AT-SLOW Demo Version Version 4.00 Unregistered PC-AT High Performance Slowdown By David Keil This is a demo version of AT-SLOW. It has all the features of the registered version to give you an idea of how it works but is limited to aprox 5min of operation. Send for your registered version of AT-SLOW today by using the registeration form at the end of this doc file. AT-SLOW is a utility which when loaded will use the high resolution timer found in a PC-AT or close clone, to slowdown games and other programs which run to fast on PC-AT's. This program is hardware dependent and requires a PC-AT or close clone and a 80286/80386/80486 processor to operate. AT-SLOW uses the AT's real time clock found at interrupt 70h to slowdown the AT's speed. Using the real time clock's interrupt has two advantages over the usual use of the normal PC's timer. 1 - The high resolution timer can occur up to 8192 times a second (as opposed to 18.2 with the normal timer). This provides a much smoother slowdown than with the normal timer. This also provides a higher degree of performance reduction. 2 - Since this slowdown uses interrupt 70h and only AT's use this interrupt, programs don't know to re-vector it. So programs that don't work with normal slowdown programs will work with AT-SLOW. Version 4.00 contains several enhancements and additions that were not available in the previous shareware version. 1 - Friendlier user interface. 2 - Option to remove program from memory. 3 - Optional 1024, 2048 & 4096 int's/second for slower AT machines and for slowing 80486 machines down to 80386 speeds. 4 - Standby mode which lets the computer run at full speed until the delay is wanted. Then it can be activated by a sequence of key-strokes. 5 - Hot-key enabling, disabling & changing of the delay value while in the program you want delayed 6 - Hot-key to DOS function for older programs that don't allow an easy exit to DOS. 7 - New CPU option allowing you to enter a CPU clock speed you want the the system to run at. Using AT-SLOW: The command for using AT-SLOW is at-slow [/t????][/c??][/z][/s][/1][/2][/4][/8][/d][/e][/r][/h][/?] Where: /t = ???? is amount to slowdown PC-AT. Valid range is 0-1999. /c = ?? is CPU speed in MHZ wanted. Valid range is 2-99. /z = Tell AT-SLOW the processor is a 80486 for CPU calabration. /s = Put AT-SLOW in standby mode. /1 = Use 1024 INT's/second. /2 = Use 2048 INT's/second. /4 = Use 4096 INT's/second. /8 = Use 8192 INT's/second. (Default value) /d = Disable slowdown. /e = Enable slowdown. /r = Remove program from memory. /h = Show this help screen. /? = Show current program settings. /t???? The range of values for delay is 1-1999. Values of 20-60 on 286 machines is usually adequate. As the delay value is increased there will come a point when the computer actually is to slow to function. If this happens use the hot-keys to disable the delay and then try a smaller value or use the /c option. /c?? The range of values for the CPU command are 2-99 mhz. This command is used instead of the /t command. The CPU command will compute the correct delay value to give the speed requested. The message: 'CPU delay being calabrated, please wait!' will be displayed during which time the system will appear to to locked up. When finished if it was possible to give the requested CPU speed the message: 'CPU set to speed requested.' will be displayed. If the speed selected is to fast or slow to be achieved then the message: 'Unable to set CPU to speed requested, delay disabled!' is displayed. Possible reasons the speed could not be set are: 1 - speed higher then real CPU speed. (buy faster machine) 2 - Speed higher then possible with ints/sec selected. (select a lower number of ints/sec) 3 - Speed lower then possible with ints/sec selected. (select a higher number of ints/sec) Notes: 1 IT MAY TAKE AS LONG A 1MIN TO CALABRATE SPEED. 2 This function is used to help compute a delay value required for a particular program. Once the speed has been computed and fine tuned (using the hot-keys) the delay value should be determined using the /? option and that value used with the /t option. This will eliminate the calabration delay. 3 A valid /t or /c command must be given before the program will be installed. Using AT-SLOW continued: /z Tell AT-SLOW that the processor is a 80486 so the /c option will calabrate the system speed correctly. Include this option each time you use the /c option on a 80486 computer. EX. AT-SLOW /c50/z (slow down a 80486 to the speed of a 80386-33) /1 Selects an interrupt rate of 1024ints/sec. /2 Selects an interrupt rate of 2048ints/sec. /4 Selects an interrupt rate of 4096ints/sec. The previous three options are used when a smaller delay is wanted then the 8192ints/sec option allows. EX. For slower AT's (like the original 6mhz IBM AT). To slow down a 80486 to 80386 speeds. Slow down a game a little making it easer to play. /8 Restores the int's/second back to the normal 8192. This is the default when the program is first installed. /d Disables AT-SLOW's delay and hot-keys. AT-SLOW is completely inactive at this point and can only be reactivated by the enable command or entering a new delay or CPU value. /e Enables AT-SLOW's delay and Hot-keys with the previous delay