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- OS/2 Tips and Techniques
- Version 1.2
- 5/18/92
-
- Issued by:
- OS/2 Technical Support
-
-
- Notes: This document should not be modified and redistributed. If you
- have information you would like to be added, please contact one
- of the following:
-
- A SYSOP on IBMOS2 on Compuserve
- The SYSOP or uploader of the bulletin board you got this document from
- For IBM internals, OS2TIP at BCRVMPC1
-
- Every attempt has been made to ensure the veracity of all answers,
- workarounds and fixes contained herein. If you find any inconsistencies
- or errors (spelling errors too), please contact one of the above to
- let us know.
-
-
-
-
- Introduction
- ------------
-
- This is an informal document, produced by the OS/2 Technical Support Team.
- It includes tips and techniques describing how to use and navigate
- around OS/2 2.0 along with information on known techniques or workarounds for
- various applications and machine types.
-
- It is recommended to read the OS/2 2.0 product README file as well as this
- document.
-
- This document will continue to be updated. As we discover new techniques
- and tips, they will be reflected in this paper.
-
- The purpose of this document is to provide readers with an awareness of
- quick and easy ways to accomplish various tasks with OS/2. There are also
- techniques and information that will help you run your OS/2 system on
- various machine configurations.
-
- If you have any questions or comments on this document, or find anything you
- feel may be of use to others and would like to see in a future revision of the
- OS/2 TNT document, please contact the author, or one of the IBM service
- representatives on Compuserve, BIX, Prodigy, IIN or other applicable service.
-
- Notes: Compuserve membership services can be reached at 1-800-848-8199 x239.
-
- IBM IIN BBS registration can be reached at 1-800-547-1283.
-
- General IBM OS/2 product information and availability can be
- obtained by calling 1-800-3IBMOS2.
-
- The OS/2 Support Line is available at 1-800-237-5511. This is a
- free service for the first 60 days. Note that this is applicable for
- the OS/2 base operating system. This service is not available for
- Extended Services nor LAN Services OS/2 products.
-
-
-
-
- Installation
- ------------
-
- General Information
- -------------------
-
- - The DOS/Windows/OS/2 1.x upgrade version of OS/2 2.0 is slightly
- different from the full-purchase-price version of OS/2 2.0. There is a
- "sniffer" program that ensures you have an operating system on your
- hard disk when installing OS/2 2.0. This program will sense the
- operating system and will write a key onto disk 1. Once this is done,
- the disks are set up so the sniffer is no longer enabled.
-
- 1) If you have already formatted your hard disk before attempting to
- install OS/2 2.0, simply put your DOS diskette back into the
- drive and do a FORMAT C: /S.
-
- 2) If you have a disk #1 that is write protected, slide the slider
- on the diskette over so as to cover the hole, or just place a
- piece of tape on the hole.
-
- - If you have ordered the Microsoft Windows package upgrade to OS/2
- 2.0, you were told you need to mail in your title page from your
- Microsoft Windows package. Please do NOT do this until you have
- received your OS/2 package. The instrunctions are in there as to
- where to mail your page.
-
-
- Reading the README before install
-
- - The README file for OS/2 2.0 is packed on diskette number 6. If you have
- a system with a formatted hard disk, you can manually unpack the file
- and read it before installation. To do this, boot the install disk. Then
- when prompted, insert disk 1. Then when asked to press ESC to cancel,
- press the ESC key. You will get a command prompt. Copy the file
- UNPACK.EXE from disk 2 onto your hard disk. Then insert disk 6. Make
- your hard disk the current drive and type:
-
- UNPACK A:\REQUIRED . /N:README
-
- You will them have the readme on your hard disk, suitable for reading
- and/or printing.
-
- NOTE: the README is on diskette 17 on 5.25" diskette versions
-
-
- Logitech Mouse
-
- - When you are using a Logitech mouse (serial or Bus version), select
- the "PS/2 style pointing device" from the install, or selective
- install window.
-
-
- HPFS or FAT?
-
- - When considering whether or not to use the High Performance File System
- (HPFS), please be aware that it takes approximately 500k of system
- memory. If you are running a machine with less than 6 megabytes of
- memory, this will cause system performance to suffer.
-
- Immediately after install
-
- - After installation, and before you run any DOS or Windows programs,
- we recommend you shut down your system. This only needs to be done once,
- immediately after you are finished installing OS/2 2.0
-
-
- Questions, Common Problems and Answers
- --------------------------------------
-
- Problem: You have encountered a "trap" while installing and you see the
- following number on your screen: 60002,9084
- Answer: This indicates possible bad memory. You should try removing your
- memory SIMMS one at a time and try an installation until it works.
- Then you will have isolated the bad SIMM.
-
- Problem: Cannot find COUNTRY.SYS on a PS2 P70
- Answer: Contact your IBM CE for ECA068. This is indicative of a problem
- recognizing the disk. ECA068 should remedy this.
-
- Problem: Cannot find COUNTRY.SYS
- Answer: Find out if any additional devices are attached from the
- controller card, like a TAPE BACKUP and disconnect if possible.
-
- Problem: Why does the install process stop or lock up after disk 6?
- Answer: Disk 6 loads the graphical subsystem and this may occur with
- the type of video card you have installed. If the VGA card has autosense
- capability, this feature must be turned off. Additionally, if the VGA
- card has several resolutions other than 640x480, this must be set to
- 640x480 mode. Consult the VGA card's Guide to Operations.
-
- Question: How should I partition my hard disk for OS/2?
- Answer: OS/2 should ideally be in a partition by itself, unless you are
- considering a dual boot system which requires DOS to be loaded first.
- The partition should be approx 40-50 megabyts in size for
- OS/2 alone, assuming you wish a full default install and the swap drive
- on the same partition. The lower amount of memory you have, the larger
- swap file (and partition) you will need.
-
- You should have at least 2 partitions, one for OS/2 and the other for
- data.
-
-
- Problem: White screen after installation with no system activity
- Resolution: Try setting the video card to 8 bits and moving the
- video card to an 8-bit slot and disable the auto-switching capability
- of the card if possible.
-
-
- Problem: Your installation procedure aborts
- There may be occasion when your install aborts. For example, if you
- get a power hit. If you have passed the first reboot, and are in the
- graphical installation, you can restart your installation procedure
- without going through all of the preliminary steps.
-
- 1) Identify which disk was being unpacked when the procedure failed.
- 2) Subtract that from 15 and add one. For example, if you were on disk
- 9, then your result would be 7.
- (for 5.25" diskette systems, use 18 unstead of 15)
- 3) Boot from the install disk, and insert disk 1 when prompted.
- 4) When you are asked to press ESC to cancel, press the ESC key. You will
- get a command prompt.
- 5) Use a text editor to edit the CONFIG.SYS file on the hard disk.
- 6) In the line starting with FIRSTDISK, edit that to be
- FIRSTDISK=<the disk number from step 1>
- example: FIRSTDISK=9
- 7) In the line starting with NUMDISKS, edit that to be
- NUMDISKS=<the number from step 2>
- example: NUMDISKS=7
- 8) Now remove the diskettes and reboot from the hard disk. You will see the
- graphical install panel. Select OK, Install and all defaults. You will
- now be prompted for the disk from step 1, which is the disk where the
- procedure aborted before. All of your previous Selective Install
- choices are preserved.
