OS/2 Warp Frequently Asked Questions List

Introduction and Credits
OS/2 Warp Frequently Asked Questions List User's Edition (U.S. English) Release 3 February 20, 1995 Compiled by Timothy F. Sipples

Copyright (c) 1995 by Timothy F. Sipples All Rights Reserved.

For changes, suggestions, or additions please mail tsipple@vnet.ibm.com or write:

Timothy F. Sipples IBM Personal Software One IBM Plaza (07/SS4) Chicago, IL 60611 U.S.A. FAX (312) 245-7624

I Mention of a product does not constitute an endorsement. Customers outside the United States should not necessarily rely on 800 telephone numbers, page numbers, part numbers, or upgrade policies contained in this List. Electronic mail addresses are in Internet form; use addressing appropriate to your mail system. Certain product names, including OS/2, OS/2 Warp, and Windows, are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This List is freely distributable for noncommercial purposes. (For commercial purposes, please contact the author.) If you redistribute the List, please include all the original files. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of IBM Corp.

Release Notes
(Text which has been revised or updated since the last release will ordinarily appear in the same color as this sentence and will be enclosed in double braces.) However, due to the magnitude of the changes required for this release of the List, revision marking is not included.

BBS operators and archive maintainers: please retain Versions 2.1E, 2.0L, and 1.9G of this List, the last versions to deal specifically with OS/2 Versions 2.1x, 2.0x, and 1.3x, respectively.

Recent Developments
OS/2 Warp Version 3 is here! Please see (0.4) Special Report on OS/2 Warp for the latest on this exciting new release.

To coincide with the release of OS/2 Warp Version 3, over 40 software developers have announced new software products. Here is a sampling:

Product Description Stacker Version 4 for OS/2 On-the-fly disk compression Artisoft LANtastic for OS/2 Peer-to-peer networking DeScribe Version 5 for OS/2 Word processing/publishing Athena Mesa for OS/2 Object-oriented spreadsheet AIM/SDS Galactic Civilizations for OS/2 Action-strategy game Hockware VisPro C/C++ for OS/2 Rapid building of compiled C/C++ applications IBM Antivirus for OS/2 DOS/Windows virus detection and elimination IBM OS/2 LAN Server 4 State-of-the-art network operating system Wolfram Mathematica for OS/2 Equation solving, mathematical computation Borland C++ Version 2 for OS/2 C/C++ compiler, including OWL Lotus Smartsuite ValuePak Enhancements to application suite Dux SimCity for OS/2 Urban planning game

Other vendors expect to ship major new OS/2 Warp applications later this year, including Corel Office (including Corel Draw 6) from Corel Systems, Macromedia's Director (for multimedia presentations), games such as Doom and SimCity 2000, and even the first home "edutainment" CD-ROM title from CBS and IBM.

Independent estimates now put the OS/2 installed base at over eight million users. At the time of this writing, OS/2 Warp ranks as the top selling PC software in the marketplace.

The IBM Independent Vendor League offices have moved. For general information on the IVL, contact Lucy Darbisi at 203-452-7704 or by FAX at 203-268-1075. For product accreditation and support please call Gail Ostrow at 203-384-9996 or FAX 203-368-6379. The Independent Vendor League supports OS/2 Warp consultants, book authors, trainers, and other professionals.

Questions in this Release
(0.4) Special Report on OS/2 Warp

(1.0) Fundamentals

(1.1) What is OS/2 Warp?

(1.2) What are the differences between versions?

(1.3) How good is OS/2 Warp's DOS and Windows compatibility?

(1.4) Where can I buy OS/2 Warp, and how much does it cost?

(1.5) Why should I use HPFS? What does it offer me? Does it work with DOS?

(1.6) Why should I choose OS/2 Warp over its competitors?

(2.0) Hardware

(2.1) What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 Warp? Do I need a PS/2?

(2.2) Will OS/2 Warp work with my SuperVGA adapter?

(2.3) Will OS/2 Warp work with my printer?

(2.4) Can I use COM3 and COM4 in OS/2 Warp?

(2.5) Are there any specific hardware recommendations?

(2.6) Can I use more than 16 MB of RAM?

(2.7) What device drivers are available that aren't included with OS/2 Warp?

(3.0) Software

(3.1) What applications are available for OS/2 Warp?

(3.2) Where can I obtain OS/2 Warp shareware and freeware?

(3.3) What are the "must have" shareware and freeware titles?

(3.4) Is there a Norton Utilities for OS/2 Warp?

(3.5) I would like to set up an OS/2 Warp BBS. What is available?

(3.6) What do I need for OS/2 Warp multimedia applications?

(3.7) Should I worry about viruses when running OS/2 Warp?

(3.8) What networking products are available for OS/2 Warp?

(3.9) How do I connect an OS/2 Warp machine into a peer-to-peer network?

(3.10) What is Extended Services?

(3.11) How do I connect my OS/2 Warp PC to the Internet?

(3.12) What backup software is available?

(3.13) What multiuser extensions and security options are available?

(3.14) What on-the-fly disk compression software is available?

(3.15) Are there any dealers that specialize in OS/2 Warp products?

(3.16) How can I use my scanner with OS/2 Warp?

(4.0) Installation, Maintenance, and Support

(4.1) I am having trouble installing OS/2 Warp. What should I do?

(4.2) I can't install OS/2 Warp from Drive B. What's wrong?

(4.3) What is the best way to partition my hard disk for OS/2 Warp?

(4.4) How do I access HPFS partitions on my hard drive without booting from the hard drive? I'm getting error messages now -- how do I "repair" my hard disk?

(4.5) How can I get answers to my OS/2 Warp questions?

(4.6) What are CSDs, how do I tell which I have, and where do I get them?

(4.7) Which online services support OS/2 Warp, and how do I join?

(4.8) Are there any OS/2 Warp user groups?

(4.9) What OS/2 Warp books and magazines are available?

(4.10) How do I report an OS/2 Warp problem to IBM?

(4.11) What OS/2 Warp BBSes can I dial?

(4.12) IBM has so many telephone numbers. Which one do I use?

(5.0) Using OS/2 Warp

(5.1) I'm a Unix wizard. How do I make OS/2 Warp resemble Unix?

(5.2) I prefer Windows. How do I make OS/2 Warp resemble Windows (or OS/2 1.3)?

(5.3) Sometimes OS/2 Warp will freeze when I run an application. What do I do?

(5.4) How do I start a background process from the OS/2 Warp command line?

(5.5) How do I add new Adobe Type Manager typefaces?

(5.6) How do I tweak OS/2 Warp for maximum performance?

(5.7) How do I measure OS/2 Warp performance and memory usage?

(5.8) My background bitmap does not display correctly. What's wrong?

(5.9) How do I boot a real version of DOS from within OS/2 Warp?

(5.10) Are there any clever tricks that apply to OS/2 Warp?

(5.11) How do I use REXX? What does it do?

(5.12) What ANSI escape sequences can be used?

(6.0) Miscellaneous

(6.1) What can I do to promote OS/2 Warp?

(6.2) How can I create INF files?

(6.3) What is IBM?

(6.4) What is the MIDI file IBMRALLY that I get with OS/2 Warp's multimedia?

Special Report on OS/2 Warp
"It's time..." -- Leonard Nimoy

On October 11, 1994, IBM announced its boldest entry into the burgeoning home and small office software market, OS/2 Warp Version 3. Widespread on-the-shelf availability of OS/2 Warp occurred on November 4th in the United States.

OS/2 Warp is the latest in a line of releases which have achieved broad acceptance in corporations around the world (and in many other segments of the software market). Over eight million people use OS/2 today, and that number just keeps growing. However, previous releases were criticized for being difficult to install, short on the list of included device drivers, consuming too much memory, an "industrial" appearance rather than a flashy one, and having bundled applications which were not appealing. In short, it was criticized for not appealing strongly enough to home and small business users, many of whom are struggling with an aging 16-bit Windows environment and who are craving for something better.

Nonetheless, OS/2 has always been praised for its reliability, superior compatibility with existing DOS and Windows applications, true preemptive multitasking systemwide, and a state-of-the-art 32-bit programming environment for friendlier and more powerful applications. Features which have made it the most popular 32-bit software in the world and which have earned it over 50 major awards, including PC Magazine's Editor's Choice and Infoworld's Product of the Year.

