OS/2 2.0 Product Considerations

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By IBM - Early Experience Program (EEP) - 1992-02

Introduction

Welcome to the IBM* OS/2* 2.0 02/92 Early Experience Program (EEP). This offering, level 6.304E, is available to those customers who wish to test new functions that have been added to the Limited Availability (LA) product. Not only does this version contain the key functions that were announced for the LA offering at COMDEX/Fall 1991, (including DOS and Windows** compatibility and the OS/2 Workplace Shell, an easy-to-use, icon-based graphical user interface), this version also supports:

  • DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications running in windows, side-by-side, on a single desktop, including Windows applications that run in a PM* window when the primary display adapter is configured for VGA
  • A superior platform for customer networking and communications environments, including a graphical login/logout and connection to a LAN, and an ability to browse file server devices (such as printers and disks).

Application developers using pre-release code at level 6.177 may choose to maintain their development environment on 6.177 rather than move to 6.304E. A development environment on 6.304E requires a Developer's Toolkit at level 6.304E.

When this product becomes generally available, it is IBM's intent to additionally:

  • Provide a superior operating environment through system integrity, performance, interoperability, and ease of use when running DOS, Windows, and OS/2 applications
  • Run on Intel 386SX and higher systems.

This booklet describes those product considerations about which you should be aware as you install and use this version of the product. IBM will continue to make enhancements before the product becomes generally available, and we welcome your feedback. This booklet also includes helpful tips and techniques.

We recommend that you read this booklet before installing and using the system.

This document is a supplement to OS/2 2.0 Getting Started, OS/2 2.0 Using the Operating System, OS/2 2.0 Installation Guide, and OS/2 2.0 Quick Reference. If you are migrating from OS/2 Version 1.3 or Windows Version 3.0, we recommend that you read OS/2 2.0 Migrating to the OS/2 Workplace Shell.

Installation

  • If you are installing this version over an earlier OS/2 2.0 level, select the Format your disk during installation option. This process ensures that any earlier-level files will not be left inadvertently on your hard disk. Be sure to back up any files that you want to save before starting the OS/2 2.0 Installation process.
  • If you install this version, you will have to select the Format your disk during installation option when you install the product when it becomes generally available.
  • You do not have to format your disk if you are installing over

OS/2 Version 1.2, OS/2 Version 1.3, DOS, or Windows.

  • When first prompted to restart (reboot) your system after installation, note that the restart can take about 5 minutes, allowing the OS/2 Workplace Shell to initialize itself.
  • If you are installing using a response file, you cannot use the value for Migrate Applications provided in the sample response file. If you wish to migrate existing applications, you must select the Migrate Applications object located in the System Setup folder after OS/2 2.0 has been installed.
  • Be sure, if you install a mouse, that it is connected whenever you start your system.
  • This product supports two display adapters. If the secondary display adapter is an XGA* or 8514/A adapter, it will run in VGA mode.
  • Specific small computer systems interface (SCSI) adapter support for selected SCSI adapter interfaces is included. The device drivers which produce this support are installed in your \OS2 directory, as follows:

SCSI Adapter Filename (in \OS2 Directory)

  • Adaptec 152x AHA152X.ADD
  • Adaptec 154x AHA154X.ADD
  • Adaptec 164x AHA164X.ADD
  • Future Domain TMC-8xx FD8XX.ADD
  • Future Domain TMC-16xx FD16-700.ADD
  • Future Domain MCS-600 FD16-700.ADD
  • Future Domain MCS-700 FD16-700.ADD
Note
For the Future Domain TMC-8xx series, the BIOS must be enabled in order for these 8-bit adapters to function.

You can manually install this support by adding a BASEDEV=filename statement into CONFIG.SYS. For example, if you have an Adaptec 1542 SCSI adapter in your system, you can install OS/2 support by including the statement BASEDEV=AHA154X.ADD at the end of your CONFIG.SYS file. Make sure you do not include a drive letter or path in this statement.

The CONFIG.SYS statement BASEDEV=IBMINT13.I13, included in the CONFIG.SYS file (by default), replaces the DSKBIOS1 function. No special action is required to use any other SCSI hard files. They are supported through the IBMINT13 generic DASD device drivers.

Product Considerations

IBM will continue testing and enhancing this product before it becomes generally available, and we welcome your feedback.

It is our intent to address the limitations described in this Product Considerations section before this product becomes generally available. Where available, we have provided temporary work-arounds.

Performance

IBM strongly recommends that you do not use this version of the OS/2 2.0 product for performance benchmarking. We will continue to improve performance before the product becomes generally available.