-
-
- Question: Do I need to reformat to install OS/2 2.0?
- Answer: It's always a good idea. However, the only versions of OS/2
- you MUST reformat over is over ANY OS/2 beta EXCEPT for L.A. (6.177H) If
- you formatted during an install and the install aborted, reformat. If
- you did a "dirty" (unformatted) install and it died, try again without
- formatting. If that too fails, you may want to back up any needed data
- files from the target drive and reformat.
-
- There should be no other reason to install 2.0 G.A. over itself. If
- you want to add features, use the OS/2 System object, System Setup and
- Selective Install. You can add virtually any feature this way.
-
-
- Problem: SYS1200 error when attempting to Dual Boot to DOS with an
- error code indicating that the DOS environment cannot be created
- and you see an error code - EC=00BF.
- Resolution: Ensure that you have not removed or remarked out any of the
- VIRTUAL DOS device drivers. If all else fails rename your current
- CONFIG.SYS to CONFIG.XXX and copy your original CONFIG.SYS to the root
- directory. The original CONFIG.SYS can be found in the \OS2\INSTALL
- directory.
-
-
- Problem: Installation on ZEOS notebook fails
- Resolution: Follow the following steps:
-
- The fix for this problem assumes that you have access to a working copy of
- OS/2 2.0. Ask your local IBM dealer if they can provide an OS/2 2.0
- machine for you to use for a few minutes, or ask a friend/co-worker with
- 2.0 installed as well. Bring your Installation Diskette with you, along
- with a blank, formatted high density 3.5 inch diskette.
-
- Step 1. Open the OS/2 System object on the OS/2 Desktop by double clicking
- with mouse button 1 (usually left mouse button).
-
- Step 2. Open the Command Prompts folder (by double clicking on the
- folder object).
-
- Step 3. Double click on OS/2 Window Object.
-
- Step4. You should now be at an OS/2 Command Prompt.
-
- Step 5. Backup your Installation Diskette to your blank 3.5 inch high
- density diskette you brought with you. Enter the following
- command at the prompt: DISKCOPY A: A:<enter> and follow the
- prompts.
-
- Step 6. With your backup diskette in the drive, enter the following:
- PATCH SYSINSTX.COM<enter>
-
- Step 7. When asked for the offset address, enter:
- 96AF<enter>
-
- Step 8. On the line that is shown enter 45 to replace 44 as the first
- byte in the line and then press <enter>.
-
- Step 9. When asked if you wish to apply patches, answer:
- Y<enter>
-
- Step 10. At the OS/2 Command prompt again, enter:
- SYSINSTX A:
-
- Step 11. Install OS/2 on your ZEOS using the patched backup Install
- Diskette.
-
- Step 12. The patch MUST be applied using OS/2. If it is not available,
- a diskette with the patch applied can be sent to you from IBM.
-
-
-
- Question: Can I install across the LAN?
- Answer: IBM LAN Installation Utility/2 (LIU/2)
-
- ORDERING INFORMATION:
-
- IBM LAN Installation Utility/2 is to be ordered as:
-
- PROGR AM ONE-TIME LICENSE
- NUMBER ORDER TYPE CHARGE CHARGE
- 5799-PTC PROGRAM PACKAGE $350.00 $300.00
-
-
-
- Problem: C0000005 is displayed on the screen during install
- Resolution: The problem is resolved in a fixed version of BVHSVGA.DLL
- available from IBM.
-
- Problem: My install hangs on Disk 1.
- Resolution: In many cases, PCM hardware has disk caching enabled on the
- drive controller card. The hang can often be fixed by disabling the
- on-board caching. Another suggestion is if the card has asynchronous
- memory refresh capabilities, turn it off. This too may fix the problem.
-
- Problem: Hang on Disk1 right after LOGO screen
- Resolution: Ask the customer if he has an OAK video card.
- An INT10 call is made to the BIOS which causes the problem on OAK cards.
- You will need to patch the OS2LDR file and make the following changes.
-
- Step 1. Make a backup copy of your Install Diskette 1. Use DOS DISKCOPY
- if necessary. *DO NOT* perform this modification on your
- original OS/2 2.0 Install Diskette 1.
-
- Step 2. Boot DOS, make sure you have DEBUG.COM on that diskette or on your
- hard drive where you can get to it. Change to the appropriate
- directory if necessary.
-
- Step 3. Insert your backup copy of Install Diskette 1. Type
- DEBUG A:\OS2LDR<enter>
- at the DOS command prompt.
-
- Step 4. To unassemble OS2LDR, enter the following command:
- U 4F7C<enter>
-
- Step 5. Enter the following:
- 4F7C<enter>
- CD. will be displayed. You will enter
- 90<space> and
- 10. will be displayed. You will enter
- 90<enter>
-
- Step 6. To write changes to the file,enter the following command:
- W<enter>
-
- Step 7. To quit debug, enter the following command:
- Q<enter>
-
- Step 8. You should now see your DOS prompt. Restart the installation
- using your newly modified backup Install Diskette.
-
-
- Problem: Successful install, but the system hangs on the next reboot
- at the LOGO screen
- Resolution: Ask the customer if he has a FUTURE DOMAIN 16XX SCSI
- controller. The .ADD file uses interrupt driven I/O rather than
- polling which is used by DOS. An interrupt conflict likely exists.
- You should check all IRQ settings on all cards to find the conflict.
-
-
- Tips and Techniques
- -------------------
-
-
- Printing
- --------
-
- General Information
- -------------------
-
- When instaling auxiliary parallel port expansion cards, you need to
- ensure that LPT1 is configured to interrupt level 7 (IRQ7). Not doing so
- will cause printing under OS/2 to function erratically.
-
- Be aware that when using many other common adapters such as the
- SoundBlaster card, they may come from the factory configured on IRQ7.
- Also, many manufacturers recommend you configure their cards on IRQ7.
- Non-microchannel machines cannot share interrupts and each card must be
- on a separate IRQ to avoid conflicts. See the reference for your adapter
- cards to configure the IRQs.
-
- Additionally, LPT2 cards should be configured on IRQ5.
-
-
- Questions, Common Problems and Answers
- --------------------------------------
-
- Problem: Automatic emulation switching does not work
- Resolution: NONE
- AES does not currently work under OS/2 2.0. Lexmark is working on this
- to be released soon.
-
-
- Question: How does AES for OS/2 interact with 2.0 GA?
- Answer:The basic function of AES is to provide a convenient method for
- emulation mode switching the IBM LaserPrinter products. By correlating
- LPT ports with emulation modes on the printer, a user can send their job
- to the correct port and get the mode switch properly, and thus not have
- to touch the printer to change emulation modes.
-
-
- During AES install, the option is given to the user if they want to
- install extra LPT ports (as the LPTX.SYS Device Driver). This driver is
- the same identical driver that is used by the Lexmark External Network
- Adapter, IBM 4033. It essentially allows for character monitors to be
- installed on LPT ports > 3. Then the character monitor does what it
- needs to, and re-directs that data to the physical port where the printer
- is connected. Or in the case of the IBM 4033, the data is re-directed
- (by the character monitor) to the Token Ring or Ethernet PS/2 card.