IBM has, quite simply, "consumerized" OS/2 in creating OS/2 Warp. OS/2 Warp is the fastest, friendliest, and most powerful version of OS/2 yet. And, in concentrating on improving OS/2 in areas which matter most to home and small business users, IBM has ended up making OS/2 better for everyone, especially for current Windows users.

Here is but a sampling of the features and improvements you'll find in OS/2 Warp:


 * Lower memory requirements. OS/2 Warp really runs on a PC with as little as 4 MB of memory, and it races on a system with 8 MB. But no matter how much memory your PC has, OS/2 Warp now gives more memory to applications. That means speed, and that means you finish your work faster. And, naturally, since this is OS/2, memory management woes are a thing of the distant past. Get over 600K of free base memory in your DOS sessions, even after all your drivers are loaded. (Get over 700K free if your DOS application requires no more than CGA graphics!)
 * Enhanced Workplace Shell. OS/2's Workplace Shell has been praised for its ease-of-use for quite some time, but there are still major improvements to it in OS/2 Warp. A new LaunchPad lets you drag and drop the programs, folders, and other objects you use most frequently to a quick-access button bar. The LaunchPad is fully customizable, and it's always ready when you need it. The Workplace Shell now has palette awareness (so background bitmaps always look their best), "Comet Cursor" so you won't lose track of your mouse pointer, customizable mouse pointers, Pickup and Drop menus (so you won't have to open, shift, and resize windows before you drag and drop), automatic closing of parent folders (if desired) and an Open Parent menu option, animated icons (so that folders actually pop open when you double click), backup and recovery of your desktop (so you never lose your setup), an Undo Arrange option (if you accidently rearrange your desktop when you didn't mean to), opaque background icon text (so they really stand out against a complex background bitmap), drag and drop setting of background bitmaps, and much more. And the default color scheme? Dull, boring gray is gone, replaced with a soothing teal background and much more colorful icons. Plus it's easier than ever to find objects, thanks to the much simplified Find window (just a single click away from the LaunchPad).
 * Performance improvements. With the addition of new 32-bit code, the Workplace Shell is now much speedier. Folders pop open and close in record time. Shutdown races for the finish. Printing benefits from a new 32-bit engine, so more complex images are processed more swiftly. And printing no longer requires that you dedicate a precious interrupt (IRQ 7) to the task, very convenient for AT bus systems. OS/2 Warp can handle the hard disk much faster, particularly when formatting and checking (CHKDSK) the disk, particularly with the High Performance File System (HPFS). OS/2 Warp starts up faster (and with many fewer, if any, distracting device driver messages). Most importantly, perhaps, the "industrial" OS/2 logo you saw in previous releases has been replaced with a sleek new OS/2 Warp logo (which you can even use as a background bitmap).
 * Installation. Installation has been a sore point for many first-time OS/2 users. The problem wasn't so much that their hardware devices weren't supported, it was that available device drivers were not included with OS/2. OS/2 Warp changes that, with generous built-in support for both older and newer video cards, CD-ROM drives (even non-SCSI models, including IDE drives), sound cards, TV tuner cards, video capture cards, mice, printers, PCMCIA, and SCSI cards. You won't have to go fishing for OS/2 device drivers nearly as often (if at all). Plus there's now a one-button "Easy Install" option. OS/2 Warp will automatically interrogate your PC to find out what hardware is installed then put in the correct device drivers. Without asking dozens of questions. Multimedia support is now part of the main installation -- no tacked-on procedure. Selective Uninstall lets you deselect and remove those features you thought you might want but really didn't need -- no more poking around your \OS2 directory, hoping you delete the right files.
 * BonusPak. Gone are most of the "applets" found in previous releases of OS/2 (although you may use them from your prior release of OS/2). Instead, IBM has spent a considerable amount of time collecting true 32-bit OS/2 applications which are both useful and which demonstrate the power of OS/2 Warp. About a dozen applications are included in the BonusPak, accompanied by a friendly installation program (which, if you have a sound card, will even play music). The BonusPak applications include:
 * System Information Tool. Do you remember how large your hard disk is? How many colors your video card is displaying with OS/2 Warp? How sensitive your mouse is? How much memory you have installed? Visit the System Information Tool to find out the answers to these questions and more. Part of the high-end IBM Netfinity for OS/2 hardware management product, it's now yours free of charge in OS/2 Warp. There's even a feature to list all the device drivers in your OS/2 Warp system, along with version dates.
 * Internet Connection. Certainly the highlight of the entire BonusPak, this set of applications (including Gopher, Ultimedia Mail, Telnet, ftp, and so on) gets you connected to the entire Internet using a dial-up SLIP connection. Registration on the IBM Global Network is a simple button click, and you don't have to memorize arcane commands or learn about IP addresses. You can also use your own Internet provider if you do not wish to use IBM's. However, you get three free hours of connect time on the IBM Global Network with every copy of OS/2 Warp. Send and receive Internet mail (even mail with sound and video attachments), explore the World Wide Web with the IBM Web Explorer, browse weather maps and online library catalogs with Gopher, and even chat with other OS/2 Warp and Internet users in the Internet's newsgroups. And, only with OS/2 Warp, you don't have to wait while you are downloading a file or complex Web document -- go do something else. OS/2 Warp delivers real multitasking, so you never have to wait.
 * Person to Person. For desktop videoconferencing and collaboration on projects, or for a new way of communicating that's just plain fun, IBM's Person to Person is included with the BonusPak. Person to Person gives you a Chalkboard which lets you share bitmaps (including copies of spreadsheets, documents, and other windows on your desktop) with other Person to Person users across a network, by modem, or even over the Internet Connection. What you draw or put in your Chalkboard is immediately sent to all the other people in your Person to Person "conference call." You can also share the contents of your Clipboard and carry on a live conversation by keyboard. With appropriate hardware, you can also transmit live video. Save plane fare and work on projects with your friends and colleagues without actually being in the same room.
 * Compuserve Information Manager. Access Compuserve in grand style. There's even an icon for the OS/2 forums, so you can get speedy answers to your OS/2 Warp questions.
 * HyperAccess. Dial up BBSes, Dow Jones, MCI Mail, BIX, GEnie, and many other online services with this richly featured communications software. It even includes dialing directories and ZModem. And, remember, downloading or uploading a file under OS/2 Warp doesn't mean you have to wait to do something else.
 * Faxworks. Send and receive faxes of unlimited length using the most popular fax software for OS/2, Faxworks. You can even send faxes from DOS and Windows applications. Simply print to a printer port (LPT3 by default) as if it were an IBM Proprinter X24E. Faxworks will automatically log all traffic so that you can review it at any time. It supports drag and drop faxing, and it is even integrated with the phone book in IBM Works.
 * IBM Works. Real word processing (with spell checking), database, charting, spreadsheet, address book, phone book, calendar, and other applications for getting essential work done, right out of the box, with OS/2 Warp. All these applications are tightly integrated, thanks to OS/2 Warp's System Object Model. Drag a spreadsheet into your word processing document and it's linked. No arcane menu options or contortions required. The IBM Works Event Monitor will even notify you when you have an appointment you need to keep and, thanks to OS/2 Warp's real multitasking, you won't miss that notification just because your computer is doing something else.
 * Multimedia Viewer. An application which gives your computer the ability to deal with "foreign" multimedia files, everything from Kodak Photo CD images to Sun .AU audio files from the Internet. There's even a Light Table (a new folder type which you can use anywhere in the Workplace Shell) which gives thumbnails of all your bitmaps and images to let you catalog and categorize your collection. If you are a photographer, or use desktop publishing, think of all the time you'll save.
 * Video IN. Formerly a $199 product by itself, IBM Ultimedia Video IN is included free of charge in the BonusPak. Winner of Byte Magazine's Best of Comdex award, Video IN lets you record software motion video files (AVI files) in either Ultimotion or Indeo formats. You can record in real time or from still images (images which come either from sets of bitmaps or from a computer controlled laserdisc player). Many popular video capture cards are supported for recording from external video sources. However, you don't need a video capture card to use Video IN. You can construct an animated weather sequence (like the ones you see on television) from weather images you download from the Internet, for example.
 * DOS and Windows capabilities. With the new Windows FastLoad option, you can preload all of the Windows environment under OS/2 Warp when you boot, so that Windows applications that you start from the Workplace Shell pop up in no time flat. And OS/2 Warp supports those very few applications which require Win32s (such as MathCAD). For DOS and Windows programs, OS/2 adds better virtual DMA handling, which means applications such as games will run smoother and faster. And creating a program object for a DOS or Windows application will automatically pull in the correct settings from OS/2's database -- it's no longer a separate procedure. IBM even includes settings for over 250 of the most popular DOS, Windows, and OS/2 games.
 * System recovery options. What did you do if OS/2 couldn't boot? You may have had to reinstall in the past. No longer. Now OS/2 Warp comes with several great features to let you figure out what went wrong (and, more importantly, to prevent something from going wrong in the first place). A small OS/2 character mode text editor is now included on your OS/2 Warp boot diskettes, so you can change critical files without the Workplace Shell, if need be. You can now make a set of utility diskettes (for emergencies) using a program in the System Setup folder. A Maintenance Desktop is provided alongside your regular desktop (and you can even use it while OS/2 Warp itself is installing). When you boot OS/2, you will now see a white box in the upper left hand corner followed by "OS/2." Hit ALT-F1, and a menu pops up with several options (such as immediately dropping to a command line, using archived desktops, etc). You can even choose to have this menu display at every bootup, with or without a timeout. Hit ALT-F2, and you see a list of every device driver load, as it loads, so if your system is stalling you can determine the exact problem. There are queue enhancements to prevent lockups. Hit CTRL-ESC if an application grabs control of the input queue, and you are back in charge much quicker. Plus you can now (optionally) enable type ahead, so that you can start typing before an application loads.
 * Multimedia enhancements. Beyond the features in the BonusPak (Video IN and the Multimedia Viewer), the base OS/2 multimedia features have been enhanced and improved. Support is built-in for compressed audio formats (including ADPCM) so that you can record and play back WAV files which take up far less disk space. MPEG video is supported with the Reel Magic card. You can display live video signals in a window on your OS/2 desktop with such cards as the Win/TV. Performance is much improved, and the amount of memory required for multimedia is lower. New system sounds and sound effects are provided. Additional multimedia files (including Kodak Photo CD images) are included on the CD-ROM version of OS/2 Warp. The DIVE (Direct Interface Video Extensions) API has been enhanced, to better support fast action games and animation under OS/2.
 * Miscellaneous. There are literally thousands of other improvements in OS/2 Warp. For example, the credits screen is now back. If you have installed the optional bitmaps, you can now find out who created OS/2 Warp by clicking once on the desktop background and pressing CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-O (i.e. hold down CTRL, ALT, and SHIFT, and tap the letter O key). Color palettes have been separated into Mixed Colors and Solid Colors, so you can pick colors that will look good even on a 16 color VGA system. Scheme palettes are larger and have more exciting selections. The Information folder contains quite a bit more detailed information and many more documents (while the plain text README file has rightly shrunk) on topics such as performance considerations and Windows programs in OS/2. The Tutorial is both artistic and useful, with a button for Windows users to learn equivalent functions, a Practice button (to let you practice new steps), and a Do It button (to let the Tutorial actually perform a task, such as opening the Games folder). The OS/2 Mahjongg game is included in the base installation. DOS programs such as the DOS Editor and MSD, and the Win-OS/2 Program Manager, are automatically placed as program objects in the appropriate folders. Adobe Type Manager can now be turned off for Windows programs (the default). A SESSION_PRIORITY setting allows for boosting the responsiveness of individual DOS or Windows programs. OS/2 Warp will install over (and use, for running Windows applications) Windows 3.1 and 3.11, and Windows for Workgroups 3.1 and 3.11.

