Drive Status

[Geoff Turner]

Hi all,
Is there a way in VB or via an API to get the status of a drive?
I would like to write something along the lines of:

If DriveState("C") = WRITE Then
' drive active, so show "WAIT" form
frmPleaseWait.S how
endIf

' wait for C to stop writing
Do
do Events
Loop While DriveState("C") = WRITE

' unload the WAIT form
UnLoad frmPleaseWait

Any ideas or alternatives?

TIA
GST

[Raoul Watson]

Re: Drive Status


"Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
news:c27fm4$j1q @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...[color=blue]
> Hi all,
> Is there a way in VB or via an API to get the status of a drive?
> I would like to write something along the lines of:
>
> If DriveState("C") = WRITE Then
> ' drive active, so show "WAIT" form
> frmPleaseWait.S how
> endIf
>
> ' wait for C to stop writing
> Do
> do Events
> Loop While DriveState("C") = WRITE
>
> ' unload the WAIT form
> UnLoad frmPleaseWait
>
> Any ideas or alternatives?
>
> TIA
> GST
>[/color]

Geoff.. this maybe a silly question but do you mind elaborating what you're
trying to do (for what purpose). I use to write low level INT13 routines in
assembly (for drive access) but with nowadays OS's, the hard drive is really
"never" busy, i.e. a write request is almost always successful (even when
the drive is busy, it goes into a cache / queue). OS's such as NT/2000, are
not happy when an application tries to address hardware directly. But
perhaps if you can explain what the purpose is, there might be an
alternative.

For example, if you are writing a large file, you may display a progress
bar (and not really be concerned whether or not the drive is "physically "
writing).

[Geoff Turner]

Re: Drive Status


"Raoul Watson" <WatsonR@Intell igenCIA.com> wrote in message
news:yVc2c.1631 8$YN5.15876@nwr dny03.gnilink.n et...[color=blue]
>
> "Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:c27fm4$j1q @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...[color=green]
> > Hi all,
> > Is there a way in VB or via an API to get the status of a drive?
> > I would like to write something along the lines of:
> >
> > If DriveState("C") = WRITE Then
> > ' drive active, so show "WAIT" form
> > frmPleaseWait.S how
> > endIf
> >
> > ' wait for C to stop writing
> > Do
> > do Events
> > Loop While DriveState("C") = WRITE
> >
> > ' unload the WAIT form
> > UnLoad frmPleaseWait
> >
> > Any ideas or alternatives?
> >
> > TIA
> > GST
> >[/color]
>
> Geoff.. this maybe a silly question but do you mind elaborating what[/color]
you're[color=blue]
> trying to do (for what purpose). I use to write low level INT13 routines[/color]
in[color=blue]
> assembly (for drive access) but with nowadays OS's, the hard drive is[/color]
really[color=blue]
> "never" busy, i.e. a write request is almost always successful (even when
> the drive is busy, it goes into a cache / queue). OS's such as NT/2000,[/color]
are[color=blue]
> not happy when an application tries to address hardware directly. But
> perhaps if you can explain what the purpose is, there might be an
> alternative.
>
> For example, if you are writing a large file, you may display a progress
> bar (and not really be concerned whether or not the drive is "physically "
> writing).
>
>[/color]

I have some large files that get processed then saved to disc ( or CD ).
Although the program has finished processing the files, and the cursor
changes back to default icon, the disc is still writing data. I want a
'window'
to jump up telling the user to wait before removing the disc or exiting the
program. ( You can make programs idiot proof, but not user proof. )

GST

[J French]

Re: Drive Status

On Mon, 8 Mar 2004 12:48:57 -0000, "Geoff Turner"
<g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote:

<snip>
[color=blue]
>
>I have some large files that get processed then saved to disc ( or CD ).
>Although the program has finished processing the files, and the cursor
>changes back to default icon, the disc is still writing data. I want a
>'window'
>to jump up telling the user to wait before removing the disc or exiting the
>program. ( You can make programs idiot proof, but not user proof. )[/color]

You are onto a losing wicket there (in both cases)

Hardware tells lies - and says that stuff is written, when it is just
beginning to think about writing it

Users need training

DeviceIoControl and IOCTL_STORAGE_E JECT_MEDIA
might help a bit

[Raoul Watson]

Re: Drive Status


"Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
news:c2hq3q$kda @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...[color=blue]
>
> "Raoul Watson" <WatsonR@Intell igenCIA.com> wrote in message
> news:yVc2c.1631 8$YN5.15876@nwr dny03.gnilink.n et...[color=green]
> >
> > "Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
> > news:c27fm4$j1q @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...[color=darkred]
> > > Hi all,
> > > Is there a way in VB or via an API to get the status of a drive?
> > > I would like to write something along the lines of:
> > >
> > > If DriveState("C") = WRITE Then
> > > ' drive active, so show "WAIT" form
> > > frmPleaseWait.S how
> > > endIf
> > >
> > > ' wait for C to stop writing
> > > Do
> > > do Events
> > > Loop While DriveState("C") = WRITE
> > >
> > > ' unload the WAIT form
> > > UnLoad frmPleaseWait
> > >
> > > Any ideas or alternatives?
> > >
> > > TIA
> > > GST
> > >[/color]
> >
> > Geoff.. this maybe a silly question but do you mind elaborating what[/color]
> you're[color=green]
> > trying to do (for what purpose). I use to write low level INT13 routines[/color]
> in[color=green]
> > assembly (for drive access) but with nowadays OS's, the hard drive is[/color]
> really[color=green]
> > "never" busy, i.e. a write request is almost always successful (even[/color][/color]
when[color=blue][color=green]
> > the drive is busy, it goes into a cache / queue). OS's such as NT/2000,[/color]
> are[color=green]
> > not happy when an application tries to address hardware directly. But
> > perhaps if you can explain what the purpose is, there might be an
> > alternative.
> >
> > For example, if you are writing a large file, you may display a[/color][/color]
progress[color=blue][color=green]
> > bar (and not really be concerned whether or not the drive is[/color][/color]
"physically "[color=blue][color=green]
> > writing).
> >
> >[/color]
>
> I have some large files that get processed then saved to disc ( or CD ).
> Although the program has finished processing the files, and the cursor
> changes back to default icon, the disc is still writing data. I want a
> 'window'
> to jump up telling the user to wait before removing the disc or exiting[/color]
the[color=blue]
> program. ( You can make programs idiot proof, but not user proof. )
>
> GST
>[/color]

That's a tough one (simply because of the write-ahead cache and buffers I
mentioned). You did not specify what method you use to write this file (also
whether you are using database, rdo, etc.).

If you are using an OPEN statement, you can try using the RESET command (use
Data1.refresh or movelast followed by movefirst on a dataset). This forces
the file buffer to be flushed. The only problem is that most commands are
executed asynchronously, so you get control in the program before the
statement has completed the task (you may need to put a delay).

You may think of using a dialog box after the writing. This accomplishes two
goals: Since the user must respond, it buys you time to wait for the drive
to wind down and for the flushed data to be written. Second, you may want to
inform the user to wait until disk activity light is out prior to
proceeding.

[Randy Birch]

Re: Drive Status

No idea if this is viable, since you won't know when the system has finished
writing the files, but you may be able to lock the drive shut (if running
NT4 or later) using http://vbnet.mvps.org/code/disk/deviolock.htm

--

Randy Birch
MVP Visual Basic

http://vbnet.mvps.org/

Please respond only to the newsgroups so all can benefit.


"Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
news:c2hq3q$kda @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...
:
: "Raoul Watson" <WatsonR@Intell igenCIA.com> wrote in message
: news:yVc2c.1631 8$YN5.15876@nwr dny03.gnilink.n et...
: >
: > "Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
: > news:c27fm4$j1q @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...
: > > Hi all,
: > > Is there a way in VB or via an API to get the status of a drive?
: > > I would like to write something along the lines of:
: > >
: > > If DriveState("C") = WRITE Then
: > > ' drive active, so show "WAIT" form
: > > frmPleaseWait.S how
: > > endIf
: > >
: > > ' wait for C to stop writing
: > > Do
: > > do Events
: > > Loop While DriveState("C") = WRITE
: > >
: > > ' unload the WAIT form
: > > UnLoad frmPleaseWait
: > >
: > > Any ideas or alternatives?
: > >
: > > TIA
: > > GST
: > >
: >
: > Geoff.. this maybe a silly question but do you mind elaborating what
: you're
: > trying to do (for what purpose). I use to write low level INT13 routines
: in
: > assembly (for drive access) but with nowadays OS's, the hard drive is
: really
: > "never" busy, i.e. a write request is almost always successful (even
when
: > the drive is busy, it goes into a cache / queue). OS's such as NT/2000,
: are
: > not happy when an application tries to address hardware directly. But
: > perhaps if you can explain what the purpose is, there might be an
: > alternative.
: >
: > For example, if you are writing a large file, you may display a
progress
: > bar (and not really be concerned whether or not the drive is
"physically "
: > writing).
: >
: >
:
: I have some large files that get processed then saved to disc ( or CD ).
: Although the program has finished processing the files, and the cursor
: changes back to default icon, the disc is still writing data. I want a
: 'window'
: to jump up telling the user to wait before removing the disc or exiting
the
: program. ( You can make programs idiot proof, but not user proof. )
:
: GST
:
:

[Geoff Turner]

Re: Drive Status

"Randy Birch" <rgb_removethis @mvps.org> wrote in message
news:cUa3c.1607 32$ah.21828@twi ster01.bloor.is .net.cable.roge rs.com...[color=blue]
> No idea if this is viable, since you won't know when the system has[/color]
finished[color=blue]
> writing the files, but you may be able to lock the drive shut (if running
> NT4 or later) using http://vbnet.mvps.org/code/disk/deviolock.htm
>
> --
>
> Randy Birch
> MVP Visual Basic
> http://vbnet.mvps.org/
> Please respond only to the newsgroups so all can benefit.
>
>
> "Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:c2hq3q$kda @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...
> :
> : "Raoul Watson" <WatsonR@Intell igenCIA.com> wrote in message
> : news:yVc2c.1631 8$YN5.15876@nwr dny03.gnilink.n et...
> : >
> : > "Geoff Turner" <g.s.turner@rl. ac.uk> wrote in message
> : > news:c27fm4$j1q @newton.cc.rl.a c.uk...
> : > > Hi all,
> : > > Is there a way in VB or via an API to get the status of a drive?
> : > > I would like to write something along the lines of:
> : > >
> : > > If DriveState("C") = WRITE Then
> : > > ' drive active, so show "WAIT" form
> : > > frmPleaseWait.S how
> : > > endIf
> : > >
> : > > ' wait for C to stop writing
> : > > Do
> : > > do Events
> : > > Loop While DriveState("C") = WRITE
> : > >
> : > > ' unload the WAIT form
> : > > UnLoad frmPleaseWait
> : > >
> : > > Any ideas or alternatives?
> : > >
> : > > TIA
> : > > GST
> : > >
> : >
> : > Geoff.. this maybe a silly question but do you mind elaborating what
> : you're
> : > trying to do (for what purpose). I use to write low level INT13[/color]
routines[color=blue]
> : in
> : > assembly (for drive access) but with nowadays OS's, the hard drive is
> : really
> : > "never" busy, i.e. a write request is almost always successful (even
> when
> : > the drive is busy, it goes into a cache / queue). OS's such as[/color]
NT/2000,[color=blue]
> : are
> : > not happy when an application tries to address hardware directly. But
> : > perhaps if you can explain what the purpose is, there might be an
> : > alternative.
> : >
> : > For example, if you are writing a large file, you may display a
> progress
> : > bar (and not really be concerned whether or not the drive is
> "physically "
> : > writing).
> : >
> : >
> :
> : I have some large files that get processed then saved to disc ( or CD ).
> : Although the program has finished processing the files, and the cursor
> : changes back to default icon, the disc is still writing data. I want a
> : 'window'
> : to jump up telling the user to wait before removing the disc or exiting
> the
> : program. ( You can make programs idiot proof, but not user proof. )
> :
> : GST
> :
> :[/color]

Randy:
Had a look at the suggetsed site, but I am using Win98.

Raoul:
File is opened for Binary I/O. The number of bytes read/written
also varies from file to file.
A Diaglog box may be the quickest soulution for now.

Geoff Turner.