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- OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions
- Release 1.3; September 27, 1991
-
- For changes/suggestions/additions please mail
- sip1@quads.uchicago.edu. Include subject line "OS/2 FAQ." This
- list may be freely distributed. Answers to questions closer to
- the bottom of the list may rely on information given in earlier
- answers.
-
- This version contains additions relating to OS/2 2.0 along with
- other refinements. Changes have been made to questions 1, 2, 4,
- 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 22, 25, 27, 31. A new
- question has been added (34).
-
- Questions Addressed in this Release:
-
- (1) What is OS/2?
- (2) What are the differences between versions?
- (3) What is the difference between Standard and Extended
- Edition?
- (4) What about DOS and Windows compatibility?
- (5) Where can I buy OS/2?
- (6) How much does OS/2 cost?
- (7) Can I upgrade to IBM OS/2 1.3 SE from DOS?
- (8) Can I upgrade to IBM OS/2 1.3 SE from an older version?
- (9) If I buy IBM OS/2 1.3 now, how much will it cost to get 2.0?
- (10) Does IBM offer educational discounts on purchases of OS/2?
- Site licenses?
- (11) What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 1.3 SE?
- (12) What applications are available for OS/2 1.x?
- (13) Where can I obtain OS/2 freeware and shareware?
- (14) My Logitech mouse doesn't seem to be working with OS/2.
- What's wrong?
- (15) Is there a driver available for Seagate's SCSI adapters?
- (16) How about a high resolution driver for my video adapter?
- (17) How about a driver for my printer?
- (18) How do I access HPFS partitions on my hard drive without
- booting from the hard drive? I've done something (like
- changing CONFIG.SYS) that doesn't let me boot OS/2.
- (19) I can't install OS/2 from Drive B. What's wrong?
- (20) Is there a Norton Utilities for OS/2?
- (21) Sometimes Presentation Manager will freeze when I run an
- application, and I have to reboot. What's wrong?
- (22) My dealer doesn't know OS/2 from Unix. How can I get
- answers to my OS/2 questions?
- (23) How can I get ahold of the beta release of OS/2 2.0?
- (24) Why should I use HPFS? What does it offer me? Does it work
- with DOS?
- (25) I'm a Unix wizard. How do I make OS/2 resemble Unix?
- (26) I would like to set up an OS/2 BBS. What is available?
- (27) The printed and online manuals do not document REXX in any
- detail. Where can I obtain more information?
- (28) Doesn't OS/2 have applets like Windows? I miss Solitaire.
- (29) How do I redirect printer output to a file?
- (30) Can I use COM3 and COM4 in OS/2?
- (31) On my 1024x768 high resolution display I get obnoxiously
- large icons (64x64). How do I make them smaller?
- (32) How do I start a background process from the OS/2 command
- line?
- (33) How do I start a DOS application from a PM icon?
- (34) What are CSDs, how do I tell which I have, and where do I
- get them?
- _______________
-
- (1) What is OS/2?
-
- OS/2 is an advanced operating system for PCs and PS/2s with an
- 80286 processor or better. It was codeveloped by Microsoft and
- IBM and envisioned as the successor to DOS.
-
- It was designed from the ground up with multitasking and
- multithreading in mind. It also protects applications from one
- another (a single misbehaved program will not typically bring
- down the entire system), supports up to 16 MB of physical RAM,
- and supplies virtual memory to applications as requested.
-
- As shipped, it does not support multiuser operation, although
- several third parties have grafted multiuser (character mode)
- capabilities onto the base operating system. Citrix, Remote-OS,
- and Polymod are three such products. Remote-OS is published by
- The Software Lifeline, tel. 407-994-4466. [Other tel. nos?]
-
- (2) What are the differences between versions?
