
             must be physically compatible as D2D/98  only  can  produce
             physical  copies  (as  opposed to file-by-file copies) of a
             disc.

             When reading in the source disc,  D2D/98  can  use  several
             kinds  of  memory to store data. First it uses conventional
             RAM (real-mode RAM). If there is  no  more  RAM  available,
             D2D/98  can  use  Extended  Memory  via XMS 2.0 or Expanded
             Memory via EMS 4.0. If the program still needs more memory,
             it can store information on a fixed disc or a RAM-disc.

             A  special  algorithm  enables  D2D/98 to copy only the ac-
             tually needed tracks on MS-DOS discs. This speeds up  both,
             reading  and writing. Formatting is not affected, as D2D/98
             always formats the entire disc (if formatting  is  required
             at all).

             D2D/98  can  create  multiple copies of a single disc, with
             only reading the source disc once. This  greatly  increases
             the speed of the copy process.

             The  destination  disc  will  be formatted automatically if
             necessary. If one of the destination  discs  is  defective,
             D2D/98 will try the process again with another disc.












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   D2D/98                    Free Disc Copy Program                    D2D/98


        OPTIONS

             /number

                  The  process  of  writing the destination disc will be
                  repeated number  times.  Only  successful  copies  are
                  counted.

             /a

                  Copy  all  tracks  on  the disc and do not use the op-
                  timizing algorithm.

             /bstring

                  String  specifies  the  physical  format  (BPB,   BIOS
                  Parameter  Block)  of  the source disc. This option is
                  required if the disc to be  copied  is  not  a  MS-DOS
                  disc.  The  disc formats are encoded as follows (exact
                  spelling required):

                  160k 160kB (40 cylinders, 8 sectors, one side, MFM)

                  180k 180kB (40 cylinders, 9 sectors, one side, MFM)

                  320k 320kB (40 cylinders, 8 sectors, two sides, MFM)

                  320S 320kB (80 cylinders, 8 sectors, one side, MFM)

                  360k 360kB (40 cylinders, 9 sectors, two sides, MFM)

                  360S 360kB (80 cylinders, 9 sectors, one side, MFM)

                  720k 720kB (80 cylinders, 9 sectors, two sides, MFM)

                  1.2M 1.2MB (80 cylinders, 15 sectors, two sides, MFM)

                  1.4M 1.44MB (80 cylinders, 18 sectors, two sides, MFM)

                  2.8M 2.88MB (80 cylinders, 36 sectors, two sides, MFM)


             /D

                  This switch enables deactivation of the boot  code  on
                  each  destination  disc. Just a simple measure against
                  boot virusses!

             /enumber

                  number specifies the amount of expanded memory  in  kB
                  that  may  be used to store the source disc's data. If
                  number is equal to zero, no  EMS  will  be  used.  The
                  amount  of  memory  can  only  be decreased, but never


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   D2D/98                    Free Disc Copy Program                    D2D/98


                  increased. If there  is  less  memory  available  than
                  specified, only the available memory will be used.

             /n

                  Tells  D2D/98  that the machine is not 100% IBM compa-
                  tible. Sometimes this option can help if problems  are
                  encountered. This option is obsolete.

             /o

                  Inhibits  creating a new volume serial number for each
                  destination disc.  This  is  normally  done  when  the
                  source disc has a serial number.

             /q

                  Normally a bell is heard whenever the program tries to
                  attract the users's attention.  This  option  disables
                  the bell (except for fatal errors).

             /r

                  This  flag enables the read recovery processing option
                  of D2D/98. Normally the  program  aborts  reading  the
                  source  disc on the first read error. In recovery mode
                  D2D/98 gives each sector on a bad track an extra  try.
                  Whether  the  try  was  successful or not, the program
                  always continues reading.

             /tdrive:[directory]

                  When there is not enough  memory  addressable  by  the
                  CPU,  D2D/98 will create a file in the specified fixed
                  drive's directory to store data in it.

             /u

                  Normally D2D/98 decides whether the  destination  disc
                  is  suitable  formatted;  in that case the destination
                  disc is not formatted again. This  option  forces  the
                  program to format the destination disc.

             /v[s]

                  Instructs  D2D/98  to  verify  each track after having
                  written it. If smart verify  (/vs)  is  selected,  the
                  tracks  are  only  verified if they are not formatted.
                  This option does not affect the automatic verification
                  that follows formatting.

             /w




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   D2D/98                    Free Disc Copy Program                    D2D/98


                  The  program  asks  for  confirmation if a destination
                  disc contains any valid data.  With  this  option  the
                  arising question is automatically confirmed.

             /xnumber

                  number  specifies  the amount of extended memory in kB
                  that may be used to store the source disc's  data.  If
                  number  is  equal  to  zero,  no XMS will be used. The
                  amount of memory can  only  be  decreased,  but  never
                  increased.  If  there  is  less  memory available than
                  specified, only the available memory will be used.

             /?

                  makes D2D/98  display  a  short  explanation  of  each
                  option.

        EXAMPLES

             Copy  the disc in drive A: to the disc in drive B:, and use
             drive C: to swap

                  d2d a: b: /tc:

             Copy the non-DOS disc (360kB) in drive  A:  and  produce  3
             copies in drive A:

                  d2d A: A: /3 /b360k

             Copy  the  disc in drive B: to the disc in drive B:, do not
             use extended memory (if present), copy all  tracks  and  do
             not create a new volume serial number

                  d2d a: b: /x0 /a /o


        BUGS

             D2D  cannot  copy  a  disc  with  defective  sectors  on it
             automatically. You must specify option  /r.  If  the  first
             track  on the disc is damaged, you must also use the /b op-
             tion to select the format of the disc.  In  that  case  the
             destination disc is always formatted.

             The  command  line parser is inconsistent: Drive specifica-
             tions must be arguments while several options can be in one
             argument. That is why

                  d2d a: b:/a /o

             is not accepted while

                  d2d a: b: /a/o


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   D2D/98                    Free Disc Copy Program                    D2D/98


             is  correct  syntax.  Try to make each option an individual
             argument. The parser also allows to specify  all  arguments
             in any order. That is why

                  d2d /a a: b: /x128 /v

             and

                  d2d /x128 /a a: b: /v

             produce  the  same  result.  The  only  exception are drive
             specifications: The first drive is always the source drive.

             The specified path for the  temporary  swap  file  is  only
             checked  if  it  is  needed. Invalid paths from environment
             variables are silently ignored.

             Paths for images and temporary swap files must begin with a
             drive letter prefix.

             Almost  every  message  from  D2D/98  is written to stderr;
             therefore they can't be redirected with COMMAND.COM.


































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