README.TXT -- NOTES ON PC DOS 6.3 This README.TXT file contains important information about PC DOS 6.3. T A B L E o f C O N T E N T S -------------------------------- 1.0 Setup 1.1 Unformatted Hard Disks 1.2 SETVER.EXE 2.0 Networks 2.1 Lantastic 3.0 IBM AntiVirus Updates 4.0 DOS Commands 4.1 CPBACKUP 4.1.1 Running POWER.EXE 4.1.2 IBM Tape device support 4.1.3 Backup Confidence Test 4.2 E Editor 4.3 FORMAT 4.4 LABEL 4.5 MEM 4.6 RAMSETUP/RAMBoost 4.6.1 Running RAMBOOST with Programs which require EXPANDED memory 4.7 SMARTDRV 4.8 UNDELETE 4.9 FILES.TX_ 4.10 PenDOS 4.10.1 Video Mode Support with DOS v6.3 4.10.2 Using Central Point Utilities & PenDOS with DOS v6.3 4.10.3 Using PC DOS Defragmenter utility & PenDOS with DOS v6.3 4.10.4 Running PenDOS 2.2 with PC DOS 6.3 4.11 DOSHELP 4.12 MOUSE 5.0 Hardware and Device Drivers 5.1 PS/2 Server Password mode 5.2 PS/1 Quad Startup Screen 6.0 Windows 7.0 DR DOS 8.0 PCMCIA 8.1 PCMSS - Socket Services 8.2 PCMINFO - Information Utility 8.3 Network Support Limitation 8.4 Modem Suspend and Resume on IBM ThinkPADs 8.5 PCMCIA & Card Upper Memory Requirements 8.6 Supported PCMCIA Cards 9.0 Compression 9.1 CVFs Less Than 32MB 9.2 Error Shrinking or Expanding CVFs 9.3 CPBACKUP 9.4 COMPRESSION with single floppy disk systems 9.5 DISKCOPY and DISKCOMP 9.6 MS-DOS 6.2 Compression 9.7 Norton Disk Doctor (NDD.EXE) 1.0 SETUP ========== 1.1 Unformatted Hard Disks -------------------------- When installing, SETUP gives you the option to format unformatted partitions. When running SETUP as an application under DOS 3.3 and below, the partitions may not be formatted. To work around the problem, boot from the SETUP diskette #1 or format the partitions with your previous version of DOS. 1.2 SETVER.EXE -------------- In order for SETVER to get updated correctly during installation, you must make sure the "Previous DOS path" indicated is correct. If it does not point to the correct path, then SETUP does not find a SETVER to update. 2.0 Networks ============= 2.1 Lantastic ------------- Users of Lantastic Lancache may experience trouble with warm boots (Ctrl+Alt+Del) with EMM386 running. If your system fails to warm boot, you will be forced to turn the system power switch OFF and ON to cold boot when running EMM386 and Lancache. 3.0 IBM AntiVirus Updates ========================== The virus protection in DOS 6.3 is comprehensive protection for all known viruses as of DOS 6.3's release date. However, over time, new viruses are created and the user might not be protected from these newer viruses. For the most up-to-date virus protection, return the coupon provided in the User's Guide for continuous updates on new viruses. 4.0 DOS Commands ================= 4.1 CPBACKUP ------------ 4.1.1 Running POWER.EXE ----------------------- If you are running POWER.EXE (the DOS Advanced Power Management device driver), it might cause the performance of CPBACKUP to degrade. To avoid this, disable power management before running CPBACKUP by entering the following at the DOS command line: POWER OFF After you have finished backing up your system, remember to re-enable power management. 4.1.2 IBM Tape device support ----------------------------- When configuring tape devices for CPBACKUP, the software attempts to determine what type of device is attached. The following table provides a cross reference between IBM tape devices and their corresponding CPBACKUP equivalent. IBM Tape Device Name/Model CPBACKUP Tape Device Name/Model ========================== =============================== IBM 1.2GB 3450-001 Tandberg IBM 4100 IBM 2.0GB 4mm 3440-001 IBM35480A IBM 2.3GB 8mm 3532-023 EXABYTE EXB-8200 IBM 5.0GB 8mm 3445-001 EXABYTE IBM-8505 4.1.3 Backup Confidence Test ---------------------------- On some machines the automatic disk-sensing may not work properly, so if during the compare phase of the Backup Confidence Test your system appears to pause indefinitely, eject the diskette and then put the diskette back in. This should clear up the indefinite pause if it occurs. 