-
-
- Problem: Printing problems with parallel ports - nothing prints
- Resolution: Ensure that LPT1 is configured to use IRQ7 and LPT2 is
- configured as IRQ5. Check the printer cable to ensure that the cable
- runs all 25 lines, not all cables wire the necessary lines. If the
- problem persists and you are convinced it is not an interrupt problem,
- cable problem or just the wrong driver the problem may be with you I/O
- card. Some older I/O cards do not work in OS/2.
-
-
-
- Tips and Techniques
- -------------------
-
- If you send a print job to a printer that is powered off, you may
- experience a corrupted job when responding to the RETRY dialog after
- powering on the printer. You should cancel the job and resubmit it
- after turning on the printer.
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Video, SVGA
- -----------
-
- General Information
- -------------------
-
- - THE FILES THAT MAKE UP OS/2 SVGA VIDEO:
-
- \OS2\SVGADATA.PMI
- This file serves as a flag to tell OS/2 whether SVGA support has been
- enabled with SVGA ON. The file actually contains data on
- 1. What video chipset your SVGA card has.
- 2. What SVGA modes, from the supported list, your adapter is
- capable of setting. The list of supported modes is:
- a. 640x480/256 colors
- b. 800x600/16 colors
- c. 800x600/256 colors
- d. 1024x768/16 colors
- e. 1024x768/256 colors
- f. 132x25 text
- g. 132x43 or 44 text
- 3. What values are in the video registers when the card is in each
- mode.. this data is used by OS/2 to save and restore the
- registers to their proper state when switching between sessions
- with different SVGA modes set.
- This data file must be generated by typing SVGA ON from a DOS
- FULLSCREEN, because what SVGA ON actually does is set all the
- possible
- modes using the video card's BIOS and then read out the values of
- the registers into the .PMI file. If SVGA ON is run from a DOS
- window,
- OS/2's video virtualization takes over, and the BIOS doesn't set
- the svga modes properly.
- \OS2\SVGA.EXE
- This is the utility that generates the .PMI file and places it in the
- \OS2 subdirectory. Syntax is SVGA ON|OFF|STATUS, where
- ON: creates the \OS2\SVGADATA.PMI file and enables SVGA support.
- OFF: deletes the .PMI file.
- STATUS: returns the chipset type OS/2 thinks your card is.
- \OS2\DLL\DISPLAY.DLL
- This file determines what video resolution the PM desktop uses.
- This is the PM display driver and the heart of OS/2 video. The
- equivalent file on a Windows system is the VGA.DRV (in the case of
- VGA) file. For the first release, SVGA systems will have a VGA
- display driver installed on their system. Already, SVGA drivers are
- available from most of the main board manufacturers. In
- this document, I'll try to list some of the ones that are working.
- \OS2\DLL\BVHSVGA.DLL
- This file is the Base Video Handler for OS/2. Any OS/2 application
- that sets a video mode calls this DLL. In most cases, however, the
- only application that sets any video modes is the PM display driver
- and the MODE.EXE utility (for setting 132 column modes). The first
- time this DLL would be called is after the OS/2 bitmap logo appears
- (PM starts up then). This DLL is specified in the CONFIG.SYS in the
- following manner:
- SET VIO_VGA=DEVICE(BVHVGA,BVHSVGA)
- BVHVGA is used to set, save, and restore VGA modes, BVHSVGA for SVGA
- modes.
- \OS2\MDOS\VSVGA.SYS
- This is the virtual video device handler for DOS sessions. All
- calls to change the video mode from a DOS session are handled
- through this driver. This driver's job is to allow the user to set
- a SVGA mode, and when the user switches away, save the current state
- of the video card (its registers and its video RAM). Then, when the
- user returns to the DOS session, restore the video card to it's
- previous state. When there is no .PMI file (SVGA is OFF) this
- driver acts like a VGA driver, except for adapter-specific code in
- it to make sure the VGA modes work right on the SVGA adapter.
- Therefore, even if you don't want SVGA, you'll probably want VSVGA.
- \OS2\MDOS\WINOS2\SYSTEM\VGA.DRV
- \OS2\MDOS\WINOS2\SYSTEM\SWINVGA.DRV
- These are the WINOS2 and seamless WINOS2 drivers, respectively. They
- determine what resolution WINSO2 uses.
-
-
- Questions, Common Problems and Answers
- --------------------------------------
-
- Problem: Screen resynch problems in DOS or WINOS2 FULL SCREEN sessions
- Resolution: The problem is with how some SVGA cards handle switching.
- IBM has created a new VSVGA.SYS file to cure this.
- More specifically, the problem occurs most frequently with
- TSENG chipsets. Video adapters using the Tseng ET4000 chipset with batch
- #TC6059AF have been identified to have this problem. The VSVGA.SYS
- file dated 4/8/92 or later should solve this.
-
-
-
- Question: What SVGA support is actually provided with OS/2 2.0?
- Answer: The only support that is provided in the shrink wrapped version
- is the ability to switch away from a DOS or OS/2 fullscreen and have the
- current state of your video card saved... and this is only after you have
- turned SVGA ON, and if you have one of the adapters listed in the
- readme..although everyone with a Tseng, Trident, ATI, Headland, or
- Western Digital chipset should try turning SVGA ON at least for a while
- to see if it fixes any unseemly video problems they might be having.
-
- Question: What is the most important thing to remember about turning
- SVGA ON?
- Answer: When you type SVGA ON (as per the README) it must be in a DOS
- full screen session.
-
- Question: For what adapters has DOS + OS/2 fullscreen save/restore been
- tested so far?
- Answer: ATI VGA Wonder XL
- Boca Reseach SVGA
- Orchid Prodesigner II
- STB Powergraph
- Trident 8900C and 8900B
- Video 7 VRAM II
- Paradise VGA Professional
-
-
- Question: Are these the only cards which are "compatable" with OS/2?
- Answer: No. Our support is designed to be generic for the Trident,
- Tseng, ATI, Headland, and Western Digital chipsets. There are likely
- many more cards which work under OS/2 which we havn't even tried.
-
- Question : How do I get my OS/2 desktop to use SVGA?
- Answer: OS/2 does not provide any PM SVGA drivers.. they are available
- from the video board manufacturers. Trident has a set of OS/2
- 2.0 16-bit PM drivers that include seamless windows support and virtual
- desktops. Orchid has 16-bit 2.0 drivers in beta test at the time of this
- writing. There are many OS/2 1.3 drivers which function fine under 2.0.
- Do not be deterred from using a PM display driver labeled for OS/2
- version 1.3
-
-
- Question: What is a virtual desktop?
- Answer: It is a PM display driver that uses all of the adapter's video
- memory to store a desktop that is bigger than what's actually displayed.
- So, you could have 1024x1024 of desktop space, with only 640x480 being
- displayed on the screen. You move to other portions of the desktop by
- dragging the mouse to the edge of the screen, which scrolls the desktop.
- Because of the way OS/2 is designed, this is an extremely quick operation
- and will be very smooth even on the slowest video cards. The PM driver
- has to be coded to support virtual desktops, and Trident is so far the
- only chipset to support it.
-
- Question: What is Seamless Windows, and can it co-exist with SVGA?
- Answer: Seamless windows is the ability to run Windows 3.x programs on
- the PM desktop. The way it is achieved is by making a "hole" in the PM
- desktop that the seamless windows driver writes into. Special code has
- to be put into both the windows driver and the PM display driver to
- support this. Stone Li from Trident was able to produce 800x600/16
- seamless drivers for Trident in about a week, and has been the only one
- to produce SVGA seamless support so far.
