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BOOT'R
Version 2.17
Copyright c 1993-1995 by
Stevenson Technical Services, Incorporated
108 Second Avenue West
PO Box 297
Bertha MN 56437-0297 USA
Phone/FAX: 218-924-2050
The STSI BBS: 218-924-2060
Internet: cstevens@bertha.polaristel.net
Welcome!
Thank you for using BOOT'R! If you appreciate BOOT'R (pronounced
"booter"), you are encouraged to call The STSI BBS at (218) 924-
2060, and let us know! Comments, suggestions, and enhancement
requests are always welcome!
Requirements
To run BOOT'R reliably, you will need the following:
· DOS 3.3 or Higher
· IBM PC, PC-Compatible or MS-DOS Computer
· Hard Drive and 640K RAM
Disclaimer / License Agreement:
What is shareware?
Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software
before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue
using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs
differ on details - some request registration while others
require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With
registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue
using the software to an updated program with printed manual.
Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software,
and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific
exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished
programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are
of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs
and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of
distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy
and distribute the software, either to all or to a specific
group. For example, some authors require written permission
before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You
should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook,
whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes
fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy.
And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware
has the ultimate money-back guarantee - if you don't use the
product, you don't pay for it.
Disclaimer - Agreement
By using BOOT'R, users indicate their acceptance of the following
terms:
"BOOT'R is supplied as is. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the
warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.
Neither STSI, The STSI BBS, or any STSI employees will be held
responsible for any damages, direct or consequential, which may
result from the use of BOOT'R."
"Information in this documentation is subject to change without
notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of STSI.
STSI may make improvements and/or changes in this documentation
or in the products and/or programs described in this
documentation at any time."
BOOT'R is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to
the user for evaluation. Feel free to share it with your
friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of
another system. The essence of "user-supported" software is to
provide personal computer users with quality software without
high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to
continue to develop new products. If you find this program
useful and find that you are using BOOT'R and continue to use
BOOT'R after a reasonable trial period, you must make a
registration payment of $34.95 (+S&H) to Stevenson Technical
Services, Inc. (STSI). This registration fee will license one
copy for use on any one computer at any one time. You must treat
this software just like a book. An example is that this software
may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from
one computer location to another, so long as there is no
possibility of it being used at one location while it's being
used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different
persons at the same time, BOOT'R should not be used on two
different computers at the same time.
Commercial users of BOOT'R must register and pay for their copies
of BOOT'R within 30 days of first use or their license is
withdrawn. Site- License arrangements may be made by contacting
STSI at (218) 924-2050.
Anyone distributing BOOT'R for any kind of remuneration must
first contact STSI for authorization. This authorization will be
automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as
adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such
distributors may begin offering BOOT'R immediately. (However
STSI must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-
to-date with the latest version of BOOT'R.)
You are encouraged to pass a copy of BOOT'R along to your friends
for evaluation. Please encourage them to register their copy if
they find that they can use it. All registered users will
receive a copy of the latest version of the BOOT'R, along with a
printed manual and bonus disks.
ASP Notice:
STSI is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals
(ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works
for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related
problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP
may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a
dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide
technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP
Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX
616-788-2765 or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to
ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.
Registration:
BOOT'R is distributed under the shareware concept. You may try
BOOT'R for a period of two weeks. After this period, you must
either discontinue using BOOT'R, or register it. A single-user
license is only $34.95 (+$5.00 S&H USA/Canada / $10.00 S&H on
Foreign Orders). This price includes a printed manual, along
with a 3 1/2" diskette containing the most current version.
Registered users will receive a Registration Name and Number
allowing them to register their copy of BOOT'R. This allows the
optional removal of all program delays. To register, call STSI
at (218) 924-2050 and charge it to your Visa, MasterCard,
American Express, or Discover credit card. Upon request, you
will receive a temporary registration name and number over the
telephone. For further registration information and pricing,
please read the REGISTER.DOC file included with BOOT'R.
How To Order
To register, do ONE of the following (whichever you prefer):
1. Call The STSI BBS at (218) 924-2060 and register online. We
accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit
cards. This method of registration can be performed 24-hours a
day, 7-days a week. (Registering this way is fast and easy,
allowing us to process your registration quickly.)
2. To register using our voice line, call (218) 924-2050.
Please have your credit card handy.
3. You can FAX your registration to (218) 924-2050. Simply fill
out the registration form provided (REGISTER.DOC), include your
credit card information on the bottom of the form, and sign it.
(Most FAX transmissions will be automatically routed to the FAX
machine. If you have problems reaching our FAX machine, wait
until after the first ring, press 11, and then begin
transmitting.)
4. Mail the registration form along with your payment to STSI at
108 2nd Avenue West, PO Box 297, Bertha, MN 56437-0297 USA.