-
- Version 2.0 (to be released Fourth Quarter, 1991) will run only
- on machines with an 80386SX processor or better. IBM is (now)
- developing 2.0 independently but is involving third party PC
- manufacturers in its testing. Improvements will include the
- ability to preemptively multitask DOS, Windows 2.x, and Windows
- 3.x (standard mode) applications (without purchasing any of these
- environments) in separate, robust, protected sessions; an object-
- oriented WorkPlace shell (including a "shredder" icon); a
- multiple operating system boot mechanism; 32-bit programming
- interfaces; support for more than 16 MB of RAM; and more third
- party device drivers. It will also provide EMS 3.2/4.0 and DPMI
- 1.0 (expanded and extended memory) services to DOS and Windows
- applications. Version 2.0 will demand a minimum of 3 MB of RAM.
-
- IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 (CSD Level 05016; see Question 34) is
- currently the latest commercially available release. This
- version distinguishes itself with built-in Adobe Type Manager and
- reduced memory requirements. Procedures Lanuage/2 (a.k.a. REXX),
- a powerful batch-oriented programming language, became a part of
- Standard Edition with this release. (Microsoft Version 1.3 is
- just becoming available to OEMs.)
-
- OS/2 Version 1.2 was the first to incorporate the High
- Performance File System (HPFS, which supports long file names)
- and a dual boot mechanism. IBM OS/2 Version 1.2 Extended Edition
- introduced REXX.
-
- OS/2 Version 1.1 was the first to include the Presentation
- Manager (PM) GUI/API, now an integral part of the operating
- system.
-
- OS/2 Version 1.0, introduced in 1987, was the first release of
- OS/2. Task switching was accomplished through a character-based
- shell and limited DOS compatibility was provided.
-
- (3) What is the difference between Standard and Extended
- Edition?
-
- IBM makes this marketing distinction between two different
- flavors of OS/2 1.x. OS/2 1.x is available either in its
- Standard Edition (SE, i.e. the base operating system) or in
- Extended Edition (EE, with several extra bundled software
- products including the Communications Manager and the Database
- Manager). EE includes enhanced mainframe, network, and
- communications support.
-
- The distinction will change slightly when OS/2 2.0 is released.
- IBM will upgrade EE features and drop LAN Requester from the
- package, to be renamed Extended Services (ES). LAN Requester
- will be included in IBM's OS/2 LAN Server product. The new ES
- will still work with OS/2 1.3 and will be tested on a wide
- variety of PC compatibles.
-
- (4) What about DOS and Windows compatibility?
-
- All 1.x versions of OS/2 include the DOS compatibility mode
- (sometimes called the penalty box) which allows a single, well-
- behaved DOS application to run alongside multiple OS/2
- applications. The DOS application stops running when the user
- switches to an OS/2 program. However, OS/2 programs will run in
- the background while a DOS program is running.
-
- IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 SE yields approximately 520K free memory in
- the DOS box. Windows 3.0 will run in real mode in the DOS box.
- Also, DOS may be started by itself (in native mode) in two ways:
- by using the dual boot mechanism in OS/2 (described in detail in
- the printed manual) or by booting from a floppy disk. In both
- cases DOS has access to all FAT (non-HPFS) partitions on the hard
- disk (that are not themselves preceded by a HPFS or other
- "foreign" partition).
-
- Version 2.0 will preemptively multitask DOS and Windows (real and
- standard mode) applications in separate, protected sessions.
- Windows applications will be well integrated into the overall
- OS/2 PM environment, with DDE, OLE 1.0, Clipboard, and Adobe Type
- Manager hooks. Each DOS application will have roughly 640K
- conventional memory available plus access to expanded and
- extended memory services. DOS applications can run either full
- screen or in PM windows. With OS/2 2.0 high resolution displays,
- windowed DOS applications will be able to use text mode or any
- VGA graphics mode. DOS and Windows device drivers will work with
- DOS and Windows applications running under OS/2 2.0, but if an
- OS/2 2.0 driver is available a DOS or Windows device driver is
- unnecessary.
-
- (5) Where can I buy OS/2?
-
- Microsoft versions of OS/2 are available only through OEMs (e.g.