-
-
- Question: I have an ATI 8514 Ultra or Graphics Ultra, does it work under
- OS/2?
- Answer: This card is 100% 8514 register compatible, and OS/2 detects and
- treats it like an 8514. One difference, though, is that you should
- update the video line in your CONFIG.SYS that reads:
- DEVICE=\OS2\MDOS\VVGA.SYS to: DEVICE=\OS2\MDOS\VSVGA.SYS Because OS/2
- detects it as 8514, you can use OS/2's 8514 PM in WinOS2 display drivers
- with no problems.
-
- Question: What is the outlook for OS/2 support for boards based on the S3
- or TI chipsets?
- Answer: Boards which are co-processed are the fastest, but also take the
- longest to develop software for. No manufacturers have announced dates
- yet for support for any of these cards. The more these manufacturers are
- "encouraged" by owners of their cards, the faster the support will
- arrive.
-
- Problem: I'm getting some corruption returning to my WinOS2 fullscreen
- Resolution: Set your VIDEO_SWITCH_NOTIFICATION in the DOS SETTINGS to ON.
-
- Problem: Even in VGA, games in a DOS fullscreen are shakey
- Resolution: Set your VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION in the DOS SETTINGS to OFF.
-
- Problem: A lot of DOS apps in a window have messed up colors
- Resolution: This is a limitation of the VGA desktop. The color palatte of
- the DOS session has to be translated to PM, and the 640x480/16 desktop
- doesn't offer enough colors to do a good translation. The only solution
- to the problem is to use a 256 color PM driver or run the application in
- a DOS FULLSCREEN
-
-
- Problem: The graphics of some of my apps are messed up when in a window
- Resolution: Chances are, this app is using a non-standard VGA mode that
- the card can support, but which OS/2 doesn't.
-
-
- Question: My friend has the same video card as me, and it doesn't work..
- can't I just give him a working SVGADATA.PMI file?
- Answer: No. The SVGADATA.PMI has to be specific to each adapter/monitor
- setup.
-
- Question: If I have SVGA ON, can I use 132 column modes in an OS/2
- fullscreen?
- Answer: Yes.
-
- Question: If I have SVGA ON, can I window a DOS fullscreen onto the PM
- desktop, even if it is Super VGA?
- Answer: Yes.
-
- Question: If I have SVGA ON, can I take a window with a SVGA image in it
- can paste to the clipboard?
- Answer: Yes.
-
- Question: Will the Windows 3.0 SVGA drivers work in WIN-OS2?
- Answer: Yes, you should be able to simply update the SYSTEM.INI to point
- to a new Windows display driver, or just copy over the VGA.DRV in
- the \OS2\MDOS\WINOS2\SYSTEM directory. Keep in mind, however,
- that Windows in SVGA mode will only work if you have set SVGA ON.
-
- Question: Why do we need SVGA ON and OFF?
- Answer: Many different SVGA boards have different interfaces and
- chipsets, each with their own quirks. We have found that some
- boards actually behave worse with SVGA ON, so the SVGA OFF was
- also provided.
-
-
-
-
- Tips and Techniques
- -------------------
-
- Trident supports OS/2 2.0 and has SVGA Presentation drivers available for
- their SVGA boards. Trident's support number is 415-691-9211. They also
- have support bulletin boards where these drivers are available. For the
- West Coast, the number is 415-691-1016 and for the East Coast, the number
- is 203-483-0348.
-
-
-
- General Hardware
- ----------------
-
- General Information
- -------------------
-
- Always Technology SCSI
-
- If you are experiencing OS/2 problems either at installation time or
- after, (most like a TRAP 000D) and your system has an Always Technology
- IN-2000 SCSI adaapter, the BIOS on the adapter may be the problem. If
- the BIOS revision level is 3.06A or 3.20, (as shown during the system
- self-test) you should get the BIOS on the card upgraded. The current
- BIOS level is VCN:1-02 and works with OS/2 2.0. If you require this
- upgrade, you may also need and upgrade to a companion 8-pin serial PROM
- chip which must have a revision level of 2.5-2.7. Always Technology
- support can be reached at 818-597-9595.
-
-
- Bernoulli Boxes
-
- - 44 and 89 meg drives work if connected to Adaptec, Future Domain or IBM
- or anyone else's adapter except for Bernoulli's own adapter.
- The drive will work as a large diskette and is NON-BOOTABLE.
-
- Customers should call IOMEGA for status on update on their adapter.
-
-
- Colorado Memories Tape Drive
-
- - Colorado Memory Systems has a fix for their tape backup systems that
- will allow customers to run the hardware from OS/2 DOS sessions (VDMs)
- Customers can get this from Colorado Memory Systems directly.
-
- CDROM devices
-
- - The only ones we know work are IBM and Tobisha.If CDROM is either SCSI
- with no other devices attached or is non-SCSI than you might get it to
- work by using a external native DOS session (VMBOOT via the
- DOS_Startup_Drive Dos Program setting). IBM understands this is an
- area of customer need.
-
- HP Mouse
-
- - Directions for installing an HP mouse
- 1- Select any mouse during system installation
- 2- Copy HILMOU.SYS and NOEXBIOS.SYS to C:\OS2\ (these are supplied by
- the manufacturer)
- 3-Modify CONFIG.SYS with the following in the order shown:
- DEVICE=C:\OS2\NOEXBIOS.SYS
- DEVICE=C:\OS2\HILMOU.SYS
- DEVICE=C:\OS2\MOUSE.SYS TYPE=HILMOU$(THIS LINE SHOULD ALREADY
- BE IN CONFIG.SYS BUT WILL NEED TYPE=... ADDED )
-
- HP Cust Service # is 1-800-752-0900 P#289547
- Customer may also go to his dealer for the diskette which ships with the
- mouse. Customer may also see COMPUSERV GO HP
-
-
-
- HP Scanjet
-
- - If you get an error saying that you cannot access your HP scanner, and
- you are using a Family 1 (AT-style) bus machine, your switches need to
- be set as follows:
-
- The card switches need to be set to 1010
-
- If you are on a PS/2 machine, you must run the reference diskette to set
- the card to ROM addresses C8000-CBFFF and I/O address to 268-26F.
-
- In both cases you also need to set the DOS Setting for the DOS session
- for EMS_FRAME_LOCATION to AUTO.
-
- Logitech Mouse
-
- - When you are using a Logitech mouse (serial or Bus version), select
- the "PS/2 style pointing device" from the install, or selective
- install window.
-
-
- Tape Drives (Adapter or SCSI)
-
- - The only tape drives that have been tested thus far are IBM tape drives.
- If no other device is connected to the SCSI bus on that adapter or
- the tape adapter, then you may be able to get your drive to work in a
- external native DOS (VMBOOT) session.
-
- If the tape drive worked under OS/2 1.x and the device is written to
- ASPI, IBM is currently working on support for your device.
-
- IBM does not provide 3rd party device drivers for peripherals. Refer to
- your peripheral manufacturer for OS/2 specific support.
-
- Tape Drives (diskette based)
-
- - IBM or IRWIN tape drives are supported. Applications are PMTAPE or
- PS2TAPE. Easy Tape from Maynard Backup Systems should be released
- soon. Please contact Maynard for information.