IBM's performance objectives for the OS/2 2.0 product are to run DOS and Windows applications equal to or better than they run in their native environments and to run OS/2 applications equal to or better than they run on OS/2 Version 1.3. Based on IBM's measurements of application performance on this version of the product, IBM believes that from a user's perspective, on balance, these performance objectives have been met.

Users may experience slower response times when using some system functions, such as loading programs, starting sessions, and switching between sessions. A minimum of 6MB of system memory will improve performance.

OS/2 Workplace Shell

  • The OS/2 2.0 product was designed for use with a mouse. We recommend that you operate the system with a mouse to ensure consistent results.
  • In some instances, Help is not available from the Help push button or the F1 key. Refer to the Master Help Index for help on specific topics.
  • Copying a folder containing program objects onto a diskette appears successful, but if you try to start or copy the programs from diskette onto another system under this version of the product, the program objects will not be present. (When the OS/2 2.0 product becomes generally available, program objects will not be allowed to be dropped on diskettes).
  • The pop-up menu for multiple-selected items does not always display the actions that are common to all the selected objects.
  • The size and position of some windows may not be restored after you restart your system.
  • Program objects started from command files must have the proper .BAT or .CMD extension specified.
  • Copying a read-only folder into another folder creates two folders.
  • Displaying an object in Details view does not always display current information about the object. The last access and modification dates may not be current. The column titles may be displayed for file-type objects when none are present in the folder.
  • The hard-disk icon in the Drives folder represents tape drives and CD-ROM drives in addition to hard disks.
  • The Undo option on the Associations page in the Settings notebooks for a Program object and the Color Palette object are not operational.
  • On systems with an XGA adapter connected, you must close each section of the Tutorial before moving to the next section.
  • The Special Needs page of the Keyboard object has limited customization capabilities.
  • Make sure you select Shut down before you turn off your computer or you might lose data or the position of your icons.
  • The Settings notebook for "System" in the System Setup folder has two pages with a "window" tab. The page with the radio buttons for Animation should be used. The other page will be removed.
  • If any objects, including folders and programs, are open and running when the system is shut down, only those that were started directly from the desktop will restart when the system is restarted.

To ensure that an object automatically starts when the system is restarted, move the object from its original folder to the desktop. Then, if the object is open when the system is shut down, it will start the next time the system is started.

Desktop Customization

  • If you customize your OS/2 2.0 Desktop to OS/2 1.3 or Windows 3.0, we recommend you read Migrating to the OS/2 Workplace Shell to understand the usability features of your new desktop. The book explains how to make OS/2 2.0 look like OS/2 1.3 or Windows 3.0.

DOS Support

  • When you start a specific version of DOS from a diskette, be sure to insert the diskette in the drive before you start the session.

Windows Support

  • Before cutting and pasting to the OS/2 system clipboard from or to Windows programs, you must start the Clipboard Viewer located in the Productivity folder.
  • Bit maps and metafiles greater than 200KB in size will not be transferred successfully to the public clipboard.
  • Before running WIN-OS/2* in real mode, reset the DOS setting EMS_ MEMORY_ LIMIT to 0 for the VDM to be used.
  • If you choose to copy an existing Windows desktop configuration, it may be necessary to change the MOUSE.DRV statement in SYSTEM.INI. If you are currently using a mouse that creates a statement other than MOUSE.DRV=MOUSE.DRV in the boot.description section of the C:\OS2\MDOS\WINOS2\SYSTEM.INI file (where C: is the startup drive), you will need to change the statement to read MOUSE.DRV=MOUSE.DRV
  • Be certain that Windows applications have completed their initialization before switching back to the OS/2 desktop.

OS/2 Printing

  • Ensure that all print job settings notebooks are closed before closing a print object icon or detail view.

Numeric Coprocessor Emulation

This version of the product will include a numeric coprocessor emulator for use in machines that do not have a numeric coprocessor installed. Currently, we are continuing to improve the accuracy of the results obtained from this emulator. The results obtained from the emulator provided in this version of the product may contain errors and cannot be guaranteed.

Examples of computations which may lead to erroneous results are those involving high-precision operations, operations combining high-precision operands, boundary conditions such as very large or very small quantities, rounding, and underflow.

If you intend to use floating-point operations in mission-critical applications, you must use an 80387 math coprocessor. Installation of an 80387 math coprocessor requires a stepping level of B1 or higher on the 80386 microprocessor.

If you are in doubt about whether your application uses floating-point operations, contact the application vendor.

