
       **  Programmer's Technical Reference for MSDOS and the IBM PC **
                USA copyright TXG 392-616  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Ĵ DOSREF (tm) 
                     ISBN 1-878830-02-3 (disk-based text)
                    Copyright (c) 1987, 1992 Dave Williams
                        Ŀ
                         Shareware Version, 05/25/93 
                          Please Register Your Copy  
                        


 The rest of the chapters aren't included in this shareware demonstration
package.  Since the complete manual takes about 2000 Kb even compressed in
LHarc format, something had to give somewhere.

 Here's a sample of what you're missing:


 Appendices             Mouse API               Networking

 EMS                    XMS                     VCPI

 Video                  chip-level stuff        386 Multiware API

 MS TSR Specification   Alloy NTNX API          Concurrent DOS/386 API

 MultiDOS Plus API      PC-MOS/386 API          Sound Blaster programming

 NDIS network spec      X-DOS 3.3 info          VMiX/386 API

 working TSR samples    VESA APIs

 MORE!



                           TABLE OF CONTENTS


INTRO           Introduction, credits, copyrights


CHAPTER 1       DOS and the PC

Some History ..................................................... 1**1
What is DOS? ..................................................... 1**2
Other Operating Systems .......................................... 1**3
Specific Versions of MS/PC-DOS ................................... 1**4
The Operating System Heirarchy ................................... 1**5
DOS Structure .................................................... 1**6
DOS Initialization ............................................... 1**7


CHAPTER 2       Low Memory and Absolute Addresses

Introduction ..................................................... 2**1
System Memory Map ................................................ 2**2
A Brief Guide to Current Memory Terminology ...................... 2**3
PC Port Assignment ............................................... 2**4
Reserved Memory Locations ........................................ 2**5
Absolute Addresses ............................................... 2**6
The IBM PC System Interrupts (Overview) .......................... 2**7
Quick Chart of Interrupts 00h-0FFh ............................... 2**8
IRQ Usage Chart .................................................. 2**9
The IBM-PC System Interrupts 00h-0Fh (in detail) ................. 2**10
                                                            

CHAPTER 3       ROM BIOS and Serice Interrupts

Calling the ROM BIOS ............................................. 3**1
Interrupt 10h  Video Services .................................... 3**2
Interrupt 11h  Equipment Check ................................... 3**3
Interrupt 12h  Memory Size ....................................... 3**4
Interrupt 13h  Disk Functions .................................... 3**5
Interrupt 14h  Initialize and Access Serial Port ................. 3**6
FOSSIL Drivers ................................................... 3**7
Interrupt 15h  Cassette I/O ...................................... 3**8
Interrupt 16h  Keyboard I/O ...................................... 3**9
Interrupt 17h  Printer ........................................... 3**10
Interrupt 18h  ROM BASIC ......................................... 3**11
Interrupt 19h  Bootstrap Loader .................................. 3**12
Interrupt 1Ah  Time of Day ....................................... 3**13
Interrupt 1Bh  Control-Break ..................................... 3**14
Interrupt 1Ch  Timer Tick ........................................ 3**15
Interrupt 1Dh  Vector of Video Initialization Parameters ......... 3**16
Interrupt 1Eh  Vector of Diskette Controller Parameters .......... 3**17
Interrupt 1Fh  Ptr to Graphics Char Extensions (Graphics Set 2) .. 3**18


CHAPTER 4       DOS Function Requests

General Programming Guides ....................................... 4**1
DOS Registers .................................................... 4**2
DOS Stacks ....................................................... 4**3
DOS Interrupts ................................................... 4**4
Interrupt 20h (Terminate) ........................................ 4**5
DOS Services (quick list) ........................................ 4**6
Calling the DOS Services ......................................... 4**7
Version Specific Information ..................................... 4**8
Compatibility Problems With DOS 4.0+ ............................. 4**9
PCjr Cartridge Support ........................................... 4**10
eDOS 4.0 ......................................................... 4**11
DOS Services in Detail ........................................... 4**12


