Say what?
Rube, my globe-wandering buddy, writes:
Without the fallback of a DOS prompt, you had to have a second, fully-functional machine to do things like edit the CONFIG.SYS on the installation floppies to make sure your DASD drivers were loading. And most of the drivers were written so that, if they encountered an error while loading, they’d bork the whole boot process, just to be on the safe side.
WTF?
Did it make your hair hurt? Mine was hurting before I read that (which makes absolutely NO sense to me, either), but now that I have read it, I think it’s a follicle away from the Dirt Nap.
Comment by Erica — April 29, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Makes perfect sense to me.
Comment by Craig — April 29, 2007 @ 10:42 am
C–
Why am I not surprised?
Jimbo
Comment by Jim — April 29, 2007 @ 11:02 am
Erica, geeks like to make such a big MYSTERY out of the simplest things. Here’s the pared-down version.
Without the fallback of a DOS prompt:
Without having the fallback of a resonance rotor valve intake manifold:
you had to have a second, fully-functional machine to do things like edit the CONFIG.SYS on the installation floppies to make sure your DASD drivers were loading.:
you had to have an adjusted pilot-light inert compound to do things like expose the CONFIG.SYS on the demarcation azimuth to make sure your updraft WD-40 bolts didn’t metastasize.
And most of the drivers were written so that, if they encountered an error while loading, they’d bork the whole boot process, just to be on the safe side.
And most of the firing-sequencer throttles were redacted so that, if they submerged before matriculation, they’d slough off half the schematic’s filigree, just to be on the safe side.
Basic stuff.
Comment by dogette — April 29, 2007 @ 11:11 am
“We are gathered here today to pay our respects to the millions of neurons which once comprised the Split Pea Soup, which is all that remains of Erica’s now defunct brain. As it had nothing shockingly intelligent to contribute to the human race, it won’t be missed all that much. A senseless loss, really. DOS is all.”
Comment by Erica — April 29, 2007 @ 11:26 am
I’m with Craig – it DOS make perfect sense.
Comment by Shamrock — April 29, 2007 @ 11:29 am
DASD–Direct Access Storage Device: aka hard drive
Ah! I remember the jargon very well after a 35 year exposure. I guess that makes me multilingual like HRC.
Comment by Bill — April 29, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Sorry ’bout that Jim; I keep forgetting to put up that “parental advisory, geek content” sign. Just remember, when in doubt, nod sagely and say, “I’ll drinkt to that!” Works best at job interviews.
Comment by Rube — April 29, 2007 @ 12:12 pm
fuck it..if it starts to die I will just shoot it…and take it apart with my chain saw
Comment by GUYK — April 29, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
What’s the problem? I understood every word he said.
Of course, 20 years in the industry probably doesn’t hurt. B-)>
Comment by Walrilla — April 29, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Back up all documents, get the new PC and dump A onto B.
Microsoft. They quality goes in before the name goes on!
Comment by Cappy — April 29, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
So… that new ‘puter in the works anytime soon now?
Honestly though, Jim, if you want to see something really cryptic, there’s always stuff like this…
‘References in these Regulations to a regulation are references to a regulation in these Regulations and references to a Schedule are references to a Schedule to these Regulations.’
‘The terms and conditions contained in this Agreement that by their sense and context are intended to survive the performance hereof by either or both parties hereunder, shall so survive the completion of performance, cancellation or termination of this Agreement.’
Hmmm…
Comment by Mike — April 29, 2007 @ 11:35 pm
Okay, it scares me that I went to read Rube’s post and understood every word of it… even though I never worked with OS/2… this may be why I have so few friends. heh.
Comment by Teresa — April 30, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
I feel your pain, Jim.
;*D
Comment by Craig's Spousal Unit — May 2, 2007 @ 1:12 pm