Technical Support:
Technical support is available through the following means:
The STSI BBS:
New versions of this program will be posted here as soon as
they are available. The STSI BBS uses a U.S. Robotics
V.Everything modem, which is capable of V.FAST, V.32bis, V.32,
and 2400 baud connect speeds. The access number for The STSI
BBS is (218)-924-2060. Technical support questions posted on
the bulletin board system should be addressed to Craig
Stevenson.
STSI FAX:
STSI has a FAX machine on-line 24 hours-a-day to accept FAX
transmissions. Technical support questions / problems may be
faxed to (218) 924-2050. Most FAX transmissions will be
automatically routed to the FAX machine. If you have problems
reaching our FAX machine, wait until after the first ring,
press 11, and then begin transmitting.
Internet Mail:
STSI will respond to messages sent via the Internet. Send any
tech support related questions, comments, or suggestions to
cstevens@bertha.polaristel.net.
Telephone:
Technical support calls may be placed at (218) 924-2050. Office
hours are from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday thru Friday, and 8:00
am - 11:00 am on Saturday.
Please read the following before placing a technical support call
to STSI:
1. Read the documentation files (and the help screens, if
available). Most questions can be answered by simply reading the
docs.
2. If you have a modem, call The STSI BBS and download the
latest version. (Read Bulletin #1 on our BBS to find out the
latest version and release date of this program. When
downloading a file, keep in mind that STSI's programs are always
posted in area 27.) After you download the latest version, try
it and see if you are still experiencing the same problem. We
attempt to fix problems as soon as we become aware of them, and
post the updated versions on the bulletin board system. (Check
the .REV revision file for information on feature enhancements
and bug-fixes.)
3. If you still cannot find an answer, contact us through one of
the means outlined above. We will do our best to assist you and
answer any questions you may have.
4. When calling or leaving a message, please be prepared to
answer the following questions: What version of this program are
you using? What problem(s) are you having, if any? What type of
computer CPU do you have (486DX2-66, etc.)? What version of DOS
are you using? Please be as specific as possible. The more
specific you are, the faster we will be able to assist you.
5. When placing a technical support call via telephone, please
be seated behind your computer. We may ask you to perform a
couple of simple tasks in order to help us narrow down any
potential problems.
6. When speaking with any of our employees, please be
considerate. Speak clearly, explaining your problem as carefully
as possible. Please do not use any harsh or inappropriate
(profane) language.
7. If one of our employees is able to help you, and you continue
to use this program, register it! We cannot continue to produce
quality programs without the continuing support of our users.
What is BOOT'R?
BOOT'R is a program designed to maintain multiple configurations
on a single computer system. BOOT'R allows users to modify a
computer's configuration files, and reboot the machine. This
allows the creation of optimal configurations for every operating
environment. For example, DOS users may want to load certain
device drivers that would give trouble under DESQview or Windows.
Certain games might require an exhorbitant amount of free memory,
which is impossible to achieve with many device drivers loaded.
Similarly, some TSRs may interfere with the operation of specific
programs, such as tape backup programs. BOOT'R allows the
creation of an operating environment without these TSRs. With
BOOT'R, different configurations can be used for DOS, DESQview,
Windows, and many other programs.
What's so special about BOOT'R? Unlike other configuration
management utilities, BOOT'R allows up to FIVE files to be
modified for each configuration that is used. Instead of only
allowing a user to change his AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files,
BOOT'R allows these files to be changed, along with additional
ones. Within my company, I find this most useful to modify
network files called SHELL.CFG and NET.CFG. This file contains
network configuration options that need to be changed from one
configuration to another. BOOT'R provides the flexibility needed
to accomplish this task.
Installing BOOT'R
The installation procedure for BOOT'R is quite simple. The
package includes a program, "INSTALL.EXE", which automates the
entire process. You will need about 1 megabyte of available disk
space on the hard drive on which you plan to install BOOT'R.
The exact steps you need to take will depend on how you received
BOOT'R.
Installing From Diskettes
To install from diskette(s), you need to perform the following
steps.
1. Place BOOT'R distribution diskette "Disk 1" in the
appropriate diskette drive.
2. Execute the "INSTALL.EXE" program on the distribution
diskette. For example, if the distribution diskette is on
drive A:, type the MS-DOS command, "a:install".
3. Follow the instructions presented by the installation
program. You will have a chance to approve installation before
any changes are actually made to the contents of your hard
drive. The program will ask you for a destination directory,
and will copy the BOOT'R files to that directory. If you
received BOOT'R on two diskettes, you will need to insert Disk
2 in the diskette drive when asked to do so. If you so direct
it, the installation program will install executable programs
and documentation in other directories of your choice.
