Microsoft KB Archive/105615

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PSS ID Number: 105615

Article Last Modified on 11/18/1999



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2



This article was previously published under Q105615

SUMMARY

The following information was taken from the MS-DOS 6.2 README.TXT file.

NOTE: The MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade and MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up (both downloadable and disk versions) include the same README.TXT file.

NOTES ON MS-DOS 6.2

3. WINDOWS

3.1 Your computer uses a Windows 3.0 permanent swap file.

If your computer uses a Windows 3.0 permanent swap file, run the SPATCH.BAT program to make the swap file compatible with MS-DOS 6. To do so, carry out the following procedure:

  1. Copy the SPATCH.BAT file to your hard disk. To determine the location of the file on the Setup disks, view the PACKING.LST file on Setup Disk 1.
  2. Type the following at the command prompt:

    SPATCH [DRIVE]:[PATH]SWAPFILE.EXE

    For the DRIVE and PATH parameters, specify the location of your SWAPFILE.EXE file.
  3. Follow the instructions on your screen.

    The program modifies the SWAPFILE.EXE for use with MS-DOS 6 and saves a backup copy as SWAPFILE.SAV. After you have confirmed the file works correctly, you can delete the SWAPFILE.SAV file.

3.2 Using compressed floppy disks with Windows File Manager

If you are using compressed floppy disks with automounting enabled, you might encounter error messages or other problems while using File Manager. To work around these problems, press the F5 key twice.

For example, if you change from a compressed to an uncompressed floppy disk, the drive button for the compressed floppy disk's host drive remains until you press the F5 key twice.

4. HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY WITH MS-DOS

4.1 Compaq EXTDISK.SYS Driver

The Compaq EXTDISK.SYS driver version 3.00 or later is compatible with MS-DOS 6. If you have a version earlier than 3.00, contact your vendor for an upgrade.

4.2 Hardcard

To use DoubleSpace on a system that uses its Hardcard drive as its startup drive, see section 7.18. For additional Hardcard information, see the following:

  1. Hardcard II

    If you can't use Plus Development Hardcard II or Hardcard II XL when running EMM386.EXE, specify the exclude (x=) switch to prevent EMM386 from conflicting with the card's BIOS address.

    To configure EMM386, run MemMaker.
  2. Hardcard 40 or Passport

    If you are using Hardcard 40 or a Passport removable disk, and you have a DEVICE command in your CONFIG.SYS file for PLUSDRV.SYS, disable or remove the DEVICE command. Then run MS-DOS 6.2 Setup. After Setup is complete, reenable or restore the DEVICE command for PLUSDRV.SYS. Make it the last line in the file.
  3. If you are unable to access your compressed drive after installing DoubleSpace on your Hardcard, try the following:

    1. Add a DBLSPACE /MOUNT command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to mount the compressed volume file on the Hardcard every time you start your computer.
    2. Or, ensure that there is at least one device driver (for example, ANSI.SYS) loaded in your CONFIG.SYS file AFTER the ATDOSXL.SYS driver but BEFORE the DBLSPACE.SYS driver.

4.3 Toshiba

If you used the MS-DOS 5.0 version of EMM386 before you ran Setup, and you use the Power Management function, use the VRESUME program or device driver to avoid problems with the Resume feature. Carry out the following procedure:

  1. Make sure the VRESUME.COM or VRESUME.SYS file is on your hard disk. To load the TSR, add a command for VRESUME.COM to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. To load the device driver, add a command for the VRESUME.SYS file to your CONFIG.SYS file.
  2. Save the file, and restart your computer.


NOTE For information about using VRESUME with Windows 3.0, see the WRESUME.TXT file on your Toshiba MS-DOS 5.0 disks.

5. MICROSOFT PROGRAMS

5.1 Microsoft Anti-Virus

Before cleaning a program file, make sure you have a backup copy of it. If you clean a program file, and the program is corrupted, reinstall the program. If Anti-Virus again detects a virus, there is a chance the detection is in error; contact your software vendor to determine if an updated version of the program is available.

5.2 Running Microsoft Backup for MS-DOS under Windows

You should not run Backup for MS-DOS while Windows is running. However, if you do, and if your system is not configured correctly, Backup might display the following symptoms:

  • Backup appears to stop running--for example, the clock runs, but there is no disk activity.
  • Backup reports problems while testing the second floppy disk during the compatibility test. For example, it might display a "Diskette not properly seated" message or ask for Disk 1 repeatedly.
  • Windows displays a message that the DMA buffer size needs to be increased.
  • Backup quits unexpectedly.

You can correctly configure your system by carrying out the following procedure.

  1. Open your SYSTEM.INI file, and add a DMABufferSize=32 line to the [386Enh] section.
  2. When you run Backup, make sure that you specify with the Settings command from the Control menu that Backup run with the Exclusive and Full Screen options.

