OS/2 2.1 Service Pack Problems

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The following excerpts were taken from an internal IBM memo regarding OS/2 2.11 Service Pack problems. These excerpts suggest workarounds/solutions.

[Sender's name and addresses edited out by me - Karu]

Subject: OS/2 2.1 Service Pack Problems
I am sending this note to inform you of some OS/2 2.1 Service
Pack problems. I will send a follow-up note with more details about
these issues.

Listed below are the areas where the Service Pack has caused problems.

[Few lines edited out by me - Karu]

The XR06200.XRF file on diskette 13 contains the list of problems
that the Service Pack fixes.

This information is a compilation of our experiences and
appends to the OS2 Forums.  If we know of a fix to a problem,
it is included below the problem description. This is not meant
to be a comprehensive list of the SP problems.
----------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE:   Before installing, read the XR06200.AVA file.  It
        contains information about things to do before installing
        (i.e. CHKDSK /F to boot drive).  It also describes the
        different ways the SP can be installed (i.e. to all
        partitions, from CD-ROM etc...).  Other installation
        information is contained in the README.INS file on
        diskette 1 of the SP diskettes. Information not specific
        to installation is in the README file on diskette 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Problem:  Multiple Desktops

If the system's Object Open Behavior behavior is set to CREATE
new window, the system will create multiple views of your desktop
(folder) at each boot.  Note that it doesn't create a second
desktop, it simply open a second view of the desktop.

FIX:  Change the Object open behavior to Display Existing Window.
      You can change this setting for either the desktop ONLY or for
      the whole system, either will fix the above problem.
To change it only for the desktop folder:
    1. Click on the desktop with the right mouse arrow.
    2. Click on OPEN -> Settings
    3. Select the Window Page of the Desktop Settings folder
    4. Change the Object open behavior to Display existing
       window.
        NOTE: This will cause customized entries to the desktop
        pop-up menu to display existing programs rather than
        create new instances of programs.
OR to change it for the whole system:
    1. Open the OS2 System folder
    2. Open the System Setup folder
    3. Open the System settings object.
    4. Select the Window page.
    5. Change the Object open behavior to Display existing
       window.

Problem: WIN-OS2 Failure

When starting WIN-OS2 seamless or full screen, the system hangs. This seems to happen if the Windows files are located on an extended partition, and you choose to only update the OS/2 boot partition when prompted by the SP install program. It may be possible to fix this by reapplying the SP and specifying both (or all) partitions.


Problem: Can't copy the OS/2 INI files.

The SP adds the SYSTEM file attribute to the OS2.INI and OS2SYS.INI files. This prevents them from being copied via a normal copy command.

FIX: Use XCOPY with the /T and /R parameters. Example: XCOPY C:\OS2\OS2.INI C:\OS2\OS2INI.BAK /T /R


Problem: S3 Drivers

Miscellaneous problems resulting from trying to install the drivers from the S3 Driver diskettes (i.e. using DSPINSTL).

FIX: Prior to installing the GA Service Pack, Selectively install the system back to VGA. Then, after applying the SP, use Selective Install to upgrade it to the SVGA resolutions. Support for S3 cards is built into the 2.1 Service Pack. Change the resolution from System object in the System Setup folder.


Problem: Adaptec AHA152X.ADD driver problem

Some systems that use the Adaptec SCSI card (including those with the Sound Blaster 16 SCSI-2 with a Toshiba 3401B CD drive) will not boot after installing the service pack. There are some work arounds for this problem. It appears that the driver shipped with the SP adds support for more devices, but breaks some systems entirely. There are two possible fixes for the problem:

FIX: Add the parameter /!SN to the CONFIG.SYS line referencing AHA152X.ADD. If this doesn't help... Use the AHA152X.ADD driver from the 2.1 GA code.


Problem: DosCopy error installing PostScript Printer Driver

When installing the Postscript printer support for the 4029 printer, the installation program reports a DosCopy error installing the Windows portion of the code. This appears only to happen with the diskette versions.