CHAPTER 5       Interrupts 22h through 0FFh

Interrupt 22h   Terminate Address ................................ 5**1
Interrupt 23h   Ctrl-Break Exit Address .......................... 5**2
Interrupt 24h   Critical Error Handler ........................... 5**3
Interrupt 25h   Absolute Disk Read ............................... 5**4
Interrupt 26h   Absolute Disk Write .............................. 5**5
Interrupt 27h   Terminate And Stay Resident ...................... 5**6
Interrupt 28h   (not documented by Microsoft) .................... 5**7
Interrupt 29h   (not documented by Microsoft) .................... 5**8
Interrupt 2Ah   Microsoft Networks - Session Layer Interrupt ..... 5**9
Interrupt 2Bh   Unknown .......................................... 5**10
Interrupt 2Ch   Unknown .......................................... 5**11
Interrupt 2Dh   Unknown .......................................... 5**12
Interrupt 2Eh   Alternate EXEC (DOS 2.0+) ........................ 5**13
Interrupt 2Fh   Multiplex Interrupt .............................. 5**14
Interrupt 30h   FAR jump instruction for CP/M-style calls ........ 5**15
Interrupt 31h   Unknown .......................................... 5**16
Interrupt 32h   Unknown .......................................... 5**17
Interrupt 33h   Used by Microsoft Mouse Driver Function Calls .... 5**18
Interrupt 34h   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**19
Interrupt 35h   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**20
Interrupt 36h   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**21
Interrupt 37h   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**22
Interrupt 38h   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**23
Interrupt 39h   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**24
Interrupt 3Ah   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**25
Interrupt 3Bh   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**26
Interrupt 3Ch   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**27
Interrupt 3Dh   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ....  5**28
Interrupt 3Eh   Turbo C/Microsoft languages - Floating Point ..... 5**29
Interrupt 3Fh   Overlay Manager Interrupt (Microsoft LINK.EXE) ... 5**30
Interrupt 40h   Hard Disk BIOS ................................... 5**31
Interrupt 41h   Hard Disk Parameters ............................. 5**32
Interrupt 42h   Pointer to screen BIOS entry ..................... 5**33
Interrupt 43h   Pointer to EGA Graphics Character Table .......... 5**34
Interrupt 44h   Pointer to graphics character table .............. 5**35
Interrupt 45h   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**36
Interrupt 46h   Pointer to second hard disk parameter block ...... 5**37
Interrupt 47h   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**38
Interrupt 48h   Cordless Keyboard Translation .................... 5**39
Interrupt 49h   Non-kbd Scan Code Translation Table Addr (PCjr) .. 5**40
Interrupt 4Ah   Real-Time Clock Alarm (Convertible, PS/2) ........ 5**41
Interrupt 4Bh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**42
Interrupt 4Ch   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**43
Interrupt 4Dh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**44
Interrupt 4Eh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**45
Interrupt 4Fh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**46
Interrupt 50-57 IRQ0-IRQ7 Relocation ............................. 5**47
Interrupt 58h   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**48
Interrupt 59h   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**49
Interrupt 5Ah   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized)  .............. 5**50
Interrupt 5Bh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**51
Interrupt 5Ah   Cluster Adapter BIOS entry address ............... 5**52
Interrupt 5Bh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**53
Interrupt 5Ch   NETBIOS interface entry port, TOPS ............... 5**54
Interrupt 5Dh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**55
Interrupt 5Eh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**56
Interrupt 5Fh   Reserved by IBM  (not initialized) ............... 5**57