-
-
-
- How to make COM3 or COM4 work on an ISA machine
-
- - Place the following in the CONFIG.SYS
- DEVICE=X:\OS2\COM.SYS (n,a,i) (n,a,i)
-
- where X = the drive where OS/2 is installed
- n = the Com port that you are attempting to access
- a = communications port I/O address (03E8, 02E8 for example)
- found in the documentation for I/O card
- i = IRQ level which is usually a jumper setting on the I/O card
-
-
- SCSI devices
-
- - PROCOMM+ SCSI disk adapters (Microchannel) do NOT work.
- Customers should contact PROCOMM for any details on OS/2 support.
-
-
- - Some SCSI card have jumper pins which can be set to either Synchronous
- or Asynchronous mode. There have been noted problems such as no icons
- appearing or slow hard disk performance. This can be attributed to
- the SCSI card and hard disk not being set to the same asynch or synch
- settings. Either way, they must match. Be sure these are set properly.
-
- - The early versions of the IBM 16-bit SCSI adapters may experience
- problems and report erroneously that the device is not functioning.
- This can be corrected by replacing the SCSI card with a card with
- updated microcode.
-
-
- IBM PS/2 model 30-286 upgrades
-
- - IBM PS/2 Mod30-286 upgrades to a 386 processor card
- will NOT work.
-
-
- 50 mHz Systems
-
- - There have been some intermittent problems using 50 mHz systems with
- AT-style bus machines with a mouse. The mouse can get out of synch.
- Input will function through the keyboard and the mouse, but it is
- recommended to shutdown the system and restart to "resynch" the mouse.
-
-
- Alternate pointing devices
-
- - There is an undocumented function in the mouse device driver. If you
- have some alternate pointing device such as a tablet or touch screen,
- you may use it in addition to the the regular mouse pointing device.
-
- 1) Install the device driver for the device with the appropriate
- DEVICE= statement in CONFIG.SYS (this must be an OS/2 device driver)
-
- 2) Add the following to the end of the DEVICE=C:\OS2\MOUSE.SYS line:
-
- STYPE=xxxxxx$
-
- Where the xxxxx$ is the name of the device (from the device driver's
- manual)
-
- 3) Upon reboot, both pointing devices will be active.
-
-
- AOX systems
-
- - If your computer has an AOX add-in processor card and you encounter
- problems either installing or booting your OS2 system, you should call
- AOX support and ask for the latest "flash-prom" code upgrade.
-
-
- ISA (non Microchannel or non-EISA) bus systems
-
- - Some customers with AT-bus(ISA) systems may have disk controllers
- that are not recognized or supported by 2.0. OEM drivers for
- their disk controller may not yet be available.
-
- SYMPTOMS: Very slow install
- Very noisy hard disk during install
- FDISK errors
- Disk not recognized
-
-
- IBM has a new IBM1S506.ADD disk driver available that will fix many of
- these problems. It can be obtained from any of the sources listed
- above. In the event you cannot get this new file, or if the new file does
- not solve your particular problem, you may do the following:
-
- WORKAROUND:
- 1) Use DOS to edit the CONFIG.SYS on Diskette #1 in the 2.0 package.
- Diskette #1 is the first diskette AFTER the Install diskette.
-
- Change the line -
- BASEDEV=IBM1S506.ADD
-
- to
-
- REM BASEDEV=IBM1S506.ADD
-
- 2) Boot the Install diskette and proceed with Install through the
- first five diskettes.
-
- 3) After diskettes 1 through 5 are processed, you are asked to
- reinsert the Install diskette.
- DO SO.
- After copying some files from the Install diskette, you are
- asked to remove the Install diskette and press Enter to reboot.
-
- DO NOT DO THIS. LEAVE THE INSTALL DISKETTE IN THE DRIVE.
-
- 4) Press Enter with the Install diskette in the drive.
- This will boot the Install diskette.
- You will be asked to insert Diskette #1.
- DO SO.
- Watch the screens carefully. You will see a
- screen that tells you (on the lower left) to press ESC to exit.
- When you see this, press Esc.
-
- 5) You are now at a command line.
- Enter the following commands:
-
- RENAME C:\OS2\IBM1S506.ADD IBM1S506.XXX
- COPY C:\OS2\IBMINT13.I13 C:\OS2\IBM1S506.ADD
-
- Note: If C is not your install drive, adjust the commands
- accordingly.
-
- 6) Remove the diskette from the drive.
- Press ALT-CTRL-DEL to reboot the system, and install will
- pick up where it left off.
-
-
- IBM PS/2 Model 90/95 systems
-
- - If you are experiencing problems with your Model 90/95 you should
- ensure your system is at teh latest engineering change (EC) level.
- Your IBM service representative can assist you with this.
-
- - If your 90/95 is a 33 mhz system and if you are having intermittent,
- difficult to diagnose memory parity errors such as TRAP 0002, and must
- reboot your system, then ECA053 may apply. If your processor card has
- part number 84F9356, contact your IBM rep to assist you with a
- replacement.
-
- - If your model 90 is experiencing intermittent memory errors ECA084 may
- apply if the part number of your memory riser card is N33F4905 or
- 84F9356. Again, your IBM rep can assist you with a replacement.
-
- For both model 90 and 95 machines, you must ensure that you have matched
- pairs of memory SIMMs. This means that each pair of SIMMs, as described
- in your technical reference manual, must be matched as to memory size
- and speed. Mixing SIMMS can cause some machines to report memory errors.
-
-
- Questions, Common Problems and Answers
- --------------------------------------
-
-
- Problem: When I swap disks during my installation, my machine
- beeps consistenly.
- Resolution: This is indicative of a bad floppy drive controller or cable.
- You should check out your cable for damage and check the controller
- card as well, along with all connections.
-
- Environment: OEM or PCM machines with 2 Drives (IDE, WD 506 clone etc)
- - During install, use the generic INT13 driver as described in Readme.
-
- Post Install symptom: OS/2 will not recognize the 2nd drive.
-
- Cause: 2nd drive formatted using SPEEDSTOR or Seagate's Disk Manager
- Utility
-
- Solution: Reformat 2nd drive with DOS or OS/2
-
-
- Problem: White screen on install and the disk light is constantly on.
- Resolution: If the machine is a fast 486 ISA bus machine, try switching
- the board out of turbo mode to reduce the speed of the CPU.
-
-
- Problem :Customer has Micronics motherboard from Gateway that locks up.
- Resolution: If the Micronics motherboard is revision E and purchased from
- Gateway, Gateway 2000 will provide an upgrade to revision F. The number
- for Gateway 2000 is 1-800-523-2000. Gateway 2000 board will cause some
- systems to lockup. They also suggest that earlier versions should be
- replaced.
-
-
- Problem: Cannot get a High Density 5.25 inch 1.2 MB drive to work.
- Resolution: If you are using the \OS2\EXTDSKDD.SYS driver
- you need to use the EXT5DD.SYS driver that comes with the Drive.
-
-
- Tips and Techniques
- -------------------
-
-
- Applications
- ------------
-
- General Information
- -------------------
-
- FAX and comm programs
-
- FAX, communication programs for DOS, running in a virtual DOS machine
- (VDM) under OS/2 may not work correctly at high speeds. VDMs have an
- upper limit of being able to deliver only 1000 interrupts per second. As
- such, FAX and other communication programs operating at 9600 baud or
- higher may not perform correctly. The workaround is to use a lower spped
- such as 4800 or to move to an OS/2 based communications program.
