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Original IBM Diagnostic Disks from HMS

S

Shadow Lord

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Hi,

Does anyone know of a way (outside of taking a picture of the screen) for capturing the output from the IBM diagnostic disks? Can I use a screen capture program, or redirect the output to a file? Thanks.
 
Capture programs are TSRs that run under DOS so that can't be done since the diagnostics are self booting. Same with redirection. Now, if you could figure out how to run the diagnostics from a DOS booted machine you'd be in business.
 
Stone said:
Capture programs are TSRs that run under DOS so that can't be done since the diagnostics are self booting. Same with redirection. Now, if you could figure out how to run the diagnostics from a DOS booted machine you'd be in business.
Click to expand...

Well the diagnostic disks are std. disks (i.e. no special format/fat, dir command works, etc.) so it may be possible to run them from DOS. Although, just running the program did not work if I recall correctly...
 
If you're referring to IBM Advanced Diagnostics and the like, they have an altered command.com and 1), it won't boot to a DOS prompt 2), when the diagnostics are done it requires a reboot. True, if you don't boot from it it's a normal disk.

Try this... Boot from a regular DOS disk. Then put in your diagnostics disk and type command. You should get the diagnostics menu. So, if you were to run your capture TSR after the DOS boot but before running the diagnostic command.com you should be able to get the screen(s) you want.
 
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I have run the AT's diagnostic disks from DOS once before. It loaded, but if I remember correctly it gave me an error when I tried to run some of its functions.
 
Forgot to mention this in the last post, but when you check it do not run any of the *.com files on the disk except for command.com. I tried to run the disk park command that way. It freezes the computer and ctrl alt del does not work.
 
Shadow Lord said:
Hi,

Does anyone know of a way (outside of taking a picture of the screen) for capturing the output from the IBM diagnostic disks? Can I use a screen capture program, or redirect the output to a file? Thanks.
Click to expand...
If you happen to have a parallel-to-serial converter you can use PrintScreen to send it to another computer; that's what I used to record BIOS setup screens back in the dark ages...
 
MikeS said:
Probably, but these are a lot cheaper:

eBay 370686512769
or
281041517267
110992562013
etc.
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Yeah, I figured I could find it cheaper. I just wanted to make sure I have the right item. So, then how did you do the actual capture? Did you directly connect to the com port using a terminal program? If so, I am wondering if you can use a USB to serial cable so one can use a modern computer (e.g. laptop) to do the capture?

Thanks!
 
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