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Hey Everybody
What is the difference (if there is one) between a .DRV driver (like winspool.drv) and other drivers with .sys extension?
Thank you!
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Hi,
Technically there are not many differences because its a portable executable[^] just like other types of windows-loadable object code. If your wondering why it has the 'DRV' extension it is because it is a usermode driver. In other words if you check the subsystem member of the IMAGE_OPTIONAL_HEADER in the PE file...most DRV files will have WINDOWS_GUI==2 while most drivers with a SYS extension will have NATIVE==1.
But there is nothing stopping a wisecrack software engineer from naming his dynamic-link library with a .WTF extention. In other words... the extensions do not really mean much at all.
Best Wishes,
-David Delaune
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Thanks, it explains many things! 
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Yeah, as Randor says, a sys is subsystem native. Its also got to have a check sum, and its entry point is Driverentry.
Conecptually a (sys file) driver has no main function. After loading its driventry can be paged out, its no longer needed. All it does during initialisation os to register funcitons with the OS to handle various events.
So it might create and register an objetc that user mode can access (dos device name, such as 'COM1'). It might register an interrupt handler as well for example.
A drivers job is to 'bridge' parts of the OS, and is totally under the OSs control.
A driver can also not create any GUI components.
And, a driver is also about 100 times more complex than the worst application to write. For example, you cant touch paged out code or data when running at elevated levels (think during interrupt processing, althouhg there are more common other high levels not related to interrups).
Morality is indistinguishable from social proscription
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Hi.
Which model of modem support ATC0 command? ATC0 is an ATCommand that turn transmitter off.
Many of modems don't support it.
Thanks.
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How is anyone supposed to know that without testing each and every modem on the market, including cell phones?
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I recently acquired one[^], however, one of the chips seems to have burnt out/exploded, it's only a small 8 pin one, and by the looks of it's position on the board it has something to do with power regulation. Unfortunately, pretty much all the identification has been burnt off the chip, and I have been unable to find any information about the chip, so I was hoping someone who may own one of these motherboards would be willing to take a look at theirs and find out what the chip has printed on it? Here is a picture of one of these boards, I have circled the chip in question: Click
Thank you, it will be greatly appreciated!
^-^-^-@@-^-^-^
(..)-----;
||---||
^^ ^^
Moose.
modified on Monday, May 31, 2010 8:17 PM
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I don't have one, I do have a few comments:
1.
it definitely looks like an 8-pin surface mount device. And I can't help it, but from your image, it looks to me like a quad DIL switch, i.e. a block of four little on/off switches, not a micro-electronic part. So I suggest you look for a User's Manual, which would (a) probably contain more information in general, and (b) explain the switch settings assuming it is a switch. OTOH I can't imagine what kind of option would be set through switches that involves a current sufficient to blow it to pieces.
2.
if one blows a component beyond recognition, it is likely the board itself (in particular some of the tiny traces on inner layers, invisible to the observer) is also damaged beyond repair.
3.
do you know what has happened? what caused it?
4.
you might want to also publish one or more actual pictures, in its current state.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Luc Pattyn wrote: So I suggest you look for a User's Manual, which would (a) probably contain more information in general, and (b) explain the switch settings assuming it is a switch.
I managed to get a copy from the Via website, unfortunately, it makes no reference to the chip
Luc Pattyn wrote: 2.
if one blows a component beyond recognition, it is likely the board itself (in particular some of the tiny traces on inner layers, invisible to the observer) is also damaged beyond repair.
That is what I was thinking, but I would still like to have a go at repairing it
Luc Pattyn wrote: 3.
do you know what has happened? what caused it?
Unfortunately no, it was sold to me as "working" 
Luc Pattyn wrote: 4.
you might want to also publish one or more actual pictures, in its current state.
Well, the board looks the same as it does on the picture, the chip just has a small blackened hole on its surface.
Thanks for the reply
^-^-^-@@-^-^-^
(..)-----;
||---||
^^ ^^
Moose.
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Other than confirm it is most likely part of the power supply/monitoring circuitry, I'm afraid I can't help you further.
PS: You not only need the part ID, and a spare part, you also need to figure out its orientation. The time that all chips had the same orientation are probably long gone.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Luc Pattyn wrote: Other than confirm it is most likely part of the power supply/monitoring circuitry, I'm afraid I can't help you further.
The power supply definitely works, I tried it on other motherboards.
Luc Pattyn wrote: PS: You not only need the part ID, and a spare part, you also need to figure out its orientation. The time that all chips had the same orientation are probably long gone.
True, and there does not appear to be a notch on it either to indicate its orientation. However, there is what looks like a letter still remaining on its surface, so that could be used to figure out the orientation of a replacement 
Thank you for replying
^-^-^-@@-^-^-^
(..)-----;
||---||
^^ ^^
Moose.