-
-
- Installation of OS/2 1.3, DOS and Windows programs
-
- OS/2 2.0 allows you to install the operating system on drives other than
- C:. Many DOS, Windows and OS/2 1.3 programs that update config.sys
- assume that C: is a valid drive and is formatted. This may not be the
- case under OS/2 2.0. The answer to this is after the application
- updates config.sys, and before rebooting, check to be sure that anything
- added by the application's install program points to the correct place.
- Another way around this is to tell the application "no" when it asks
- you if you want it to update config.sys, then you can do it manually.
-
- One other piece of information here: Some applications are hard coded to
- install on Drive C. If Drive C is not formatted, you will get errors from
- the application. Also, some of these programs use C: as a temporary
- workspace while installing. You may see the same errors in this case.
-
- Questions, Common Problems and Answers
- --------------------------------------
-
-
-
-
- Microsoft Windows (or OS/2's WIN-OS2)
-
- Microsoft Windows Product
-
- - In general, it is advisable to not keep the Microsoft Windows product on
- your OS/2 system. The reason is that IBM OS/2 2.0 includes a full,
- working copy of the Windows code called WIN-OS2. Applications from
- Windows can be run under WIN-OS2. We advise that you use OS/2's "Migrate
- Applications" utility to capture all of your Windows apps and remove the
- Windows code. Many of the files from Microsoft Windows have the same
- names as WIN-OS2, but are different. WIN-OS2 offers you the function of
- running Windows programs on your OS/2 desktop and if Windows files are
- also on your disk, there may be conflicts. So, if you plan to run
- WIN-OS2, you should remove the Windows product from your disk.
-
- Users are advised to NOT install Windows 3.1 on top of an OS/2
- system. WINDOWS 3.1 queries for existing INI files to detect whether or
- not OS/2 is installed and will then ask if you want to install over the
- top of what it thinks is old Windows code, but is actually WINOS2. The
- result is a corrupted WINOS2 system since WINDOWS 3.1 changed the format
- of the WINOS2 INI files. Also, Windows 3.1 will not run under OS/2 2.0
- today and since the configuration files have been updated, invoking any
- DOS command prompt will attempt to start Windows.
-
- If the user has done this, they must delete the WINOS2 directory and
- rebuild the configuration files and then use selective install to
- reinstall the WINOS2 code.
-
-
-
- Starting WINOS2 applications produce FATAL ERROR 0x0401
-
- - This problem is due to the fact that you have migrated your WINOS2
- environment, somewhere devices in your SYSTEM.INI file never made it over
- from the SYSTEM.INI in your WINDOWS directory. Ensure that all devices
- are in their appropriate WINOS2 placement, or remove the remarks from the
- \OS2\MDOS\WINOS2\SYSTEM.INI.
-
-
- Clipboarding from DOS or OS/2 to WIN-OS2 programs
-
- - If you are using the clipboard to cut. copy or paste from DOS or OS/2
- Presentation Manager programs to a Windows (WIN-OS2) application, be sure
- that both the OS/2 or DOS application AND the Windows application are
- running before doing the mark, then cut or copy from the source. If not,
- the copy may not be successful.
-
-
- IBM 4029 Postscript driver for WIN-OS2
-
- - If you are installing the IBM4029 WINDOWS Postscript driver for use in
- Win-OS/2, use the following steps. Doing it in any other way may create
- an invalid entry in your WIN.INI file.
-
- Click on the Control Panel icon
- Click on the Printers icon
- Click on the button "Add Printer"
- Select from the list of printers "Unlisted Printer" (bottom of list)
- Insert the printer drivers diskette 4
- In the Files and Directories dialog click on "A:"
- Choose PSCRIPT.DRV from files list (PScript driver is being installed)
-
- Click on button "Configure"
- Select proper port
- Click button "Setup"
- Select from list of printers "IBM4029 (17 font, 600 dpi)
- Click on "OK" 3 times.
- Exit the Control Panel
- Exit WIN-OS/2, saving changes
-
-
- Problems Printing With 4029 Printers under WIN-OS2
-
- - Problem: In a Windows application like Word 2.0 selecting
- the IBM4029 PS printer Print Setup does not work.
- The font menu is completely blank and the PRINT OPTION is disabled.
- The IBM4029 PPDS and PCL seem to work fine. Its just PostScript
- that is having the problems. The driver is "enabled" to talk
- to one of the LPTx.OS2 ports via Print Manager.
- Resolution: Edit your WIN.INI in the OS2\MDOS\WINOS2 directory.
- There are several lines in the WIN.INI file that refer to the
- 4029 printer like "IBM 4029 v52.3 (17 Fonts, 600 Dpi)...".
- Change the comma to a COLON to resolve the problem.
-
- Microsoft Excel for Windows
-
- - Excel has a habit of placing large amounts of data into the
- clipboard used between OS/2 and Windows applications. This has led to
- some performance problems. To resolve these, you may set the Windows
- clipboard to private, using the Clipboard viewer.
-
-
-
- Stacker
-
- - The STACKER product for DOS from Stac Electronics will not work under
- OS/2. Stac has announced an OS/2 2.0 compatible version of STACKER to
- be released later in 1992. Contact Stac Electronics for more information.
-
-
- Borland C++
-
- - If you wish to run Borland C++ for DOS under OS/2, you need to set the
- DOS settings for that session for DPMI_DOS_API. This setting must be
- DPMI_DOS_API set to ENABLE in order for C++ to function.
-
-
- DBASE IV V1.1
-
- - DBASE will report a "too many files open" error message. DBASE uses the
- DOS version number to adjust the file handle table. The DOS version must
- be between 3.0 --> 10 (which is actually OS/2 1.0) To resolve the problem
- edit the settings for the VDM and add the following to set the version
- number for that DOS session to DOS v5.0.
- DOS_VERSION DBASE.EXE,5,0,255
-
-
- PMTERM not working
-
- - Ensure that SASYNCDA.SYS, the asynchronous communications
- driver is not REMarked out of CONFIG.SYS
-
- AUTOCAD10 produces a TRAP000D
-
- - Actually if any older DOS application produces a TRAPD, check
- the CSEIP register value. If it is 0150:4912, then a protection fault in
- the OS2 kernel has occurred
-
- IBM has developed a new kernel file to fix this.
-
-
- After Dark for Windows
-
- - After Dark, the Windows screen saver program, places a TSR (terminate and
- stay-resident) program into your AUTOEXEC.BAT file when it install itself.
- If you wush to run After Dark in seamless mode (a Windows window on the
- OS/2 desktop) then you must remove the reference to After Dark in your
- AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
-
-
- IBM PC LAN Support Program
-
- - If you use the IBM PC LAN Support Program using the DOS device drivers
- in an MVDM session, it may be necessary to reset the token ring adapter
- card. That is, if you open the VDM, then shut it down and subsequently
- wish to open another VDM with the LAN program. The file RSTTOK.ZIP can
- be found in the IBMFILES section on Compuserve and on the
- IBM National Support Center BBS. (For IBM internal users, it can be
- found as RSTTOK PACKAGE on OS2TOOLS).
-
-
- Microsoft Word for OS/2
-
- - Microsoft Word for OS/2 has experienced problems running on OS/2 2.0.
- The problem is you cannot select anything from the application menu, and
- the application appears to freeze. The fix is available from Microsoft
- by calling their support number.