The best news is that, aside from the much maligned applets in OS/2 2.x, nothing was taken away from OS/2 Warp. The most popular 32-bit operating system for the PC was simply made better for everyone.

What versions of OS/2 Warp are available?

OS/2 Warp will be available across the entire range of OS/2 products. OS/2 Warp Version 3 is the first. This product is an upgrade for DOS, Windows, and OS/2 for Windows users. It uses an existing copy of Windows or Windows for Workgroups on your PC's hard disk to provide compatibility with Windows applications. (If a copy of Windows is not available, OS/2 Warp Version 3 will still support DOS and OS/2 applications.)

Next, OS/2 Warp Version 3 with Win-OS/2, now available, is designed as an upgrade for "full pack" OS/2 users or for new PCs without DOS/Windows. It is identical to OS/2 Warp Version 3 except that it contains Windows code (to run Windows applications).

Other versions of OS/2 Warp (for SMP and networking) are also planned. If you purchase OS/2 Warp now, a discounted upgrade to the so-called network version of OS/2 Warp will be available. (The upgrade consists of a larger BonusPak; the base OS/2 Warp software does not fundamentally change.)

Can I upgrade from "full pack" OS/2 2.x to OS/2 Warp Version 3?

The short answer is no, that OS/2 Warp Version 3 with Win-OS/2 is a more convenient upgrade. However, if you are willing to reformat, you can purchase and install OS/2 Warp Version 3 to run DOS and OS/2 applications. If you install Windows before installing OS/2 Warp Version 3, you can also run Windows applications. IBM does not recommend such an upgrade without reformatting. Or, at the very least, you should completely remove all traces of OS/2 (with Win-OS/2) from a diskette boot. That means you should remove the following directories:

\Desktop \Nowhere \Delete \OS2 \MMOS2 \PSFonts \Spool

and the following files:

AUTOEXEC.BAT CONFIG.SYS OS2BOOT OS2KRNL OS2LDR OS2LDR.MSG OS2VER README WP ROOT. SF

Since I have to install Windows from DOS, how can I create an OS/2 Warp Version 3 system with 100% HPFS?

If you wish to run with no DOS (FAT) file systems (all HPFS), it is more convenient to use OS/2 Warp Version 3 with Win-OS/2, now available. However, it can still be accomplished with OS/2 Warp Version 3 (without Win-OS/2) by following these steps:


 * 1) Create an empty FAT drive on any PC;
 * 2) Boot DOS from diskette and escape to the command line;
 * 3) Insert Windows Diskette 1 in Drive A and enter SETUP;
 * 4) Install Windows (Custom install preferable);
 * 5) Using a utility such as PKZIP, create a set of diskettes which contains the entire contents of the  \WINDOWS  directory just created;
 * 6) Install OS/2 Warp Version 3, reformatting everything to HPFS in the process;
 * 7) From a DOS command line, restore the contents of the  \WINDOWS  directory to the same drive (Drive C, for example) where it was originally installed and set these backup diskettes aside for future use (label them "Win-OS/2");
 * 8) Run OS/2 Warp's Selective Install, pass by the first panel, and make sure that the checkbox next to Win-OS/2 is checked, then click on the Install button;
 * 9) Insert original Windows diskettes when prompted;
 * 10) Shutdown and reboot.

Alternatively, you can use a free utility called WSETUP, available from (3.2) [os2faq0302.html Shareware and Freeware Sources], to install Windows 3.1 from within OS/2 Warp. Or you can use a new product, Partition Magic from PowerQuest, which can convert a DOS FAT hard disk into HPFS, on-the-fly, retaining all existing files in the process.

Does OS/2 Warp support Windows VxDs?

No. OS/2 Warp Version 3 does not support VxDs (or, more precisely, VxDs which compromise system integrity are not supported). Microsoft is actively discouraging use of VxDs (because applications which use them cannot run under NT and may not run under Windows95), and IBM recommends that you not invest in software which requires them. Most software vendors will probably be releasing updates of their products which do not use VxDs (or native OS/2 Warp versions of their applications).

Fortunately, the number of applications which require VxDs is very small, and, of those applications, most are related to networking (for which there are most often superior native OS/2 alternatives).

Will OS/2 Warp Version 3 get rid of my DOS and Windows when I install it?

Absolutely not. Like a good application would, OS/2 Warp Version 3 leaves your native environment untouched, so you can always return to it safely and conveniently. DOS/Windows is preserved using DualBoot by default. (Boot Manager is also available.) You can even use OS/2 Warp's OSDELETE command (from an OS/2 diskette boot) to remove OS/2 Warp should you wish to do so. Install OS/2 Warp Version 3 with confidence.

Can OS/2 Warp read my drives compressed with Stacker, DoubleSpace, DriveSpace, or SuperStor?

