Joe's OS/2 Tips - Number 7

Introduction
Well, what can I say, IBM seems to have decided not to release WinOS2 ver 3.1 as originally planned, and will release it along with OS/2 ver 2.1, on the 16th of March (that is if there are no serious problems in the betas, before then).

The Flame of the Month
IBM Australia requires a MAJOR Brain transplant, in that it seems to believe that OS/2 will succeed with out their help. In that there is very, very limited advertising, limited DAP support in relation to Beta drops, and other hassles. IBM Australia finally announced that they would give out the current beta, only a month after it had shipped on CD-ROM in the USA. Even then, they still didn't produce a CD-ROM version, but the same old floppy one. I think that IBM Management (Overseas) had better start re-arranging the Australian Management team, as they are simply standing to old traditions, in thinking that the only important things in IBM's domain (in Australia) are Mainframes. Ok Enough said, we can only hope for a change, before NT comes along, otherwise when MS starts to REALLY advertise NT, here, it will be noticed, even if the average user can't run it.

OS/2 ver 2.1 Beta (6.479)
As usual, IBM has increased the space requirements of OS/2. The reasons are as follows from the New Features List, found in the new Readme file.

The following new functions have been added since OS/2 2.0 was delivered:
 * Support for Microsoft** Windows** V. 3.1 applications (WIN-OS/2* V. 3.1 replaces WIN-OS/2 Version 3.0)
 * Window-session support for popular Windows V. 3.1 and Presentation Manager* 256-color Super Video Graphics Adapters (SVGAs)
 * Support for additional popular printers
 * Support for additional popular small computer system interface-based (SCSI-based) CD-ROM drives
 * A fax program which allows you to send and receive a 1-page fax from your computer
 * Support for the Advanced Power Management (APM) specification
 * Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) enabling for I/O devices
 * Enhanced enabling code for pen-based systems
 * Enhanced enabling code for multimedia applications
 * Support for OS/2 as an AS/400* client (with a PCSupport program)

The following (Hand-typed, so excuse any Part number typos) is a list of SCSI cards, CD-ROM drives and SVGA drivers now supported directly by OS/2.

ManuFacturer   CD-ROM Models Hitachi        CDR-1650S, CDR-1750S, CDR-3650, CDR-3750 IBM            CD-ROM I, CD-ROM II NEC             CDR-36,CDR-37,CDR-72,CDR-73,CDR-74,CDR-82,CDR-83,CDR-84 Panasonic      CR-501, LK-MC501S Sony           CDU-541,CDU-561,CDU-6111,CDU-6211,CDU-7211 Texel          DM-3021,DM-3024,DM-5021,DM-5024 Toshiba        XN-3201,XM-3301
 * CD-ROMS

Manufacturer   SCSI Adapter or Interface Adaptec        AIC 6260 AHA 1510,1512,1520,1522 AHA 1540,1542,1544 AHA 1640,1642,1644 AHA 1740,1742,1744 (Standard & Enhanced modes) DPT            PM 2011,2012 Future Domain  TMC-850,860,875,885 TMS-1660,1670,1680 MCS-600,700 TMC-7000EX TMC-850IBM IBM            PS/2 SCSI Adapter PS/2 SCSI Adapter with cache
 * SCSI Cards
 * Video Cards
 * ATI Technology VGAWonder
 * CGA
 * 8514/A
 * EGA
 * XGA
 * VRAM II
 * IBM VGA 256c
 * Generic SVGA
 * Trident
 * Tseng Labs 4000    (Diamond Speedstars DIP Settings 1,2,4 Must be OFF)
 * VGA


 * Sound Cards (if it's bundled with MMPM)
 * Creative Labs range
 * Roland
 * Adlib
 * IBM Audio cards
 * MORE on the way.

There are several Ethernet and token ring adapter drivers on the installation disks, I don't know what these do, as I haven't got a LAN.
 * Network Cards

As you can see this is a pretty impressive list of new device support! And IBM states they will have more in the release! Dare I say it, IBM is really doing things right (except for IBM Australia).

