PRB: SYS(17) Function Returns Incorrect Processor Type

 Last reviewed: December 22, 1997
Article ID: Q170392
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b

SYMPTOMS

WARNING: The information in this article has not been confirmed or tested by Microsoft. Some or all of the information in this article has been taken from unconfirmed customer reports. ANY USE BY YOU OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this information "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

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

  1. Start Visual FoxPro 3.0b on a Power Computing Power Tower.

  2. 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. 

Keywords          : FxprgGeneral VFoxMac
Version           : MACINTOSH:3.0b
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbprb

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Last reviewed: December 22, 1997
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