Interrupt 60h-67h  User Program Interrupts ....................... 5**58
Interrupt 60h   Network OS Interface ............................. 5**59
Interrupt 67h   Expanded Memory Board Driver Interrupt ........... 5**60
Interrupt 68h   Not Used  (not initialized) ...................... 5**61
Interrupt 69h   Not Used  (not initialized) ...................... 5**62
Interrupt 6Ah   Not Used  (not initialized) ...................... 5**63
Interrupt 6Bh   Not Used  (not initialized) ...................... 5**64
Interrupt 6Ch   System Resume Vector (Convertible) ............... 5**65
Interrupt 6Dh   Not Used  (not initialized) ...................... 5**66
Interrupt 6Eh   Not Used  (not initialized) ...................... 5**67
Interrupt 6Fh   10-Net API........................................ 5**68
Interrupt 70h   IRQ 8, Real Time Clock Int (AT, XT/286, PS/2) .... 5**69
Interrupt 71h   IRQ 9, Redirected to IRQ 8 (AT, XT/286, PS/2) .... 5**70
Interrupt 72h   IRQ 10  (AT, XT/286, PS/2)  Reserved ............. 5**71
Interrupt 73h   IRQ 11  (AT, XT/286, PS/2)  Reserved ............. 5**72
Interrupt 74h   IRQ 12  Mouse Interrupt (PS/2) ................... 5**73
Interrupt 75h   IRQ 13, Coprocessor Error (AT) ................... 5**74
Interrupt 76h   IRQ 14, Hard Disk Controller (AT, XT/286, PS/2) .. 5**75
Interrupt 77h   IRQ 15 (AT, XT/286, PS/2)  Reserved .............. 5**76
Interrupt 78h   Not Used ......................................... 5**77
Interrupt 79h   Not Used ......................................... 5**78
Interrupt 7Ah   Reserved ......................................... 5**79
Interrupt 7Bh-7Eh  Not Used by IBM ............................... 5**80
Interrupt 7Ch   REXX-PC API ...................................... 5**81
Interrupt 7Fh   IBM 8514/A Graphics Adapter API .................. 5**82
Interrupt 80h-85h  Reserved by BASIC ............................. 5**83
Interrupt 86h   Int 18 when relocated by NETBIOS ................. 5**84
Interrupt 86h-0F0h  Used by BASICA ............................... 5**85
Interrupt 0A4h  Right Hand Man API ............................... 5**86
Interrupt 0D4h  PC-MOS/386 API ................................... 5**87
Interrupt 0E0h  Digital Research CP/M-86 function calls .......... 5**88
Interrupt 0E1h  PC Cluster Disk Server Information ............... 5**89
Interrupt 0E2h  PC Cluster Program ............................... 5**90
Interrupt 0E4h  Logitech Modula-2 v2.0   Monitor Entry ........... 5**91
Interrupt 0E5h  Not Used ......................................... 5**92
Interrupt 0E6h  Not Used ......................................... 5**93
Interrupt 0E7h  Not Used ......................................... 5**94
Interrupt 0E8h  Not Used ......................................... 5**95
Interrupt 0E9h  Not Used ......................................... 5**96
Interrupt 0EAh  Not Used ......................................... 5**97
Interrupt 0EBh  Not Used ......................................... 5**98
Interrupt 0ECh  Not Used ......................................... 5**99
Interrupt 0EDh  Not Used ......................................... 5**100
Interrupt 0EEh  Not Used ......................................... 5**101
Interrupt 0EFh  GEM interface (Digital Research) ................. 5**102
Interrupt 0F0h  unknown .......................................... 5**103
Interrupts 0F1h-0FFh  (absolute addresses 3C4h-3FFh) ............. 5**104
Interrupt 0F4h  Not Used ............ ............................ 5**105
Interrupt 0F5h  Not Used ............ ............................ 5**106
Interrupt 0F8h  Set Shell Interrupt (OEM) ........................ 5**107
Interrupt 0F9h  Reserved ......................................... 5**108
Interrupt 0FAh  USART ready (RS-232C) ............................ 5**109
Interrupt 0FBh  USART RS ready (keyboard) ........................ 5**110
Interrupt 0FCh  Unknown ...........................................5**111
Interrupt 0FDh  reserved for user interrupt ...................... 5**112
Interrupt 0FEh  reserved by IBM .................................. 5**113
Interrupt 0FFh  reserved by IBM .................................. 5**114