There appears to be little in the way of nasty bugs, except for the print spooler, which was caused by unfinished code. Plus the usual Swapper.dat problem.

On installing a new level of OS/2, boot from a floppy and delete the SWAPPER.DAT file, as I suspect that OS/2 doesn't do this and tries to utilise the SWAPPER.DAT file and finds invalid code. This has occurred to me on several betas, so I believe that they don't actually init the SWAPPER.DAT file, but instead reuse it.
 * HOT TIP

More DOS_SETTINGS

 * DOS_AUTOEXEC
 * Instead of running your Standard OS/2 Autoexec.bat, you can specify which Batch file is automatically loaded for that

session. Handy if you have a massive environmental requirements for particular applications.


 * HW_NOSOUND
 * As it sound, will disallow MOST sounds from the PC speaker, made by dos programs. I say most, because there are some games around which can by-pass this, maybe something to do with BIOS and direct addressing.


 * HW_ROM_TO_RAM
 * Transposes your ROMs into RAM, for faster response. Ideally used on a system where you can configure your Shadow RAM off, and the BIOS will allow the memory used by Shadow RAM to be accessed by normal programs (more than I can say about my old box).


 * HW_TIMER
 * OS/2 Emulates the Hardware timer's ticking, and hence may cause hassles with sensitive DOS programs that rely on the hardware

version. EG Games like Wing Commander 2 go a lot better with this turned ON.

More Config.sys Thingos
There are several SYS files that aren't really essential if you don't require them. VWIN.SYS       For Windows. YucK! VCOM.SYS       For DOS coms

Some interesting drivers VNPX.SYS       Emulates a Maths Co processor.

Ray Gwinn's SIO coms driver is an essential is a must for any serious OS/2 coms user. It's much faster than the COM.SYS, that comes with OS/2, and is by far the best coms driver I have used to date under OS/2.
 * Special Recommendation.

Ray has also made a VSIO.SYS to replace the VCOM.SYS, which according to many sources has fixed DOS comms problem. I have included the latest beta in with these tips, for people who haven't had the chance to grab a copy.

Removing Un-deletable Objects from the WPS
Have you ever come across a Folder Icon which refuses to be deleted?

If so, use the following method to remove it.

Say the ill behaved folder is called NAUGHTY, and resides inside of the Folder "OS2 Tools".

And your OS/2 system resides on a HPFS partition.

Step 1. Start an OS/2 Command Line session. Step 2. CD "OS!2 2.0 Desktop" Step 3. CD "OS2 Tools" Step 4. DIR And you should see at least NAUGHTY listed as a Sub-Directory. Step 5. CD Naughty Step 6. Attrib -r -h -s *.* Step 7. Del *.* This removes any hidden, System or read only files. Step 8. If there are any sub directories, enter the sub directories and follow the above steps 6-8. Step 9. RD      Remove any LISTed sub-directories from Naughty Step 10. CD.. so that you have on your prompt something like [X:\OS!2 2.0 Desktop\OS2 Tools] Step 11. RD Naughty. Step 12. EXIT Step 13. Press the Right Mouse button and select Refresh

The End
Continuing with the Idea of Team OS/2, I have included a list of all the OS/2 applications I have available for request in this tips issue. This will give you something to look through, plus if you are a sysop of any of the listed networks, you can frequent these files.

If you wish to contact me, about various topics I have covered, or if you have suggestions, the easy method is via a message in one of the following mail networks, in their OS/2 area.

WORLDNET            61:6700/1 INTLNET             58:1100/300 FIDONET             3:640/830 Or via SNAIL MAIL Joe's OS/2 Tips 540 Johnson Road Forestdale, QLD, Australia, 4118. Or via the BBS +61-7-800-3521 Hours 0600-215 Australian Eastern Standard Time 1200-14.4k baud rates. Or Via VOICE +61-7-800-4447 Most times I am around the phone, but the answering system will take care of you, otherwise. Sorry, I can't afford to return an international call.