Complete project organization: move all DOS files to projects/dataforth-dos, create client folders, update Claude config
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projects/dataforth-dos/documentation/DOS_BATCH_ANALYSIS.md
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projects/dataforth-dos/documentation/DOS_BATCH_ANALYSIS.md
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# DOS 6.22 Boot Sequence and UPDATE.BAT Analysis
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## Problem Summary
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User reports:
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1. Manual backup worked: `XCOPY /S C:\*.* T:\TS-4R\BACKUP`
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2. UPDATE.BAT failed to:
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- Detect machine name (TS-4R) when run without parameters
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- Recognize T: drive as available (claims "T: not available")
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## DOS 6.22 Boot Sequence
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### Standard DOS 6.22 Boot Process
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```
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1. BIOS POST
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2. Load DOS kernel (IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS, COMMAND.COM)
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3. Process CONFIG.SYS
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- Load device drivers
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- Set FILES, BUFFERS, etc.
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4. Process AUTOEXEC.BAT
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- Set PATH, PROMPT, environment variables
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- Start network client (if configured)
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5. User prompt (C:\>)
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```
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### Network Boot Additions
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For DOS network clients (Microsoft Network Client 3.0 or Workgroup Add-On):
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```
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CONFIG.SYS:
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DEVICE=C:\NET\PROTMAN.DOS /I:C:\NET
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DEVICE=C:\NET\NE2000.DOS
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DEVICE=C:\NET\NETBEUI.DOS
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AUTOEXEC.BAT:
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SET PATH=C:\DOS;C:\NET;C:\
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CALL C:\NET\STARTNET.BAT
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STARTNET.BAT:
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NET START
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NET USE T: \\D2TESTNAS\test /YES
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NET USE X: \\D2TESTNAS\datasheets /YES
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```
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### Environment After Boot
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After STARTNET.BAT completes:
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- **T:** mapped to \\D2TESTNAS\test
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- **X:** mapped to \\D2TESTNAS\datasheets
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- **Environment variables:**
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- COMPUTERNAME may or may not be set (depends on network client version)
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- PATH includes C:\DOS, C:\NET
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- No USERNAME variable in DOS (Windows 95+ feature)
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## Root Cause Analysis
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### Issue #1: Machine Name Detection Failure
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**Problem:** UPDATE.BAT cannot identify machine name (TS-4R)
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**Likely causes:**
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1. **COMPUTERNAME variable not set in DOS**
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- DOS 6.22 + MS Network Client 3.0 does NOT set %COMPUTERNAME%
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- This is a Windows 95/NT feature, NOT DOS
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- The batch file is checking for %COMPUTERNAME% which is EMPTY
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2. **Machine name stored elsewhere:**
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- PROTOCOL.INI (network config file)
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- SYSTEM.INI (Windows 3.x if installed)
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- Could be hardcoded in STARTNET.BAT
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3. **Detection method flawed:**
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- Cannot rely on environment variables in DOS
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- Must use different approach (config file, network query, or manual parameter)
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### Issue #2: T: Drive Detection Failure
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**Problem:** UPDATE.BAT claims "T: not available" when T: IS accessible
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**Likely causes:**
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1. **Incorrect drive check method:**
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```bat
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REM WRONG - This doesn't work reliably in DOS 6.22:
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IF EXIST T:\ GOTO DRIVE_OK
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REM Also wrong - environment variable check:
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IF "%TDRIVE%"=="" ECHO T: not available
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```
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2. **Correct DOS 6.22 drive check:**
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```bat
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REM Method 1: Check for specific file
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IF EXIST T:\NUL GOTO DRIVE_OK
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REM Method 2: Try to change to drive
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T: 2>NUL
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IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO NO_T_DRIVE
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REM Method 3: Check for known directory
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IF EXIST T:\TS-4R\NUL GOTO DRIVE_OK
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```
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3. **Timing issue:**
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- STARTNET.BAT maps T: drive
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- If UPDATE.BAT runs immediately, network might not be fully ready
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- Need small delay or retry logic
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### Issue #3: DOS 6.22 Command Limitations
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**Cannot use in DOS 6.22:**
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- `IF /I` (case-insensitive comparison) - added in Windows NT/2000
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- `%ERRORLEVEL%` variable - must use `IF ERRORLEVEL n` syntax
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- `FOR /F` loops - added in Windows 2000
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- Long filenames - 8.3 only
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- `||` and `&&` operators - cmd.exe features, not COMMAND.COM
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**Must use:**
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- `IF ERRORLEVEL n` (checks if >= n)
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- Case-sensitive string comparison
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- `GOTO` labels for flow control
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- `CALL` for subroutines
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- Simple FOR loops only (FOR %%F IN (*.TXT) DO ...)