Installing From A Hard Drive
If you downloaded BOOT'R from a BBS (or received it in the form
of archive files from some other source), you will need to
perform the following steps.
1. Extract the contents of the archive file(s) in a temporary
directory on your hard drive. The procedure for doing this
varies, depending on the form in which you received the
package. In all likelihood, the fact that you are reading this
text means that you already have the necessary tools and
knowledge to perform this step. If not, you should be able to
obtain directions for this from the same source from which you
received the package.
2. Execute the "INSTALL.EXE" program which you have extracted.
For example, if the temporary directory into which you have
extracted the files is C:\TEMPDIR, you would execute the MS-DOS
command, "c:\tempdir\install".
3. Follow the instructions presented by the installation
program. You will have a chance to approve installation before
any changes are actually made to the contents of your hard
drive. The installation program will ask you for a destination
directory, and will copy the program files to that directory.
If you so direct it, the installation program will install
executable programs and documentation in other directories of
your choice.
When you're satisfied that the installation was successful, you
should delete the temporary directory FROM which you installed
the program, (C:\TEMPDIR, in the above discussion), including all
its contents.
Once you have installed BOOT'R, log to the BOOT'R sub-directory
and type "BOOTRED" to execute the BOOT'R Editor.
How Does BOOT'R Work?
To understand how BOOT'R works, a basic understanding of the DOS
boot process is essential. At boot time, DOS uses the CONFIG.SYS
and AUTOEXEC.BAT files in the root directory of the hard drive to
load device drivers, memory managers, disk caches, mouse drivers,
network drivers, etc.. In its most basic form, BOOT'R simply
substitutes different CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files for each
configuration created by the BOOT'R Editor, and reboots the
system. The BOOT'R Editor saves each configuration in a special
.BTR file that contains the statements for the new CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files. It is important to note that changes made
directly to the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files on the hard
drive are not automatically updated in the BOOT'R configuration
files. If a program makes changes to either file, these changes
must be made permanent by editing the corresponding configuration
file using the BOOT'R Editor, and making the changes there.
Setting up a NORMAL (default) configuration
Before using BOOT'R for the first time, it is important to
preserve the existing system configuration contained in the
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. This can be done by following
these steps.
1. Change to the BOOT'R sub-directory.
2. Type "BOOTRED". (No quotes)
3. Click "Ok" on the opening screen.
4. Select "New Configuration" from the main menu.
5. Type "NORMAL" (No quotes) and press [TAB] or [ENTER] to
move to the description field.
6. Type "Normal Configuration" (No quotes) and press [ENTER].
7. Select "Ok".
8. Select "Edit All". You should now see a screen with empty
windows for the C:\CONFIG.SYS and C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
9. With the cursor in the C:\CONFIG.SYS window, select "File,
Load" (or press [F3]).
10. Select the file "CONFIG.SYS", and click "Open". You
should now see the contents of your existing CONFIG.SYS file in
the editor window.
11. Select the C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT window by clicking on it with
the mouse or by pressing [F6].
12. Select "File, Load" (or press [F3]).
13. Select the file "AUTOEXEC.BAT", and click "Open". You
should now see the contents of your existing AUTOEXEC.BAT file
in the editor window.
14. Select "File, Exit" (or press [ALT-X]) to exit, and answer
"Yes" to save these changes to the NORMAL.BTR configuration
file.
15. Select "Done" and then select "Exit BOOT'R Editor" to exit
the program.
You have now created a configuration called "NORMAL" that
contains your existing system configuration. (CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT) To return to this configuration at any time,
change to the BOOT'R sub-directory and type "BOOTR NORMAL" (no
quotes). You may also type "BOOTR" and select the "Normal"
button from the menu.
How to return to the BOOT'R menu following a configuration change
A "NORMAL" configuration must be created, that contains your
computer system's normal (default) configuration. (Normally,
this configuration is called "NORMAL", but you can use any name
you wish.) See the section entitled, "Setting up a NORMAL
(default) configuration" for more information on this procedure.
The following commands must be added to the end of the
AUTOEXEC.BAT file. (Use the BOOT'R Editor to make this change to
the AUTOEXEC.BAT section of the NORMAL.BTR file.)
[Your program executes here! Do not include this line in your
configuration!]
C:
CD\BOOTR
BOOTR
These statements simply log to the C: drive, change to the BOOT'R
sub-directory, and execute BOOT'R. The BOOT'R button menu is
displayed and configurations can be selected. When a
configuration is selected, BOOT'R updates the CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files in the root directory of the hard drive, and
reboots the computer.
In order to make the computer system return to the BOOT'R menu
after a configuration change, the following commands must be
added to the end of the AUTOEXEC.BAT files in each of the non-
normal configurations. (Use the BOOT'R Editor to make these
changes.)
[Your program executes here! Do not include this line in your
configuration!]
