Reference Disk

Create Refdisk/Diags
Restoring Special Byte Code
FORCEDOS under NT4
TG0 Utility LDF.COM or Tgsfx.com
DSK Utility loaddskf.exe
Can the Wrong Refdisk Damage My PS/2?
Copying Option ADFs Correctly
Accessing Advanced Diags from the Refdisk
SC.EXE Trivia
Running SC.EXE from the Hard Drive
Common Refdisk Files

Self-Extractor Screen Messages
Run the self-executable. The following messages will appear:

Self-extracting diskette image processor (OS/2), Version 1.03...

Please enter a drive letter compatible with a 1.44M 3.5" disk,
or press ESC to quit:

NOTE: At this time, enter "a" for your A drive, or "b" if you have a 1.44MB B drive)

Press ENTER to continue (read license agreement)

NOTE: This screen pops up:

IBM PERSONAL SYSTEM/2 REFERENCE/OPTION DISKETTE...

NOTE: Bottom line says:
Press ENTER to continue... (Repeats four or so times)

NOTE: Watch for this line! It will dump you out if you only hit enter.

If you agree, type Y and press ENTER...

Insert a blank high-density diskette in drive A:.
Press ENTER to extract, or ESC to exit -
100 percent (shows progress)
Extraction Complete

Press "Y" to do another copy:

Note: Just hit enter to end this program.

Restoring Special Byte-Code
WARNING! Do NOT go to MS-Doze mode under W95 and do a "DIR" command! This will nuke the special byte code created on the refdisk. To put the code back on, use Bob Eager's REFSTAMP.

FORCEDOS under NT
With some refdisks/option/flash disks, I had trouble under Win NT 4. However, going to the MS Dos prompt and typing "forcedos *.exe" the self extractor would work.

If you run the self-extractor from a path that contains at least one long file name, you will have this problem. You can also solve it by copying the self extracting program to a path with names equal to or shorter than 8 characters.

Disk Utility for TG0 Files
The 8525 starter disk (25start.tg0) needs the extractor LDF.COM or is it Tgsfx.com? I have both. Email me HERE

Disk Utility for DSK Files
You need loaddskf.exe to extract these files. Email me HERE

Could I Damage My System with the Wrong Refdisk?
Hell, no! Your system has ADFs for the planar, and the POS circuitry identifies the specific features available to the systems programs. If you use the wrong refdisk, the system will tell you that you have been bad, and MUST be punished... (actually, it says the refdisk is not the correct one for the system, the system is now locked, and you must Ctrl-Alt-Del to get it to work again)

WARNING: Making "cooked" reference diskettes to "add features" that are not officially supported by your system (even if the hardware supports it) may really mess things up and might cause your system to reject valid reference diskettes. For more, see the near disaster that resulted from hacking a refdisk on a P75...

Copying Option ADFs to the Refdisk CORRECTLY
Just copying the ADF to the refdisk will NOT work (I know, I've tried). Before installing a new adapter, run Systems Programs (or Setup to non-IBM types) and choose "Copy an Options Diskette" from the main menu. Now when you install the new adapter, the refdisk HAS the new ADF on it, and it can autoconfigure without flashing that annoying "The description file for the adapter in Slot x was not found".
On the later systems with a refdisk and diags disk, you need both IF you are installing an IBM option (IBM adapters have *.dgs files).

Accessing Advanced Diagnostics from Refdisk
When at the main menu, do a Ctrl-A and you will eventually get to the advanced diags. LLF is there, as is a more detailed and user selectable diagnostics menu. Use it!

From Peter
The pre-1992 versions of the reference / diagnostic disks were mainly based on PC-DOS 4.0 (4.01) - which caused several problems with bigger harddisks. IBM replaced the versions with a PC-DOS 5 based system after complaints.
The SC.EXE however should not query the DOS version number, because the modified COMMAND.COM used on the reference disks does not return any DOS version number at all. So it will -most likely- run under any DOS version 4.0 and above. I -at least- had no problem booting up a Mod. 70 for example under PC DOS 7 - putting the refdisk in A: and type "SC" at the A:> prompt.

Run SC.EXE from HD?
From Rich Wolos
Probably don't qualify for any titles, but we did put the refdisk files on several Model 70 hard drives at the shop. (in \refdisk directory).
Found we usually could run sc.exe (set config) to add/remove memory, also adapter cards if the adf's were there, and also setclock.exe and few others. Someone discovered you could type c:\refdisk>command and that would bring up the opening refdisk menu

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