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DNS Benchmark v2 is Finished and Available! Guest:
That's right. It took an entire year, but the result far more accurate and feature laden than we originally planned. The world now has a universal, multi-protocol, super-accurate, DNS resolver performance-measuring tool. This major second version is not free. But the deal is, purchase it once for $9.95 and you own it — and it's entire future — without ever being asked to pay anything more. For an overview list of features and more, please see The DNS Benchmark page at GRC. If you decide to make it your own, thanks in advance. It's a piece of work I'm proud to offer for sale. And if you should have any questions, many of the people who have been using and testing it throughout the past year often hang out here.
/Steve. -
Be sure to checkout “Tips & Tricks” Dear Guest Visitor → Once you register and log-in please checkout the “Tips & Tricks” page for some very handy tips!
/Steve. -
BootAble – FreeDOS boot testing freeware
To obtain direct, low-level access to a system's mass storage drives, SpinRite runs under a GRC-customized version of FreeDOS which has been modified to add compatibility with all file systems. In order to run SpinRite it must first be possible to boot FreeDOS.
GRC's “BootAble” freeware allows anyone to easily create BIOS-bootable media in order to workout and confirm the details of getting a machine to boot FreeDOS through a BIOS. Once the means of doing that has been determined, the media created by SpinRite can be booted and run in the same way.
The participants here, who have taken the time to share their knowledge and experience, their successes and some frustrations with booting their computers into FreeDOS, have created a valuable knowledgebase which will benefit everyone who follows.
You may click on the image to the right to obtain your own copy of BootAble. Then use the knowledge and experience documented here to boot your computer(s) into FreeDOS. And please do not hesitate to ask questions – nowhere else can better answers be found.
(You may permanently close this reminder with the 'X' in the upper right.)
@Rog7
By "first" screen, do you mean the big blue SpinRite 6.1 splash logo? And is it a bit distorted?
If this is the case, there is a simple fix for your issue. You will need to make a simple edit to the Config.SYS file (it is a small simple text file).
Locate and delete the SPLASH line from the file. Save the file and re-boot. SpinRite will run just fine now.
By "first" screen, do you mean the big blue SpinRite 6.1 splash logo? And is it a bit distorted?
If this is the case, there is a simple fix for your issue. You will need to make a simple edit to the Config.SYS file (it is a small simple text file).
Locate and delete the SPLASH line from the file. Save the file and re-boot. SpinRite will run just fine now.
Yes I do mean the splash screen, it says press any key to continue or ESC to exit.
But SpinRite doesn't recognise a wireless keyboard and mouse so I can't get to the next screen.
Even if I do, how can I specify which drive to check if I have no means of input to Spinrite?
If the wireless is bluetooth, it won't work as that is handled by the OS, which SpinRite does not have support for. If you're using a dongle, you might need to change which USB port it's plugged into.
It is a dongle. Why would moving it to another port enable the wireless keyboard?
If the dongle and thumb drive are on opposite sides of the computer they are likely on different USB controllers. That can make a difference.
I normally have my keyboard in a USB port on the back panel and my SpinRite boot drive in a USB port on the front panel. I never have a problem with the keyboard not responding properly.
You're at the mercy of your BIOS support for the keyboard. Configure your SpinRite dongle to not load SpinRite automatically (you'll need to potentially unhide the system files and comment out the splash screen and the launch.) That way you should land on the DOS command line, and test if you can type or not, which of course you will need to be able to do to then launch SpinRite.
Depends. Yes, it depends on whether your BIOS supports a Bluetooth keyboard. But even then, Bluetooth keyboards can be a PITA to work within the BIOS and when doing low level development, like kernel development (or as Steve does Spinrite development). I use Logitech wireless keyboards using the RF dongle that came with the keyboard. The advantage is it behaves like a wired keyboard and when plugged into a KVM switch there's no fuss when switching from one computer to another.
I use my wireless keyboards and mice with their RF dongle. They behave like wired keyboard and mouse with my KVM switch.
I use my wireless keyboards and mice with their RF dongle. They behave like wired keyboard and mouse with my KVM switch.
My wireless keyboard is Logitech too and, with a USB dongle.
I now have a wired keyboard but still can't get past the SpinRite splash screen. I've tested the keyboard in Windows OK.
This keyboard is USB. My PC has a PS/2 socket on the back, might it work if I get a USB to PS/2 adapter?
(My PC is not an over-the-counter model, it was built for me by ChillBlast in 2020)
In general all BIOSes support PS/2 based ports in the BIOS... but no one can know for sure what will work but you and your BIOS manufacturer, unfortunately, so you're stuck experimenting. I can suggest, try different ports. In particular if you have USB 2 versus USB 3, try the USB 2 first for a USB keyboard.
In the config.sys for the boot drive, REM the splash screen device driver
In the autoexec.bat, REM the last line that starts SpinRite
Now you should be able to boot and get to an A:\> prompt
You need to change Windows to show hidden and system files (they're hidden by default, like file extensions)
It is showing hidden and system files and file extensions, I always have it that way.
Maybe I should download and reinstall SpinRite 6.1?
Hiding files at Windows level and at DOS level are two different things.
At the DOS command prompt (after booting SpinRite) execute the following command:
attribute -h c:\config.sysThen do a
dir. config.sys should now be visible.Or: Simply edit config.sys on the bootable drive at Windows level using Notepad, save it, and reboot SpinRite.
The whole point of this thread is that I cannot use a keyboard after booting SpinRite.
Please explain further "edit config.sys on the bootable drive at Windows level". Are you saying I should copy config.sys from my Windows drive to the SpinRite drive? Where do I find it on my windows drive?
NO!!!
I assume you are using a bootable USB drive generated by running spinrite.exe as a windows app?
Then open Windows Explorer and view the SpinRite boot drive. Do see files there on the SR drive??
Then right click config.sys on the SpinRite boot drive, click "Open with Notepad" to open it for editing.
The SpinRite drive only contains EDIT.COM and SPINRITE.EXE .
Or should I say that's all that Windows Explorer lists when hidden and system files and file extensions are shown.
I have just downloaded a fresh copy of SpinRite 6.1 and generated the boot USB drive running as administrator. The resultant drive still shows just EDIT.COM and SPINRITE.EXE .
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