If you boot a DOS disk with no cartridge in the slot or with BASIC
disabled (by holding the OPTION key), DOS will try to load the file
named DUP.SYS. This is the disk utility file. When using BASIC,
typing DOS [RETURN] will load the DUP.SYS file. When the utilities
are loaded the menu will appear on the screen.
THE DOS UTILITIES MENU
DISK OPERATING SYSTEM II VERSION 2.0S
COPYRIGHT 1980 ATARI
A. DISK DIRECTORY I. FORMAT DISK
B. RUN CARTRIDGE J. DUPLICATE DISK
C. COPY FILE K. BINARY SAVE
D. DELETE FILE(S) L. BINARY LOAD
E. RENAME FILE M. RUN AT ADDRESS
F. LOCK FILE N. CREATE MEM.SAV
G. UNLOCK FILE O. DUPLICATE DISK
H. WRITE DOS FILES
SELECT ITEM OR [RETURN] FOR MENU
After pressing [A] [RETURN] you will get the prompt:
DIRECTORY--SEARCH SPEC,LIST FILE?
If you want to see the entire directory just press [RETURN] again. If
you wish, you may type in a specific file name (D: is optional) or
wild cards to search for. If you specify a search spec only matching
files will be displayed.
If you want, you can have the directory sent to another device. To do
this type a comma and the device name. For example, if you type ,P:
the directory will be sent to the printer.
[B] RUN CARTRIDGE
If a cartridge was inserted or BASIC was not disabled when the
computer was turned on, [B] [RETURN] will run that cartridge or
[C] COPY FILE
This option will copy a file to another part of the same disk (with a
different file name) or copy from one disk drive to another. When you
press [C] [RETURN] you will be given the prompt:
Type the devices and file names separated by a comma.
The first example will copy to the same disk. The second example will
copy from disk drive one to disk drive two.
If you want to have the first file appended to the end of the second
file type /A after the file names.
If the files are binary load files, this will cause both files to be
saved as one file. When the load command is used they will both be
loaded and run.
[D] DELETE FILE(S)
After pressing [D] [RETURN] you will get the prompt:
DELETE FILE SPEC
After typing the file name you will be asked to confirm the file to
DELETE FILE SPEC
DELETE-D1:JUNK ARE YOU SURE?
Press [Y] if the correct file is displayed. If you use wild cards you
will be asked to confirm each matching file.
Upon typing [E] [RETURN] you will be given the prompt:
RENAME-GIVE OLD NAME,NEW
Type the file name you want to change and the new name separated by a
WARNING! Do not rename a file to a name which already exists on the
disk. You will end up with a duplicate file name and will not be able
to access one of them. Attempting to rename or delete one of them
will rename or delete both. The only way to fix a duplicate file name
is with a sector editor or other special utility.
[F] LOCK FILE
A locked file cannot be written to, renamed or deleted. To lock a
file type [F] [RETURN]. You will get the prompt:
WHAT FILE TO LOCK?
Type the file name you want to lock. Wild cards will cause all
matching files to be locked.
[G] UNLOCK FILE
Used the same as lock.
[H] WRITE DOS FILES
This option will write the DOS.SYS and DUP.SYS files to a formatted
disk. When you type [H] [RETURN] you will receive the prompt:
DRIVE TO WRITE DOS FILES TO?
Type the number of the drive. If the drive contains a formatted disk
the dos files will be written to it.
[I] FORMAT DISK
This option formats a new disk or erases a disk with files on it.
Typing [I] [RETURN] will get you the prompt:
WHICH DRIVE TO FORMAT
Be sure you have the correct disk in the proper drive then type the
drive number. It is impossible to recover files on a disk formatted
While the disk is being formatted the drive will check to be sure the
disk is formatted correctly. If not, the drive attempt to format the
disk again. If the disk is defective the drive will not finish the
[J] DUPLICATE DISK
This option will copy an entire disk except for sectors listed as free
in the VTOC. Some programs are copy-proofed by changing the VTOC to
show that some occupied sectors are empty. For such disks, a program
which copies the entire disk is needed.
When you press [J] [RETURN] you will be given the prompt:
DUP DISK--SOURCE,DEST DRIVES?
If you are using only one disk drive, type 1,1. If you have only one
drive you will be told when to swap disks.
[K] BINARY SAVE
This option saves a block of memory as a binary load file. When you
type [K] [RETURN] you will be given the prompt:
Type the desired file name and a comma. Now type the start and end
addresses of the memory block to be saved, in hexadecimal numbers,
separated by commas. If the file is a program which is to
automatically run when loaded, give the initialization address, if
needed, then the run address.
This will save the block of memory from address 0700 to 09FF. The
program is not initialized before running so there is no address typed
after the third comma. When the program is loaded the computer will
jump to address 0700, as specified in the last parameter, to run the
[L] BINARY LOAD
To load a binary file type [L] [RETURN]. You will get the Prompt:
LOAD FROM WHAT FILE?
Type the file name and the file will be loaded. If wild cards are
used, only the first matching file will be loaded.
[M] RUN AT ADDRESS
Typing [M] [RETURN] will get the prompt:
RUN FROM WHAT ADDRESS?
Type the hexadecimal address of the program you want to run.
[N] CREATE MEM.SAV
A MEM.SAV file is used by BASIC and some other programs to save the
part of memory which the DUP.SYS file loads into. If there is no
MEM.SAV file on the disk when you go to the DOS utilities, you will
loose that part of memory. With BASIC you will loose your program.
When you type [N] [RETURN] you will get the prompt:
TYPE Y TO CREATE MEM.SAV
Typing [Y] [RETURN] will create a MEM.SAV file on the disk in drive
[O] DUPLICATE FILE
This option is used to copy a file from one disk to another, using
only one disk drive. When you type [O] [RETURN] you will get the
NAME OF FILE TO MOVE?
If you use wild cards you will be asked to swap disks for each
DOS 2.5 also has option:
[P] FORMAT SINGLE
DOS 2.5 normally formats disks to use "enhanced" density. This option
will format a disk in single density for use with the 810 drive.
DOS 2.5 also has some special utilities on the master disk. Use the
binary load option to run them.
This program will cause the extra bank of memory in the 130XE to act
like a disk drive (called D8:). If this program is on the disk it
will automatically run. It need not be renamed to AUTORUN.SYS.
Copies DOS 3 files to DOS 2.
Can make certain "repairs" to a disk, such as restoring deleted
Used to change the default configuration of DOS.
AUTORUN.SYS (DOS 2.0 and 2.5)
This program is needed to operate the RS-232 ports on the 850
interface. If you don't want this program to automatically load when
you boot with the master disk, rename the file to RS232.
SPECIAL DOS INFORMATION
When DOS is in memory, changes can be made to the DOS program. These
changes can be made by poking the changes into memory. If you want to
make the changes permanent, you can type DOS [RETURN] to load the
utilities. From the utilities menu you can use the write DOS files
option to save the changes on disk. Some of the useful changes you
can make follow.
This turns off the write verify and speeds up disk writing.
This turns write verify on
This causes any binary file with the extender .RUN to be loaded
automatically when the computer is turned on.
This returns the DOS to normal, Automatically loading files named
DOS 2.0 DOS 2.5
POKE 3818,64 POKE 3774,64
POKE 3822,123 POKE 3778,123
This will cause DOS to accept lower-case as well as upper-case letters
in file names. It will also now accept @,[,\,],^ and _ .
POKE 3818,65 POKE 3774,65
POKE 3822,91 POKE 3778,91
This will change DOS back to normal, accepting only upper-case letters