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## Detection Strategies
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### Strategy 1: Parse PROTOCOL.INI for ComputerName
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```bat
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REM Extract computername from C:\NET\PROTOCOL.INI
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REM Line format: computername=TS-4R
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FOR %%F IN (C:\NET\PROTOCOL.INI) DO FIND "computername=" %%F > C:\TEMP\COMP.TMP
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REM Parse the temp file... (complex in pure DOS batch)
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```
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**Problems:**
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- FIND output includes filename
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- No easy way to extract value in pure batch
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- Requires external tools (SED, AWK, or custom .EXE)
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### Strategy 2: Require Command-Line Parameter
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```bat
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REM UPDATE.BAT TS-4R
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IF "%1"=="" GOTO NO_PARAM
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SET MACHINE=%1
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GOTO CHECK_DRIVE
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:NO_PARAM
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ECHO ERROR: Machine name required
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ECHO Usage: UPDATE machine-name
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ECHO Example: UPDATE TS-4R
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GOTO END
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```
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**Pros:**
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- Simple, reliable
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- No parsing needed
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- User control
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**Cons:**
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- Not automatic
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- User must remember machine name
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### Strategy 3: Hardcode or Use Environment File
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```bat
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REM In AUTOEXEC.BAT:
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SET MACHINE=TS-4R
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REM In UPDATE.BAT:
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IF "%MACHINE%"=="" GOTO NO_MACHINE
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```
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**Pros:**
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- Works automatically
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- Set once per machine
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**Cons:**
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- Must edit AUTOEXEC.BAT per machine
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- Requires reboot to change
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### Strategy 4: Use WFWG computername
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If Windows for Workgroups 3.11 is installed:
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```bat
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REM Read from SYSTEM.INI [network] section
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REM ComputerName=TS-4R
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```
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Still requires parsing.
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### Strategy 5: Check for Marker File
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```bat
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REM Each machine has C:\MACHINE.ID containing name
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IF EXIST C:\MACHINE.ID FOR %%F IN (C:\MACHINE.ID) DO SET MACHINE=%%F
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```
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**Pros:**
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- Simple file read
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- Easy to set up
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**Cons:**
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- Requires creating file on each machine
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- FOR loop reads filename, not contents (wrong approach)
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## Recommended Solution
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**Best approach: Use AUTOEXEC.BAT environment variable**
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This is the standard DOS way to set machine-specific configuration.
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```bat
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REM In AUTOEXEC.BAT (one-time setup per machine):
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SET MACHINE=TS-4R
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REM In UPDATE.BAT:
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IF "%MACHINE%"=="" GOTO NO_MACHINE_VAR
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IF "%1"=="" GOTO USE_ENV
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SET MACHINE=%1
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:USE_ENV
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REM Continue with backup using %MACHINE%
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```
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This supports both:
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- Automatic detection via environment variable
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- Manual override via command-line parameter
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## T: Drive Detection Fix
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**Current (broken) method:**
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```bat
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IF "%T%"=="" ECHO T: not available
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```
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This checks if environment variable %T% is set, NOT if T: drive exists.
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**Correct method:**
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```bat
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REM Test if T: drive is accessible
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T: 2>NUL
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IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO NO_T_DRIVE
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REM Alternative: Check for NUL device
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IF NOT EXIST T:\NUL GOTO NO_T_DRIVE
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REM We're on T: drive now, go back to C:
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C:
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GOTO T_DRIVE_OK
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:NO_T_DRIVE
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ECHO [ERROR] T: drive not available
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ECHO Run STARTNET.BAT to map network drives
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GOTO END
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:T_DRIVE_OK
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REM Continue with backup
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```
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## Console Output Issues
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**Problem:** DOS screen scrolls too fast, errors disappear
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**Solutions:**
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1. **Remove |MORE from commands** - causes issues in batch files
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2. **Use PAUSE strategically:**
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```bat
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ECHO Starting backup of %MACHINE%...
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REM ... backup commands ...
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IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO ERROR
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ECHO [OK] Backup completed
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GOTO END
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:ERROR
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ECHO [ERROR] Backup failed!
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PAUSE Press any key to continue...
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GOTO END
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:END
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```
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3. **Compact output:**
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```bat
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ECHO Backup: %MACHINE% to T:\%MACHINE%\BACKUP
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XCOPY /S /Y /Q C:\*.* T:\%MACHINE%\BACKUP
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IF ERRORLEVEL 4 ECHO [ERROR] Insufficient memory
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IF ERRORLEVEL 2 ECHO [ERROR] User terminated
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IF ERRORLEVEL 1 ECHO [ERROR] No files found
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IF NOT ERRORLEVEL 1 ECHO [OK] Complete
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```
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## Summary of Fixes Needed
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1. **Machine detection:**
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- Add `SET MACHINE=TS-4R` to AUTOEXEC.BAT
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- UPDATE.BAT checks %MACHINE% first, then %1 parameter
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2. **T: drive detection:**
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- Replace variable check with actual drive test: `T: 2>NUL` or `IF EXIST T:\NUL`
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- Add error handling for network not started
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3. **Console output:**
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- Remove |MORE pipes
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- Add PAUSE only on errors
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- Use compact single-line status messages
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4. **Automatic execution:**
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- Add CALL UPDATE.BAT to end of STARTNET.BAT or AUTOEXEC.BAT
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- Run silently if successful, show errors if failed
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Next: Create corrected batch files.
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