Not by itself. It will safely ignore such drives if they exist. If you would like to continue using compressed drives, then Stacker Version 4 for OS/2 is right for you. Stacker for OS/2 can not only read and write Stacker compressed drives, but it can also safely convert DoubleSpace, DriveSpace, and SuperStor compressed drives to the more popular Stacker format.

How do I get OS/2 Warp Version 3?

Walk into any software dealership and ask for it. It is readily and widely available to all software dealers, either directly from IBM or through distributors. The best price is available through your dealer, although you can order the product from IBM directly.

How much does OS/2 Warp Version 3 cost?

With all of OS/2 Warp's features, including the BonusPak, the U.S. single unit price is usually under $80 (list price is $129).

Discounted upgrades to OS/2 Warp Version 3 are available for the following users (U.S. terms):


 * OS/2 for Windows (purchased August 1, 1994, to December 31, 1994): $50 off (only with rebate coupon affixed to box).
 * All other OS/2 for Windows users: $25 off (only with in-store rebate coupon, if available).

OS/2 Warp Version 3 with Win-OS/2 has a list price of $199. A discounted upgrade to OS/2 Warp Version 3 with Win-OS/2 is available to all OS/2 2.1x "full pack" users and carries a list price of $129. Estimated street price on the upgrade is under $80.

Other discounts may apply for additional licenses, VALU agreements, etc. Pricing and availability may vary outside the United States, so consult your local OS/2 software dealer for details.

OS/2 Warp is available on what types of media?

OS/2 Warp Version 3 (and OS/2 Warp Version 3 with Win-OS/2) are available on 3.5 inch diskettes and CD-ROM (with 3.5 inch boot diskettes). OS/2 is no longer available on 5.25 inch diskettes. See (4.2) [os2faq0402.html Installing OS/2 Warp from Drive B].

How much does it cost to use the IBM Global Network for the Internet Connection?

Rates vary by country, so no one answer will necessarily apply. The latest rate information for your country is displayed when you first register with the IBM Global Network using OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection. You are asked then to agree to the terms. Three hours of free access are provided with every copy of OS/2 Warp, and you will not incur any charges until you use more than three hours or fail to cancel your account within three months of registering.

In the United States, there are two primary rate plans: either $12.95 for 6 hours per month or $29.95 for 30 hours per month (with per hour charges for additional hours). Generally speaking, you will enjoy lower rates for accessing the Internet through the IBM Global Network if you do not live in a major city (where other Internet providers may be competing) or if you travel and need access from two or more locations. The IBM Global Network provides worldwide access with local dial-up numbers all over the world. Most other Internet providers only provide service within a specific metropolitan area. OS/2 Warp provides the capability to connect either with the IBM Global Network or an Internet provider of your choice, so you should feel free to shop for the most attractive rates for your situation. Most independent Internet providers will readily assist you in configuring OS/2 Warp to access their services, so do not hesitate to ask.

Can I use Warp's Internet Connection with IBM TCP/IP for OS/2?

Yes. This combination is now supported by IBM. Make sure that you install the latest Service Pak(s) for IBM TCP/IP for OS/2, however. Also, when the OS/2 Warp Internet Dialer is active, all TCP/IP traffic will be routed through your dial-up connection (and traffic through your network card will be suspended). When you close the Dialer, traffic will resume through your network card.

''I can't wait for the so-called network version of OS/2 Warp. How do I get OS/2 Warp to use my network card to access the Internet?''

Assuming your network card is connected into the Internet already (perhaps at a university), any of the following software packages will allow OS/2 Warp's Internet software to work over your network card:


 * IBM LAN Server 4 Requester (Client) for OS/2
 * IBM DCE Client Kit for OS/2
 * IBM AnyNet/2
 * IBM TCP/IP Version 2 for OS/2 Base Services Kit with latest Service Pak

The least expensive of these (under $50 typically) is the LAN Server 4 requester. However, it is not sold separately with diskettes. The diskettes for the requester are bundled with IBM LAN Server 4. If you know someone who has IBM LAN Server 4, you can legally obtain a copy of the requester from that person if you purchase a separate license card for the requester from IBM or any IBM software dealer.

The DCE Client is the second least expensive (under $65 typically) method, and diskettes are provided (not just the right to copy) when you purchase it.

Please note that when you are using OS/2 Warp's Internet Dialer, all traffic will be routed over the dial-up connection and any traffic over the network card will be suspended. If you close the Internet Dialer, traffic over your network card will resume. Also please be advised that IBM has not completed testing on OS/2 Warp's Internet Connection in combination with any product which provides TCP/IP for network cards except for IBM TCP/IP Version 2 with the latest Service Pak. Nonetheless, many OS/2 Warp users are using these suggested combinations of products with great success and little apparent difficulty. IBM expects to officially "bless" these suggested combinations in the near future.

Will all my current software work with OS/2 Warp?

With very few exceptions, yes. IBM has tested OS/2 Warp against huge numbers of applications and networking packages, including the Novell Netware Client Kit for OS/2, Communications Manager, IBM TCP/IP for OS/2, the LAN Server requester, and much more. Any specific application notes are contained in the Application Considerations online document, located in the Information folder in OS/2 Warp.

Fundamentals
The following questions are addressed in this section:
 * What is OS/2 Warp?
 * What are the differences between versions?
 * How good is OS/2 Warp's DOS and Windows compatibility?
 * Where can I buy OS/2 Warp, and how much does it cost?
 * Why should I use HPFS? What does it offer me? Does it work with DOS?
 * Why should I choose OS/2 Warp over its competitors?

What is OS/2 Warp?
OS/2 Warp is an advanced operating system for PCs with an 80386 processor or better. It was developed by IBM as the successor to DOS, the operating system developed for the original IBM PC.

OS/2 started as a joint project between IBM and Microsoft in the mid 1980s and was first released in late 1987 (at that time designed for the IBM PC/AT and other 80286-based systems). Microsoft was a public and vocal supporter of OS/2 for years, issuing several of its own releases and promoting OS/2 application development. Bill Gates, for example, stated that, "...OS/2 is the platform of the '90s." However, OS/2 versions from 1.3 onward have been the responsibility of IBM.

OS/2 Warp was designed from the ground up with preemptive multitasking and multithreading in mind. "Preemptive multitasking" means that the operating system is responsible for allocating processor time to the one or more applications which are running. (Cooperative multitasking, as found in Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh's System 7, requires that each application surrender the processor after a certain amount of time. If one application refuses to yield, all the other applications stop running.) "Multithreading" means that programs can start subtasks which will then be executed by the operating system in the background. For example, a word processor may create a separate thread (subtask) to handle printing or saving to disk. When the user asks the word processor to perform one of these tasks, the word processor creates a new thread and control returns to the word processor (and the user) immediately. The subtask is executed by the operating system in the background. The user is then free to ask the word processor to perform another task without waiting for the thread to complete. Applications which utilitize multithreading can be much more responsive to the user.

OS/2 Warp also protects applications from one another (a single misbehaved program will not typically disrupt the entire system), supports all addressable physical RAM, and supplies virtual memory to applications as requested, breaking DOS's 640K barrier.

An OS/2 Warp demonstration diskette (which will run on any PC with VGA or better, and DOS or OS/2) is available from IBM by calling 800-3-IBM-OS2. The OS/2 Warp demo diskette may also be downloaded; see (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources.

Differences Between Versions
IBM OS/2 Warp, Version 3 is the newest and most advanced version of OS/2 ever created. This release is aimed squarely at the rapidly growing home and small business software market. Yet, in addressing the concerns of these demanding consumers, it offers significant advantages to the large number of traditional IBM and OS/2 users, including those in big businesses and government. A few of the enhancements include a BonusPak of full fledged applications (including one button access to the Internet), the LaunchPad, many more device drivers, and significant performance improvements. Please see (0.4) [os2faq0004.html Special Report on OS/2 Warp] for more information.


