low level programming

[Liam]

I need some help in ascertaining data on general PC hardware. I require this data to allow me to re-write the system software for my machine and therefore get some use out of it. Is there anyone who can help me?
Thanks

Follows is a list of my PCs specification; info on file formats/systems general info on PCs and related hardware will also be appreciated:
MBC ROMA:
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Mainboard:Micro-Star
MS-5169
ATX AL9 Mainboard
socket 7
Aladdin 5 chipset
1 AGP, 4 32BIT MASTER PCI BUS SLOTS
3 16-BIT ISA BUS SLOTS,2 SERIAL,PARALLEL 2USB
CPU:AMD K6-2 3D now!
Memory:64MB 100MHz SDRAM
PSU: Sky Hawk Switching ATX PSU
Model: SH250AB
Graphics:8MBATI XPERT 98 3D AGP
HDD: SEAGATE MEDALIST 4321
MODEL ST34321A
ULTRA DMA/33?
4GB
Floppy : 3.5" 1.44 MB
Sound card:Printed on pcb:-
GENIUS 36XCD
FCC ID:FSUG7047
K0237047 REV:B

Printed on chip on card:
CRYSTAL
ZTARSE9833
CXA235-XQ3 EP
may be CX4235.......
Sound blaster compatible
CDROM: 36 speed IDE/ATAPI
Monitor:Plug & Play 15"non interlace .
meets the EPA energy star,VESA DPMS &
NUTEK - TCO 1992 spec
Specification
CRT 15" F.S.T., noneglare, 0.28 dot pitch
RESOLUTION: 1024 X &768 max
INPUT/ VIDEO SYNC: Analog : 0.7 Vp-p,75 Ohm,RGB(+)
Separate: TTL level (+) or (-)
Horizontal: 30 - 57 kHz
Vertical : 47 - 120 Hz
POWER: 100-240V-AC, 60/50 Hz,1.5A(max)
Degaussing: line operated automatically
Consumption : 90W max
OPERATING: Temperature:32 F to 104 F /0 C to 40 C
Humidity :10% to 95% R.H.
Altitude: 0 to 10,000 ft
LOW RADIATION: MPR II (standard) /TCO '92(Option)
PLUG & PLAY: VESA DDC(Display data channel): 1/2B

VIDEO CABLE: 15 pin D-type male conector
DB-15 pin out
1R 2G 3B 4Gnd 5DDC,gnd 6R,gnd 7G,gnd 8B,gnd
9NC 10GNd 11Gnd 12SDA(Bi-directional data) 13H 14V
15SCL(Data Clock)

COMPATIBLITY MODES:
VGA/VESA(350,400,480 line modes) & 8514/A
VESA standard(800 X 600) 56/60/72/75/85 Hz
VESA standard(1024 X 768) 60/60 Hz

FACTORY PRESET MODES:
Polarity of sync signal
Display Resolution Horizontal Vertical Horizontal Vertical
modes freq freq sync sync
1Vga400 640X480 31.47 kHz 70.1 Hz - +
2Vga480 640X480 31.47 kHz 59.9 Hz - -
3VESA38K 640X480 37.50 kHz 75.0 Hz - -
4VESA46K 800X600 46.88kHz 75.0 Hz + +
5VESA54K 800X600 53.67 kHz 85.1 Hz + +
6VESA56K 1024X768 56.48kHz 70.1 Hz - -

PRINTER : Hewlett Packard DeskJet 420 parallel port
KEYBOARD: PS/2 105 Key ish
Mouse : serial port
Windows 95 &SuSE Linux 6.1

[Randy_tx]

Here is a wild stab at what you are wanting....Are you wanting to install an Operating System on your computer so you can use it? If so, a good one is Windows 98 Second Edition....you can buy it almost anywhere software is sold.

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I'm putting a new Fat32 partition in my Head Drive...hope it speeds me up.......

[tjaymadison]

I hope you wrote this tongue-in-cheek! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif If you're thinking about writing your own drivers, or worse yet modifying an existing OS at the system files level, or worst of all writing an OS from scratch, there's no kind way to say it -- YOU NEED TO STOP & THINK!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif You are in for tons of very frustrating work, with very little chance of success or reward. Current OS's are written by teams of programmers who each only work on small parts of it. If on the other hand, you want to write C++ or Visual Basic code routines to make Windows do a little something that it doesn't already do, that's another story. And since Linux is an open system, with freely-available source code, anyone is free to make alterations. Why re-invent the wheel? Microsoft, with all its money, has been trying to get Windows -- in its various incarnations -- right for almost 15 years, and look how well http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif they've done. Whatever you decide, Good Luck!

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-10-2001).]