FCB Unavailable

[ttraider]

I still use an old DOS Word Star program occasionally
to edit my text files or datafiles.
Recently, if I merge anotther file, it returns an error "FCB Unavailable". I have no problem when I do it Win98. I thought this could be an XP problem.
Any thoughts or suggestions, please?

Thanks.

 

[bcastner]

Search for the file "CONFIG.NT"

Your are using DOS emulation, and one of the limitations concerns the number of FCBs allowed (File Control Blocks) by default. FCBs are an early DOS method of allocating memory space for DOS programs. When running under Windows 95,98, etc., the default number of FCBs allocated is 4. If you get the "FCB Unavailable" message, you will need to increase the number of FCBs allowed.

To do this, you must edit a system file found under the root directory on your hard drive (usually C. The file name is CONFIG.NT You should add the following line to the end of the file, then save it.

FCBS=8

After modifying CONFIG.NT, you will need to reboot your machine in order for the new FCB allocation to take effect. 8 FCBs normally should be enough, but if 8 are insufficient, try a larger number.

 

[rvnguy]

ttraider,

Well, ^K, ^P, ^U. This is an OLD prog.

First, You stated "recently". So this behaviour is new and it used to function correctly?

If so, look at any changes to XP & installed apps that you have made specifically around the time that you noticed this change. i.e. new AV prog, patches to XP. Attempt to determine what change elicited this unwanted action.

Does this happen with any file you wish to merge or just a particular one?

"FCB", File Control Block, is 36 consecutive bytes specified by the user for file I/O functions or can also refer to a directory element in the directory portion of the allocated disk space. I would think the latter in this case and is why I query if it is only related to a specific file. I would not think that all files would have a corrupt FCB.

Second: Have you even considered using either NotePad or WordPad in Win as your new text editor? Yes I know that there is not a merge function but select all > copy > Paste will acomplish the same thing. If using WordPad; insert > object > WordPad doc will get it done.

Might be time to let WS rest. Old editors don't die they just fade away.



rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[ttraider]

I have tried the CONFIG.NT.
I have FCBS = 8. I have changed it to 32 and it is still doing the same thing.
The resaon I'm using the old program is because I like the fixed column format and also I can edit the file without having to worry about the columns.

 

[bcastner]

Then start with:

http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/wpdos/

Can I suggest using a text editor with Wordstar compliant command keystrokes?

Do a google search on "xp notepad alternative OR replacement"
Do a google search on "xp wordperfect alternative OR replacement"
Do a google search on "xp edlin replacement