C:
CD\BOOTR
BOOTR NORMAL
Using this technique, BOOT'R can be used to boot into a multitude
of different, optimized configurations. After a specific program
is executed and exited, the system is reconfigured to a "NORMAL"
configuration.
To reduce the system boot-up time, create a scaled-down "NORMAL"
configuration that just loads enough device drivers to get BOOT'R
up and running. You will want to provide some XMS or EMS memory,
since BOOT'R and the BOOT'R Editor operate faster if it is
present. You might also want to include a mouse driver and a
disk cache.
Executing batch files from AUTOEXEC.BAT
If a batch file is executed from within the AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
DOS will not return to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file unless the "CALL"
statement is used. For example, Flight Simulator 5 normally
executes from a batch file named FS5.BAT. If BOOT'R is used to
create a specific configuration for FS5, and the technique
outlined under "How to return to the BOOT'R menu following a
configuration change" is used, the system will not be restored to
a "NORMAL" configuration after executing and exiting Flight
Simulator 5. This is due to the fact that DOS doesn't return to
the original (AUTOEXEC.BAT) batch file when it executes another
batch file (FS5.BAT). To circumvent this problem, simply "CALL"
the batch file as shown here:
CALL FS5
C:
CD\BOOTR
BOOTR NORMAL
Note that you must not specify the .BAT extension when using the
"CALL" statement.
Generic (DOS session) configurations.
Sometimes, instead of executing a specific program in the
AUTOEXEC.BAT file, it may be desirable to create a generic DOS
session. In this scenario, the system boots into an optimized
configuration and just sits at the C:\ prompt. If the technique
outlined under "How to return to the BOOT'R menu following a
configuration change" is used, the system will return to a
"NORMAL" configuration immediately. This problem can be solved
by loading a secondary command processor. The last lines of the
AUTOEXEC.BAT file should appear as follows. (Use the BOOT'R
Editor to make these changes.)
COMMAND
C:
CD\BOOTR
BOOTR NORMAL
When configuration containing these statements is used, the
system will load a secondary command processor, and sit at the
C:\ prompt. You can execute programs, run menu systems, and
perform various tests. To exit and return to a normal
configuration, type "EXIT" (no quotes), and press [ENTER]. The
remaining statements in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file will be executed,
and the system will return to a normal configuration. The only
drawback to this technique is that available conventional memory
will be reduced by the size of COMMAND.COM. Normally this
reduction is between 5K and 10K.
How to use MEMMAKER with BOOT'R
It is possible, and often desirable, to use MEMMAKER to optimize
each of the individual BOOT'R configurations. However, keep in
mind that MEMMAKER makes changes directly to the CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files in the root directory of the hard drive.
These changes are not automatically made to the BOOT'R
configuration files. They must be entered manually using the
BOOT'R Editor after MEMMAKER completes its optimization.
1. Create a new (or open an existing) configuration that needs
MEMMAKER optimization by using the BOOT'R Editor. In this
example, I will use the name "EDITOR" for the configuration
name. Substitute the name of your configuration file for
"EDITOR".
2. Exit the BOOT'R Editor.
3. Execute BOOT'R by typing "BOOTR" and pressing [ENTER].
4. Boot into this configuration by typing "BOOTR EDITOR" and
pressing [ENTER], or by selecting the "Editor" button from the
BOOT'R menu.
5. Execute MEMMAKER and follow the MEMMAKER prompts to
optimize the memory usage for this configuration. If MEMMAKER
succeeded in gaining more conventional memory, proceed to the
next step. Otherwise, no further action is necessary.
6. Change to the BOOT'R sub-directory and execute the BOOT'R
Editor. Load the "EDITOR" configuration, (or whatever your
configuration is called) and select "Edit All".
7. Select the C:\CONFIG.SYS window (if it isn't already), and
select "File, Load". (Or press [F3])
8. Select the file "CONFIG.SYS", and click "Open". You should
now see the contents of your new, optimized CONFIG.SYS file in
the editor window.
9. Select the C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT window by clicking on it with
the mouse or by pressing [F6].
10. Select "File, Load" (or press [F3]).
11. Select the file "AUTOEXEC.BAT", and click "Open". You
should now see the contents of your new, optimized AUTOEXEC.BAT
file in the editor window.
12. Select "File, Exit" (or press [ALT-X]) to exit, and answer
"Yes" to save these changes to the EDITOR.BTR configuration
file.
13. Select "Done" and then select "Exit BOOT'R Editor" to exit
the program.
The MEMMAKER optimized configuration has now been permanently
saved into a BOOT'R configuration file. The next time this
configuration is used, the optimized settings will be used.
These steps must be followed for each configuration that will be
optimized by MEMMAKER. This technique allows the maximum amount
of conventional memory to be made available for each
configuration.