-
-
- Lotus 1-2-3 in a under OS/2 in a DOS session
-
-
- - 1) Create a sample BATCH file called Lotus.BAT which should contain:
- @ECHO OFF
- CLS
- PROMPT $p$g
- PATH=X:\LOTUS
- SET 123MEMSIZE=2048
- .... Any other lines that you might choose to Add
- 123.EXE (Make this your last line in the .BAT file)
-
-
-
- 2) Open the Templates Folder from your Desktop and select
- the Program Icon by single clicking on it with the left
- mouse button. Drag a program template to the DESKTOP
- using the Right mouse button.
-
- 3) Once the Program Template Icon is on the desktop, single
- click on it with the right mouse button to reveal the
- Object menu. Select Open->Settings. A notebook display
- will now open.
-
- 4) In the Program and Filename field Enter:
- x:\path\lotus.bat
- which is where the file created above resides
-
- 5) Select the Session Tab and click on the DOS FULL SCREEN
- radiobutton then select the DOS SETTINGS pushbutton.
-
- 6) Select or add the following DOS Settings:
-
- DOS_UMB ON
- DOS_HIGH ON
- DOS_VERSION INSTALL.EXE,3,40,255
- 123.EXE,3,40,255
- LOTUS.EXE,3,40,255
- 123DOS.EXE,3,40,255
- ZAP.EXE,3,40,255
- INS.EXE,3,40,255
- DPMI_MEMORY_LIMIT 4 OR HIGHER
-
-
- 7) Click the General Tab and Add:
- Title -> Lotus 123 (Or whatever else you'd like to call it)
-
- 8) Close the Notebook by double clicking the system menu or
- selecting close.
-
- 9) You should now have a DOS Fullscreen Icon, start the DOS
- session by double clicking the Icon.
-
- 10) From an A:> DOS prompt type INSTALL to install the product.
-
- 11) Start the LOTUS VDM by double clicking the LOTUS program object.
-
-
- Lotus Freelance Graphics for OS/2
-
- - If you are a user of Lotus Freelance Graphics for OS/2, you may experience
- problems installing the software. This has to do with how Freelance
- checks for OS/2 version levels. A fix is available from Lotus. You may
- also download FLGOS2.ZIP from the IBM BBS or Compuserve (in the IBMFILES
- section) or INSTAL.ZIP from the LOTUS section of Compuserve.
-
-
- Tips and Techniques
- -------------------
-
-
- Configuration
- -------------
-
- General Information
- -------------------
-
- - If you add memory to your system after installing OS/2
-
- OS/2 determines how much memory you have on your system when it installs
- and sets up it's initial SWAP file size based on this number. If you
- add or remove memory after OS/2 is installed, you may wish to change
- this value. If you removed memory, you should raise the number, it you
- added memory, you may wish to lower the number. The line in the
- CONFIG.SYS file is something like:
-
- SWAPPATH=C:\OS2\SYSTEM 2048 xxxx
-
- The number you want to modify is the xxxx where xxxx is a multiple of 512.
-
-
- - Creating icons from/for graphical applications
-
- NOTE: This will only work for graphical applications. Text applications
- must have custom icons done by hand.
-
- 1. Bring up the program in a windowed session, and use the system icon
- (upper left corner) pulldown to change it to a windowed, scaled image.
- 2. Run the program until a nice graphic about the size of an icon appears
- on the screen. (E.g., Mario standing on the lowest level, poised for
- action.)
- 3. Select mark from the system icon, and mark the graphic area about the
- size of a desktop icon. Then select "copy" to move it to the
- clipboard.
- 4. Open the settings for the program, and select the General tab, to
- get to the "DOS" icon.
- 5. Select the create another button, which brings up the icon editor.
- 6. Select File/New, and Icon, to create a new icon.
- 7. Select Edit/Paste to paste in your graphic. Clean it up a little with
- the icon editor, if you want.
- 8. Select File/Save as, and store it as program.ico (eg, Mario.ico) in the
- same drive and directory as the program (.com, .exe) itself is stored.
- Exit the icon editor.
- 9. (You're back at the settings notebook.) Click the Find button, and
- find the .ico you just stored. Using the Drives tab is the easiest
- way.
- Select the icon, and save.
- 10.Exit the settings folder, and voila! The "DOS" icon has been
- replaced with a snazzy graphic icon, right out of the application.
-
-
-
- -Configuring Program References
-
- OS/2 2.0 is an object-oriented system. Is is very tempting to enter the
- Drives folders and begin moving program files where you want to use them.
- The recommended way to do this is to not move the program files, but to
- create Program Reference objects. In the settings for these objects,
- you specify where the program file is. An alternative method is to create
- a shadow of the program file. This way the files stays where the
- application installation program put it, and no matter where it is
- subsequently moved, the shadow points to it. You can then place the
- shadow(s) wherever you like.
-
-
- To create a Program Reference to a program:
-
- -Create Another on the Popup menu of a Program File creates a Program
- Reference to that program.
-
- -Another way to create a program reference is to click with the
- right mouse button on a program file (like the EXE file in the
- drives folder) and select "Create Another". This will create a
- program reference to that program file.
-
-
-
- - To add types to the system:
-
- Assuming you have followed the instructions for loading the functions in
- the RexxUtil package, the following command will add new types to the
- system.
-
- SysCreateObject( "WPProgram", "Title", "<WP_DESKTOP>",,
- "EXENAME=*;ASSOCTYPE=New Type1,New Type2,,")
-
- It does this by creating a program reference and then associating those
- types to the program reference. If the types don't already exist they
- are added to the system. You can then delete the program reference and
- the types remain.
-
- The double commas at the end of the first line indicate to Rexx that the
- line is being continued. If you type it on one line then you only need
- the one comma. The double comma after New Type2 indicates the end of
- the list.
-
-
-
- - Changing icon text color
-
- If you want to change the color of the text under the icons in a folder,
- use the color palette to drag a color to the icon text. To do this,
- open the color palette. Choose the color. Then press the Ctrl key and while
- holding that down, use mouse button 2 to click and drag the desired color
- from the palette to the icon text. Then drop the color there and release
- the Ctrl key. Note that all icon text within a folder is changed. You
- cannot do this on a per-icon basis within a folder.
-
-
- Questions, Common Problems and Answers
- --------------------------------------
-
- Problem: TRAP000E when opening the DOS SESSION or WINOS2 SESSION
- Resolution: The problem occurs on machines with 4MB of memory and SVGA
- adapters, have the customer obtain the VSVGA.SYS driver replacement
- from IBM.
-
-
- Problem: SYS3176 message when starting a DOS or WINOS2 command prompt.
- Resolution: Try setting the HW_ROM_TO_RAM setting in the VDM to ON or
- changing the DOS_RMSIZE parameter in the VDM to 624 from the default 640.
- If this does not work the VSVGA.SYS fix from IBM might resolve the problem.
-
- Problem: Why am I unable to remake my desktop?
- Resolution: If the .INI files in the \OS2\INSTALL subdirectory are your
- backups instead of the original ones, the system will not remake the
- desktop.
-
- The original .INI files in the \OS2\INSTALL subdirectory remake the
- desktop. A new subdirectory then exists named OS!2_21.0_D, then
- OS!2_22.0_D, etc.
