The Original Laptop Computer . . . 1983
LAPDOS II consists of two components:
ABOUT LAPDOS II
WHY LAPDOS II? LAPDOS II is Traveling Software's response to the demand for a direct link between PC computers, with their large storage capacities, and the Tandy and NEC notebook computers, with their unequaled portability. In its original form LAPDOS links PCs to notebook computers indirectly, through the portable disk drive. The new component makes the portable disk drive unnecessary.
HOW DOES IS WORK? The new component of LAPDOS II consists of a small BASIC program that runs on a notebook computer and makes it act like a portable disk drive. Once you have started that program, you run the original LAPDOS program on a PC and remain at the PC to control the process of transferring files and performing the other file-management operations the program makes possible. The notebook computer responds to commands from the PC much like a portable disk drive. Though LAPDOS II operated almost identically on the notebook computer as it does on the portable disk drive, the connections-PC to portable disk drive and PC to notebook computer - are distinct and not interchangeable.
STARTING LAPDOS II FOR THE FIRST TIME
Follow the instructions on the next five pages and you will be ready to exchange files between a PC compatible and a notebook computer.
ATTACHING THE NULL-MODEM CABLE
A null-modem cable has two connectors: one attaches to the serial port of a PC and one at the end that attaches to the serial port of the notebook computer.
Select a null-modem cable connector for your PC that fits the COM1 or COM2 serial port of your PC (i.e., 9-pin port or 25-pin) and attach it to the port. Next, attach the other connector (D25) to the RS-232C port of your Tandy or NEC notebook computer. Make sure the connections are secure.
Reminder: When you want to link your PC directly to a portable disk drive, disconnect the null-modem cable from your PC and put a gender changer in its place. Attach one end of the disk drive cable to the gender changer and the other end to the disk drive.
ON HARD DISK SYSTEMS: Follow these steps if your PC has a hard disk:
Example: You want to store the LAPDOS II files on your hard disk in a directory on the C drive called UTIL. Place the LAPDOS disk in drive A. At the C> prompt type--
Example: The stem prompt is C>. You have installed LAP.EXE in the UTIL directory. To change the current directory from C to C:\UTIL, type --
Note: if you want the flexibility of starting LAPDOS II from any directory, you can create-or alter-a file called AUTOEXEC.BAT. See Appendix B of the LAPDOS manual for more information.
ON FLOPPY DISK SYSTEMS: If your PC operated only from floppy disks follow these steps:
Caution: To avoid the permanent loss of the LAPDOS program, operate it only from a backup disk - never the master disk.
Place the master LAPDOS II disk in drive A. In drive B place the disk you will use each time you start the program.
Set the master disk aside for safe keeping, and remain at the B> prompt.
PREPARING THE NOTEBOOK COMPUTER
You are about to prepare your Tandy or NEC notebook computer to operate as a portable disk drive. You will run LOADER.COM on your PC. When you have finished, your notebook computer will contain a file named LAPDOS.BA; this file makes the notebook computer accessible from the PC.
if you attached the cable to the COM2 serial port, type--
In a few seconds these messages should be replaced by the system prompt on the PC, by this message on the notebook computer:
The message also identifies the key to press to quit LAPDOS II on this computer: [BREAK] on a Tandy, [STOP] on an NEC.
With the appearance of this message the notebook computer is ready for LAPDOS.
HAVING PROBLEMS?
If this message does not appear-and the screens of both the PC and the notebook computer remain unchanged-press any key on the PC to leave the LOADER.COM (step 1). Locate and correct the problem; then try again : Enter LOADER or LOADER/2 on the PC and press any key.
RUNNING LAPDOS
On the keyboard of the PC type this if you have the null-modem cable attached to the COM1 serial port of your PC:
Type this if you have the cable attached to the COM2 serial port:
The LAPDOS screen should now appear; you are then ready to transfer files between the PC and the notebook computer. Files on the PC are listed in the left of the screen, those on the notebook computer in the right.
If you see a message flashing near the lower right corner of the screen - and no files are listed in the right portion of the screen-you may be experiencing either of the problems addressed in HAVING PROBLEM?, above.
USING LAPDOS II
While it connects a PC and notebook computer LAPDOS operates much as it does while it connects a PC and a portable disk drive. (See section 2 of the manual for detail.) The major exceptions are the Format and Log commands.
FORMAT AND LOG
THE FORMAT COMMAND Use the Format command with care. It erases all files on the notebook computer except LAPDOS.BA. Because LAPDOS.BA remains in memory you can continue using LAPDOS even after you use Format to erase the other files.
THE LOG COMMAND The log command works only for the PC, not for the notebook computer. If you want to log the PC remember to have the bar cursor in the left window of the LAPDOS screen before activating Log.
RESTARTING LAPDOS II
Once you have run LOADER.COM on your PC you do not have to repeat the process as long as you keep LAPDOS.BA in your notebook computer. (Copying that file to the notebook computer is the sole reason for running LOADER.COM).
To restart LAPDOS II make sure that the cable still is securely attached; then follow these steps:
The Original Laptop Computer . . . 1983