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Lloyd Atkinson wrote: The power supply definitely works
That is normal; you'll have a hard time damaging the PSU, other than blowing a fuse. Nevertheless, the circuitry near the power connector will create additional voltage levels for some peripherals, and monitor everything on-board.
Lloyd Atkinson wrote: like a letter ... could be used to figure out the orientation
Bonus points for optimism. Different manufacturers of equivalent parts may try and confuse you! I'd rather go with a voltage-limited ohm-meter and the chip's data sheet to figure out orientation if board documentation nor white print help out.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Luc Pattyn wrote: ...the chip's data sheet to figure out orientation...
First of all I need to find out what chip it is 
^-^-^-@@-^-^-^
(..)-----;
||---||
^^ ^^
Moose.
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I agree that it's probably part of the MoBo's power regulator. You could replace the chip, if you ever find out what it is, but the bigger question is what caused it to explode in the first place? Just replacing that chip probably isn't going to fix the problem.
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Hi Lloyd,
That is the mosfet driver transistor. I am not positive... but its probably this one:
Intersil ISL6605[^]
Best Wishes,
-David Delaune
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i want to transmit video using 2.4 ghz rf transmitter with in a range of max 70m. i am searching for api to receive this transmitted stream using c#. plz mention if i could use the WiFi device provided with laptops for the receiving purpose? and does using a rf receiver and WiFi device with laptop will have different api's.
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Zafar248 wrote: i want to transmit video using 2.4 ghz rf transmitter with in a range of max 70m.
OK, great.
Zafar248 wrote: i am searching for api to receive this transmitted stream using c#
There isn't one built into the .NET Framework.
Zafar248 wrote: plz mention if i could use the WiFi device provided with laptops for the receiving purpose?
Only if your transmitter formats the video packets according to 802.11 Ethernet standards. There is no API to convert the WiFi transceiver into anything other than what it was intended for. You'd have to write you own drivers for the hardware to convert it's functionality into something that can understand what your transmitter is sending, which you cannot do in C#.
Zafar248 wrote: and does using a rf receiver and WiFi device with laptop will have different api's
The only API is what is exposed by the drivers for the hardware and that is only going to support 802.11 functionality.
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Zafar248 wrote: i want to transmit video using 2.4 ghz rf transmitter with in a range of max 70m
Zafar248 wrote: i am searching for api
I would concentrate on the hardware first...
Zafar248 wrote: plz mention if i could use the WiFi device
And they run at how many Hz? And they implement 802.11, which is a packet based transport and not streaming.
Anyway, 70m. Hmm, long ethernet cable I think and forget the rf. And the speed...
Morality is indistinguishable from social proscription
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2.4 ghz, cant use cables, a university project.
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And this bandwidth is available for public use?
Morality is indistinguishable from social proscription
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I'd like to create a project that will work like a humerous alarm system in an office. Not overly because I don't want it to wear out but not lame either. My idea surrounds a monitor that runs on a linux box (ubunto). I want to attach a switch that when the monitor detects failures of any sorts we'd get a light and maybe some sounds as to catch attention (but fashinably). Currently the monitor exists on a server that has frequently update information to present in graphs, thru a browser (fire fox). But I am not limited to creating an entire mini application (hopefully) that sets off some hardware attached switch that turns on some neat humerous system. Any idea? or examples? Links?
Tia
Charles
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They say that the ATI card is based on the 5870 which is a good card. I also know that drivers and a few tweeks to the hardware makes up a workstation card. Which card do you guys recommend based on your experience in mobile workstation? When I look at laptops most of them have the Nvidia option?
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The ATI m7820 card is a much more powerful card than the Nvidia Quadro FX 2800m. HWINFO32 records 5 sensors on my m7820 alone. The ATI Firepro line has been a good success for ATI which is why for desktops there are several options of Firepros. The bad news is that the newer technologies it supports aren't used in most programs yet. I can think of only four programs off the top of my head in fact. The HP workstation driver was updated by AMD, and is now more compatible with a few programs it wasn't working with on my laptop. The new 3d modeling, video editing, and games are starting to support the firepro line. When I spoke to customer service on a 2d cell animation product... they basically said that they'd be testing on these technologies in 5 years. So.. maybe it's too new. Windows sleep/hibernate is a bit of a trick.. you'll have to figure that out. When it comes to modeling and video editing and games in programs that support these technologies... it's the fastest computer around.
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Does anyone know how to disable that damn mouse wheel? So many programs use it for really annoying stuff (Like Corel X3 where if you bump the wheel it zooms the picture out so far that it is nothing but a dot). I don't want to use it for scrolling, zooming or anything. I just want to turn it off. Or do I have to rip it out with a pair of pliers to shut it down?
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Interesting.
There is of course a "Mouse" control panel, but on my system (Vista) that doesn't seem to offer an on/off switch.
Google gives many hits, one points here[^] for "TweakUI"; sounds promising.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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