Baslinux mailing list

["Krzysztof A. Suchecki" <christopher.suchecki AT wp.pl>]

Neo Sze Wee wrote:

> > > > > I have tried the one from arachne website on a pdf file I received. 
> > > > > It
> > > > > does not work. This is what I get:
> > > > > -------------------------------------------------
> > > > > Exiting due to signal SIGNOFP
> > > > > Coprocessor not available at eip=0003accc

Well-known problem :)
I had the same when I tried to run one ZX Spectrum emulator on my 486sx :)
There is a solution :) An coprocessor emulator. 
Fortunately, DOS versions of Pdf... from foolabs.com were created 
with djgpp. Fortunately, because djgpp has its own copro emulator.
If a progg uses floating-point math, coprocessor is needed.
If you don't have one (486sx doesn't) djgpp tries to run
his own coprocessor emulator. You may not have one
(probably not, because supplying prog with copro
emulator is not popular as all Pentium already has coprocessor).

You will need to put one *.dxe file into one directory
and set proper variable in autoexec.bat with SET ...

I don't have this 486sx at home, so I will tell you tomorrow
what and where should be put.

> > > > Does your computer have a coprocessor?
> > > 
> > > How do you know?

386DX, 486DX and all Pentium have coprocessor. Others not. 
(Well it may have been added as a separate unit, 
but it wasn't cheap)

Checking is rather simple :)
After booting look at screen at sth like this:

Numeric Processor: Present
                  
It means you are lucky copro-owner.

> Why does a computer need a math coprocessor?

For floating point math.
Sth like 2.1 * 3.4 = 7.14


Chris