value. /s Disables AT-SLOW's delay but not the hot-keys. When in standby mode AT-SLOW checks for the hot-key sequence to reactivate and for exit to DOS. It also insures that the hot-keys are not disabled by any other program while in standby mode. Using standby mode you can set the delay you want for a game, then activate the delay after the program is loaded. /r Disable AT-SLOW and remove it from memory /? Show AT-SLOW's current status. Use this function to determine the delay value after you have fine tuned it using the hot-keys or the CPU command. Using AT-SLOW's Hot-keys AT-SLOW's hot-keys are activated in a way that prevents them from interfering with other programs function keys. To use AT-SLOW's hot-keys they must be activated first. This is done by pushing the ALT key twice in a row. Pushing the ALT key again or any other key except for AT-SLOW's hot-keys will deactivate them. This is done so that the hot-keys cannot be activated by accident. For best results in activating the hot-keys push another key other then the hot-keys (such as CTRL or SHIFT) to clear any sequence already started, then push the ALT key twice in a row. Once the hot-keys have been activated you can use them to speedup and slowdown the computer or remove AT-SLOW and all programs loaded after it including the one that is curently running from memory and exit to DOS. The Hot-keys are: E Enables the delay value. D Disables the delay value. Gray + Increases delay by 1 each time pushed. Gray - Decreases delay by 1 each time pushed. ESC Pushed 4 times in a row will cause the computer to exit to DOS The (E) key enables the delay with the previous value. So by entering a command such as: AT-SLOW /t40/s the program requiring slowdown can be loaded at full computer speed and then the desired delay can be enabled by using the (E) hot-key. After hot-keys have been enabled pushing any key other than the 5 mentioned above will deactivate the hot-keys and the ALT will have to be pushed twice in a row again to re-activate them. More information about the Hot-key to DOS This option can be very useful and dangerous too. It should be used with care and only when necessary. This option works by making a snapshot of memory when AT-SLOW is loaded. Then when the sequence is activated all programs loaded after AT-SLOW are removed from memory (much like other TSR memory managers) and the computer system is restored to the state it was in before AT-SLOW was loaded. Then AT-SLOW is also removed from memory and the system returns to the DOS prompt. Care should be used when activating the exit to DOS function. Wait until the program is not active (such as waiting for input). Do not activate when program is reading or writing to disk. This could cause loss of data. In must cases the system should have been restored to a reliable condition however, don't exit to DOS from a game and then start work on that spreadsheet you've been working on for the past two weeks, reboot instead. This option allows you to run several games and other non- critical programs that normally require you to reboot to exit, without having to. In most cases AT-SLOW's exit to DOS function should be as reliable as other TSR memory managers. Experiment, over time you will find out what works and what doesn't. In time this function may become even more valuable then the slowdown function. If you find AT-SLOW useful: This program is copyrighted and may only be distributed in unmodified form and with the .DOC & .DIZ file included. A lot of time and effort went into the finding of information and writing of AT-SLOW. So if you find this program useful (and I'm sure you will) and would like to support the development of more PC-AT (and other high performance computers) related software. Please fill out the registration form on the following page and send it along with the registration fee to: David Keil / Better Software Co. 10 W. Wilburn Ave. Greenville, S.C. 29611 This program is provided AS IS without any warranty, expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular purpose. Please support quality shareware by registering it. We thank you for your support. AT-SLOW PAID Registration form Remit To: David Keil / Better Software Co. 10 W. Wilburn Ave. Greenville, SC 29611 Voice (803) 295-4971 Data #1 (803) 269-7899 Data #2 (803) 269-7045 ____ AT-SLOW Registration $15.00 ____ Update on 5.25 inch disk $ 0.00 ____ Update on 3.25 inch disk $ 0.00 ____ Update to be downloaded off BBS $ 0.00 ____ Outside USA shipping & handling $ 5.00 Total amount enclosed $_______ Payment by check or money order (U.S. bank or branch) Make check payable to: Better Software Co. ..... Following needed for download of upgrade off BBS Work Phone _____ __________ Home Phone _____ __________ The following will be your user ID: First Name _____________ Last Name _____________ Password _____________ An account will be setup for you within 24 after receiving your registration (10 days for personal check). Mail will be left for you which will tell you how to download your upgrade. Registered users will be notified on the BBS of upgrades in AT-SLOW. ..... Following needed for shipment of upgrade. Name ___________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________