New Configuration
Description:
From the main menu, selecting "New Configuration" will cause a
screen to display, allowing you to specify the new
configuration filename and description.
Filename:
The Configuration Filename field contains the name of the
configuration file that will be referenced from the BOOT'R
command line. This file will contain information about all
individual files that should be changed when a configuration is
initialized. (A .BTR extension on this file is necessary for
BOOT'R to locate the configuration file when it attempts to
reboot. If you do not add one, the BOOT'R Editor will add one
for you.)
Configuration Description:
The Configuration Description field can optionally contain the
description of the configuration file being created. This is
useful for user reference, allowing the addition of an extended
description. The Configuration Description is maintained inside
the configuration file for later reference.
Ok:
Selecting Ok will introduce users to the Configuration Files
screen, where the individual files can be created and edited.
Cancel:
Selecting Cancel returns users to the main menu without
creating a new configuration file.
Editing Configuration Files
Description:
The Configuration Files screen allows users to create and
maintain up to five files for each configuration. From here,
users can change filenames, print the configuration files, and
access the editor. The configuration filename and description
are displayed on the top of the screen allowing them to be
changed when needed.
Filename Fields 1 Through 5:
Each of the filename fields down the left side of this screen
should contain a separate path and filename that should be
modified when BOOT'R initializes this configuration. Note that
each of these filenames MUST be preceded by the drive and
directory where they are to be created. This is a flexible
feature of BOOT'R, allowing newly created files to be placed on
any drive and in any directory. A typical configuration would
contain C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT in the first filename field, and
C:\CONFIG.SYS in the second filename field.
Note: When one of the filename fields contains a filename such
as C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT, the BOOT'R Editor will load the internally
maintained version of this file. It will NOT load the file
that currently exists in the root directory of the C: drive,
called AUTOEXEC.BAT. The text field merely contains the name
of the file that will be written when BOOT'R initializes this
configuration!
Edit Buttons 1 Thru 5 / Edit All:
Each file listed on this screen can be edited using the BOOT'R
Editor's text editor. This editor can be accessed by pressing
one of the five "Edit ?" buttons shown along the right side of
the Configuration File List screen or by pressing the "Edit
All" button. Pressing the "Edit 1" button will invoke the
editor and load the text that corresponds to the file named in
the "Filename #1" field. Pressing the "Edit 2" button will
invoke the editor and load the text that corresponds to the
file named in the "Filename #2" field, and so on. When "Edit
All" is selected, the BOOT'R Editor opens all of the files
listed in filename fields 1 through 5.
Done:
This option will save the configuration files into the file
specified in the Filename field of the Configuration Files
screen. Only text fields that were not left blank on the
Configuration Files screen are saved as a valid file inside the
configuration. (If a file is entered in a text field, but
there is no corresponding text shown in the editor, the file is
still considered part of the configuration, and will be written
as a BLANK file!)
Print:
Selecting the Print button allows a printout of any or all of
the files in the configuration to be printed. Output can be
sent to LPT1:, LPT2:, LPT3:, or to a valid file.
Editing Configuration Text
Description:
The BOOT'R Editor's text editor allows quick and easy editing
of each of the files maintained within a configuration.
Supported commands include cut, copy, paste, delete, find,
search and replace, load, insert, save, save all, and more.
Windows can be moved, resized, and tiled. Color settings can
be changed, and mouse speeds can be increased or decreased to
suit individual preference. Since most of these commands and
options are standard to a basic text editor, we will only
highlight the special options below.
Load & Insert:
When you are creating your initial configurations with the
BOOT'R Editor, you may find the Load and Insert features
extremely useful. Load allows text from an existing ASCII file
to be loaded directly into the editor, REPLACING the currently
displayed text. Insert allows text from an existing ASCII file
to be INSERTED into the editor at the position of the cursor.
Save & Save All:
After you have made changes to (or created) a configuration
file, such as C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT, you can select Save to store the
text in the current BOOT'R configuration file.
Important: When you select "Save", BOOT'R does NOT modify the
contents of the C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your hard drive! It
merely stores the text you entered in the BOOT'R configuration
file. When you want to change the files on the hard drive you
must follow the instructions given in the section entitled
"Using BOOT'R".
File Dialog Boxes
Description:
The file dialog box screens allow users to open or delete an
existing BOOT'R configuration.
Note: When opening a file, make sure that any files being
opened were originally saved with the BOOT'R Editor. The
BOOT'R Editor will NOT read files properly if they have not
been created with the BOOT'R Editor! For users upgrading from
a previous version of BOOT'R (prior to 1.00), we recommend you
that create a new configuration and load your existing text
files into the built-in text editor. This will ensure that the
files are created and saved properly, prior to any attempts to
open them with this feature.