- Compaq, Dell) or by purchasing the Microsoft OS/2 Software
- Development Kit (SDK).
-
- IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 is available from any authorized IBM dealer
- (although persistence helps) or by calling 1-800-3 IBM OS2. IBM
- OS/2 1.3 SE on 5.25 inch disks is IBM part no. 84F7587. For 3.5
- inch disks ask for part no. 84F7588. Media are high density.
- Corresponding EE part nos. are 15F7196 and 15F7195.
-
- IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 is also available from several mail order
- sources, including Egghead Discount Software (tel. 800-344-4323)
- and Elek-Tek (tel. 708-677-7660).
-
- (6) How much does OS/2 cost?
-
- IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 SE retails for USD 150.
-
- (7) Can I upgrade to IBM OS/2 1.3 SE from DOS?
-
- Yes, as long as you are upgrading from IBM PC-DOS. The upgrade
- retails for USD 99.
-
- (8) Can I upgrade to IBM OS/2 1.3 SE from an older version?
-
- Yes, as long as the previous version is an IBM version. After
- September 30, 1991, there will be a charge for this upgrade.
-
- (9) If I buy IBM OS/2 1.3 now, how much will it cost to get 2.0?
-
- Nothing. Upgrades to 2.0 will be sent free of charge to
- customers who purchase or upgrade to OS/2 1.3 on or after April
- 17, 1991. Other Version 1.3 licensees will be assessed a nominal
- media charge (once per site). Version 1.3 EE licensees will
- receive the full 2.0 ES upgrade. IBM reserves the right to
- revise or add to these terms after December 31, 1991.
-
- (10) Does IBM offer educational discounts on purchases of OS/2?
- Site licenses?
-
- IBM has both. The educational price is approximately USD 99 for
- OS/2 1.3 SE. SE also comes in non-media (manual and license
- only) packages at a reduced price, part no. 84F8528. An SE
- additional license (entitles holder to make one copy of media and
- manual) is part no. 15F1655; EE, 15F7201.
-
- (11) What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 1.3 SE?
-
- You need a PC, PC compatible, or PS/2 with at least an 80286 CPU,
- 2 MB or more of RAM (configured as 640K base plus the remainder
- as extended memory), a 20 MB or larger hard disk, a supported
- video adapter (CGA, EGA, VGA, MCGA, 8514/A, XGA, or third party
- driver) with appropriate display, and a high density 3.5 or 5.25
- inch floppy drive for installation. A mouse is recommended.
-
- PM will not operate with the Monochrome Display Adapter or the
- Hercules Monochrome Graphics Adapter. Usually PM will fail to
- work with monochrome EGA. However, some EGA adapters (e.g.
- Paradise Monochrome EGA Card, ATI EGA Wonder) will emulate all
- color EGA modes on TTL monochrome monitors and, thus, will work
- with PM. "Autoswitching" on non-IBM EGA adapters should be
- disabled (usually with a DIP switch or jumper setting).
-
- On ISA bus machines, OS/2 supports 16-bit hard drive adapters
- which conform to the Western Digital chipset interface standard
- (i.e. nearly all MFM, RLL, IDE, and ESDI adapters). An adapter
- capable of sector remapping should be used (and enabled) with
- hard drives larger than 1024 cylinders. (The 1024 cylinder limit
- is a BIOS constraint.)
-
- SCSI devices on ISA machines require specialized device drivers,
- and it should be noted that SCSI support under OS/2 can best be
- characterized as spotty. Two makers of entry level SCSI
- adapters, CE Infosys (tel. 703-435-3800) and Adaptec (tel. 408-
- 946-8600), provide OS/2 support. IBM OS/2 1.3 is compatible with
- IBM PS/2 SCSI adapters.
-
- At present, CD-ROM support is also spotty, but at least one
- company, Corel Systems (publisher of Corel Draw, tel. 613-728-
- 8200) supplies OS/2 compatible CD-ROM (and rewritable) systems.
- Irwin (tel. 800-348-6242) manufactures OS/2 compatible tape
- backup systems.
