PRB: SYS(17) Function Returns Incorrect Processor Type (170392)

SYMPTOMS

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The SYS(17) function returns the wrong processor type when running on a Power Computing Power Tower. On this machine, the SYS(17) function reports that the machine has a 68000 processor instead of 604E processor. Since Visual FoxPro only installs on Power Macintosh machines, this information is clearly incorrect.

RESOLUTION

If it is necessary to determine whether the machine is a Power Macintosh or a 68k Macintosh, use the FXGestalt() function available in FoxTools. The following code provides an example of how to use this function:

   SET LIBRARY TO Home()+"FoxTools.cfm"
   retval=0
   i=FxGestalt("sysa",@retval)
   ? retval

The variable "retval" returns 1 for a 68k Macintosh and 2 for a Power Macintosh.

MORE INFORMATION

The Power Computing Power Tower is a Power Macintosh clone that uses the Motorola chip.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Start Visual FoxPro 3.0b on a Power Computing Power Tower.
In the Command window, type the following:
```
      ?SYS(17)
```

Notice that SYS(17) functions reports that the machine has a 68000 processor.

REFERENCES

"Operating System Utilities," pages 1-20 to 1-24, Inside Macintosh CD-ROM by Apple Computer 1995.

FoxTools Help file found in the Microsoft Visual FoxPro: Tools folder.