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Below is an actual question and my reply from a DOS conference.
Think many of you (especially the more technically inclined) will
get a chuckle or two from it.
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Would somebody please tell me what to do with my files once I have
downloaded them?
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Copy them to floppy disks and delete them from your hard drive as
soon as you can. Having several downloaded files on your hard disk
can cause it to fail prematurely.
Downloaded files (as opposed to other files) have very heavy "stop
bits" inbeded in them. Nearly all PC BBSs use "stop bits" in their
communications parameters (eg. 8 data bits, no parity, and one stop
bit). These "stop bits" are extremely heavy as compared to the data
bits, and they are appended to (inbeded in) downloaded files as a
result of the downloading communications process. Hence, downloaded
files place a undue strain on your hard drive as it spins (a result
of increased data mass and centrifugal force) and can cause the drive
to fail; that's one reason they are called "stop bits". BBS software
is specifically designed to strip these heavy "stop bits" before
storing files. That's why BBS sysops don't have the problem with
uploaded files.
If you download a lot, you may want to get a copy of the shareware
driver program BIT-LITE. It will strip away 68.3 percent of the heavy
"stop bits" before storing a downloaded file on the hard disk -- the
registered version strips away 93.8 percent and costs $49. The
program is from Storage Minus, Inc., Milpitas CA. Also included with
the registered version is CENTUNE which stands for centrifugal tune.
This is a disk optimization program that will sense downloaded files
having the heavy "stop bits" and evenly place them on your hard disk
platters (like balancing a tire). Fine program; praise the lord and
pass the registrations!
Keep an eye out for the new enhanced IDE drives, they will have a new
feature that automatically strips the heavy "stop bits" before
storing downloaded files on the hard drive.
If, by chance, your question was a legitimate one, I apologize for
the above which is pretty solid misinformation.
Please state *specifically* what your problem or question is and I'm
sure you will get some worthwhile responses.
This page is maintained by: mark@thecoffeeplace.com
Changes were last made on 05-05-2002
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