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- AST RESEARCH TECHNICAL BULLETIN TB-0197 6-26-86
-
- DESQVIEW COMPATIBILITY PROBLEM
-
-
- DESQVIEW COMPATIBILITY PROBLEM
-
- 6 new models of the IBM PC-XT and 2 new models of the IBM PC-AT
- were announced by IBM on April 2, 1986:
-
- o PC-XT: New Models # 267, 268, 277, 278, 088, 089
-
- o PC-AT: New Models # 319, 339
-
- These new models offer such enhancements as bigger hard disks,
- more system board memory, faster speed operation, and
- support for the enhanced personal computer keyboard (101 keys).
-
- SUPPORT FOR THE NEW ENHANCED KEYBOARD BUILT INTO THE NEW ROM BIOS
- CHIPS INCLUDED IN ALL 8 OF THE ABOVE MACHINES MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE
- TO BOOT DESQVIEW 1.02 AND DESQVIEW 1.10 ON THESE MACHINES WITHOUT
- MAKING A MODIFICATION TO THE DESQVIEW SOFTWARE. THIS IS
- INDEPENDENT OF WHETHER OR NOT THESE MACHINES ACTUALLY COME WITH
- THE ENHANCED KEYBOARD.
-
- Specifically, the new XT and AT models do not recognize the "scan
- code" value generated by pressing the ALT key to bring up the
- main menu in DESQview 1.02 and 1.10. (The situation is the same
- in Quarterdeck's 1.0 and 1.20 versions). This BIOS change has
- also affected other PC software such as ProKey, Framework and
- SuperKey.
-
-
- THE SOLUTION: DESQVIEW 1.03 AND DESQVIEW 1.11
-
- There are two new versions of DESQview:
-
- o DESQview 1.03 SixPakPlus, Advantage!
-
- o DESQview 1.11 SixPakPremium, RAMpage, RAMpage AT
- (requires
- AST EEMS product)
-
- These new DESQview versions are identical to the previous
- versions (1.02 and 1.10 respectively) except for the following:
-
- - They run correctly on BOTH old and new XTs and ATs
-
- - They include a Self-Running Demo of DESQview on the
- disk. Simply type "DV" before DESQview is actually
- installed on the PC system. After installation, "DV"
- runs the program, not the demo.
-
- - With AST EEMS cards, version 1.11 of DESQview provides
- faster, more reliable performance with FlashPak than
- is possible with DESQview 1.10. (FlashPak buyers who have
- RAMpage or RAMpage AT will get a coupon in their FlashPak
- manual for a free DESQview upgrade from Customer Service,
- as well as an upgrade for an updated version of AST's REMM
- software [also required] to be included on SuperPak 6.1 in
- June).
-
-
- UPGRADE PROCEDURE FOR BUYERS OF NEW XT'S AND AT'S
-
- Anyone who purchases a new IBM PC-XT or PC-AT who has also
- purchased an AST product containing DESQview 1.02 or DESQview
- 1.10, is entitled to receive a compatible version of DESQview,
- free of charge from AST. Here's the procedure:
-
-
- END USER UPGRADE
-
- 1. The end user must send in the following:
-
- o Title Page to his DESQview manual.
-
- This has the DESQview version number on the front and
- Table of Contents on the back. (This is NOT the manual
- Cover Page).
-
- o His Name and Address.
-
- 2. This should be mailed to:
-
- AST Research
- Customer Service
- 2121 Alton Ave.
- Irvine, CA 92714-4992
-
- Attn: DESQview Upgrade
-
-
-
- HOW TO MODIFY 1.02 AND 1.10 TO RUN ON NEW MACHINES
-
- It is not difficult to modify DESQview 1.02 and 1.10 to run on
- the new XT and AT. The user simply needs to boot the DESQview
- program on an OLD PC or AT and create a "script" (macro) to
- reassign the ALT key to another keystroke, such as the grey "+"
- key. He should do this in a DOS window under DESQview, which he
- will save as the file "D1-SCRIPT.DVS". Then all he has to do is
- make copies of the file, one named DESQVIEW.DVS and another for
- each of the programs he'll be using under DESQview -
- "LT-SCRIPT.DVS" for Lotus, "D2-SCRIPT.DVS" for dBASEII, and so
- on. These should all be stored in the DESQview subdirectory
- (\DV) and he's ready to go.