-
- IBM OS/2 1.3 runs on a wide array of clones with a wide variety
- of hardware. However, compatibility cannot be assured with every
- non-IBM device. Often problems can be fixed with a BIOS upgrade
- or an OS/2 CSD (see Question 34). Version 2.0 will, however, be
- officially tested and supported on a wide variety of non-IBM
- equipment, including machines manufactured by Acer, Apricot, AST,
- AT&T, Compaq, CompuAdd, Dell, Epson, Everex, HP, NCR, NEC,
- Netframe, Olivetti, Parallan, Reply, Siemens, Tandon, Tandy/Grid,
- Tricord, Wyse, Wang, Northgate, DEC, and Toshiba.
-
- Supported printers include the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet family;
- IBM ExecJets, Proprinters, Quickwriters, Quietwriters,
- Pageprinters, and Laserprinters; Epson dot matrix printers;
- Postscript devices; and other printers compatible with these
- families. A variety of IBM and HP plotters is also supported.
-
- (12) What applications are available for OS/2 1.x?
-
- They number in the low thousands at present and include
- applications from almost every category imaginable. Some are
- character based applications; some are PM based.
-
- DOS applications with OS/2 counterparts include Lotus 1-2-3 (both
- character and PM), Microsoft Word (both character and PM),
- Multiplan, Aldus Pagemaker, Corel Draw, WordPerfect,
- DisplayWrite, Microsoft Excel, PC SAS, SPSS, HyperAccess/5,
- DynaComm, Borland Sidekick, Wingz, and many others. In some
- cases DOS and OS/2 versions ship together (e.g. Microsoft Word
- 5.0, Lotus 1-2-3 3.0). Applications unique to OS/2 include
- Describe and the GUI version of Lotus Freelance. Utilities
- include PKZIP/UNZIP, SEA's ARC, LHA, Zoo 2.1, the GNU tools, tens
- of different file finders, desktop clocks, calculators, and many
- more. Programming languages include Assembler, C++, Cobol,
- Pascal, C, Fortran, BASIC, REXX, Smalltalk, Modula-2, and still
- more.
-
- The IBM NSC BBS (tel. 404-835-6600) provides an online product
- database of hardware and software compatible with OS/2.
-
- (13) Where can I obtain OS/2 freeware and shareware?
-
- Many BBSes hold large OS/2 libraries. Fernwood (tel. 203-483-
- 0348) has over 50 MB worth. The OS/2 Shareware BBS (tel. 703-
- 385-0931) and the Windows & OS/2 Magazine BBS (tel. 805-684-0589,
- fee req.) carry still more. The IBM NSC BBS has some
- shareware/freeware as well, along with CSDs (see Question 34) and
- the PS/2 Assistant (an invaluable resource for locating almost
- any sort of information on OS/2). The Usenet conference
- comp.binaries.os2 carries OS/2 software. And several sites are
- available via anonymous ftp. (No ftp? Send a single line
- message with the word HELP to bitftp@pucc.bitnet to learn about
- Princeton's ftp mail server.) They include (with Internet node
- numbers and subdirectories):
-
- mims-iris.waterloo.edu 129.97.129.116 os2
- mtsg.ubc.ca 137.82.27.1 os2:
- luga.latrobe.edu.au 131.172.2.2 pub/os2
- funic.funet.fi 128.214.6.100 pub/os2
- novell.com 130.57.4.1 os2
-
- The last site should not be accessed between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30
- p.m. Pacific Time.
-
- (14) My Logitech mouse doesn't seem to be working with OS/2.
- What's wrong?
-
- The Logitech Series 7 and 9 serial mice work with the Mouse
- Systems PC Mouse driver; all other Logitech serial mice, the
- Microsoft Serial Mouse driver; bus mice, the Microsoft Bus Mouse
- (199) driver; PS/2 mice, the IBM PS/2 Mouse driver.