 * IBM OS/2 Version 2.1 is the previous release of OS/2, which added Windows 3.1 compatibility, multimedia support (including software motion video), and more device drivers. With Version 2.1 IBM ended the practice of including extra features in its own, preinstalled versions of OS/2 that were not found in the off-the-shelf package. OS/2 2.1x and OS/2 for Windows propelled OS/2 into the mainstream PC marketplace. The latest Service Pak for OS/2 2.1 is level 06300.
 * IBM OS/2 Version 2.0 is the first release of OS/2 which will run only on machines with an 80386SX processor or better. With this release IBM started developing OS/2 (and its Intel and non-Intel-based successors) independently but continued to involve third party PC manufacturers in its testing. Improvements included an object-oriented Workplace Shell (WPS); a multiple operating system boot mechanism; better DOS and Windows support [see (1.3) [os2faq0103.html DOS and Windows Compatibility]]; new 32-bit programming interfaces; support for more than 16 MB of physical RAM [see (2.6) [os2faq0206.html More Than 16 MB RAM]]; and more third party device drivers. OS/2 1.x applications, unmodified, still run under OS/2 2.0 (and later).
 * IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 is the last release of OS/2 to operate on PCs with 80286 CPUs. This version introduced built-in Adobe Type Manager (ATM) [see (5.5) [os2faq0505.html Adobe Type Manager]], providing scalable typefaces for screen and printer. Procedures Language/2 (REXX), a powerful batch-oriented programming language, became a part of Standard Edition with this release. [See (5.11) [os2faq0511.html REXX].] (A few vendors are shipping Microsoft OS/2 Version 1.3, but Microsoft has ceded all OS/2 development to IBM.)
 * OS/2 Version 1.2 was the first to incorporate the High Performance File System (HPFS) [see (1.5) [os2faq0105.html High Performance File System]]. With this release IBM OS/2 added a dual boot mechanism and IBM Extended Edition [see (3.10) [os2faq0310.html Extended Services]] introduced REXX.
 * OS/2 Version 1.1 was the first to include the Presentation Manager (PM) GUI/API. Microsoft OEM versions added a dual boot mechanism with this release.
 * OS/2 Version 1.0, introduced in late 1987, was the first release of OS/2. Task switching was accomplished using a character-based shell and limited DOS compatibility was provided.

Versions of OS/2 from 2.1 on have been made available in two packages: one containing built-in Windows code to run Windows applications (sometimes called the "with Win-OS/2" or "full" package) and the other which can use an existing copy of Windows (optional) to run Windows applications (the "for Windows" or "without Win-OS/2" package).

DOS and Windows Compatibility
How good is OS/2 Warp's DOS and Windows compatibility?

OS/2 1.x [see (1.2) [os2faq0102.html Differences Between Versions]] justifiably earned a reputation for poor DOS compatibility. Since it was hampered by the 80286, it could not run more than one DOS application at a time.

The situation changed dramatically with OS/2 2.0, and OS/2 Warp adds further refinements. OS/2 Warp Version 3 preemptively multitasks DOS and Windows (standard and enhanced mode, including Win32s) applications in separate, protected sessions.

OS/2 Warp provides a complete DOS emulation equivalent to DOS 5.0 or later. The operating system can provide each DOS application with up to 32 MB of EMS 4.0 (expanded memory), 16 MB of XMS 2.0 (extended memory), and/or 512 MB of DPMI 0.95 (DOS Protected Mode Interface extended memory), all from its pool of physical and/or virtual memory (meaning you do not have to have as much RAM in your system as your applications request). These limits are in addition to the up to 730K free conventional memory supplied to each DOS application, even after mouse and network drivers [see (3.8) [os2faq0308.html Networking Products]] are loaded. As in DOS 5.0 or later, DOS code and device drivers may be loaded into high memory. A 386 memory manager like QEMM is not needed -- these features are provided by OS/2 Warp directly.

The DOS emulation allows customization of device driver sets -- each DOS application shares a systemwide CONFIG.SYS and the equivalent of its own CONFIG.SYS. Also, there is a systemwide AUTOEXEC.BAT file; however, batch commands particular to each DOS application can be invoked using separate, application-specific AUTOEXEC.BAT files. And many DOS Settings are provided to fine tune [see (5.6) [os2faq0506.html Performance Tuning]] each DOS/Windows application's behavior (e.g. IDLE_SENSITIVITY and SESSION_PRIORITY). Most of the popular DOS/Windows applications on your hard disk will be migrated automatically when you install OS/2 Warp, so that program icons will be set up for them. Applications which are automatically recognized include over 250 of the most popular DOS, Windows, and OS/2 games.

In addition, OS/2 Warp will boot one or more specific versions of DOS in separate sessions, to assist in running particularly difficult applications (e.g. DOS networks, MSCDEX and CD-ROM drivers). So, for example, it is possible to multitask DOS 3.3, DOS 4.0, DOS 5.0, DOS 6.0, DOS 6.2, PC-DOS 6.3, DR-DOS, OS/2 Warp's DOS, and Desqview running atop DOS, all in separate sessions, either windowed or full screen, all with the same and/or separate device drivers, TSRs, environment variables, etc. DOS boot images may be stored on a hard disk. These procedures are described in the online Command Reference (under VMDISK), Master Help Index, and in the printed manual. [See also (5.9) [os2faq0509.html Specific DOS Sessions].]

Standard graphics modes [generally up to VGA resolutions; see (2.2) [os2faq0202.html SuperVGA Support]] are supported in DOS windows, as are selectable text mode fonts. Cut/paste to/from windowed DOS applications is supported (to/from other DOS, OS/2, and Windows applications), including graphics cut/paste. Theoretically, OS/2 Warp can run up to 240 simultaneous DOS/Windows sessions; the practical maximum depends on your PC's performance.

OS/2 Warp will, in fact, run virtually all DOS applications in existence, including notorious ones such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, Wing Commander, Maple, MatLab (Version 3.5k or later), AutoCAD (Release 12 requires maintenance version C2 or later), and others. Those that do not run generally fall into the following categories:


 * 1) Programs that use Virtual Control Program Interface (VCPI) memory extenders or other extenders which require direct access to 80386 control registers. Since such applications are also all but incompatible with Windows, most vendors have updates for DPMI compatibility;
 * 2) Applications which attempt to directly address the physical sectors of an OS/2 managed nonremoveable hard disk drive. Such programs include UnErase in Norton Utilities [see (3.4) [os2faq0304.html Disk Utilities]]. Fortunately OS/2 Warp has a built-in UnDelete feature which is more robust than Norton's approach. (Consult the online Command Reference for information on how to enable UNDELETE</tt>);
 * 3) Timing sensitive DOS applications. Certain DOS programs that generate digitized sound through the PC's internal speaker may have distorted sound. High speed, real time data collection may be compromised. These problems can often be minimized or even eliminated using OS/2 Warp's DOS Settings, including the SESSION_PRIORITY setting.
 * 4) Certain DOS programming debuggers. DOS applications running under OS/2 Warp are not permitted to access debug registers DR0-DR7 from a DOS session. Also, DOS debuggers will not be able to set hardware breakpoints, and all read/write operations to debug registers in virtual 8086 mode will be ignored.

See (3.12) [os2faq0312.html Backup Software] for information on OS/2 backup issues.

DOS-based disk caching software is not required since OS/2 Warp includes a built-in, highly configurable, efficient disk cache (available even for CD-ROMs). See the online Command Reference for details.

DOS programs running under OS/2 Warp are extremely fast. A single DOS application (no other applications open) running full screen under OS/2 Warp typically achieves 95-97% of the performance it would have under native DOS. If the DOS application accesses the hard disk frequently, such as with database software, it can actually operate up to several times faster than it would if running under native DOS.

If pure DOS is absolutely required, OS/2 Warp includes a utility called the Boot Manager. The Boot Manager can provide a listing of all the operating systems available on the system and will allow selection of any one at startup, with a default after timeout. The OS/2 DualBoot method (to switch between DOS and OS/2 only) is still available as well. Consult the printed OS/2 Warp manual for instructions on how to use Boot Manager or DualBoot. Note that OS/2 Warp need not be installed on Drive C -- it can reside on other volumes [see (4.3) [os2faq0403.html Hard Disk Partitioning]].

Compatibility with Windows, a popular DOS extender, is provided by either Win-OS/2, an environment based on Microsoft's Windows source code, or by an actual copy of Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, or Windows for Workgroups 3.11. See (1.2) [os2faq0102.html Differences Between Versions] for details. OS/2 Warp supports Windows 3.x enhanced mode (including Win32s) and standard mode applications, either on a full screen Windows desktop (with the familiar Program Manager and one or more Windows applications) or "seamlessly," alongside OS/2 applications on the Workplace Shell desktop. "Seamless" operation is available with all video drivers that ship with OS/2 Warp (VGA or better). [See (2.2) [os2faq0202.html SuperVGA Support].]