4.2 E Editor ------------ The online help for the E Editor does not list all the commands available. See the User's Guide for a full description. 4.3 FORMAT ---------- If you cannot use the FORMAT command to format an unformatted disk, try using the /U switch to instruct FORMAT to do an unconditional format. If you have Stacker disk compression and receive the message "Insert DOS disk in drive A:" when doing a FORMAT /S do the following. Boot from your hard disk, insert the DOS 6.3 SETUP diskette #1 into drive A:, at the DOS prompt type SYS A: C: 4.4 LABEL --------- LABEL does not rename a volume label when the volume is shared and has the same volume label name as a current file on the volume and the file is being used in the following manner: LABEL < FOO (where FOO is the new volume label) 4.5 MEM ------- The pause parameter (/P) may not pause the screen on systems with a BIOS dated prior to 1985. 4.6 RAMSETUP/RAMBoost ---------------------- If sometime in the future you add or remove an adapter from your Hardware system, it is recommended that you rerun RAMSETUP. But before you do so, remove the EMM386.EXE statement from your CONFIG.SYS file and reboot your computer and run RAMSETUP. It will do a memory analysis of your hardware system and create a new EMM386.EXE statement for your CONFIG.SYS. 4.6.1 Running RAMBOOST with Programs which require EXPANDED memory ------------------------------------------------------------------- If your machine previously used EMM386.EXE to simulate expanded memory by using extended memory, then RAMBoost can also be used to provide full memory management. To do so and to also move the compression device driver into upper memory, do the following: 1. In the CONFIG.SYS, REM the EMM386 statement and add DEVICE=DBLSPACE.SYS. 2. Reboot. 3. Run RAMSETUP. 4. In RAMSETUP, choose ADVANCED. 5. Choose OPTIONS. 6. Make the EMS size 2048 (or so). 7. ENABLE EMS. 8. Choose OK, OK, OK. 9. Choose REBOOT. 10. RAMSETUP will enable RAMBoost and include a fairly lengthy EMM386 statement. 4.7 SMARTDRV ------------ The SMARTDrive (disk caching) program has been enhanced and renamed. If you are upgrading DOS, SETUP deletes the SMARTDRV.SYS statement in your CONFIG.SYS file. If you want to continue to have SMARTDRV disk caching then you must add the SMARTDRV command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. SETUP does not do this for you. 4.8 UNDELETE ------------ Do not use the UNDELETE command in the following circumstances: * With other programs when they are active. * With the Shift+Enter key combination in Windows or DOS Shell. * With Task Swapper in DOS Shell. 4.9 FILES.TX_ ------------- This file contains the list of files that come with DOS and are grouped under their function heading. Also, for each of the files listed it indicates where the file was installed and a description of its function. This file is compressed and is found on diskette number 2. Use EXPAND to make the file readable. Example: EXPAND A:FILES.TX_ C:\DOS\FILES.TXT 4.10 PenDOS ----------- The PENDOS.BAT file created by SETUP contains a MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1 statement that is needed by serial attached pen tablets. If your tablet is not serial attached, the MODE statement can be deleted from PENDOS.BAT. If you have a Kurta XGT Opaque Tablet, adjust your tablet to the following options: 1) Select ALT, F4, F5 and align the tablet 2) Emulation/Compatibility P-KEY -> P1 Emulation -> KURTA IS/ONE 3) Format Binary -> B3 Other Parameters Data Bits -> 8 Parity -> none Baud Rate -> 19200 Resolution -> 1016 LPI/40 LPMM Output rate -> Max. Origin -> Lower Left 4) Save to P1 Exit to P1 4.10.1 Video Mode Support with DOS v6.3 --------------------------------------- PenDOS is designed to operate in the following standard VGA display