Local Area Network Support

  • Opening a network group folder in a tree may be slow if your network contains many servers. It is recommended that you use icon view instead.
  • The network folder cannot be moved from the desktop.
  • The *Alias server folder displayed by LAN Server 2.0 is not functional.
  • If you are a LAN Server Network Administrator, do not change the printer configuration on a server once it has been shared.
  • If you log in as a LAN Server Network Administrator and some functions are not available, display the pop-up menu and select Refresh. The administrator functions are now available.
  • Occasionally, the pop-up menu of a network object might show login when you are already logged in, or logout when you are already logged out. Click on login/logout and redisplay the pop-up menu.
  • In this version, do not attempt to access DOS LAN requesters from WIN-OS/2 when you are running a specific version of DOS in a DOS session.

Refer to Product Supplemental Information for LAN Server Version 2.0 for current information regarding network support.

Peripheral Devices

  • When using your Logitech mouse when running in standalone DOS, you may experience problems with your mouse under OS/2. If so, unplug and then plug in your mouse, or, after shutdown, power down and then power up your system.
  • When using the COM port on a PS/2* Model 90 or 95 with Enhanced set to ON, be sure that the Serial Transmit and Serial Receive Arbitration Levels in the hardware configuration are set to Dedicated, with different numbers specified.

For example, when the Serial Port is set to SERIAL 2 in the hardware configuration, its corresponding Serial Transmit Arbitration Level should be set to DEDICATED 3. The Serial Receive Arbitration Level must be set to DEDICATED 4. When both levels of a serial port are set to Shared, data communication and printing from the COM port with Enhanced set to ON will not operate properly. Run the Setup/Diagnostics diskette and follow the instructions on the screen to change your hardware configuration.

  • The OS/2 2.0 product has been designed to allow most DOS and Windows applications to run more reliably than in their native environments.

One or more DOS applications typically can be run concurrently in windows while in the background, although there are some performance trade-offs when DOS graphics applications are run in a window. To realize the full benefits of the OS/2 2.0 product, run these applications in full-screen sessions.

There are three cases in which DOS graphics applications may be suspended (receive no processor time) when running in the background:

  • In the first case, a DOS multiplane application that uses advanced graphics, such as 640x480x16 or 640x350x16, will be suspended, regardless of the graphics adapter installed, if any other DOS application is running in the foreground in a full-screen session.
  • In the second case, a multiplane DOS application that uses advanced graphics, such as 640x480x16 or 640x350x16, will be suspended when a Presentation Manager session is running in the foreground in XGA mode. Currently, this situation occurs even if you have an Extended Graphics Array (XGA) and a Video Graphics Array (VGA) adapter connected to your system.
  • In the third case, a multiplane DOS application that uses 1024x768x16 graphics mode will be suspended when a Presentation Manager session is running in the foreground in 8514/A mode.

Note that suspending DOS applications running in the background generally poses no problem unless the applications are timing-dependent, such as communications or process-control applications. In these cases, suspending them may cause them to fail. Avoid this situation by running these applications in the foreground in full-screen sessions only. If they are graphics applications, run them only in a single-plane mode, such as 640x200x2, 320x200x256, or 640x480x2, in full-screen sessions.

Note also that for WIN-OS/2 sessions, set the VIDEO_ SWITCH_ NOTIFICATION DOS setting to ON to avoid having Windows programs suspended when running in the background.

Personal Computer Manufacturers - Compatibility

The following list depicts those Personal Computer Manufacturers' systems that have passed IBM's compatibility test with the current OS/2 2.0 EEP product. IBM's compatibility test verifies (18) key functions of the OS/2 2.0 operating system. These test results are based on selected model configurations provided by the PCM to IBM. This list is preliminary, and IBM will continually update the list as we proceed with our testing. Current information will be disseminated on various electronic forums and bulletin boards.