CHAPTER 6       DOS Control Blocks and Work Areas

DOS Address Space ................................................ 6**1
Storage Blocks ................................................... 6**2
Disk Transfer Area (DTA) ......................................... 6**3
Program Segment Prefix ........................................... 6**4
Memory Control Blocks ............................................ 6**5
DOS Program Segment .............................................. 6**6


CHAPTER 7       DOS File Information

File Management Functions ........................................ 7**1
FCB Function Calls ............................................... 7**2
Handle Function Calls ............................................ 7**3
Special File Handles ............................................. 7**4
Raw and Cooked File I/O .......................................... 7**5
Number of Open Files Allowed  .................................... 7**6
Restrictions on FCB Usage ........................................ 7**7
Restrictions on Handle usage ..................................... 7**8
Allocating Space to a File ....................................... 7**9
MSDOS / PCDOS Differences ........................................ 7**10
.COM File Structure .............................................. 7**11
.EXE File Structure .............................................. 7**12
The Relocation Table ............................................. 7**13
"NEW" .EXE Format (Microsoft Windows and OS/2) ................... 7**14
Standard File Control Block ...................................... 7**15
Extended File Control Block ...................................... 7**16
Disk Transfer Area ............................................... 7**17


CHAPTER 8       DOS Disk Information

The DOS Area ..................................................... 8**1
The Boot Record .................................................. 8**2
DOS File Allocation Table (FAT) .................................. 8**3
        Media Descriptor Byte .................................... 8**4
        12 Bit FATs .............................................. 8**5
        16 Bit FATs .............................................. 8**6
Cluster Size Information ......................................... 8**7
DOS Disk Directory ............................................... 8**8
The Data Area .................................................... 8**9
Floppy Disk Types ................................................ 8**10
Hard Disk Layout ................................................. 8**11
System Initialization ............................................ 8**12
Boot Record/Partition Table ...................................... 8**13
Hard Disk Technical Information .................................. 8**14
Determining Hard Disk File Allocation ............................ 8**15
BIOS Disk Functions .............................................. 8**16


CHAPTER 9       DOS Device Drivers


CHAPTER 10      EMS, EEMS, and VCPI Memory Specifications 

History .......................................................... 10**1
Uses of Expanded Memory .......................................... 10**2
DOS and Expanded Memory .......................................... 10**3
Different Memory Types ........................................... 10**4
AST/Quadram/Ashton-Tate Enhanced EMM ............................. 10**5
EMS Address Space Map ............................................ 10**6
Writing Programs That Use Expanded Memory ........................ 10**7
Page Frames ...................................................... 10**8
Calling the Manager .............................................. 10**9
Detecting EMS .................................................... 10**10
Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) Program Cooperation ............ 10**11
Expanded Memory Services Quick List .............................. 10**12
Expanded Memory Services ......................................... 10**13
        LIM 3.2 Specification .................................... 10**14
        LIM 4.0 Specification .................................... 10**15
        AQA EEMS 3.2 Specification ............................... 10**16
        VCPI API 1.0 ............................................. 10**17
Expanded Memory Manager Error Codes .............................. 10**18


CHAPTER 11      Microsoft Extended Memory (XMS) Specification


CHAPTER 12      TSR Programming


CHAPTER 13      PC-MOS/386 Application Program Interface

Introduction ..................................................... 13**1
Programming For PC-MOS ........................................... 13**2
Extended Services Interrupt ...................................... 13**3
MOS Extended Services in Detail .................................. 13**4
ESI Error Codes .................................................. 13**5
PC-MOS Data Structures ........................................... 13**6
Terminal Device Interface ........................................ 13**7
Serial Device Interface .......................................... 13**8
NETBIOS Interface ................................................ 13**9
Memory Manager Interface ......................................... 13**10
INT 6 Handler .................................................... 13**11
User's Overview .................................................. 13**12


CHAPTER 14      Concurrent DOS/386 Application Program Interface

Introduction ..................................................... 14**1
General Programming Guides ....................................... 14**2
Quick Function List .............................................. 14**3
AUX Functions .................................................... 14**4
CONSOLE Functions ................................................ 14**5
DEVICE Functions ................................................. 14**6
DRIVE Functions .................................................. 14**7
FILE Functions ................................................... 14**8
LST Functions .................................................... 14**9
MEMORY Functions ................................................. 14**10
PROCESS Functions ................................................ 14**11
QUEUE Functions .................................................. 14**12
SYSTEM Functions ................................................. 14**13
TIME Functions ................................................... 14**14


CHAPTER 15      Register-Level Programming

8255 Peripheral Interface ........................................ 15**1
8259 Interrupt Controller ........................................ 15**2
AT CMOS RAM Configuration ........................................ 15**3
8250 Serial UART ................................................. 15**4
8327 DMA Controller .............................................. 15**5
8253 Triple Timer ................................................ 15**6
NEC 765 Diskette Controller....................................... 15**7