Several icon conversion utilities can convert Windows icons for use by the OS/2 Icon Editor and/or OS/2-specific programs [see (3.2) [os2faq0302.html Shareware and Freeware Sources]]. (No conversion is necessary if the icons are to be used with Windows programs running under OS/2 Warp.)

OS/2 Warp directly provides all Windows enhanced mode features save one: support for Windows virtual drivers (VxD). Services provided by WINMEM32.DLL</tt> and Win32s are supported. See (0.4) [os2faq0004.html Special Report on OS/2 Warp] for more information.

Windows applications are well integrated into the overall OS/2 Workplace Shell environment with DDE and Clipboard hooks, and OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) is supported among Windows applications. Adobe Type Manager [see (5.5) [os2faq0505.html Adobe Type Manager]] comes with OS/2 Warp (for both OS/2 and Windows applications), and TrueType fonts still work fine with Windows applications. Windows screen (for a full screen desktop) and printer device drivers will work under Win-OS/2 [see (2.2) [os2faq0202.html SuperVGA Support]]. Such notorious Windows applications as Word, Norton Desktop (save portions described above), Toolbook, and After Dark work fine under Win-OS/2. Even applications which rely on the Windows Multimedia Extensions (supplied as part of Windows and Win-OS/2) operate without trouble. [See (3.6) [os2faq0306.html Multimedia] for information on the OS/2 multimedia extensions, MMPM/2.] Even the Windows applets run just fine.

OS/2 Warp's Windows support (called Win-OS/2) departs from plain Microsoft Windows in that it allows more than one Windows desktop and can preemptively (rather than cooperatively) multitask Windows applications in separate, robust, protected sessions, at the user's option. Also, both DOS and OS/2 applications can be started from the Win-OS/2 Program Manager.

In short, OS/2 Warp is generally regarded as the most DOS and Windows compatible among the new crop of 32-bit operating systems (NT included). It is also generally regarded as a better DOS multitasker than Desqview.

Availability and Cost of OS/2 Warp
Where can I buy OS/2 Warp, and how much does it cost?

In the United States IBM OS/2 Warp Version 3 is available directly from IBM by calling 800-3-IBM-OS2. Call for the latest information on pricing -- promotional pricing may be in effect. Both diskette (3.5 inch media) and CD-ROM versions are available. The CD-ROM version contains diskette images (so you can create a set of installation diskettes from the CD-ROM) as well as extra multimedia and Kodak Photo CD files. Express shipping is provided with all orders placed through this toll free number.

IBM part numbers are as follows:


 * Part No.
 * Product


 * 83G8100
 * OS/2 Warp Version 3 (3.5)
 * OS/2 Warp Version 3 (3.5)


 * 83G8102
 * OS/2 Warp Version 3 (CD)


 * 83G8103
 * OS/2 Warp Version 3 (ALC)


 * 83G8700
 * OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 (3.5)


 * 83G8701
 * OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 (CD)


 * 83G8702
 * OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 (ALC)


 * 83G8708
 * OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 Upgrade (3.5)


 * 83G8709
 * OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 Upgrade (CD)


 * 83G8710
 * OS/2 Warp with Win-OS/2 Upgrade (ALC)

Upgrade packages are designed to upgrade OS/2 2.1 or 2.11. "ALC" means Additional License Certificate, in other words simply a license card (without manuals or media) representing the right to use OS/2 Warp on an additional PC.

OS/2 Warp is now available from almost any software dealer (including Corporate Software, Egghead, Software Etc., and many others). Software dealer pricing is lower than that available directly from IBM -- often $10 or $20 lower.

OS/2 Warp costs about the same as Microsoft Windows for DOS and roughly one fifth to one third as much as the base (not to mention server) versions of Windows NT, NeXTStep, Solaris, and UnixWare.

In Canada phone 800-465-1234 to order. In the U.K. phone the OS/2 Solution Centre at 0285-655888 or IBM at 0256-841818 or 0800-919-929. In all countries, any IBM software dealer or office can fulfill your OS/2 Warp order. Pricing varies from country to country.

IBM is trying to make OS/2 Warp available everywhere DOS is purchased. If your dealer does not stock OS/2 Warp, take your business elsewhere (and explain why). IBM bundles OS/2 Warp with most new PCs, and several other vendors, including AST, Compaq, Everex, Northgate, ALR, Unisys, Dell, Ariel Design, Vobis, Escom, Toshiba, Osbourne, and Tangent, will either preload OS/2 Warp automatically or by request.

IBM offers two money back guarantees in the U.S.: a 30-day, no questions asked, money back guarantee, and a 90-day compatibility guarantee [see (2.1) [os2faq0201.html Hardware Requirements]].

If you intend to purchase many copies (usually over 100) of any IBM software product (including OS/2 Warp), be sure to ask your software dealer or IBM representative about VALU agreements. Using VALU, you can save significant amounts of money on your software purchases and benefit from special promotions.

In many countries outside the United States, a fully functioning 45-day trial version of OS/2 Warp on CD-ROM is available through PC oriented magazines, computer shows, dealers, and other outlets.

High Performance File System (HPFS)
'''Why should I use HPFS? What does it offer me? Does it work with DOS?'''

HPFS is an installable file system (IFS) provided with OS/2 Warp which may optionally be used instead of (or alongside) the standard DOS-style FAT (File Allocation Table) file system. HPFS offers long file names (up to 254 characters including the path, greatly exceeding the "8 dot 3" limit in DOS's FAT file system), contiguous storage of extended attributes (without the EA DATA. SF file used by FAT), resistance to file fragmentation, improved media error handling, smaller cluster size, support for larger file storage devices (up to 512 GB), and speedier disk operation, particularly on large hard disks, on systems with more than 6 MB of RAM. HPFS is not case sensitive, although it does preserve case in file names.

However, HPFS is not currently supported on removeable media, although some programs (e.g. BACKUP) preserve long file names on such FAT disks. Also, native DOS cannot access a HPFS partition without a special utility. However, DOS/Windows sessions running under OS/2 can use all files that conform to the "8 dot 3" naming conventions, even if they are stored on HPFS volumes. (FAT is not required for compatibility with DOS and Windows applications running under OS/2 Warp.)

Note that PowerQuest has released Partition Magic, a utility which can convert the DOS FAT file system to OS/2 HPFS on-the-fly, leaving all your files intact. Partition Magic also allows you (free space permitting) to repartition your hard disk without destroying any files. This utility can save an enormous amount of time in managing your hard disks. Contact your favorite OS/2 Warp software dealer to order Partition Magic.

Why Choose OS/2 Warp?
Why should I choose OS/2 Warp over its competitors?

There are many products which compete with OS/2 Warp, at least to some extent. Before comparing OS/2 Warp with those products, it is important to understand what strengths OS/2 Warp brings to the table.

OS/2 Warp requires a PC with a 386SX (or better) and preferably 6 MB of RAM (or more). If you do not have the hardware required to run OS/2 Warp (and cannot conveniently upgrade), other choices should be considered. However, OS/2 Warp is considered by far the "lightest" (in terms of resource requirements) of all the new crop of 32-bit operating systems (which includes Microsoft NT, NeXTStep, Novell UnixWare, and Solaris). Furthermore, IBM has made great strides in reducing the amount of memory required by OS/2 Warp. A PC which is well-equipped to run Windows for DOS is also well-equipped to run OS/2 Warp.

OS/2 Warp is based on a stable, proven design (which started with OS/2 1.0, introduced in 1987). Today's OS/2 Warp barely resembles Version 1.0, yet applications written for that version still run under OS/2 Warp, unmodified. OS/2 1.x found ready markets in so-called "mission critical" applications, including automatic teller machines for banking, point-of-sale systems, process control and factory automation, network software, and more. Other operating systems (particularly NT) have not had the benefit of a long period of testing and reliable operation.