*************************************************************
---------------- Miscellaneous Information ------------------
*************************************************************
SP ONLY Updates Components Already on the System:
The BETA SP updated the system adding everything back to the
system.  The GA Service Pack will only update what is already
installed, it doesn't add any items or features.  If there is
something you want which is not already installed, you must
Selectively Install it using your GA version, then reapply the
SP. Preferably, this should be done prior to installing the SP.
----
Swapper:
A problem with the Gamma beta was the Swapper file didn't shrink.
It now shrinks, but very slowly.  Also, it doesn't always reduce
as far as it did with 2.1 GA.
----
Disk Labels:
There has been some confusion as to the diskette labeling format
for printer driver, display driver, and MMPM/2 diskettes.  This
resulted from an incorrect LABELS file.
For the 3.5" diskette version:
Diskettes 14, 15, and 16 are Printer Driver disks 1,2, and 3.
Diskettes 17, 18, and 19 are Display Driver disks 1,2, and 3.
Diskettes 20 and 21 are MMPM/2 disks 1 and 2.
For the 5.25" diskette version:
Diskettes 16, 17, 18, and 19 are Printer Driver disks 1, 2, 3,
100Diskettes 16, 17, 18, and 19 are Printer Driver disks 1, 2, 3,
and 4. Diskettes 20, 21, and 22 are Display Driver disks 1, 2,
and 3. Diskettes 23, 24, and 25 are MMPM/2 disks 1, 2, and 3.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Icon Hashing:
On some systems, some icons on the desktop and in folders remain
crosshatched after the program/folder/object has been closed.
**********************************************************

[Sender's name and address edited out by me - Karu]

Subject: 2.1 ServicePak bug with LAN Drives

Please pass this along to anyone who may be interested...

FYI.... The 2.1 ServicePak introduces a bug related to opening folders
under the Drives object for LAN-attached disks. When you open Drives,
then a LAN Drive, and then any folder within that drive, the folder will
briefly appear then disappear. You'll have to double-click on the folder
at least one more time to open the folder. Once the folder opens
successfully, future attempts to open it will work on the first try.
Well, at least until you shutdown. After I rebooted, the problem came
back.

I've submitted a problem report to defect support. If I hear anything
back, I'll let you know so you can pass the info along to your customers
should they have this problem.

[Few lines edited out by me - Karu]


The following was taken from CompuServe.

#: 173797 S2/Install Questions
09-Mar-94  11:42:37
Sb: Safe Proc for 2.11 CSD
Fm: James A. Helzer 71127,2175
To: all

Haven't seen this posted (but it may have been). I submit this simply
because we have had sporadic problems (inconsistent) and I've seen
other reported.

Here's the story: in response to some problems, I've been told by IBM
that there is apparently a problem which may occur when installing the
2.11 CSD (XR06200) when using the "Boot" procedure which calls for a
boot from Diskette 1. Even though it completes with a message
"Corrective service completed successfully.", it may, in fact, fail to
correctly update all modules. This can result in some problems.

Thus, IBM told us that on any further installations:

1. If the machine is currently at 2.1:
a. Be sure, before upgrading, to do a CHKDSK x: /F  ('x' is usally C)
using a boot from the BASE operating diskettes for 2.1.
b. To perform the Corrective Service, DO NOT
reboot from A:. Instead, bring the machine up normally under 2.1, Open
an OS/2 Window, put Service Diskette #1 in A:, and then:
A:\SERVICE
and take the full service options. This is important, because
apparently the boot method is not updating some module or another even
though it reports complete. IBM says that A:\SERVICE does not have
that problem.

2. For any machine which has already been updated to 2.11 using the
"BOOT" method, and which experiences problems, IBM says: from the
Desktop, open an OS/2 Window, put the Service Diskette #1 in A: and
then run:
A:\SERVICE
and take the full service options even if it says everything is OK.
Then follow instructions for what diskettes to put in the diskette
reader. This is a very quick process and is said to find any missing
modules and get them properly installed.

Hope this is helpful. JAH