  • ACER 1125E
  • ALR BusinessSTATION
  • ALR BusinessSTATION
  • ALR BusinessVEISA 486/33
  • ALR BusinessVEISA 386/33
  • ALR MPS Modular 386/33
  • ALR MPS Modular 486/33
  • ALR POWERPRO 33/486
  • ALR PowerFlex 20X
  • ALR PowerFlex Flyer
  • AMAX PC/486-33
  • APRICOT LS 386SX-20 w/cache
  • APRICOT Qi 486-25
  • AST Premium II 486SX/20
  • AST Premium II 386/33
  • AT&T SAFARI NSX/20
  • COMPAQ DESKPRO 386/25E
  • COMPAQ DESKPRO 386/S
  • COMPAQ SYSTEMPRO EX0-2904D-B1 Model 3002
  • COMPAQ DESKPRO
  • COMPAQ SYSTEMPRO EX0-2804-000L Model 3000
  • COMPAQ 486/50L
  • COMPUADD 320SC Model 486SX/20 Model 101 A002
  • COMPUADD 325 Model 386DX Model 1 A000
  • COMPUADD 333T Model Model 101 A005
  • COMPUADD 433E Model Model 1 A005
  • CUMULUS GLC 486DX/33
  • CUMULUS 486SX/20
  • CUMULUS GLC 386SX/20 Model SMP 128/150
  • CUMULUS GLC 386DX/25
  • CUMULUS GLC 386DX/33
  • DELL PowerLine 433DE
  • DELL System 320SX
  • DELL System 333D
  • DELL System 486D/25
  • DELL System 325P
  • DELL System 320N+
  • DYNEX 386-25
  • EVEREX 486/33E 386/25M EX0-2904D-01EL
  • EVEREX 486/33
  • EVEREX 386/33
  • GRID GRIDCASE 1550sx
  • GRID MFP/420s
  • GRID 386sx/MFP20 XP2670
  • HERTZ 486/33
  • HEWLETT PACKARD Vectra 32MCA 386/25
  • HEWLETT PACKARD Vectra 32MCA RS/25C
  • HEWLETT PACKARD Vectra 486/33T
  • INTEL LP386SX/20
  • MEMOREX-TELEX Model 8267
  • MEMOREX-TELEX Model 8290
  • NCR SYSTEM 3300/3421 Model 2014
  • NCR SYSTEM 3300/3432
  • NCR SYSTEM 3300/3433
  • NCR SYSTEM 3400 Model
  • OLIVETTI M300-10 Model
  • OLIVETTI P750 Model
  • REPLY D32-486-250 Model
  • REPLY D32-386-330 Model
  • REPLY 486-33
  • SAMSUNG DeskMaster 386S/25
  • SIEMENS NIXDORF PCD-3Msx/20
  • SIEMENS NIXDORF PCD-3Bsx
  • TATUNG TCS8640S
  • TATUNG TCS8800D
  • TATUNG TCS9600T
  • TOSHIBA T3100SX Model 1000
  • TOSHIBA T5200/100
  • ZENITH Data Systems Model 2000 Z-486SX/25E
  • ZENITH Data Systems 3000 Z-486/33E
  • ZEOS 386DX-33CT XP2655
  • ZEOS 386SX-208DT
  • ZEOS 486DX-33T

Note: The compatibility test information provided herein is provided for information purposes. IBM MAKES NO

WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE OPERATION OF THE PERSONAL COMPUTERS LISTED.

  • In order for microchannel systems with ESDI hard disks to operate properly:

1. On OS/2 Diskette 1, rename ABIOS.SYS to ABIOS.HLD.

2. Create a null file called ABIOS.SYS. For example:

 COPY CON: ABIOS.SYS
 blank space
 Enter
 PF6
 Enter

3. Begin your installation.

  • An ABIOS timing condition between OS/2 2.0 and the ALR MPS systems can occur during operation. To ensure this condition is not encountered, IBM and ALR have agreed to a temporary solution. The following change should be made to the CONFIG.SYS file on Installation Diskette 1 and after installation, ensuring that the same change appears in the CONFIG.SYS file on the hard disk.

Change BASEDEV=IBM1FPLY.ADD to BASEDEV=IBM1FLPY.ADD /PS2

and

Change BASEDEV=IBM2FLPY.ADD to rem BASEDEV=IBM2FLPY.ADD After Installation Diskette 4:

  1. Put the Installation Diskette in drive A.
  2. Reboot.
  3. Continue until Diskette1 introduction.
  4. Escape (Esc) from Diskette1 to the A: prompt.
  5. Make the same change to C:\CONFIG.SYS.
  6. Copy IBM1FLPY.ADD to C:\OS2 directory.
  7. Remove the diskette.
  8. Reboot and continue the installation.

Tips and Techniques

  • You can improve the performance of some applications by adjusting the DOS settings. If the application does not use extended or expanded memory, these values can be set to zero:
  • IDLE_ SENSITIVITY
  • EMS_ MEMORY_ LIMIT
  • XMS_ MEMORY_ LIMIT.

For more information on DOS settings, refer to the OS/2 2.0 online Master Help Index.

