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- ⁄ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒø
- ≥ HELP FOR NEW USERS & PROBLEMS YOU MIGHT HAVE ≥
- ¿ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒŸ
-
- Public domain software and shareware are actually very easy to use
- if you are familiar with a few basic "DOS" commands. Those commands are
- "COPY", "DISKCOPY", "DIR", "TYPE", "MORE" & a few others.
-
-
- ⁄ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒø
- ≥ Making a backup of the ORIGINAL Software Diskette ≥
- ¿ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒŸ
-
- The first thing to do with the original disks is to make cover the
- write protect a make backup copy with the following command:
-
- A:\>DISKCOPY A: B: <enter>
-
- In the event that you get some sort of error message when using
- "DISKCOPY", you will then have to use the "COPY" command to make a
- backup of your original disk. You would do this by placing a
- FORMATTED disk in the "B" drive and entering the following command
- at the "A:\>" prompt:
-
- A:\>COPY *.* B: <enter> - (will copy all files from A to B)
-
- Now put the original disk away and use the working copy. The next
- thing to do is see what files are on the disk. You would do this by
- placing the disk in the "A" drive and enter the following command:
-
-
- ⁄ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒø
- ≥ Viewing the files on a diskette ≥
- ¿ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒŸ
-
- A:\>DIR <enter> - will display the filenames
-
- Now you will see many different filenames. A filename consists of two
- parts; the filename & the extension. The filename will be on the left
- (up to 8 characters long) & the extension will be just to the right
- (up to 3 characters long). You will be looking for certain extension
- names; which will tell you something about that type of file.
-
- EXE - a program file
- COM - a command file
- BAT - a file with "DOS" commands that may call a program file
- BAS - a "BASIC" program. Needs GWBASIC or BASICA to run the file
- ZIP - a archived file - needs to be unzipped, contains many files
- ARJ - a archived file - needs to be unarjed, contains many files
- DOC - DOCUMENTATION FILE - instructions about the program - READ THESE
- TXT - TEXT FILE - instructions about the program - READ THESE
-
- You may also see files like READ.ME or README.1ST or just README.
- These are all instruction files that will tell you about the program or
- how the program works.
-
- IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ INSTRUCTIONS
- FIRST BEFORE TRYING TO RUN THE PROGRAM !!!
-
-
-
- ⁄ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒø
- ≥ Viewing & Printing Instructions ≥
- ¿ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒŸ
-
- To view a documentation file on your screen, use the "TYPE" command.
- With your program disk in the "A" drive enter the following command
- from the "A" drive:
-
- A:\>TYPE | MORE filename.ext <enter> - where filename would be README.DOC
- or whatever the filename is that you
- wish to display.
-
- This will display the documentation to the screen one page at a time.
- To obtain a hard copy of the documentation simply use the "PRINT" command.
- Turn your printer on and enter the following command:
-
- A:\>PRINT B:filename.ext <enter> - where filename would be README.DOC or
- whatever file you wish to print.
-
-
- ⁄ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒø
- ≥ Starting a Program ≥
- ¿ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒŸ
-
- An "EXE", "COM", or "BAT" file extension means that when you simply
- enter the filename, the computer will do something. For instance,
- if the filename were "POKER.EXE", you would simply enter the following
- at the "A" prompt:
-
- A:\>POKER <enter> - the poker program would now be "running" and
- you would be playing it. This also holds true
- for "COM" files. A "BAT" file may call a program
- or it may just display a documentation file. "BAT"
- files can do many different things.
-
-
- ⁄ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒø
- ≥ Working with Archived Files ≥
- ¿ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒŸ
-
- Another important file is one with a "ZIP", "ARJ" or "ARC" extension.
- This means that it contains many smaller files within it. This is a type
- of file that is sent over a phone line when using a modem. All that is
- required to use the files contained inside is to extract them with a
- special program. The program most commonly used is called "PKUNZIP.EXE".
- To extract files from a file called "TEST.ZIP", you would use the
- following command at the "A" prompt:
-
- A:\>PKUNZIP TEST B: <enter> - this would extract all the files from
- TEST.ZIP and place them on a disk that
- was in the "B" drive. You must have a
- formatted blank disk in the "B" drive
- before issuing this command. When all
- files have been extracted you will see
- some of the filenames mentioned above.
-
- If you have a hard drive you could copy the "ZIP" files & the
- program "PKUNZIP.EXE" to your hard drive & enter the following command:
-
- C:\>PKUNZIP TEST <enter> - this will extract all the files from an
- archived state. Then will see some of the
- different filenames mentioned above.
-