As noted in (1.3) [os2faq0103.html DOS and Windows Compatibility], OS/2 Warp is generally acknowledged to be the most DOS and Windows compatible 32-bit operating system on the market. OS/2 Warp users have access to the broad range of software written for these environments (in addition to the growing library of native OS/2 Warp software) without sacrificing compatibility or performance. Again, this ability stands in contrast to the mediocre DOS and Windows compatibility (and performance) found in such operating systems as NT, NeXTStep, Solaris, UnixWare, Linux, and others. NT, for example, cannot tolerate most DOS device drivers, has no specific DOS session features, and will not run DOS graphics applications in windows on the desktop. (NT also does not include any support for PCMCIA cards or Advanced Power Management, so common in notebook computers.) IBM calls OS/2 Warp "the integrating platform" because it actually lends functionality to all applications, even if you only run DOS and Windows programs.

Currently DOS (with or without Windows) is the most common operating environment on PCs (with OS/2 Warp in second place and closing the gap). OS/2 Warp provides several advantages over plain DOS/Windows, such as:


 * Preemptive multitasking . OS/2 Warp can run more than one application at the same time, and no application can ever take all the CPU attention away from the other tasks. Downloading files, formatting diskettes, printing, mathematically intensive tasks, and other computer-hogging jobs can run reliably, in the background, freeing your computer so you can work more effectively and save time.
 * Multithreading . OS/2 Warp applications can be written to use threads (also known as subtasks). Threads also run in the background so that an application never stops responding to your input. For example, with the DeScribe word processor's multithreaded printing, you can tell the application to print the file then immediately make another revision, without waiting for the document to even spool to the print queue.
 * Enhanced Configurability . Your DOS applications, for example, can have individually tailored CONFIG.SYS settings -- no rebooting required. So, if you want to play that game of Wing Commander, you do not have to get rid of your TSRs and network drivers beforehand.
 * Crash Protection . Every application running under OS/2 Warp is isolated from all the other applications. If one application decides to write to random areas of memory, OS/2 Warp will promptly notify you of the offense. All your other applications continue to run, unharmed. Neither DOS nor Windows offer such complete protection. For example, if you have a Windows application which likes to crash (cause a GPF error), OS/2 Warp can run it in a separate Win-OS/2 session. If the application self destructs, all your other DOS, Windows, and OS/2 Warp applications which may be running never miss a beat. No operating system is totally crash proof, but OS/2 Warp is widely considered to be extremely reliable, both because of its design and because of its maturity.
 * Workplace Shell . Literally millions of dollars are spent on Windows desktop replacements and accessories (such as Norton Desktop, PC Tools, and so on). If you do not like the Windows Program Manager and File Manager (still available under OS/2 Warp), OS/2 Warp's Workplace Shell is worthy of your attention. Folders can be nested. Objects (including files) can have long names (so you don't have to remember what "Y6EDGQTR.ILK" means). Your desktop is almost infinitely customizable: every folder can have a different color or background, for example. And consistency is maintained throughout the Workplace Shell. Want to print a file? Drag it to the printer object. Fax it? Drag it to the Fax object. Open it? Drag it to an application program object. Delete it? Drag it to the Shredder.
 * Access to OS/2 Warp Applications . There's only one way to add OS/2 Warp applications to your PC: add OS/2 Warp. Many of these applications are not available for any other operating system. For example, Watcom's VX-REXX and HockWare's VisPro/REXX let you create fully graphical applications in no time flat. (VX-REXX recently won PC Magazine's Editor's Choice award.) Lotus cc:Mail for OS/2, which takes full advantage of the Workplace Shell, makes e-mail simple. IBM's Ultimedia Builder/2, Workplace/2, and Manager/2 are the best multimedia authoring tools available anywhere, better than anything for Windows, says PC Magazine. And you can only play Galactic Civilizations for OS/2, the Number 1 PC game according to a recent Internet list, when you're running OS/2. OS/2 Warp allows you to run the largest library of 32-bit applications available for the PC.

OS/2 Warp costs less (much less) than its competitors. OS/2 Warp is a best seller and continues to gain ground on plain DOS/Windows, meaning application developers and hardware manufacturers take notice (most recently Corel Systems and Toshiba). OS/2 Warp is likely to be the most popular operating system on PowerPC systems. OS/2 Warp coexists peacefully with your existing DOS/Windows setup (using either DualBoot or Boot Manager), so you can make the switch at your own pace. OS/2 Warp continues to capture industry awards. Most recently, Windows Magazine named OS/2 to its Top 100 list. And, for the second straight year, OS/2 won Overall Product of the Year from the readers of Infoworld. (OS/2 also earned Infoworld's Software Product of the Year and the Interoperability Award. In fact, OS/2, with three of the highest awards all to itself, was the only product to win more than one award.) As an OS/2 Warp user, you'll be joining the over eight million OS/2ers around the world who are experiencing a new level of performance when they use their PCs.

But shouldn't I wait for Windows95 ("Chicago")?

Most industry observers believe that Chicago (Windows95) will not be available until far into 1995. In other words, Microsoft is promising a product which will offer some of OS/2 Warp's features at some point in the future. Even if you think you are interested in Chicago, OS/2 Warp will not suddenly render your PC unable to run it. So why not upgrade to OS/2 Warp in the meantime?

Yet there are several good reasons why you may not be making that upgrade. First, like most first releases, Chicago will suffer from its share of bugs. It will take a considerable amount of time (and expense) to solve these problems. Second, OS/2 Warp is by no means standing still. By the time Chicago is released, OS/2 Warp could possibly enjoy another upgrade. (The time between new releases of OS/2 has been averaging about 14 months. The last major Windows update, Version 3.1, was introduced in April, 1992.) In other words, it will have features (such as support for Symmetric Multiprocessing and the PowerPC) that are not even contemplated for Chicago. Or, in still other words, vaporware (software which does not yet exist) always sounds more appealing than real software on the surface, because software vendors can make whatever claims they like.

Chicago will not support any OS/2 Warp applications (whose number is only growing with time). On the other hand, OS/2 Warp now supports the Win32s programming interface for 32-bit Windows applications. The resource requirements for Chicago will increase over Windows 3.1 (at the same time IBM has fine tuned OS/2 Warp to use less memory and perform better) -- at best Chicago will demand a PC no less powerful than that demanded by OS/2 Warp.

Byte and Windows Sources have pointed to some architectural problems with Chicago. These publications have cited Chicago's pervasive use of 16-bit subsystems (which will cause "thunking," i.e. a performance hit for calls made by 32-bit applications), failure to protect 16-bit Windows applications from crashing the entire system (which OS/2 Warp already prevents), and the 16-bit locking mechanism (which means that 16-bit Windows applications will not be preempted by Chicago, possibly resulting in hung background file transfers, poor multimedia performance, and other problems, even for 32-bit applications). Moreover, reportedly all video and network device drivers for Windows 3.1 must be rewritten to work with Chicago. A recently published book, "Undocumented Windows95," even suggests that new 32-bit Windows applications may still depend on real mode vestiges from ordinary DOS.

Finally, Microsoft made similar promises (on the overwhelming success to be achieved by NT and Windows for Workgroups, most recently). These promises have not come to pass. It is far from certain whether Chicago will satisfy the marketplace.

For a concise, researched, official view of OS/2 Warp when compared to the as-yet-unreleased Windows95, IBM has published a whitepaper which is available from online services such as CompuServe and the Internet.

Hardware
The following questions are addressed in this section:

(2.1) What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 Warp? Do I need a PS/2?

(2.2) Will OS/2 Warp work with my SuperVGA adapter?

(2.3) Will OS/2 Warp work with my printer?

(2.4) Can I use COM3 and COM4 in OS/2 Warp?

(2.5) Are there any specific hardware recommendations?

(2.6) Can I use more than 16 MB of RAM?

(2.7) What device drivers are available that aren't included with OS/2 Warp?

Hardware Requirements
'''What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 Warp? Do I need a PS/2?'''

You need any ISA (AT bus), EISA, VESA LocalBus, PCI, or Microchannel PC compatible with at least an 80386SX CPU, 4 MB (6 MB or more strongly recommended) of RAM, an 80 MB or larger hard disk (with 20-70 MB free, depending on which features you wish to install), a supported video adapter (CGA, EGA, VGA, SuperVGA, 8514/A, XGA, or third party driver) with appropriate display (VGA or better strongly recommended), and a high density 3.5 inch diskette drive for installation. A mouse or other pointing device is strongly recommended. Allow extra RAM and hard disk space for OS/2-based networking [see (3.8) [os2faq0308.html Networking Products]], Extended Services [see (3.10) [os2faq0310.html Extended Services]], and/or extra system loads (i.e. an extraordinary number of large applications running simultaneously). When calculating hard disk space requirements, subtract space occupied by files already on the hard disk which are functionally included in OS/2 Warp and may be deleted, e.g. DOS, a 386 memory manager, Adobe Type Manager [see (5.5) [os2faq0505.html Adobe Type Manager]] with base typefaces, etc.