  • If you want to use the asynchronous communications device interface (ACDI) support in the OS/2 2.0 mini-application called PM Terminal, you must edit your CONFIG.SYS file and then restart your system. For IBM PS/2 computers, install the SASYNCDB.SYS driver:
DEVICE=C:\OS2\APPS\SASYNCDB.SYS

For 80386 compatibles, install the SASYNCDA.SYS driver:

 DEVICE=C:\OS2\APPS\SASYNCDA.SYS

When files are transferred to or from a drive other than drive C in PM Terminal, the dialog box may not display all the subdirectories. To correct this problem, select the C drive and then reselect the correct alternative drive.

  • Using the OS/2 Enhanced Editor:
  • The maximum line length is 237 characters.
  • When naming your files, you are unable to use blanks and some nonalphanumeric characters, such as double quotes, apostrophes, and brackets.
  • The FIND option in the OS/2 System Editor does not display the results of a search. To view these results, press Alt+F6 to move the focus from the Find dialog box to the text entry area.
  • We have improved the high-performance file system (HPFS) by adding new options that users can specify. Also, we have improved both the HPFS and the File Allocation Table (FAT) file systems by expanding the read-ahead logic for small-record input/output (I/O) of less than 512 bytes in size. These enhancements are expected to provide faster performance when sequential reads are performed.

Use the IFS= statement to define the maximum I/O record size that can be cached using the HPFS.

  • By default, 2MB is the amount of memory allocated to each WIN-OS/2 session. Currently, we recommend 2MB for each WIN-OS/2 session you plan to run.

If you receive an error indicating that your WIN-OS/2 session has insufficient memory, you can try adjusting the memory to 3MB or 4MB. However, this setting should not be set high arbitrarily because the OS/2 swap file (SWAPPER.DAT) will be allowed to grow in proportion to the amount of additional memory you allocate.

The optimum size of the swap file is relative to your environment. If the swap file is located in its own partition, it is preferable to be conservative when you specify the size of that partition. These specifications may be helpful.

 4MB system : 7 to 12MB
 6MB system : 5 to 10MB
 8MB system : 3 to 8MB
  • OS/2 allows you to run a specific version of DOS in a DOS session along with the OS/2 2.0 product. This feature helps to ensure compatibility with applications, such as block device drivers, that otherwise would be incompatible with the OS/2 2.0 environment. Currently,
  • If you have already started a version of DOS from a diskette, you will not be able to start another version of DOS from your hard disk.
  • You may experience problems when starting, or booting, DOS from your A drive or from other drives.
  • You cannot start multiple copies of a specific version of DOS using a single image. To make multiple images, create them on your hard disk using the VMDISK.EXE utility located in the \OS2\MDOS\ directory. Change the DOS_ STARTUP_ DRIVE DOS setting to start from the image you created.
  • When asked to specify a directory from which to add fonts, do not specify the C:\OS2\DLL path, where C: is your startup drive.

Applications Considerations

Temporary Limitations

IBM has tested many DOS, Windows and OS/2 applications. Most of them run unchanged, but some require special attention when running on this version of the product. IBM currently plans to address these limitations before the OS/2 2.0 product becomes generally available. Where available, we have suggested temporary work-arounds.

Other Limitations

Some categories of applications, usually because of their design or because they use undocumented interfaces, will not operate properly with the OS/2 2.0 product. IBM is in the process of contacting these vendors about resolving these incompatibilities. Some vendors have already developed a fix and are willing to make the fix available. These have been noted.

These five categories of applications include:

  • Applications that use the DOS Protect-Mode Interface, the Expanded Memory Specification (EMS), or the Extended Memory Specification (XMS) are supported. Other DOS extenders, such as the virtual control-program interface (VCPI), that require exclusive access to the 80386 control registers, are not supported because they could violate the integrity of the system.
  • Functions in applications that directly address the physical sectors to perform write operations are not supported because these operations could violate the integrity of the system.
  • Some Windows applications invoke the Windows mini-applications to run a subset of function. If you did not format your hard disk when you installed this version of the product, and if you already had Windows Version 3.0 installed, these mini-applications will be invoked automatically.
  • Windows applications that require enhanced mode
  • DOS or Windows applications that use undocumented DOS or Windows interfaces

Summary of Applications

Application Result Comment
Ansel DOS program - The program is not operational. See Temporary Limitations on page 18.
AutoCAD OS/2 program - The program does not return from the desktop. Close the program only to a command prompt upon exit. See Other Limitations on page 18.
Auto Manager DOS program - The program cannot be installed if you try to use the version that uses extended memory. Install the real mode version. The program expects COMMAND.COM to be in the root directory of C:\. Copy COMMAND.COM to the C:\ directory from the C:\OS2\MDOS\COMMAND.COM directory.