-
- The full text of the Logitech technical bulletin from which this
- information was obtained, including information on potential
- conflicts with DOS and Windows, is available from the Logitech
- Support BBS, tel. 415-795-0408.
-
- (15) Is there a driver available for Seagate's SCSI adapters?
-
- No. Seagate has chosen not to supply an OS/2 driver for their
- ST-01/02 SCSI adapters. The Seagate Support BBS can be reached
- at tel. 408-438-8771.
-
- (16) How about a high resolution driver for my video adapter?
-
- In many cases an up-to-date OS/2 driver is available. If not, a
- driver for an older version of OS/2 may work. If all else fails,
- standard VGA must suffice.
-
- Drivers are available directly from the manufacturer of the video
- adapter or, in many cases, through the shareware/freeware sources
- listed above. Many of these sources also carry a "generic"
- 800x600 driver for OS/2 PM. Tseng Labs, Trident, and Video 7
- (among others) have released high resolution drivers for OS/2
- 1.3; ATI has not. Most OS/2 2.0 features will be available using
- an OS/2 1.3 display driver. DOS and Windows programs running
- under OS/2 2.0 will work with their own device drivers as well as
- with any OS/2-supported device.
-
- (17) How about a driver for my printer?
-
- If your printer is not compatible with one of the drivers
- supplied with OS/2, check with the printer manufacturer first
- then with the IBM NSC BBS. For example, a Hewlett-Packard
- LaserJet III driver for IBM OS/2 1.3 is now available on the NSC
- BBS. If you own an IBM printer, check with the Lexmark BBS (tel.
- 606-232-5653).
-
- Non-PM applications may supply their own printer drivers, and
- text only output is always an option.
-
- (18) How do I access HPFS partitions on my hard drive without
- booting from the hard drive? I've done something (like
- changing CONFIG.SYS) that doesn't let me boot OS/2.
-
- With IBM's OS/2, insert the Installation Diskette in Drive A and
- reboot. When the logo appears on screen, press ESC. You will be
- given an OS/2 command line prompt.
-
- Make sure you backup CONFIG.SYS before making any changes so that
- you can easily revert to the old version should things go wrong.
-
- Incidently, you may use this method to run CHKDSK on your OS/2
- boot partition. After obtaining the OS/2 command line prompt,
- remove the Installation Diskette and insert Diskette 1. Type
- CHKDSK C: /F to repair damage to the boot partition.
-
- (19) I can't install OS/2 from Drive B. What's wrong?
-
- IBM OS/2 can only be installed from Drive A. If you have the
- wrong disk size the easiest workaround is to go inside your
- machine and swap floppy drive cables, use your system's setup
- utility to set the new CMOS parameters, and then install OS/2
- from the new Drive A.
-
- IBM is working to make the install process friendlier in future
- releases of OS/2.
-
- (20) Is there a Norton Utilities for OS/2?
-
- Not yet. But the GammaTech Utilities should fill the role.
- Contact their publisher at tel. 405-359-1219.
-
- (21) Sometimes Presentation Manager will freeze when I run an
- application, and I have to reboot. What's wrong?
-
- Often the problem can be traced to the DOS box. If at all
- possible, upgrade to true OS/2 applications. OS/2 provides far
- more protection in native mode.
-
- PM has some protection of its own. It can trap applications that
- do not respond to input, but you have to give it a chance. Press
- CTRL-ESC (to attempt to bring up the Task Manager), then wait up
- to a full minute before rebooting; a dialog box may appear with
- further instructions.
-
- (22) My dealer doesn't know OS/2 from Unix. How can I get
- answers to my OS/2 questions?
-
- If your question is not answered in this FAQ list, post a note to
- the appropriate Usenet conference: comp.os.os2.apps carries
- discussions related to finding or using any OS/2 application,
- comp.os.os2.programmer addresses anything related to OS/2
- programming, and comp.os.os2.misc is for any other OS/2-related
- discussion. These groups are watched closely by IBM's OS/2
- development team.
