                   Joe's OS/2 Tips.

                      Number 7

         Written by Joseph Mckinnon (61:560/0@Worldnet)
        
         Downloaded from Proteus OS/2.
        
         Phone +61-7-800-3521
        
         Hours 24 hours a day
        
         Speeds 300-14400, MNP, V42Bis (NETCOMM)

=========================================================================

A] OS/2 ver 2.1 Beta (6.479).
B] More DOS_SETTINGS.
C] CONFIG.SYS Thingos.
D] Removing Un-Delete able objects.

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

The Flame of the Month

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

==================================================================

              OS/2 ver 2.1 Beta

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

   The following new functions have been added
   since OS/2 2.0 was delivered:

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

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

CD-ROMS
ManuFacturer    CD-ROM Models

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

SCSI Cards
Manufacturer    SCSI Adapter or Interface

Adaptec         AIC 6260
                AHA 1510,1512,1520,1522
                AHA 1540,1542,1544
                AHA 1640,1642,1644
                AHA 1740,1742,1744 (Standard & Enhanced modes)
DPT             PM 2011,2012
Future Domain   TMC-850,860,875,885
                TMS-1660,1670,1680
                MCS-600,700
                TMC-7000EX
                TMC-850IBM
IBM             PS/2 SCSI Adapter
                PS/2 SCSI Adapter with cache

Video Cards

ATI Technology VGAWonder
CGA
8514/A
EGA
XGA
VRAM II
IBM VGA 256c
Generic SVGA
Trident
Tseng Labs 4000     (Diamond Speedstars DIP Settings 1,2,4 Must be OFF)
VGA

Sound Cards (if it's bundled with MMPM)

Creative Labs range
Roland
Adlib
IBM Audio cards
MORE on the way.

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

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

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

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

==================================================================

                  More DOS_SETTINGS

DOS_AUTOEXEC
HW_NOSOUND
HW_ROM_TO_RAM
HW_TIMER

    DOS_AUTOEXEC
       Instead of running your Standard OS/2 Autoexec.bat, you can
       specify which Batch file is automatically loaded for that
       session.  Handy if you have a massive environmental requirements
       for particular applications.

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

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

    HW_TIMER
       OS/2 Emulates the Hardware timer's ticking, and hence may cause
       hassles with sensitive DOS programs that rely on the hardware
       version.  EG Games like Wing Commander 2 go a lot better with
       this turned ON.

==================================================================

      More Config.sys Thingos

There are several SYS files that aren't really essential if you don't
require them.

VWIN.SYS        For Windows. YucK!
VCOM.SYS        For DOS coms

Some interesting drivers

VNPX.SYS        Emulates a Maths Co processor.

Special Recommendation.

   Ray Gwinn's SIO coms driver is an essential is a must for any serious
OS/2 coms user.  It's much faster than the COM.SYS, that comes with
OS/2, and is by far the best coms driver I have used to date under OS/2.
Ray has also made a VSIO.SYS to replace the VCOM.SYS, which according to
many sources has fixed DOS comms problem.  I have included the latest
beta in with these tips, for people who haven't had the chance to grab a
copy.

==================================================================

       Removing Un-deletable Objects from the WPS

    Have you ever come across a Folder Icon which refuses to be deleted?

    If so, use the following method to remove it.

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

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

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

The End

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


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

WORLDNET             61:6700/1
INTLNET              58:1100/300
FIDONET              3:640/830

Or via SNAIL MAIL

Joe's OS/2 Tips
540 Johnson Road
Forestdale, QLD, Australia, 4118.


Or via the BBS

+61-7-800-3521
Hours 0600-215 Australian Eastern Standard Time
1200-14.4k baud rates.

Or Via VOICE

+61-7-800-4447

Most times I am around the phone, but the answering system will take
care of you, otherwise.  Sorry, I can't afford to return an international
call.
