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Page 2 Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 What is AUTOBOOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 What it does . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 How to use it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 AUTOBOOT & DESQview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 AUTOBOOT and critical errors . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 AUTOOPEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 Hints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 Revision History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 User's Manual Page 1 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani *** Disclaimer *** ------------------ AUTOBOOT is guaranteed only to eat up space on your disk! I can only state that it is NOT a virus. There are NO warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the software, its quality, performance, usefullness or fitness for any particular purpose. This software is provided "as is" and the entire risk as to its quality and performance is with the user. The author of this software shall NOT be liable for errors contained in the software or the software's documentation, or for incidental or consequential damages of any kind in connection with the performance, use or possession of this software. What does the above means ? Well, try to put your imagination at work and picture yourself while you're writing what is likely to become the biggest selling software utility in the history of mankind while AUTOBOOT is installed. And suppose you decide to start running a communications program to log into a BBS and tell everybody just how great is your work, and that while you're chatting with the sysop AUTOBOOT decides to trash part of your system's memory. And suppose that, watching your computer reboot before your startled eyes, you realize that you haven't got a backup of your source code and you sit back too quickly in your chair, knocking your computer into the nearby swimming pool in which some friends of yours are swimming. And suppose that, after having electrocuted them, the power overload blows up your house's entire electrical system, and that the high voltage transformer miles away (but directly over major well-known fault line) explodes spectacularly, releasing a large amount of stored geological energy and a small but heavily populated section of the Italian peninsula plunges into the Mediterran Sea... Well... even in this case, you've got nobody but yourself to blame. Got the picture ? *** Copyright *** ----------------- AUTOBOOT is Copyrighted by Angelo Besani. You can use it without any charge or contribution providing that it is used in a lawful and friendly manner. For the benefit of the lawyers amongst you, "lawful" means that anyone may use AUTOBOOT for private purposes, and it may be given away for free, as long as it is NOT part of any deal involving purchases; and fees for copying and/or distribution, and/or fees for disks exceeding the actual market price for an empty disk of the same brand/quality is to be considered as commercial exploitation of this software, and an infringement of the Copyrights (c) of the author. The right to use this software and/or its documentation for private purposes may NOT be restricted by additional User's Manual Page 2 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani copyrights and/or registration conditions, unless those applied by its author. If given away under above (or below) conditions, the receiver in NO way receives the ownership of the program itself, but may only be licenced to use it if above and below conditions are met. If these rules infringe the local law and/or rights of any area, political or geographical, this software is NOT to be used and/or distributed in these areas. The executable and/or non-executable parts of this program or any package consisting of any or all of these parts are NOT to be altered by any means (including editing, reprogramming, crunching, and recompiling), except de-archiving. The name of the executable file(s) may be changed at convenience, as long as this does NOT infringe any copyright of any other author, and by changing the name(s), observe that all rights and/or restrictions given by this text, and/or by the software itself still applies. The documents contained in the software package contain proprietary information which is protected by copyright (C). All rights are reserved. No part of these documents may be photocopied, reproduced, electronically copied, or translated to another language without the inclusion of the software and other included files as part of a package. The executable files accompagnying this package may NOT be reproduced or transferred outside a one-machine-environment without all these accompagnying files including this file. *** And now, for something completely different *** --------------------------------------------------- Whew. We're finished with the legal (ha!) part. And probably you've skipped the whole stuff altogether, so why bother ? Let's get to the interesting part. User's Manual Page 3 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani *** What is Autoboot ? *** -------------------------- We