See Other Limitations on page 18.

Borland C++ 2.0 DOS program - The Turbo C++ extended versions of Turbo Pascal these programs use non-DPMI DOS extenders. Use the standard version.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

Central Point Backup DOS program - The program will provide its own graphic fonts when running in a DOS session. Run in a DOS full-screen session. See [Other Limitations] on page 18.
Peachtree Complete III DOS program - The Set the DOS setting, DOS_FILES to 40.

5.0 program requires more than 40 file handles to Temporary run and non standard ASCII characters may be displayed.

See [Limitations] on page 18.

Codeview for Windows Version 3.0 Windows program - The See ]Temporary

program debugger is unable to load a LimitationsØ on page 18. program for debugging.

Distinct Backup Windows program - The Back up to a hard disk.

message See ]Temporary ]Unrecoverable floppy LimitationsØ on page 18. disk errorØ may be displayed when you try to back up to diskette.

Fastback Plus 2.1 DOS program - The program is unable to support backing up to a diskette. Back up to a hard disk.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

FastLynx DOS program - The program is unable to establish a connection when VCOM.SYS is installed. Remove the DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\VCOM.SYS statement from the CONFIG.SYS file. If parallel port is used, no problems are encountered.
FormBase 1.2 Windows program - The AUTOEXEC.BAT file is automatically updated with the SHARE statement. Use an editor to remove the SHARE command from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
Freelance/G OS/2 program - You will not be able to install some options because the program looks for an earlier version of OS/2 (for example, OS/2 version 1.x). Lotus will provide a fix to install on the OS/2 2.0 product or install under OS/2 Version 1.3.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

LapLink III 3.0 DOS program - Your serial ports may not operate properly. Remove the VCOM.SYS and COM.SYS statements from your CONFIG.SYS file.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

Magellan DOS program - The UNDELETE functions in the program require physical sector addressing. Use the OS/2 UNDELETE command.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

MagiCorp Windows program - Running this program along with other WIN-OS/2 programs in Windows sessions may cause the system to stop. Run this program by itself or try restarting the session.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

Mathcad Windows program - The program cannot be installed under OS/2. Install under DOS.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

More Windows Windows program - Full-page splits the screen, and the screen receives a mirror image and then repaints the desktop. Use only the other three white mode modes.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

MS Bookshelf DOS Multimedia CD-ROM Reference program - The program Library requires the device driver MOUSE.COM Version 6.14 to run. See [Other Limitations] on page 18.
MS Excel OS/2 program - The help index and the help do not operate properly. Avoid using these keyboard functions.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

MS Money 1.0 Windows program - The program invokes the mini-application called Calculator for computations. Use the Calculator mini-application in the Windows Version 3.0 OS/2 Productivity folder.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

Multimedia Extensions DOS program - This Include the installation program program starts its own UseOS2shield=0 for Windows desktop program and statement in your assumes that if it is not the first application SYSTEM.INI file before starting the multimedia loaded, another desktop extensions program. Then is running. reedit the SYSTEM.INI file to say UseOS2shield=1

after you have installed the Windows multimedia extensions and before starting other WIN-OS/2 sessions.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

MusicPrinter Plus DOS program - The program cannot be started in a DOS session. Install the program under DOS and run it under OS/2.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

Norton Backup 1.2 DOS program - Backing up to diskette may be very slow. See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.
Norton Desktop Windows program - The program assumes that if it is not the first application loaded, another desktop is running. Include the UseOS2shield=1 statement in your SYSTEM.INI file in the \OS2\MDOS\WINOS2 directory on your start-up drive.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

Norton Utilities 5.0 DOS program - The UNDELETE functions in the program require physical sector addressing. Use the OS/2 UNDELETE command.

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

Omnipage Professional 1.0 Windows program - The program must run in 386 enhanced mode. See ]Other LimitationsØ on page 18.
Oracle DOS program - The program cannot be installed. See ]Other LimitationsØ on page 18.
Paradox 3.5 DOS program - The extended version of the program (PARADOXK.EXE) uses non-DPMI extenders. Use the standard version of the program (PARADOXR.EXE).

See [Other Limitations] on page 18.

Persuasion 2.0 Windows program - Printing from COM1 may produce unexpected results. If the clipboard is set to public, the program is unable to copy to the clipboard. Use LPT1 to print. Deselect the public option on the clipboard.

See [Temporary Limitations} on page 18.