-
- Your local FidoNet BBS may carry the OS/2 echo conference. If
- not, ask your system operator to get ahold of it.
-
- The IBM NSC BBS was established as a support forum. That BBS's
- message areas, product database, and PS/2 Assistant file(s) are
- invaluable resources. And the company has launched an OS/2
- hotline (tel. 800-342-6672) for user inquiries and orders. (Ask
- about the OS/2 T-shirts and videocassettes.)
-
- OS/2 is getting its own magazine as well. Windows & OS/2
- Magazine is splitting into separate publications. [Details on
- subscriptions?]
-
- (23) How can I get ahold of the beta release of OS/2 2.0?
-
- IBM is providing beta copies of OS/2 2.0 to any resident of the
- United States for a nominal charge. Details are available on the
- IBM NSC BBS. Also, members of the Early Experience Program and
- certified developers can receive OS/2 2.0. Details on both
- programs are available on the BBS and through the Hotline.
- Residents of other countries should contact local IBM branches
- for specific information on availability of OS/2 2.0 beta. IBM
- may, at any time, limit availability of OS/2 2.0 beta.
-
- (24) Why should I use HPFS? What does it offer me? Does it work
- with DOS?
-
- HPFS offers long file names (greatly exceeding the "8 dot 3"
- limit in FAT/DOS file systems) and speedier disk operation,
- particularly on large hard disks. HPFS is not case sensitive,
- although it does preserve case in file names.
-
- However, HPFS is not currently supported on removable media,
- although some programs (e.g. BACKUP) preserve long file names on
- such FAT disks. Also, native mode DOS cannot access a HPFS
- partition. However, the DOS compatibility box "sees" all files
- that conform to the "8 dot 3" naming conventions, even if they
- are stored on HPFS volumes.
-
- (25) I'm a Unix wizard. How do I make OS/2 resemble Unix?
-
- A great number of GNU and other standard Unix utilities have been
- ported to OS/2 native mode and are available from the
- shareware/freeware sources listed above. A uucp package,
- UUPC/Extended, is available via anonymous ftp from
- sun.soe.clarkson.edu, directory pub/uupc; netmail help@kew.com
- with questions. FSUUCP for OS/2, a uucp package with FidoNet BBS
- interface support, can be obtained by asking your local FidoNet
- system operator to file request (FREQ) the files FRDSAK01.ZIP
- (for OS/2 source code) and/or FRDBAK02.ZIP (OS/2 executables)
- from 2:241/7200. Or netmail kaiser@ananke.stgt.sub.org for more
- information.
-
- In addition, the Hamilton C Shell is available from Hamilton
- Labs, tel. 508-358-5715 or netmail 3890321@mcimail.com. The
- Thompson Toolkit, a Bourne-like shell, is published by Thompson
- Automation, tel. 206-224-1639. Thompson offers a version of awk
- as well. MKS (tel. 519-884-2251 or netmail pat@mks.com)
- publishes a number of standard Unix utilities for OS/2. TCP/IP
- support is available from IBM (and no longer requires EE) or FTP
- Software (send netmail to info@ftp.com). [BSD shell?]
-
- (26) I would like to set up an OS/2 BBS. What is available?
-
- Many packages are available from the shareware/freeware sources
- listed above. OS/2 is an excellent environment for BBS
- operation, including large multiline facilities. Related
- software will enable FidoNet capabilities, gateways to
- Usenet/UUCP, nodelist processing, additional file transfer
- protocols, and more.
-
- Two popular OS/2 BBSes are Maximus (available from the Fernwood
- BBS) and Omega Point/2 (BBS tel. 404-564-1961).
-
- (27) The printed and online manuals do not document REXX in any
- detail. Where can I obtain more information?
-
- IBM publishes two separate manuals:
-
- "IBM Operating System/2 Procedures Language 2/REXX User's Guide,"
- Part No. 01F0272, Document No. S01F-0272; and
-
- "IBM Operating System/2 Procedures Language 2/REXX Reference,"
- Part No. 01F0271, Document No. S01F-0271.