all know Murphy's Law too well, don't we ? There's a well known corollary to Murphy's theory that says that exactly five minutes after you've left the BBS running alone by itself, it will crash. It always happens: when you've just left home for your summer holiday, or when you're expecting a particular file attach/mail session for the night, the damned thing will hang itself exactly thirty seconds after you've left the room. Since September 16th 1987, Angelo Besani and the late Alberto Morosi's BBS AmnèsiA had taken them away a huge amount of hours because they always wanted to have a nice, user- friendly and *VERY* reliable system. Unfortunately, some programs have bugs ("The only bug-free software is obsolete software" said Bob Hartman in the BINKLEY echo, a few days after releasing BT 2.10) and are keen on hanging. Angelo and Alberto did not like very much hardware resetters (and yes, they already had a timer connected to the mains' power) and began to think about something that could act as a little guardian angel for AmnèsiA. Angelo took some time and some efforts, and after some hours spent with MASM 5.10, AUTOBOOT was a reality. *** What it does *** -------------------- AUTOBOOT will check continuously the DOS' and disk's functionality, the Keyboard input and the activity of your FOSSIL driver. If none of them are alive and kicking after the time specified has elapsed, it will perform a system boot. Alternatively, if your running your BBS under DESQview in a single or multi line environment, AUTOBOOT will be able to close and restart only the crashed task without affecting the other tasks still running. Here are the System Requirements: - MS-DOS v2.xx or higher, - a F.O.S.S.I.L. driver (any version, optional) - DESQview 2.26 or higher (optional) (DESQview is a trademark of QuarterDeck Office Systems) AUTOBOOT has been succesfully tested both with Ray Gwinn's X00 (v1.24) and David Nugent's BNU (v1.70 and v1.89c) Fossil drivers. User's Manual Page 4 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani *** How to use it *** --------------------- AUTOBOOT is definitely simple to use, so don't despair even if you usually have problems. Install it AFTER your FOSSIL driver and configure it to fit your needs. USAGE: AUTOBOOT [switches] where [switches] are: ? or HELP Show Help informations; /SIT x Set Inactivity Timer value to x seconds (x in range 10 to 3600). Default is 300 seconds (5 minutes). After this time has elapsed, AUTOBOOT will perform a reboot using the selected method (see below). /ALR x Set Alarm to x seconds (x in range 10 to 3601, if greater than SIT value, alarm is disabled). Default is 3601 (disabled). The alarm sound will start at x seconds before reboot time. The speaker will beep once every ten seconds, and every second during the last five seconds. /DIS Disable AUTOBOOT, keeping it resident: useful if you want to leave your computer alone with the DOS prompt, but not necessary if you are using the keyboard and have selected the keyboard monitoring feature with the /KYB 1 switch (see below). /ENA Re-enable AUTOBOOT, restarting reboot countdown. Default is ENABLED. /CLD Select COLDboot: a power-on like boot will be performed. /WRM Select WARMboot (default): AUTOBOOT will perform a CTRL-ALT-DEL like boot. /HWR Select Hardware reboot (AT/386/486-based machines only). Caution: on some 386 and 286-based machines this method might not work properly. You'd better try it beforehand, by forcing an immediate hardware reboot with the command: AUTOBOOT /HWR /NIL /DVT xx Select DESQview task reboot. Opens task xx and closes current task; ignored if DESQview is not present. Notice that if, for whatever reason, DESQview User's Manual Page 5 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani reboot fails and/or the old task is still open after a timeout of 5 minutes, AUTOBOOT will perform a system reboot using the method specified with the /CLD, /WRM or /HWR switches. To disable the DESQview task reboot feature, use the /DVT switch alone without a task identifier. /J00 x 1=enables/0=disables reboot if CPU tries to execute code at memory address 0:0. Default is DISABLED. /KYB x 1=enables/0=disables KEYBOARD monitoring (default is ENABLED). /COM x Do not reboot if Carrier is high on port x (x in range 1 thru 4). To disable, use /COM 0. /FOS x Select FOSSIL monitoring level (x must be in range from 0 to 3): 0 = Fossil monitoring DISABLED 1 = Fossil monitoring enabled: every call to int 14h resets AUTOBOOT's internal counter 2 = Fossil monitoring enabled; only calls 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,15,24,25 and 26 (decimal) are checked. These are calls related to the serial port and not to the screen. 