modes. Video Mode Virtual Screen Size --------- ------------------- 2 640 x 200 TEXT 3 640 x 200 TEXT 11 640 x 480 GRAPHICS (MCGA NOT SUPPORTED) 12 640 x 480 GRAPHICS PenDOS operates in other display modes but the compatibility level and application functions are severely restricted. Most of todays off-the-shelf applications were not designed with notepad computers in mind. Installing these applications with the color display option sometimes results in the application objects not being visible. This can be resolved by installing the application with the display option set to LCD or B&W screen. 4.10.2 Using Central Point Utilities & PenDOS with DOS v6.3 ----------------------------------------------------------- Central Point's UNDELETE, BACKUP and SCHEDULE utilities can be run in either graphic or text mode. When running these utilities in graphic mode with PenDOS active, video corruption will occur when invoking the PenDOS Writing Window or "pop-up" keyboard. To avoid this problem, run the Central Point utilities in text mode. EXAMPLE: C:\DOS\UNDELETE /nf C:\DOS\SCHEDULE /nf C:\DOS\CPBACKUP /nf When launching the Central Point Utilities from within the DOSSHELL, you need to edit the DOSSHELL.INI file to avoid video corruption (this file resides in your DOS directory) using an editor. EXAMPLE: for the CENTRAL POINT SCHEDULER (E DOSSHELL.INI) } program = { help = The Scheduler lets you schedule any program to run at a set time and date. You can schedule any executable command accepted at the DOS prompt. The CPSCHED.EXE (TSR) should be loaded from the Autoexec.bat before being run from the SHELL. screenmode = text alttab = enabled altesc = enabled ctrlesc = enabled prevent = disabled command = SCHEDULE <=============== change SCHEDULE to SCHEDULE /nf title = Central Point Scheduler pause = disabled } 4.10.3 Using PC DOS Defragmenter utility & PenDOS with DOS v6.3 --------------------------------------------------------------- The Defragmenter utility can be run in either graphic or text mode. When running this utility in graphic mode with PenDOS active, video corruption will occur when invoking the Writing Window or "pop-up" keyboard. To avoid this problem, run the Defragmenter utility in text mode. EXAMPLE: C:\DOS\DEFRAG /G0 4.10.4 Running PenDOS 2.2 with PC DOS 6.3 ----------------------------------------- The "MIN" statement is recommended on the EMM386 line in the CONFIG.SYS when running under PC DOS 6.3. This parameter prevents any memory conflicts that may occur while running PenDOS TSRs under DOS 6.3. Sample CONFIG.SYS file ---------------------- Buffers=48,8 Files=30 Dos=HIGH,UMB Device=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS Device=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE MIN=128 RAM AUTO Devicehigh=C:\DOS\SYSTEM\PENDEV.SYS 4.11 DOSHELP ------------ DOSHELP.HLP will not get updated if the "Previous DOS path" is incorrect. SETUP /E does not update the existing DOSHELP.HLP file in the DOS directory. You can either use EXPAND to expand DOSHELP.HL_ from diskette number 1 to your DOS subdirectory and overwrite your existing DOSHELP.HLP file, or you can edit the existing DOSHELP.HLP in your DOS directory using E. To edit, load this file and the DOSHELP.HLP file. Mark the following lines, switch to the HLP file, and copy the lines in alphabetical order to the DOSHELP.HLP file. Be sure to include both lines for the commands that need two lines. When you are done copying all the new lines, save DOSHELP.HLP. MOUNT Assigns a specified DOS driver letter to a SuperStor/DS disk. RTOOL Performs an integrity check of the compressed volume file(CVF). SSTOR Full-screen utility to create, mount and delete compressed drives. SSUNCOMP Uncompress a SuperStor/DS compressed drive. SSUTIL Full-screen utility for maintaining compressed drives. UDEOFF Removes UDEON from memory. UDEON Universal Data Exchange allows you to use compressed disks on other systems. UNMOUNT Releases a SuperStor/DS disk that was mounted from its assigned drive letter. 