From:	MERC::"uunet!CRVAX.SRI.COM!RELAY-INFO-VAX" 26-AUG-1992 06:14:09.91
To:	info-vax <info-vax@kl.sri.com>
CC:	
Subj:	re: MSDOS Disks. How to read/write ?

Deon Ramsey writes:

> I need to swap data between my Homecomputer and the VAX at work.
> The VAX is a VAX Station 3100 running VMS V 5.3, and has a 3.5" Disk Drive.
> I have an Amiga at home, and am capable of writing and reading MSDOS format
> disks. So, can these be made to talk to another ?
> Is there a public domain program out there that allows the VAX to write and
> read MSDOS format disks ? If you know of such, please either mail me the
> program/source, or mail me where to ftp it. Muchos Gracias.

It doesn't seem to be widely known that there is a DEC product that will
do this, and its licensing cost is zero! It's PCDISK, which is part of 
Pathworks for VMS. DEC make the money selling licenses for client networked
PCs that link up to a VAX server, but if no networked PCs, then no license
cost. If you have CD distribution, then there is no extra media cost either.

Alternatively, there is Matthew Madison's PCX. We used to use this before
Pathworks came along, but I have no idea what its current status is.

		Nigel Arnot

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