Filename:
This text field allows users to manually enter the name of a
file. If you enter a filename without an extension when
opening or deleting a file, the BOOT'R Editor appends a .BTR
extension and searches for a file in the current directory. If
the file exists, it is automatically selected when you press
ENTER. If the file does not exist, the BOOT'R Editor will
either advance the cursor to the Files list box for manual
selection, or issue an error message, depending on the existing
conditions.
Files:
The Files list box provides users with a way to search the
current drive and directory for files with the selected (*.BTR
or *.*) file filter. Pressing the SPACE BAR will highlight a
file from the list, and pressing ENTER on a highlighted file
will instruct the BOOT'R Editor to attempt to open or delete it
(depending on the current routine).
Directories:
The Directories list box displays a list of directories on the
currently selected drive, and a list of available drives. The
current directory can be changed by pressing ENTER on the
desired directory, or clicking on it with the mouse. When a
new directory is selected, the "Files" list box is updated to
display all files matching the file filter in the new
directory.
Directory:
This non-editable field contains the current drive and path.
Use this field as a quick-reference to see where the BOOT'R
Editor is looking for files.
Ok:
The Ok button can be selected when a file has been highlighted
from the Files list box. The BOOT'R Editor will then attempt
to open or delete the selected file.
Cancel:
The Cancel button can be selected to cancel the current routine
and return to the main menu.
BOOT'R Defaults
Description:
The Defaults screen allows the modification of the delays that
occur prior to BOOT'R executing the command to reboot your
computer, the exploding dialog box stage delay, and the screen
blanker settings.
Prelog Delay:
The prelog delay is the number of seconds that BOOT'R will
display the prelog screen prior to initializing a
configuration, writing the configuration files, and rebooting
the computer system. The default for this field is 3 seconds.
Prelog Pause:
Non-registered copies of BOOT'R will display the prelog screen
and force the user to press a key before rebooting the computer
system. Registered users have the option to remove this delay
by de-selecting this button. For information on how to
register, please read the "Registration" section near the
beginning of this documentation file.
Pre-Reboot Delay:
The pre-reboot delay is the number of seconds that BOOT'R
should pause (after displaying the prelog screen) to allow hard
drive caches to flush. This precautionary measure can be
useful for users who are experiencing corruption or other
problems when attempting to use BOOT'R.
Explode Delay:
This number specifies the number of seconds used as an "Explode
Delay" for dialog boxes within the BOOT'R Editor. To eliminate
all exploding effects, set the number in this field to 0.
Screen Blanker Interval:
The value in this field indicates the number of minutes of
inactivity BOOT'R should wait before blanking the screen on the
button menu. (Note: The screen blanker is only activated on the
BOOT'R button menu. It is not currently used within the BOOT'R
Editor.)
Screen Blanker Speed:
This value specifies the number of seconds to pause between
each time the BOOT'R screen blanker moves the information box
around on the screen. In essense, this value is used to either
speed up the screen blanker's display speed, or slow it down.
Reboot Method:
This option allows users to specify the type of reboot method
to use when rebooting the computer system. The default is
"Warm Boot", which is similar to pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL. The
second option is to perform a "Safe Boot", which flushes the
DOS buffers before rebooting, and the last option is to perform
a "Cold Boot", which is similar to pressing the reset switch or
on/off switch.
Ok:
Selecting Ok instructs the BOOT'R Editor to save this
configuration information to the file BOOTR.INI. BOOT'R reads
information from this file prior to initializing a
configuration and rebooting the computer system.
Cancel:
Selecting Cancel instructs the BOOT'R Editor to ignore any
changes that have been made to the previous settings, and
return to the main menu.
Pre-Reboot Commands
Description:
This screen allows users to enter up to four lines of text (DOS
commands) that should be executed prior to rebooting the
computer system. Users may find this helpful for flushing and
disabling a cache, to prevent any corruption from occurring
during the rebooting process.
Pre-Reboot Commands 1 Thru 4:
Use these text fields to enter any DOS commands that need to be
executed prior to rebooting the computer system.
Ok:
Selecting Ok instructs the BOOT'R Editor to save this
configuration information to the file BOOTR.INI. BOOT'R reads
information from this file prior to initializing a
configuration and rebooting the computer system.
Cancel:
Selecting Cancel instructs the BOOT'R Editor to ignore any
changes that have been made to the previous settings, and
return to the main menu.
Register BOOT'R
Description:
This screen provides basic information on how to register
BOOT'R, and allows registered users to enter their registration
name and number, as they received it from STSI.
Registration Name:
The Registration Name text field allows users to enter their
personal name or the name of their company or organization. If
a valid registration number is entered in the following text
field, the registration name will appear on the prelog screen
of BOOT'R.