5.3 Backup for Windows stops running at the end of the compatibility test

If Backup for Windows stops running at the end of the Compatibility Test, you might be loading an incompatible third-party backup driver in your SYSTEM.INI file. Carry out the following procedure.

NOTE This procedure disables your third-party backup program.

  1. Open your SYSTEM.INI file, and locate the [386Enh] section.
  2. Determine whether any of the following lines are included in this section:

       DEVICE=FASTBACK.386
       DEVICE=VFD.386
       DEVICE=CPBVXD.386
       DEVICE=VIRWT.386
                            
  3. If you find any of these lines, add a semicolon (;) to the front of the line.
  4. Save the file, restart Windows, and run Backup for Windows again.

5.4 Running Microsoft Backup with TI4000 and Gateway NOMAD computers

To avoid a conflict between the Turbo feature and Microsoft Backup for Windows or MS-DOS, add a /L0 switch to the DEVICE command in your CONFIG.SYS that loads the BATTERY.PRO file. Or, before you run Microsoft Backup, type SETPOWER /L0 at the command prompt.

5.5 Microsoft Defragmenter

If you received the "Insufficient Memory" message from Microsoft Defragmenter, use the MEM command to determine how much conventional, upper, and extended (XMS) memory is available. In addition to using all available conventional memory, Defragmenter can make use of up to 384K of extended memory and 12K of upper memory.

To increase available memory, carry out the procedures in "An MS-DOS program displays an out-of-memory message" in the chapter "Diagnosing and Solving Problems" in the MICROSOFT MS-DOS 6 USER'S GUIDE.

If less than 384K of extended memory is available, carry out the procedures in "Freeing Extended Memory" in the "Making More Memory Available" chapter in the MICROSOFT MS-DOS 6 USER'S GUIDE.

6. THIRD-PARTY PROGRAMS

6.1 4DOS and NDOS

4DOS and NDOS are compatible with MS-DOS 6. However, to use some of the new features in MS-DOS 6.2 (such as MemMaker, the LOADHIGH /L switch, DIR compression switches, and the ability to bypass startup commands), contact JP Software to obtain 4DOS 4.02 or later, or Symantec to obtain Norton Utilities 7.0 or later.

If you use multiple configurations, 4DOS or NDOS will not automatically run your AUTOEXEC.BAT file unless you include a /P on the SHELL line in your CONFIG.SYS file.

To use MS-DOS 6.2 Help instead of 4DOS or NDOS Help, start it by using COMMAND /C HELP, or define a 4DOS or NDOS alias to run HELP.COM from your MS-DOS 6.2 directory.

6.2 Above Board 286 and Above Board Plus Installation Programs

Do not use an Above Board installation program dated May 1989 or earlier until you disable programs that use extended memory, such as SMARTDrive or RAMDrive. You might lose data if you leave these programs enabled. After you have installed Above Board, you can reenable these programs.

6.3 CodeView

CAUTION Using versions 3.0 to 3.13 of the CodeView CV.EXE file may cause data loss if your system has an 80386 memory manager (such as EMM386.EXE) and device drivers or programs that use extended memory. To determine which version you have, type CV.EXE at the command prompt.

6.4 Colorado Tape Backup

If you receive a message that you have two versions of the VFINTD.386 file loaded, you probably need to edit your SYSTEM.INI file. To do so, carry out the following procedure:

  1. Open your SYSTEM.INI file and locate the [386Enh] section. You should see two lines similar to the following:

       DEVICE=C:\TAPE\CMSDTAPE.386
       DEVICE=C:\DOS\VFINTD.386
                            
  2. If you plan to use your Colorado Tape Backup program, add a semi- colon (;) before the DEVICE command for the VFINTD.386 file. If you plan to use Microsoft Backup, add a semi-colon before the DEVICE command for the CMSDTAPE.386 file.
  3. Save the file, and restart Windows.

6.5 Fastback Plus

If you have a version of Fifth Generation Systems Fastback Plus earlier than 3.0, use the LOADFIX command before running Fastback Plus or the Fastback Plus installation program to ensure that you don't lose data. To do so, type the following at the command prompt:

LOADFIX FB.EXE


or

LOADFIX FBINSTAL.EXE


6.6 Norton Desktop for Windows 2.0

Setup adds a second Tools menu which contains Microsoft Backup and Antivirus commands (if you installed these Windows programs), as well as a DoubleSpace Info command (if DoubleSpace is installed).

If you use DoubleSpace to compress the drive that contains SmartCan, you might experience system problems afterward. To correct this, reinstall Norton Desktop for Windows.

For information about Norton AntiVirus and DoubleSpace, see the following section.

6.7 Norton Utilities

The "Clear Space" option of Norton Speed Disk (prior to version 7.0) is incompatible with DoubleSpace drives. For an updated version of Norton Speed Disk, contact your software vendor.