ProComm 2.0 DOS program - The ProComm SHELL command starts the OS/2 shell instead of the DOS shell, and the DOS session stops. Avoid using the SHELL command.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

Publishers PowerPak Windows program - The 2.1 program does not create the C:\POWERPAK directory because the directory appears to exist. Create the following directory: C:\OS2\MDOS\WINOS2\POWERPAK; then run the installation batch file.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

Quicken for Windows Windows program - The program invokes the mini-appication called computations. Use the Calculator mini-application in the Windows Version 3.0 OS/2 Productivity folder.

See [Other Limitations] on Calculator for page 18.

SideKick OS/2 program - The Notepad does not operate properly. Install a printer and be sure that it is present on the desktop. Avoid minimizing the Notepad.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

Smartfax DOS program - The program does not operate properly. See [Other Limitations] on page 18
TAPCIS DOS program - The TAPCIS.HLP file cannot be found. Run FIX_FIND.COM before running TAPCIS. This is a Terminate and Stay Resident program in the OS2\MDOS directory.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

Wing Commander II DOS program - The program is not operational or runs very slowly in a DOS session. Select the No Sound option during the Wing Commander II installation to improve performance.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

Wordperfect for Windows Windows program - The program may not operate properly. Find the file WPWINFIL.EXE in the Wordperfect directory and run:
FIXWP \path\WPWINFIL.EXE

For additional information contact Wordperfect at 1-800-228-6076 or 1-800-228-1029.

See [Temporary Limitations] on page 18.

Improvements from the LA Product

Some of the restrictions identified in the LA Product Considerations document have been corrected in this EEP version of the product. These items include:

Installation Improvements

  • A response file can be used to install OS/2 2.0. See the OS/2 2.0 Installation Guide for details.
  • The DSKBIOS1 function discussed in the LA document is now included in the BASEDEV=IBMINT13.I13 CONFIG.SYS statement, by default. No special actions are required to operate SCSI devices.
  • If you select not to install some Productivity and Games programs, blank icons representing these programs will no longer be installed.
  • DOS LAN requesters no longer require that DOS have control of the system. They will run on a booted version in a VDM.
  • The time needed to install the OS/2 has been reduced.

Product Considerations Improvements

OS/2 Workplace Shell

  • You can delete multiple objects individually, or you can delete them all at one time.
  • An icon representing Drive A will appear on the desktop.
Double-clicking on this icon will now provide access to Drive A.
  • The settings notebooks for the Drives objects are now operational when displayed from the object's pop-up menu.
  • Actions performed on fonts no longer produce inconsistent results.
  • The time needed to shut down the system has been reduced.

Windows Support

  • The following items are now described in the OS/2 2.0 online or hard copy documentation:
  • Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install Windows applications under the OS/2 2.0 product. If the installation is unsuccessful, start a full-screen DOS session and try again. Another alternative is to choose Run from the File menu of the WIN-OS/2 Program Manager.
  • To start Windows applications, do one of the following:
  • Install them as separate objects on your desktop.
  • Select Run from the WIN-OS/2 Program Manager.
  • Type WINOS2 followed by the program name in a full-screen DOS or OS/2 session.
Note that you cannot run DOS applications using Run from the File menu of the Program Manager. They must be run from the (OS/2) desktop.
  • OS/2's Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) feature allows you to dynamically update and change data in one running program and effect those changes in another running program.

Note that before performing DDE between an OS/2 and a Windows application, you must start the Data Update object in the Productivity folder.

  • Not all clipboard and DDE data formats are transferable to the public clipboard or shared between Windows and PM applications.
  • You must run Windows applications in a single WIN-OS/2 session if you are using private Windows data formats.
  • A set of WIN-OS/2 printer drivers is included with this product. When you create an OS/2 printer, you will be asked if you want a Windows-equivalent configuration, if one is available. You also will be asked to install a WIN-OS/2 printer driver.

If a WIN-OS/2 printer is not automatically installed during OS/2 installation, you can install WIN-OS/2 printer drivers from the WIN-OS/2 Control Panel. WIN-OS/2 printer drivers are located on the Printer Driver Diskettes 1-6. If you want to use a Windows printer driver that is not automatically installed by OS/2, or is not shipped with OS/2, configure the Windows printer driver to use an OS/2 port that has the IBMNULL printer driver associated with it. The IBMNULL printer driver is installed during system installation. If IBMNULL is not displayed in the list of available printer drivers, use the Install pop-up menu choice on an existing printer driver to display the Printer Driver Install dialog box. 1. Insert Printer Driver Diskette1 in your diskette drive; then select Refresh. 2. Select IBMNULL from the list; then select Install. 3. Select Cancel; then select IBMNULL for the Printer object. Note that LPT1.OS2 and LPT2.OS2 support better performance than LPT1 or LPT2 when configuring from the WIN-OS/2 Control Panel.