Registration Number:
The Registration Number text field allows users to enter the
registration number they received from STSI upon registering
BOOT'R. For information on how to register, please see the
"Registration" section near the top of this documentation file.
Ok:
Selecting Ok instructs the BOOT'R Editor to save this
configuration information to the file BOOTR.INI. BOOT'R reads
information from this file prior to initializing a
configuration and rebooting the computer system.
Cancel:
Selecting Cancel instructs the BOOT'R Editor to ignore any
changes that have been made to the previous settings, and
return to the main menu.
Using BOOT'R
Once you have created a BOOT'R configuration using the BOOT'R
Editor, you can change to that configuration in one of two ways.
The first option is to simply type "BOOTR.EXE" on the DOS command
line. A dialog box will be displayed, showing you the names of
all configurations in the BOOT'R sub- directory. Each
configuration name will be located on a push-button. When you
select the push-button, the configuration name contained on the
button will be executed.
The second option allows BOOT'R to be used from the command line.
To change to a different configuration using BOOT'R, simply
specify the desired configuration on the BOOT'R command line.
The BOOT'R command line structure looks like this:
BOOTR CONFIGURATION /TEST
BOOTR
BOOTR must always be the first entry entered on the command
line.
CONFIGURATION
This is the name of the desired configuration. Each
configuration is maintained in a separate .BTR file, that is
created using the BOOT'R Editor. In order for BOOT'R to work
properly, there MUST be a file in the default BOOTR sub-
directory with the name of the configuration file you specify
here.
/TEST
This command line parameter is optional, and allows the
configuration files to be changed WITHOUT actually rebooting
the computer. This option is useful to test BOOT'R and see if
the CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and any other files are being
written properly. It is also useful to verify that the cache
is being properly flushed and disabled, without risking data
corruption.
BOOT'R Examples:
BOOTR CPBACKUP BOOTR NORMAL
BOOTR DESQVIEW BOOTR NOVELL
BOOTR DESQVIEW /TEST BOOTR WINDOWS
BOOTR LANTASTIC BOOTR WINDOWS /TEST
BOOTR KEEN1
When you type a similar BOOT'R command line and press ENTER,
BOOT'R will display the prelog screen, write the configuration
files, execute any existing Pre-Reboot Instructions, wait for the
cache to flush (depending on the pre-reboot delay), and reboot
the computer system.
Automatic Detection of Configuration File Changes
BOOT'R Version 2.16 added support to automatically detect when
configuration files (such as C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and C:\CONFIG.SYS)
have been changed between rebooting sessions. BOOT'R now warns
users that changes have been made to a configuration file, and
prompts the user whether or not to place these changes in the
current BOOT'R configuration file. For example, if a user
installs a program within Microsoft Windows, and the installed
program modifies the file C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT, BOOT'R will now detect
that this change has been made, and will warn the user before
rebooting. The user can tell BOOT'R to add these new
modifications into the current configuration file, ensuring that
they will be in the file C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT the next time Windows is
loaded using BOOT'R. File modifications are detected using CRC
values written to the BOOTR.INI file.
An Ideal BOOT'R Setup
In our company, we have found BOOT'R to be ideal for managing the
multiple configurations on several of our key machines. In
particular, we have one system that needs to run a variety of
applications. We have configurations set up for Windows,
DESQview, tape backups (to unload unnecessary device drivers),
and multiple network configurations. We use BOOT'R as the
menuing interface that ties all of these configurations together.
Here's how BOOT'R works for us:
We maintain a base configuration called "NORMAL.BTR" that looks
like this:
<<CONFIG.SYS>>
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
BUFFERS=20
FILES=60
<<AUTOEXEC.BAT>>
@ECHO OFF
CLS
PROMPT $P $G
PATH C:\;C:\DOS;
C:\UTILITY\MOUSE
CD\BOOTR
BOOTR
When the computer is turned on, it comes up in this configuration
and displays the BOOT'R button menu, giving us the option of
which configuration to use. If, for example, we push on the
"WINDOWS" button, BOOT'R reboots into the following
configuration:
<<CONFIG.SYS>>
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM HIGHSCAN
BUFFERS=10,0
FILES=60
DOS=UMB
LASTDRIVE=Z
FCBS=4,0
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
DEVICE=C:\MITSUMI\MTMCDAE.SYS /D:MSCD001 /M:64 /I:10 /P:300 /T:6
/X /V
<<AUTOEXEC.BAT>>
@ECHO OFF
CLS
PROMPT $P $G
PATH C:\;C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;O:\ODAPI
SET ZPROWIN=O:\ZPROWIN\
SET NWLANGUAGE=ENGLISH
C:\DOS\MSCDEX /D:MSCD001 /M:64 /L:D /E /V
LH C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE
LH C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE.COM /Y
LH C:\LAN\LSL
LH C:\LAN\PCNTNW
LH C:\LAN\IPXODI
LH C:\WINDOWS\ODIHLP
LH C:\LAN\VLM
E:
LOGIN
C:
CD\WINDOWS
WIN
C:
CD\BOOTR
BOOTR NORMAL
As expected, BOOT'R loaded many device drivers that were not
necessary in the "NORMAL" configuration shown earlier. The
interesting part of this procedure is that as soon as the user
exits from Windows, the AUTOEXEC.BAT file automatically invokes
BOOT'R, which reboots and returns to a NORMAL configuration. As
shown earlier, the NORMAL configuration executes the BOOT'R
button menu, and once again, offers the user the choice of which
configuration to use. BOOT'R's button menu contains its own (non-
TSR) screen blanker, which allows the computer to sit idle at the
button menu for long periods of time without users having to
worry about screen burn- in.