4.12 MOUSE ---------- If you experience a "wild mouse" problem with MOUSE v9.01 after exiting MS Windows v3.1 and running an application like DEFRAG or SCHEDULER; exit the application and do a 'MOUSE ON' or do it immediately after you exit Windows. 5.0 Hardware and Device Driver =============================== 5.1 PS/2 Server Password Mode ----------------------------- If your PS/2 appears to hang when booting, you may have the server password mode set. Try entering your password and see if the computer will resume booting. Also be aware that F5-Clean Boot, F8-Interactive Boot, ?=, and the startup menus all require keyboard input and do not function until your password is entered. Other DOS utilities and device drivers might also require keyboard input. If your PS/2 appears to hang when booting, type in your password and press the Enter key. 5.2 PS/1 Quad Startup Screen ---------------------------- Upgrading on a PS/1 to DOS 6.3 will enable the PS/1 Quad Startup Screen. If you no longer wish to use the Quad screen, you can disable it by editing your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and add 'REM ' to the beginning of the line with 'RSSTUB.COM' and save the file. 6.0 Windows ============ If you are running Windows, set STACKS=9,256 in the CONFIG.SYS file. If you have an 80386 or 80486 computer with extended memory and a Super VGA display, you can use the MONOUMB.386 file, in conjunction with RAMBoost, to conserve conventional memory for running programs. To conserve memory if you have a Super VGA display: 1. Open your Windows SYSTEM.INI file, and find the [386Enh] section. 2. Add a DEVICE command for the MONOUMB.386 file, which is located in your DOS directory. For example, if your DOS files are in C:\DOS, add the following line to this section: DEVICE=C:\DOS\MONOUMB.386 3. Save the file, and restart your computer. 7.0 DR DOS =========== If your CONFIG.SYS file use any conditional commands such as the "?" or GOTO commands, remove them and adjust the order of commands in your startup files accordingly. If your CONFIG.SYS file uses the CHAIN command, remove it and adjust the order of commands in the file accordingly. After Setup is complete, DOS displays an "Unrecognized command" message on your screen for each command in your CONFIG.SYS file that is not a valid DOS command. Remove these commands from your CONFIG.SYS file. 8.0 PCMCIA =========== 8.1 PCMSS - Socket Services --------------------------- PCMCIA Card Services (PCMCS.EXE) requires a compatible Socket Services driver. The Socket Services driver is usually provided with your system hardware. For the IBM system hardware listed below, Socket Services is provided with DOS and copied to the DOS directory when you choose PCMCIA support during SETUP. The systems are: IBM ThinkPAD 720 and 720C, and the IBM PS/2 E. If you have one of these systems and you want to switch the PCMCIA device drivers that are provided with DOS 6.3 then use one of the following examples: Example CONFIG.SYS for IBM ThinkPAD 720 --------------------------------------- rem DEVICE=C:\IBMDSS02.SYS rem DEVICE=C:\IBMDOSCS.SYS rem DEVICE=C:\DICRMU02.SYS DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMSS.EXE /APOFF DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMCS.EXE /ADDR=C0 /NOPM DEVICE=$ICPMDOS.SYS /MODEMOFF DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMSCD.EXE /BEEP /COM=4 /RS=4 DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMATA.SYS /1 DEVICE=C:\DOS\POWER.EXE The following are the titles for the above programs: PCMSS.EXE is the DOS Socket Services Driver PCMCS.EXE is the DOS Card Services Driver IBM ThinkPAD 720 Suspend and Resume Driver PCMSCD.EXE is DOS Super Client Driver PCMATA is the DOS Virtual Drive Emulator DOS POWER Management Driver Example CONFIG.SYS for IBM PS/2 E --------------------------------- DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMSS.EXE /LOCK DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMCS.EXE /ADDR=C0 /IRQ=10 /NOAUTOLK DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMSCD.EXE /BEEP /COM=4 /RS=4 DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMATA.SYS /1 Example CONFIG.SYS for IBM ThinkPAD 350 --------------------------------------- DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS DOS=HIGH * DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS X=C000-C0FF X=D000-D3FF DEVICE=C:\DOS\POWER.EXE DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMSS.EXE /S0=1 DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMCS.EXE DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMSCD.EXE /BEEP /COM=4 /RS=4 rem DEVICE=C:\DOS\PCMATA.SYS /1 There are further details in the User's Guide and Command Reference. Remember that Socket Services must be loaded before Card Services. * see Section 8.5 below for additional ranges required for EMM386.EXE. PCMSS.EXE --------- Provides PCMCIA Socket Services 2.01 support. PCMSS can be loaded as a terminate-and-stay-resident program from the DOS command prompt or the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or as a device driver from the CONFIG.SYS file. Type: DOS, External Syntax: When loaded from the DOS command prompt or the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, use the following syntax. [drive:][path]pcmss.exe [/APOFF] [/RW=n] [/RS=n] [/LOCK] [/S0=m] When loaded from the CONFIG.SYS file, use the following syntax. device=[drive:][path]pcmss.exe [/APOFF] [/RW=n] [/RS=n] [/LOCK] [/S0=m] Parameter: [drive:][path] Specifies the location of PCMSS.EXE. Switches: /APOFF Turn autopower off. This switch is for Micro Channel systems and must be specified on the ThinkPad 720 and 720C. /RS=n Specifies the reserve socket option that prevents Socket Services from colliding with other dedicated PCMCIA software that is accessing the socket hardware directly. The n specifies the socket number (starting at zero) of the socket to reserve. A maximum of two sockets can be reserved by specifying either: /RS=0,1 or /RS=0 /RS=1. /RW=n Specifies the reserve window option that allows either I/O or memory windows on a socket. The n specifies the window number (starting at zero) on the first socket and continuing through the last window on the last socket. There is no distinction between I/O and memory windows because the number and type of windows is controller specific. A maximum of two windows can be reserved by specifying /RW=3,5 or /RW=3 /RW=5 /LOCK Enables socket locking features (manual and automatic) on sockets that have the ability to lock the card(s) in the socket(s). This is applicable to the PS/2 E hardware system. /S0=m Specifies the number of sockets. 8.2 PCMINFO - Information Utility --------------------------------- For some older (v1.0) SRAM cards that do not comply with the new specification, PCMINFO (Information Utility) may show the card powered down, but the card may be configured and operational. 8.3 Network Support Limitation ------------------------------ There is currently a limit of one network card being configured on the system at a time. This applies to Ethernet, Token Ring, and 3270 PCMCIA Cards. 8.4 Modem Suspend and Resume on IBM ThinkPADs --------------------------------------------- The suspend and resume function on IBM 720 and 750 ThinkPADs is provided by the $ICPMDOS.SYS driver that is shipped with the system. If you are using a modem on one of these systems then you need to add /MODEMOFF (must be capitalized) to the end of the DEVICE=$ICPMDOS.SYS statement in your CONFIG.SYS (ie. DEVICE=C:$ICPMDOS.SYS /MODEMOFF) and add /NOPM to Card Services (PCMCS.EXE). 