Do not use the WipeInfo utility on DoubleSpace drives. It can cause lost clusters. If you have already used this option, use the SCANDISK command to fix the lost clusters.

If Norton AntiVirus is running when you use DoubleSpace to compress the drive that contains the NAV_.SYS file, DoubleSpace leaves a copy of the NAV_.SYS file on the host drive. This prevents Norton AntiVirus from reporting a virus infection during the compression process. After the compression process is complete, you can safely delete the copy of NAV_.SYS on the host drive.

If you use the Norton Cache or Speedrive utilities, load the utility after the DEVICE command that loads DBLSPACE.SYS. For more information, see section 7.24.

6.8 PC Tools

If PC Shell does not show all of the files or directories on your drive, quit PC Shell immediately and contact Central Point Software for an update.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to use PC Shell on that drive; severe data loss might occur. This problem affects both compressed and non-compressed drives.


The DISKFIX /SCAN option in PC Tools can cause lost clusters on DoubleSpace drives. Avoid using this option. (If you have already used this option, use ScanDisk to fix the lost clusters.)

The FORMAT command of PC Tools version 7.1 conflicts with MS-DOS 6.2. Use the FORMAT command that comes with MS-DOS 6.2.

The COMPRESS command of PC Tools versions 6.0 and 5.5 is incompatible with DoubleSpace.

6.9 QEMM's Stealth DoubleSpace Feature

The Stealth DoubleSpace feature of QEMM 7.01 is incompatible with MS-DOS 6.2. Version 7.02 is compatible with MS-DOS 6.2, but not with DEFRAG.EXE or DoubleSpace's Automount feature. Version 7.03 is fully compatible with MS-DOS 6.2 and DoubleSpace; it is available to all QEMM 7 users through bulletin board systems such as BIX, CompuServe, and QuarterDeck BBS, as well as directly from QuarterDeck Office Systems.

If you use the Stealth DoubleSpace feature of QEMM version 7.01 or 7.02, see the appropriate section below.

QEMM version 7.01

The Stealth DoubleSpace feature of QEMM 7.01 is incompatible with MS-DOS 6.2. If you use QEMM version 7.01 and the Stealth DoubleSpace feature, your computer will not start properly.

To work around this problem, press F8 when your computer starts. Answer Y to all prompts except the following:

    DEVICE=C:\QEMM\ST-DBL.SYS [Y/N]?
                

When MS-DOS displays this prompt, answer N. (The pathname for ST-DBL.SYS may be different on your computer.) After your computer starts, edit your CONFIG.SYS file and make the following changes:

  • Disable the DEVICE command for ST-DBL.SYS by using the REM command.
  • Add a DEVICE command for DBLSPACE.SYS. For example:

        DEVICE=C:\DOS\DBLSPACE.SYS /MOVE
                            

QEMM version 7.02

The Stealth DoubleSpace feature of QEMM version 7.02 is compatible with MS-DOS 6.2, with the following exceptions:

  • You cannot use QEMM version 7.02's Stealth DoubleSpace feature while DoubleSpace's Automount feature is enabled. To turn Automounting off, type DBLSPACE /AUTOMOUNT=O at the command prompt, and then restart your computer.
  • You cannot run the Microsoft Defragmenter (DEFRAG.EXE) while QEMM version 7.02's Stealth DoubleSpace driver is installed. To run DEFRAG.EXE, disable the Stealth DoubleSpace driver, and then restart your computer. After you finish running DEFRAG.EXE, you can reenable the Stealth DoubleSpace driver and restart your computer.

6.10 Johnson Computer Systems PC-Vault and PC-Vault Plus

If you use version 4.6 or earlier of the PC-Vault or PC-Vault Plus hard disk protection system, do not use the Maximum Floppy Boot Protection option if you use DoubleSpace.

In these versions of PC-Vault and PC-Vault plus, the Maximum Floppy Boot Protection option is incompatible with DoubleSpace and may cause data loss. If your version of PC-Vault or PC-Vault Plus is earlier than 4.6, contact Johnson Computer Systems for an upgrade.

6.11 AddStor Double Tools

AddStor's Double Tools version 1.0 includes a version of DBLSPACE.BIN that is incompatible with MS-DOS 6.2. When you install Double Tools, do not check the "Install enhanced DoubleSpace drivers" box. If you do, Double Tools will replace the MS-DOS 6.2 DBLSPACE.BIN file with the Double Tools version of DBLSPACE.BIN. The next time you start your computer, it will display the message "Wrong DBLSPACE.BIN version" and none of your compressed drives will be mounted.


Additional query words: MWBackup ndw 6.20 bbsstepup stepup doubletools

Keywords: KB105615
Technology: kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOSSearch