FastLynx DOS Slave Support Issues

What is the FastLynx DOS slave?

The FastLynx 3.3 DOS slave is a small (about 42 KB) DOS program that supports serial and parallel file transfer when connected to the FastLynx 3.3 Windows client program.

How do I install it?

First, install the Windows version of FastLynx on a Windows computer. Then look in the FastLynx installation folder (unless you change the default, this is usually "C:\Program Files\FastLynx") for a file named "sl.exe". Copy that file onto the DOS computer (using a floppy disk, for example) and run it. It will "listen" for an incoming serial or parallel connection. IMPORTANT NOTE: Some earlier versions of FastLynx and Fastwire also have a "sl.exe" file. When you run the slave, make sure the version number displayed is 3.3. Earlier versions of the slave will not communicate with FastLynx 3.3.

What if I need to transfer DOS-to-DOS?

FastLynx 3.3 supports Windows-to-DOS transfers using the DOS slave. If you need DOS-to-DOS transfer, download the FastLynx 2.01 program (an older DOS-based version of FastLynx) by selecting "Download FastLynx 2.01" from the FastLynx 3.3 File menu. Buying a license for FastLynx 3.3 now includes a license for FastLynx 2.01.

How do I preserve long file names using the DOS slave?

Starting in Build 48, the FastLynx 3.3 DOS slave now provides long file name support when running in an operating system environment that supports long file names. However, older version of DOS (before Windows 95) do not support long file names. So if you boot from a DOS diskette, you usually do not have long file name support available. However, there are third party utilities that can add long file name support to older versions of DOS.

You may have noticed that if you boot from a floppy diskette long file names on your hard disk are not available. Instead of seeing the "My Documents" directory, you will see something like "MYDOCU~1" instead. If you are using FastLynx 3.3, Build 265 or later, you may be able transfer the files with the original directory and file names intact by using the DOS slave program (sl.exe) in conjunction with Shareware or Freeware programs available on the Internet.

NOTE: if you are using a version of FastLynx 3.3 before Build 265, you can update to the latest maintenance release of version 3.3 at no charge by starting FastLynx and selecting "Check for Updates" from the FastLynx File menu (do not go directly to our web site without doing this).

Long file names in Windows 95/98/ME (FAT16 or FAT32)

Long file names in Windows NT 4/2000/XP (NTFS)