3 = Fossil monitoring enabled; only call 3 is checked (i.e. only checks if carrier is high or not). Default value is 1 (all calls). NOTE: If a FOSSIL driver is loaded AFTER AUTOBOOT no FOSSIL monitoring will occur. /DOS x Select DOS monitoring level (x must be in range from 0 to 3): 0 = DOS monitoring DISABLED; 1 = DOS monitoring enabled: every call to int 21h resets AUTOBOOT's internal counter; 2 = DOS monitoring enabled: all calls are checked EXCEPT calls 1,3,6,7,8,10,11 and 12 (decimal). These are used to control console input; 3 = DOS monitoring enabled: all calls are checked EXCEPT calls 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 (decimal). These are used to control console input and output. Default value is 1 (All calls). /DSK x Select DISK monitoring level (x must be in range from 0 to 3): 0 = Disk monitoring DISABLED; 1 = Disk monitoring enabled: every call to int 13h, 25h or 26h resets AUTOBOOT's internal counter; 2 = Disk monitoring enabled only at DOS level: User's Manual Page 6 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani only calls to int 25h or 26h are checked; 3 = Disk monitoring enabled only at BIOS level: only calls to int 13h or 26h are checked. Default value is 0 (Disk monitoring disabled). /UNL Unload AUTOBOOT (remove the resident portion from memory). /NIL Reboot system immediatly, using selected method. All options (except /UNL) load resident portion of AUTOBOOT if necessary. If you execute AUTOBOOT with no parameters, it will either install itself with the default SIT value of 300 (if it wasn't already present) or show its current configuration. Example (assuming AUTOBOOT is already loaded with default configuration): C:\>AUTOBOOT AUTOBOOT v2.00 (C)1989, 1990, 1991 Angelo Besani <[ AmnèsiA ]> *Italy* (2:331/101.1@fidonet.org) +39-331-772362 [HST/V.32] AUTOBOOT current configuration: Status : Enabled SIT (seconds) : 300 Alarm (seconds) : Disabled Reboot type : Warm Reboot if CPU jumps to 0:0 : Disabled KEYBOARD monitoring : Enabled Carrier monitoring : Disabled FOSSIL monitoring level : 1 (Enabled) DOS monitoring level : 1 (Enabled) DISK monitoring level : 0 (Disabled) Change reboot type: C>AUTOBOOT /CLD and show configuration again: C>AUTOBOOT User's Manual Page 7 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani AUTOBOOT v2.00 (C)1989, 1990, 1991 Angelo Besani <[ AmnèsiA ]> *Italy* (2:331/101.1@fidonet.org) +39-331-772362 [HST/V.32] AUTOBOOT current configuration: Status : Enabled SIT (seconds) : 300 Alarm (seconds) : Disabled Reboot type : Cold Reboot if CPU jumps to 0:0 : Disabled KEYBOARD monitoring : Enabled Carrier monitoring : Disabled FOSSIL monitoring level : 1 (Enabled) DOS monitoring level : 1 (Enabled) DISK monitoring level : 0 (Disabled) *** AUTOBOOT & DESQview *** --------------------------- Executing AUTOBOOT with the /DV <task> parameter enables the DESQview task reboot feature: AUTOBOOT will close and reopen the specified DV task instead of rebooting the whole computer. I M P O R T A N T: In order to use this feature it is ------------------ necessary to have given AT LEAST 1 Kb of system memory to the task(s) in which AUTOBOOT is running. You may specify this using DESQview's Advanced Options selection screen. Moreover, DESQview forbids opening a new task while one of its internal programs are running (such as its HELP or ADD/CHANGE/DELETE A PROGRAM features). In this case, AUTOBOOT will probably perform a system reboot using the selected secondary method, after the timeout period has elapsed (300 seconds). For example: /DVT bb /CLD -> selects DESQview task "BB" reboot as primary reboot method and COLD boot as secondary. *** AUTOBOOT and critical errors in DESQview *** ------------------------------------------------- AUTOBOOT is usually able to handle every kind of error situation, including critical errors (i.e. those that display an "Abort, Retry, Ignore (and/or Fail)" prompt). User's Manual Page 8 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani However, under DESQview things get a little more complicated. If a critical error (such as a "Drive not Ready" or "Sector not Found" error) happens inside a DESQview task, DESQview will show a small window requester to make the user aware of the fact, asking for intervention. Unfortunately, while such a window is displayed, AUTOBOOT is unable to perform a reboot. There are three solutions to this problem: 1) Don't do anything. Such critical errors are quite uncommon, and when they happen it's better for you to see them than to have the computer unknowingly reboot. 2) Install the FATAL utility (can be file-requested to AmnèsiA as FATAL14.ZIP). This programs waits for ten seconds after an error condition, and then automatically issues a Retry command. 3) Run another copy of COMMAND.COM. In this case, critical errors will perform exactly like when DESQview is not loaded (i.e. they display a prompt instead of the small DV window), and AUTOBOOT will be able to act accordingly. To do this you must tell DESQview to launch your batch file using another copy of COMMAND.COM. For example, in DESQview's Change Program screen, you would have to type "COMMAND.COM /Cmybatch.bat" instead of just "mybatch.bat". *** AUTOOPEN *** ---------------- AUTOOPEN is a nifty little program that can be used to perform a DESQview task reboot on systems on which there isn't enough memory to keep open at the same time two tasks having the same memory size of the one that must be rebooted. As a matter of fact, the DESQview reboot feature FIRST opens the new task and AFTER that closes the old one. AUTOOPEN can be used to open an intermediate small task, which will only require a small (5K) amount of memory, that can be used to open the new one. Example: if the BBS' task uses 300K: Without AUTOOPEN: ┌─── Used memory │ ┌── What happens v v 1) 300 AUTOBOOT meets a reboot condition 2) 600 the new task is opened 3) 300 the old task is closed. User's Manual Page 9 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani Using AUTOOPEN: ┌─── Used memory │ ┌── What happens v v 1) 300 AUTOBOOT meets a reboot condition 2) 305 the AUTOOPEN task is opened 3) 5 the old task is closed (AUTOOPEN will wait for 30 seconds to make sure the old task is really closed) 4) 305 AUTOOPEN opens the new task 5) 300 AUTOOPEN quits (and his task is closed) For AUTOOPEN to perform correctly, you have to carefully setup his task with DESQview's 'Add a Program' function. Use the following example as a guideline: Program Name <your choice> Keys to Use on Open Menu: <your choice> Memory Size (in K): 2 Program...: <path>\AUTOOPEN.COM Parameters: /DVT <BBS task> Directory.: <DESQview home dir> Writes text directly to screen.......: N Displays graphics information........: N Virtualize text/graphics (Y,N,T).....: N Uses serial ports (Y,N,1,2)..........: N Requires floppy diskette.............: N <advanced options> System Memory (in K).......: 0 Maximum Program Memory Size (in K)..: <blank> Script Buffer Size.......: 0 Maximum Expanded Memory Size (in K): <blank> Text Pages: 1 Graphics Pages: 0 Initial Mode: <blank> Interrupts: 00 to FF Maximum Height: 1 <----- * NOTE THIS Maximum Width.: 1 <----- * NOTE THIS Starting Height: <blank> or your choice Starting Width.: <blank> or your choice Starting Row...: <blank> or your choice Starting Column: <blank> or your choice Pathname..: <blank> Data......: <blank> Close on exit (Y,N,blank)......: Y Uses its own colors..............: Y Allow Close Window command.....: N Runs in background (Y,N,blank)...: Y Uses math coprocessor..........: N User's Manual Page 10 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani Keyboard conflict (0-F)..........: 0 Share CPU when foreground......: Y Share EGA when foreground/zoomed.: N Can be swapped out (Y,N,blank).: N Protection level (0-3)...........: 0 In case something goes wrong (for example AUTOOPEN cannot find the .DVP file, or there's not enough memory), then AUTOOPEN will perform a cold, warm or hardware reboot according to the method selected with the /CLD, /WRM and /HWR switches specified after the /DVT <BBS task> switch. Default is warm reboot. *** Hints *** ------------- As AUTOBOOT is a TSR (Terminate and stay resident) software, it may sometimes have problems with other programs of the same type. If so, try to install your resident programs in a different order, or load only some of them. A final hint: always keep the alarm enabled, even if just for 20/25 seconds, as to be able to understand if system hang-ups are caused by AUTOBOOT trying to reboot and failing. * * * User's Manual Page 11 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani *** Revision History *** ------------------------ Version 1.00 Initial release. Version 1.10 Added switches /CLD and /WRM to help certain hardware configurations requiring a coldboot to restart properly; Totally rewritten the parsing of the command line, fixing a bug causing AUTOBOOT to hang if there was only spaces and allowing now more than one switch only on the command line (conflicting switches are not allowed, though). Now you can install AUTOBOOT and immediately disable it using AUTOBOOT /DIS, for example. The resident portion is no longer loaded if AUTOBOOT is executed with no parameters or with the /SIT only, but with every switch (except /UNL) if not yet installed. Once installed, if you execute AUTOBOOT with no parameters it will show its current configuration. Version 2.00 Major revision: added new parameters and new features to existing switches. Now you can select the level of Fossil, dos and disk monitoring. Added /HWR switch (forces and hardware reboot on 286/386/486 computer); added DESQview reboot feature and /DVT switch; added /COM switch (prevents AUTOBOOT from rebooting if carrier is high on selected port). AUTOOPEN.COM utility added to the distribution archive. Documentation rewritten to reflect changes and additions. User's Manual Page 12 AUTOBOOT v2.00 (c) 1989,1990,1991 Angelo Besani *** How to contact the author *** --------------------------------- Angelo Besani can be reached at: AmnèsiA CBCS - Gallarate, Italy - (2:331/101@Fidonet) Tel. +39-331-772362 [HST/V.32] Please feel free to send bug reports, hints, suggestions.... or simply congratulations. Of course, if this program proves so valuable to you that you can't remember what life was like without it, you could immediately send Angelo Besani a certified check for one- half of your total possessions. Suitcases full of used banknotes or other valuables will be cheerfully accepted all the same. A small note from the manual's author: The humble writer of these illiterate and ill-conceived notes can be reached as Vertigo (aka Giancarlo Cairella) at: BBS2000 - (2:331/300) +39-2-76006329 [V.32/PEP] BBS2000 - (2:331/301) +39-2-76006857 [HST] Now, I don't see a single reason for which anyone would want to contact me since I'm just the manual author, but I thought I could try to carve myself a little place in history by putting my name in it. So there :-). This documentation is based upon an original text by Alberto Morosi, to whom this program and text are dedicated. User's Manual Page 13