The performance of OS/2 Warp itself will not be increased appreciably with the addition of a math coprocessor. However, certain applications may benefit.

The Workplace Shell (WPS) will not operate with the Monochrome Display Adapter or the Hercules Monochrome Graphics Adapter. Usually the WPS will fail to work with monochrome EGA. However, some EGA adapters (e.g. Paradise Monochrome EGA Card, ATI EGA Wonder) will emulate all color EGA modes on TTL monochrome monitors and, thus, will work with the WPS.

The following dual monitor configurations are supported: VGA (or most SuperVGA) with Monochrome Display Adapter (not Hercules), 8514/A with VGA, XGA with VGA, and XGA with one or more other XGA. A secondary monitor is most often used with code debuggers that explicitly support such configurations. The Workplace Shell desktop is currently shown only on the primary display (except for the STB MVP-2 and MVP-4 ISA and Microchannel display adapters which do support the Workplace Shell desktop spanning multiple monitors -- contact STB at 214-234-8750 or FAX 214-234-1306 for more information; and the Double Edge video card from Nth Graphics, phone 800-624-7552).

OS/2 Warp specifically supports hard drive adapters which conform to the Western Digital chipset interface standard (nearly all MFM, RLL, IDE, and ESDI adapters) and Adaptec, Future Domain, DPT, BusLogic, MediaVision/Trantor, and IBM SCSI adapters. [True OS/2 Warp drivers for most SCSI adapters, e.g. Always, Trantor, Rancho, Procomp, Corel Systems, Seagate, Mylex, CE Infosys, Ciprico, NCR, and others are available directly from the adapter manufacturers or from (3.2) [os2faq0302.html Shareware and Freeware Sources].] In addition, "generic" INT13 support is provided for all other hard disk adapters. This "generic" support even embraces such devices as Iomega's Bernoulli and SyQuest's removeable media products (but for best results contact Iomega or SyQuest for an OS/2 Warp driver).

OS/2 Warp driver support is available for nearly all CD-ROM drives. The list below describes the drivers included with OS/2 Warp. If your CD-ROM drive is not on the list, it is in all likelihood a close cousin (or follow-on model) to one of the CD-ROM drives on the list, and OS/2 Warp will automatically recognize it using the closest match. Be sure to ask the manufacturer of your CD-ROM drive for advice if OS/2 Warp is not recognizing it.


 * CD Technology
 * T3301
 * T3401
 * Chinon
 * 431
 * 435
 * 535
 * Compaq
 * Dual Speed
 * Creative Labs
 * OmniCD
 * Hitachi
 * 1650S
 * 1750S
 * 3650
 * 1950S
 * 3750
 * 6750
 * IBM
 * CD-ROM I
 * CD-ROM II
 * Enhanced CD-ROM II
 * ISA
 * Mitsumi
 * CRMC-LU002S
 * CRMC-LU005S
 * CRMC-FX001
 * CRMC-FX001D
 * CRMC-FX001DE
 * NEC
 * Intersect 25
 * Intersect 36
 * Intersect 37
 * Intersect 72
 * Intersect 73
 * Intersect 74
 * Intersect 82
 * Intersect 83
 * Intersect 84
 * MultiSpin 4Xe
 * MultiSpin 4Xi
 * MultiSpin 3Xe
 * MultiSpin 3Xi
 * MultiSpin 3Xp
 * MultiSpin 38
 * MultiSpin 74-1
 * MultiSpin 84-1
 * 2vi
 * 260
 * Panasonic
 * 501
 * LK-MC501S
 * 521
 * 522
 * 523
 * 562
 * 563
 * Philips
 * LMS CM-205
 * LMS CM-225
 * LMS CM-205MS
 * LMS CM-206
 * LMS CM-225MS
 * LMS CM-226
 * LMS CM-215
 * LMS CM-207
 * Pioneer
 * DRM-600
 * DRM-604X
 * Plextor
 * DM-3028
 * DM-5028
 * 4PLEX
 * Sony
 * CDU-31A
 * CDU-33A
 * CDU-7305
 * CDU-7405
 * CDU-531
 * CDU-535
 * CDU-6150
 * CDU-6201
 * CDU-6205
 * CDU-6251
 * CDU-7201
 * CDU-7205
 * CDU-55D
 * CDU-55E
 * 541
 * 561
 * 6211
 * 7211
 * 7811
 * 6111
 * Tandy
 * CDR-1000
 * Texel
 * 3021
 * 5021
 * 3024
 * 3028
 * 5024
 * 5028
 * Toshiba
 * 3201
 * 3301
 * 3401
 * 4101
 * Wearnes
 * CDD-120

Most IDE CD-ROM drives are also supported. For CD-ROM drives that use their own adapter cards (that are not attached to SCSI adapters), you may need to know which interrupt (IRQ), DMA channel (if any), and port addresses are used by the CD-ROM adapter in order to correctly configure OS/2 Warp. Please consult the printed OS/2 Warp manual for guidance.

OS/2 Warp's CD-ROM support includes audio, ISO 9660/High Sierra, CD-ROM/XA, and Kodak Photo CD (including multisession) compatibility for those CD-ROM drives which support these standards. An OS/2 Warp CD-ROM device driver automatically provides CD-ROM services to DOS and Windows applications running under OS/2 Warp. In other words, you do not need to load DOS CD-ROM device drivers when you are running OS/2 Warp. However, in the unlikely event you cannot locate an OS/2 Warp driver for your CD-ROM drive, you may use the DOS CD-ROM device drivers in a specific DOS session [see (5.9) [os2faq0509.html Specific DOS Sessions] for details].

OS/2 Warp drivers for some non-SCSI Hitachi CD-ROM models are available by calling either Laser Resources (800-535-2737) or Proline (415-692-5262); ask for CDREXT5D. Storage Devices offers OS/2 drivers for its parallel port attached peripherals, including its CD-ROM drive.

See (2.3) [os2faq0203.html Printer Support] for information on OS/2 printer and plotter compatibility.

OS/2 Warp is explicitly supported on non-IBM PC compatibles. IBM is offering a money back compatibility guarantee in the U.S. Should OS/2 Warp fail to work on your compatible within the first 90 days of use, and should IBM be unable to fix the problem, your purchase price will be refunded. To date over 2000 non-IBM models have been tested in IBM's own labs.

Software
(3.1) Applications (3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources (3.3) "Must Have" Shareware and Freeware (3.4) Disk Utilities (3.5) Running a BBS Under OS/2 Warp (3.6) Multimedia (MMPM/2) (3.7) Viruses (3.8) Networking Products (3.9) Peer-to-Peer Networking (3.10) Extended Services (3.11) Internet Connection (3.12) Backup Software (3.13) Multiuser Extensions and Security (3.14) Disk Compression Software (3.15) Dealers Specializing in OS/2 Warp (3.16) Image Scanners

Installation, Maintenance, and Support
(4.1) Installation (4.2) Installing from Drive B       (4.3) Hard Disk Partitioning (4.4) Starting OS/2 Warp from Diskette (and CHKDSK) (4.5) Technical Support (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes (4.7) Online Services (4.8) User Groups (4.9) Books and Magazines (4.10) Problem Report Form (4.11) OS/2 Warp BBSes (4.12) IBM Telephone Directory

Using OS/2 Warp
(5.1) Making OS/2 Warp Resemble Unix (5.2) Making OS/2 Warp Resemble Windows (5.3) Recovering from Crashed Sessions (5.4) Starting Background Processes (5.5) Adobe Type Manager (5.6) Performance Tuning (5.7) Measuring Performance and Memory Usage (5.8) Displaying Background Bitmaps (5.9) Specific DOS Sessions (5.10) Clever Tricks (5.11) REXX (5.12) ANSI Escape Sequences

Miscellaneous
(6.1) Promoting OS/2 Warp (6.2) How to Create INF Files (6.3) What is IBM? (6.4) IBMRALLY MIDI File