[Freedos-user] UIDE Drivers Updated, "New" UIDE2.

[Jack <gyk...@ea...>]

Johnson Lam has posted an updated 9-Sep-2011 DRIVERS.ZIP file, on his
website at <johnson.tmfc.net/dos/driver.html>, which contains a "new"
UIDE2, also updates to the other UIDE drivers.

UIDE2 uses old-style "protected mode" caching, that was in UIDE until
August, 2010.   Try as I may, I simply cannot get the current all-XMS
UIDE to run any faster in protected-mode (JEMM386 etc.).   All of its
cache tables are in XMS memory.   This requires a slow Int 15h "trap"
thru JEMM386, to "fetch" any XMS data.    Absolutely NOT any fault of
JEMM386, but due to Intel's too-complex 80386+ protected mode scheme!

UIDE2 sets its binary-search table in memory beyond the driver, which
avoids 50% of XMS accesses and saves time -- fewer Int 15h "traps" in
protected-mode.   As it uses more HMA or memory for its search table,
UIDE2 does have cache-size limits, noted in the UIDE2.ASM file.   But
it is still up to 5% faster for protected-mode, and so UIDE2 is "Back
in service!" for users who run JEMM386/EMM386 etc.

I was also "unhappy" about UIDE-S running only 4 CD/DVD drives, since
there may be a few "CD copier" PCs with up to 6 CDs.    So, UIDE2 and
UIDE-S now handle up to 6 CD/DVD drives!   Any users who in fact have
7 or 8 CD/DVD drives can still use the "full" UIDE or the non-caching
UIDEJR, which will run up to 8 CDs/DVDs (UIDEJR with its /U8 switch).

UIDE2 and UIDE-S are still 7.5K-byte .SYS files, for "boot" diskettes
or other space-limited systems.   UIDE2 also handles the /N3 "No XMS"
switch and sets the "UIDE$" default name if no CD/DVD drive is found.
So, UIDE2 can be run with FreeDOS "automatic loader" scripts on their
distribution CDs.   (Not possible for UIDE-S, which now "barely fits"
into 7.5K!).