-
-
- Question: Why should I use MAKEINI instead of the ALT-F1 feature?
- Answer: MAKEINI does not replace the CONFIG.SYS and DESKTOP.
-
- The install process places a copy of the original OS2.INI and OS2SYS.INI
- files and a copy of CONFIG.SYS in the \OS2\INSTALL subdirectory. These
- are the same INI files you would get if you do a MAKEINI. These .INI
- files will rebuild the desktop, and set your desktop to its initial
- state, as when you installed the machine.
-
- The ALT-F1 replaces OS2.INI, OS2SYS.INI, and the CONFIG.SYS files.
-
-
- Question: What if I lose some important folders?
-
- Answer: An interesting thing happened where a user dragged the
- OS/2 System object into a drive folder. The user subsequently closed
- the drive folder and all drives objects. The user could not get to the
- OS/2 System object, because the drives objects were in it, and it was in
- the drives object!
-
- All folders are represented in the OS/2 file system. If you run into a
- situation like the one described above, you can use the OS/2 command line
- to do the following:
-
- Use the MOVE command to move the folder (a subdirectory within the file
- system) to the proper place.
-
- For example, the OS/2 System folder is called "OS!2 System". You will
- notice that each folder has a representative subdirectory under the
- "OS!2 2.0 DESKTOP" subdirectory.
-
- To move a folder that is inaccessible due to a scenario described above,
- use the MOVE command to place it in an accessible place.
- To move the "OS!2 SYSTEM" folder to the desktop, for example, go into the
- subdirectory where "OS!2 SYSTEM" is.
- Then type:
-
- MOVE "OS!2 SYSTEM" \"OS!2 2.0 DESKTOP"
-
- This will move the folder back to the desktop.
-
- NOTE: ONLY do this if your folders are inaccessible from the shell!
-
-
-
- Tips and Techniques
- -------------------
-
-
-
- General Topics
- --------------
-
-
- - Restoring a corrupted desktop
-
- There may be cases where your desktop may have been corrupted. An example
- is if you booted DOS and tried to rearrange your hard disk and corrupted
- either INI files or Extended Attributes. The following mechanisms have been
- implemented to help in these cases.
-
- 1) There is an undocumented function in OS/2 2.0 that will backup your
- current INI files and CONFIG.SYS and give you the ones that were set up
- initially during installation. Note however, that any modifications
- (such as shadows and associations) since installation will be lost
- and have to be recreated.
-
- This is function is also useful if you have followed the product
- documentation and created new INI files you wish to make current.
- (i.e.- OS/2 1.3 "look and feel" INI files)
-
- The steps are:
-
- a) Reboot your system.
-
- b) As soon as you hear a single beep from the system speaker after the
- Power on Self Test completes (or as soon as you hit the enter key at
- the BOOT MANAGER menu or power-on password prompt), press and hold the
- ALT key and press F1. Hold these keys down until you hear rapid
- beeping from the system indicating that the keyboard buffer is full.
-
- c) This will back up your old INI files and CONFIG.SYS. You will see
- a message during the boot process confirming the backup. If you do not
- see the message, it did not work and you may have to try again.
- This will not erase any files off of your disk, just restore your
- desktop to a basic state.
-
- The INI files in the \OS2\INSTALL will be copied and made active.
- If you have new INI files you wish to make current, place them
- here (but remember to back up a copy of the old ones). Then execute
- this procedure.
-
- 2) If you have corrupted INI files, or lose objects such as the clock or
- font palettes, and option (1) above does not help, you can retrieve them
- by remaking your INI files.
-
- To do this, boot off the install disks. Press ESC to get to a command
- prompt and change to the \OS2 directory.
-
- Once there, type MAKEINI OS2.INI INI.RC
- then type MAKEINI OS2SYS.INI INISYS.RC
-
- Then reboot your machine.
-
- This will look at the INI file from installation and merge items in it
- with your current INI file, thus restoring the lost objects.
-
- 3) If you have corrupted EAs and have lost folders and/or program
- references, the recommended method is to simply use the templates
- and recreate them.
-
- The second option is to try step (1), above.
-
- In the event that your desktop objects are so far gone that you cannot
- use it (this is the last resort), boot your install disks and escape
- to a command prompt. Then delete the \"OS!2 2.0 DESKTOP" directory and
- everything underneath it. Then look at item (1), above.
-
-
-
- - Removing an unshreddable folder
-
- If you have a folder that you cannot delete or shred. Open an OS/2
- Window and from the DESKTOP directory physically remove the FOLDER
- directory.
-
-
- - Shutting down a mouseless system
-
- The shutdown procedure is accessed from the desktop's menu. To access this
- menu without a mouse, first press and hold the CTRL key while pressing the
- ESC key. Cursor up to the OS/2 Desktop entry and hit ENTER. Now press the
- spacebar to deselect all currently selected icons. Press SHIFT and hit the
- F10 key. This will bring up the desktop's menu. You can now cursor down to
- the Shutdown option and press enter to shut down the system.
-
-
- - Quick and easy way to get an OS/2 Window
-
- Add a new menu item to the desktop pop-up menu pointing to CMD.EXE
-
- 1) Click with the right mouse button to get the menu.
- 2) Open settings
- 3) Go to the MENU page
- 4) On the primary pop-up entry, select "Create Another"
- 5) For the program name, put in OS/2 Window (or whatever you'd like)
- 6) For the program name enter C:\OS2\CMD.EXE (or use whatever your boot
- drive is)
- 7) Close all windows opened in steps 1-6.
- 8) Now click the right mouse button on the desktop to bring up the menu.
- You now see your OS/2 Window entry on the menu. Selecting it will
- give you an OS/2 window.
-
-
- - Enabling the UNDELETE function
-
- To activate this function, simply edit the CONFIG.SYS file, and remove
- the "REM" from the line beginning
- REM SET DELDIR.......
-
- Upon reboot, the undelete function is active
-
-
- - Preventing STARTUP applications from opening
-
- OS/2 2.0 has a STARTUP folder which will automatically start any programs
- within it at system boot time. Additionally, any programs that were running
- when the system was shut down are started upon bootup.
-
- There may be some cases where you have installed an application to
- automatically start and it has somehow become corrupted.
- It is sometimes useful to inhibit the auto-start features of the Workplace
- Shell. You can do this as follows:
-
- When the system is starting, you will see the Workplace desktop
- background paint. As soon as you see the mouse pointer show up on the
- desktop, press and hold the CTRL and SHIFT keys then press and hold
- the F1 key. You should hold this down for approximately 15 seconds,
- or until the desktop icons appear. If the hard disk light stops
- during this period, your system may be suspended. Release the
- keys quickly, then resume holding them until the desktop icons appear.
-
- This will inhibit all of the applications in the startup folder from
- coming up, and inhibit the auto-start of programs running at the time
- the system was shut down.
-
-
-
-
-
- Questions, Common Problems and Answers
- --------------------------------------
-
-
-
- Question: What do I do if I get "Incorrect DOS version when trying to run
- a DOS program under OS/2?
- Answer:If you execute DOS commands that show "Incorrect DOS version", this
- is indicative of pieces of older DOS versions being picked up. Check your
- path statements and the current directory.
-
-
-
- IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT
- LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF FITNESS AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE
- INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO
- LICENSES TO ANY RELATED PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS. Copyright IBM Corporation, 1992.
- All rights reserved.
-
-