Microsoft KB Archive/36739

COBOL 3.0 SETUP.EXE May Hang Incompatible Graphics Adapters

PSS ID Number: Q36739 Article last modified on 04-20-1993

3.00 | 3.00 MS-DOS | OS/2

Summary: The Microsoft COBOL Version 3.0 SETUP.EXE program may hang when using certain incompatible graphics adapters. SETUP.EXE is designed to run on all IBM video cards (i.e., IBM CGA, EGA, VGA, MCGA) and Hercules-compatible graphics adapters. Video cards that are not 100-percent compatible may conflict with SETUP.EXE. As a workaround solution, you can find out how to emulate the SETUP program by running it (without hanging) on a different IBM or compatible machine. The SETUP program has a Preview feature which lets you find out which files need to be copied from each of the distribution disks. You can then go back to the computer on which SETUP hung, and then manually copy the appropriate files to your system.

More Information: Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Version 3.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information as it becomes available. The following is an example of the workaround solution: 1. From Drive A on the second computer, type SETUP. 2. Go through the Component Selections and choose your desired configuration. 3. Accept the default directories SETUP gives you because you will be using your own directories when you copy the files manually on your own computer. 4. Choose #2 from the main menu to Preview the desired installation. 5. The SETUP.EXE program will display the following: a. The total number of free bytes needed on your hard disk for COBOL Version 3.0 to load. b. A list of what COBOL directives need to be put into an ASCII file, created by you, called COBOL.DIR. c. A list of what file(s) are needed from each of the 14 COBOL Version 3.0 distribution disks. 6. This information needs to be written down for later use, (you may print it by using the PRINT SCREEN key on each screen). 7. Choose to Exit the SETUP program without performing any file copying. 8. Return to the computer where you want to load COBOL Version 3.0 and create a COBOL directory where you want your files loaded. This is where you can now copy the files specified from each distribution disk, and then create the COBOL.DIR file as mentioned above. 9. Now use a text editor to modify or create your CONFIG.SYS file to contain FILES=100 and BUFFERS=30 (approximately). To optimize performance, you may now want to modify your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to include your COBOL directory in the PATH, LIB, and other MS-DOS environment variables, as in the following example: SET PATH=C:;C:; SET COBDIR=C:; SET LIB=C:; 10. The Microsoft Editor may also be installed in a directory under or beside your COBOL directory. Typing MESETUP from the A: prompt with the Microsoft Editor disk in drive A: will respond with some editor configuration questions and then copy the necessary files onto your hard disk. The MESETUP does not seem to fail on less compatible video hardware. 11. Next you should run the ADISCF utility to configure the ADIS files. The ADIS files are the COBOL Version 3.0 support for ACCEPT and DISPLAY and are used in conjunction with your programs. To configure ADIS, just type ADISCF from the DOS command line. Next press the F3 key to LOAD a particular configuration from the ADISCTRL database. Choose the “Microsoft V2 Compatibility” option (number 5), or the desired compatibility option from the menu and press ENTER. This should now be the default configuration and you can press ESC to quit the ADISCF utility. 12. Now you can reboot you system and start programming in Microsoft COBOL Version 3.0.

Additional reference words: 3.00 Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.