Using BOOT'R With A Multitasker
Caution is advised when using BOOT'R in combination with Windows
or DESQview. Exit all open windows and exit the multitasker
BEFORE attempting to execute BOOT'R. Immediately prior to
issuing the reboot command, BOOT'R checks to see if it is being
executing from inside a Windows, DESQview, or OS/2 environment.
If it detects one of these environments, it issues an error
message and terminates the execution of the reboot command (after
the configuration files have been modified!).
Cautions!
Do NOT use BOOT'R in combination with any disk cache that
performs write- caching, unless you flush and disable the cache
by entering a DOS command on the Pre-Reboot Instructions screen
of the BOOT'R Editor.
Please note: If you are using MS-DOS 6.x, make sure that one of
your Pre-Reboot Instructions contains a command such as this:
C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /C
Users who do not perform this step have reported problems, such
as BOOT'R not writing the proper configuration files before
rebooting. Once this statement is added, however, these problems
disappear.
Questions & Answers
Question:
What's the easiest way to get started with BOOT'R?
Answer:
Execute the BOOT'R Editor by typing "BOOTRED" from the BOOT'R
sub-directory. If you haven't created any configurations yet,
the BOOT'R Editor will detect this and ask you if you want to
create a default configuration using your existing
C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and C:\CONFIG.SYS files. If you answer yes,
the BOOT'R Editor will create a file called ORIGINAL.BTR
containing your original configuration. Open this file,
examine it, and feel free to use it. This is a starting point,
helping to make sure that you don't accidentally overwrite your
configuration files while you are testing BOOT'R.
Question:
I think I accidentally overwrote my original configuration
files (AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS), and I failed to make
backup copies of them first. What do I do now?
Answer:
Starting with BOOT'R Version 2.14, we added a special
precautionary measure, just in case this happens. You should
find 2 files in your BOOT'R sub-directory called AUTOEXEC.OLD
and CONFIG.OLD. These are backup copies of your original
C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT and C:\CONFIG.SYS files. The first time you
executed the BOOT'R Editor (after version 2.14), it made copies
of these files. If you wish to restore the contents of these 2
files, type the following 2 command lines from the BOOT'R sub-
directory:
COPY AUTOEXEC.OLD C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
COPY CONFIG.OLD C:\CONFIG.SYS
This will restore the contents of your original files. (If you
need to restore your C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI and
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI files, you will find backup copies of
these files in the BOOT'R sub-directory, as well. They will
have the names WIN.OLD and SYSTEM.OLD, respectively.)
Question:
I am receiving an intermittent error from HIMEM.SYS that looks
like this:
ERROR: HIMEM.SYS has detected unreliable XMS memory at address
0013F146h. XMS Driver not installed.
Why am I receiving this error, and what can I do about it?
Answer:
We recently noticed this problem on several of the computer
systems owned by our company. We believe this error message is
caused by EMM386.EXE and/or Microsoft Windows. Pressing the
reset switch on our computer systems will temporarily fix this
situation, until the next time we need to reboot. If you are
experiencing this same problem, you may want to instruct BOOT'R
to perform a "Cold Boot" of your computer system every time it
reboots the computer. To do this, change the "Reboot Method"
setting on the Defaults screen of the BOOT'R Editor to "Cold".
Products By STSI
Stevenson Technical Services, Inc.
108 Second Avenue West
Bertha MN 56437-0297
Phone / FAX: (218) 924-2050
The STSI BBS: (218) 924-2060
Internet Mail: cstevens@bertha.polaristel.net
(Visa, MC, American Express, & Discover Accepted)
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Programs Mentioned:
AutoMenu is copyrighted by Magee Enterprises.
DESQview is copyrighted by Quarterdeck Office Systems.
MemMaker is copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation
MS-DOS is copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation.
QuikMenu is copyrighted by OSCS Software Development, Inc.
Windows is copyrighted by Microsoft Corporation.