-
- An alternative is "The REXX Language: A Practical Guide to
- Programming (2nd Ed.)" by Mike Cowlishaw, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-
- 13-780651-5.
-
- In addition, there are at least two different versions of REXX
- online references available from one or more of the
- shareware/freeware sources listed above.
-
- (28) Doesn't OS/2 have applets like Windows? I miss Solitaire.
-
- All the Windows applets have been ported to OS/2. The package is
- called Windows Libraries for OS/2 (WLO) Version 1.0. They should
- be available on CompuServe and may soon arrive at the
- shareware/freeware sites listed above. IBM OS/2 2.0 will ship
- with several applets.
-
- (29) How do I redirect printer output to a file?
-
- The Postscript printer driver has a built-in option for printing
- to a file. Navigate through the PM Print Manager configuration
- options to access this feature.
-
- For all other drivers, first hold (pause) the Print Manager queue
- then print from the application. The output file will be located
- in the SPOOL subdirectory. COPY the file elsewhere then cancel
- the job from the Print Manager.
-
- (These methods assume the IBM Print Manager (spooler) is
- installed and active.)
-
- (30) Can I use COM3 and COM4 in OS/2?
-
- IBM OS/2 ships with a driver that supports COM3 on Microchannel
- PS/2s only. However, the Fernwood BBS (and perhaps other sites)
- carries a replacement driver which supports COM3 and/or COM4 on
- ISA bus machines. This driver also supports speeds greater than
- 19,200 bits per second. Ports must not share interrupts on ISA
- bus machines, however. Fernwood also carries files that describe
- patches to the stock communications driver to enable certain
- features.
-
- "Smart" (coprocessor controlled) multiport communication adapters
- should be used when installing more than four ports. Such an
- adapter will work with OS/2 if the manufacturer has written an
- appropriate driver. Examples include IBM's own ARTIC products.
-
- (31) On my 1024x768 high resolution display I get obnoxiously
- large icons (64x64). How do I make them smaller?
-
- Patch the display driver file, DISPLAY.DLL, using a program like
- DOS's DEBUG. Search for the byte sequence 40 00 40 00 20 00 20
- 00 (hexadecimal) (sometimes the sequence is 28 00 28 00 20 00 20
- 00) and change it to 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00.
-
- (32) How do I start a background process from the OS/2 command
- line?
-
- Look up the START and DETACH commands in the online reference.
-
- (33) How do I start a DOS application from a PM icon?
-
- In IBM OS/2 1.3 DOS applications can be started from a PM program
- group icon just like native OS/2 and PM programs.
-
- From the PM desktop go to a program group and select New. Enter
- the DOS program's title (e.g. "Lotus 1-2-3"), the path to the
- program (to an EXE, COM, or BAT file, e.g. "C:\Lotus\Lotus.Exe"),
- and any optional parameters like command line options and/or the
- DOS application's working directory (e.g. "C:\Lotus"). Select
- the Add button, and PM will create a DOS icon with that
- application's name in the program group. These parameters may be
- altered by highlighting the icon and selecting Properties.
- Double clicking on that application's icon will cause OS/2 to
- switch to the DOS compatibility box and start the application.
-
- (34) What are CSDs, how do I tell which I have, and where do I
- get them?
-
- CSDs are Corrective Service Diskettes, or bug fixes, periodically
- issued by IBM. The OS/2 CSD level number may be obtained using
- the command SYSLEVEL from the OS/2 command line prompt.
-
- CSDs may be ordered by anyone with an IBM customer number
- (usually large sites) directly from IBM. OS/2 users without
- customer numbers should ask an authorized IBM dealer to order the
- CSD. Many dealers do not know about this program, so be
- persistent. CSDs may also be downloaded from the IBM NSC BBS.
-
- --
- T.F.S. sip1@quads.uchicago.edu
- Timothy F. Sipples Department of Economics
- "Keeper of the OS/2 FAQ List." University of Chicago
-