CHAPTER 16      Video Programming

Quick List of BIOS Interrupt 10h Functions ....................... 16**1
PC Video Subsystems .............................................. 16**2
BIOS Interrupt 10h Functions in Detail ........................... 16**3


CHAPTER 17      Multitasking Shells

Introduction ..................................................... 17**1
Programming Practices ............................................ 17**2
TopView/DESQview API (interrupt 15h, "System Services" interface)  17**3
TopView/DESQview API (interrupt 16h, "BIOS Video" interface) ..... 17**4


CHAPTER 18      Viruses and Trojan Horses


CHAPTER 19      Tips and Tricks


CHAPTER 20      Conversion Between Operating Systems

Overview ......................................................... 20**1
Special Considerations ........................................... 20**2
Example Operating Systems ........................................ 20**3
Atari ST ......................................................... 20**4
CP/M ............................................................. 20**5
MacOS ............................................................ 20**6
AmigaDOS ......................................................... 20**7
OS/2 ............................................................. 20**8
UNIX ............................................................. 20**9


CHAPTER 21      Microsoft Virtual DMA Specification 1.0

Introduction ..................................................... 21**1
VDS Function List ................................................ 21**2
VDS Functions .................................................... 21**3
DMA Descriptor Structure ......................................... 21**4
DX Flag Bits ..................................................... 21**5
VDS Error Codes .................................................. 21**6


CHAPTER 22      Mouse Programming

General Information .............................................. 22**1
Register Usage ................................................... 22**2
Interrupt 33h Function Requests .................................. 22**3
Interrupt 10h Function Requests .................................. 22**4


CHAPTER 23      Network APIs

FTP Driver - PC/TCP Packet Driver Specification .................. 23**1
10-Net Network ................................................... 23**2
LANtastic LANOS API .............................................. 23**3
Novell NetWare 2.11 API .......................................... 23**4
APPC/PC .......................................................... 23**5


CHAPTER 24      MultiDos Plus API


CHAPTER 25      VMiX 2.6x API

What is VMiX? .................................................... 25**1
Assembler Interface .............................................. 25**2


CHAPTER 26      X-DOS 3.3 


MISCSTUF        Miscellaneous Stuff

AFTERWRD        Afterword

CREDITS         Credits and Bibliography



 A P P E N D I C E S

APPENDIX  1     Keyboard scan code chart

APPENDIX  2     ASCII character chart

APPENDIX  3     IBM PC character set

APPENDIX  4     IBM PC error code listing

APPENDIX  5     Addresses of various manufacturers

APPENDIX  6     Hard disk information

APPENDIX  7     Floppy and Tape Devices

APPENDIX  8     Pinouts of various connectors on the IBM PC

APPENDIX  9     Sizes of various drivers installed in CONFIG.SYS

APPENDIX  10    Common modem instruction sets

APPENDIX  11    Glossary of computer terminology

APPENDIX  12    Various busses used in MSDOS machines

APPENDIX  13    Common filename extensions

APPENDIX  14    Clock speeds of various expansion cards

APPENDIX  15    Header formats used by various archive utilities

APPENDIX  16    Miscellaneous Hardware Information

APPENDIX  17    HP LaserJet Setup Codes

APPENDIX  18    ANSI.SYS Escape Sequences

APPENDIX  19    DEC VT100 Escape Sequences

APPENDIX  20    Various Paint Program Formats

APPENDIX  21    Some Commonly Used Hot-Keys

APPENDIX  22    Sound Blaster API

APPENDIX  23    French-Canadian accented character chart

APPENDIX  24    Compuserve Graphic Image Format '89a

APPENDIX  25    Hex Chart

APPENDIX  26    Microsoft TSR Specification 1.0

APPENDIX  27    Baud vs BPS Explained

APPENDIX  28    Borland BGI Stroked Font .CHR File Format

APPENDIX  29    Differences From DOS 4.0 In The OS/2 1.3 DOS Box

APPENDIX  30    IBM Interrupt Sharing Protocol

APPENDIX  31    CCITT v.XX Protocol Overview

APPENDIX  32    CCITT x.XX Protocol Overview

APPENDIX  33    Miscellaneous Switch Settings

APPENDIX  34    DOS BACKUP Format

APPENDIX  35    .WAV File Format