  • Performing DDE between two Windows applications running in separate sessions or between a Presentation Manager (PM) and a Windows application currently no longer cause the Windows application running in the background to be suspended (receive no processor time).
  • If the Windows clipboard is set to public, requests to print the screen from a Windows session (using PrintScreen) are now successful.
  • The contents of the clipboard are no longer lost if you exit from a Windows application during a cut, copy, or paste operation.
  • Bit-map files and metafiles can be converted compatibly between Windows and PM applications when operating in all video modes.
  • To install your Windows LAN device drivers and configure WIN-OS/2 to use these device drivers, run SETUP.EXE from the WIN-OS/2 full screen session.
  • It is not necessary to define a Windows printer if you are installing Windows multimedia extensions under this version.
  • Like Windows, the OS/2 2.0 product automatically installs corresponding Windows mouse and printer drivers when you select a Presentation Manager* mouse driver.
  • On systems with an XGA adapter connected, starting Windows from a full-screen session and then closing the session no longer causes the screen to behave inconsistently.

OS/2 Printing

  • You can now delete any printer device drivers from the Printer object. Doing so no longer causes subsequent attempts to reinstall these drivers to fail.

Peripheral Devices

  • The DOS DISKCOPY command now operates properly when used on an external 5 1/4-inch diskette drive.

Tips and Techniques Improvements

  • The OS/2 mini-application called Cat and Mouse is now operational.
  • Closing a DOS or Windows session from the Window List or from a pop-up menu, while an application is running in that session, no longer causes subsequent attempts (by these sessions) to access devices to fail.
  • HPFS performance for 2KB and 4KB I/O has been improved.
  • All networking applications may now start from the Drives objects.
  • The following items are now described in the OS/2 2.0 online documentation:
  • Adjusting these DOS settings for Windows full-screen objects or other Windows program objects, may boost the performance of applications running in Windows sessions.
KBD_CTRL_BYPASS = CTRL_ESC
This setting allows the WIN-OS/2 Program Manager to recognize a Ctrl+Esc and then display the Task List.
MOUSE_EXCLUSIVE_ACCESS = ON
This setting allows WIN-OS/2 (in place of the PM) to control the Mouse pointer if you run a WIN-OS/2 session in a window.
VIDEO_SWITCH_NOTIFICATION = ON
This setting notifies a DOS program to do its own save and restore of the video state.
VIDEO_8514A_XGA_IOTRAP = OFF
This setting must be set so that DOS and WIN-OS/2 sessions can continue to run when in the background (for systems with 8514/A and XGA adapters only).
  • The performance of DOS applications is optimal when running in full-screen sessions. You can press the Alt+Home keys to run your DOS applications in full-screen DOS sessions.
  • If you are running Windows and have an 8514 Windows video adapter (8514.DRV) installed, do not change the default settings for VIDEO_SWITCH_NOTIFICATION and VIDEO_8514_XGA_IOTRAP.

Applications Considerations Improvements

The following applications, restricted in the LA version of this product, are now supported:

  • Borland C++ 3.0
  • Chipchat
  • Control Room 1.0
  • Crosstalk IV
  • Dynacomm
  • Framework III Version 1.1
  • IBM Current*
  • MS Flight Simulator
  • MS Word for OS/2
  • New Wave 3.0
  • PC3270
  • PC Paintbrush IV
  • PFS First Choice 3.1
  • Superprint 2.0
  • Terminator
  • Winfax Pro 2.0

Disclaimers

Terms denoted by a single asterisk (*) in this booklet are trademarks of the IBM Corporation (IBM) in the United States and/or other countries.

These terms include:

  • Current PM
  • IBM Presentation Manager Operating System/2 PS/2
  • OS/2 Personal System/2
  • XGA WIN-OS/2

Terms denoted by a double asterisk in this booklet (**) are trademarks of other companies. Other trademarks appearing in this booklet are owned by their respective companies.

  • Microsoft, MS Bookshelf, MS Excel, MS Flight Simulator, MS Money, and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

IBM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF FITNESS AND MERCHANTABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. BY FURNISHING THIS DOCUMENT, IBM GRANTS NO LICENSES TO ANY RELATED PATENTS OR COPYRIGHTS.

Copyright IBM Corporation, 1992, all rights reserved.