8.5 PCMCIA & PC Card Upper Memory Requirements ---------------------------------------------- ======================================================================= DRIVER/PCMCIA UPPER MEMORY DEFAULT EMM386 EXCLUDE CARD REQUIRED REGIONS ======================================================================= PCMCS.EXE 4K /ADDR=C0 X=C000-C0FF PCMFDD.EXE 16K /ADDR=D0 X=D000-D3FF PCMATA.SYS 16K /ADDR=D0 X=D000-D3FF IBM Ethernet 16K X=D400-D7FF IBM 3270 8K X=CE00-CFFF IBM Token Ring 24K X=D000-D1FF and X=D800-DBFF 8.6 Supported PCMCIA Cards -------------------------- To see the list of cards supported by the Super Client Driver (PCMSCD.EXE) enter PCMSCD /CARDS at the DOS command line. PCMATA supported cards at the time of release are: IBM Thinkpad SSF Card Sundisk 10MB Drive Western Digital Caviar Ultra Lite 40MB (PCMCIA Intelligent Drive) Hewlett-Packard KittyHawk 20MB Drive Seagate ST7053P 42MB Drive Ministor 1.8" M42P (42MB) Maxtor 105MB PCMCIA HDD IBM PCMCIA Memory Card (SRAM) 1MB, 2MB and 4MB At the time of this release, PC DOS 6.3 does not currently support Flash Memory Cards. If your card is not listed here, then use the software (which may be referred to as a Client driver) provided with the card. 9.0 Compression =============== 9.1 CVFs Less Than 32MB ----------------------- If you compress a hard disk to a size below 32MB, the Actual bytes listed in SSTOR's Statistics will list the size larger than 32MB. This is normal which allows you to shrink and expand the CVF beyond 32MB. 9.2 Error Shrinking or Expanding CVFs ------------------------------------- If you receive an error when trying to shrink or expand a CVF, one possible reason is the CVF is fragmented. You should run DEFRAG against the host drive of the CVF. 1. Change to the host drive of the CVF and use ATTRIB to remove the attributes on the CVF, e.g. ATTRIB -R -S -H DBLSPACE.000. 2. Now run DEFRAG on the drive using the fully optimize switch, e.g. DEFRAG d: /F, where d: is the host drive. 3. Reboot the system to restore the attributes on the CVF. 9.3 CPBACKUP ------------ Backing up to a compressed floppy disk with Central Point Backup is possible with the following exception noted. The LOW speed backup option will backup to the compressed floppy and data will be compressed. (There is probably not much gain here as the data is compressed by backing up already.) Should the user select the HIGH speed option for backup, because DMA is used to write to the floppy, the diskette is written in an uncompressed format. The data is still fine, but the diskette is no longer compressed. 9.4 COMPRESSION with single floppy disk systems ----------------------------------------------- On machines with a compressed, single floppy diskette system, drive B will become the unmounted drive A. Hence, executing the command COPY A: B: will actually perform a copy on the same disk. If you need to copy from one floppy to another floppy, first copy the file to your hard drive, and then copy the file from your hard drive to the other floppy. This will apply to all commands that perform floppy disk functions from and to the same drive, such as: COPY, XCOPY, FC, COMP, MOVE, REPLACE. 9.5 DISKCOPY and DISKCOMP ------------------------- The DISKCOPY and DISKCOMP will work with compressed or uncompressed disks. Since DISKCOPY will create an exact duplicate of the source disk, the target disk will become compressed if the source is compressed, or it will be uncompressed if the source is uncompressed. To do a DISKCOPY on a machine with only one floppy, simply type the command: DISKCOPY A: B: 9.6 MS-DOS 6.2 Compression --------------------------- If you are utilizing MS-DOS 6.2 with disk compression, you must install IBM PC DOS 6.3 with disk compression. 9.7 Norton Disk Doctor (NDD.EXE) --------------------------------- If you are running Norton Disk Doctor version 7.0 against a CVF that is protected by a password, NDD may report that the CVF is seriously damaged. In reality, the CVF may not be damaged at all. When running NDD against a password-protected CVF, first remove the password.