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- NOTE: The What PC databases are in the M subdirectory
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- README.TXT for S3aEMUL.EXE
- ==========================
-
- This file explains how to run the program S3AEMUL.EXE, which provides
- an emulation of Psion's S3a software on sufficiently powerful PCs.
-
- Files in the emulator:
- ----------------------
- S3AEMUL is distributed in the form of a .ZIP file containing the
- following files:
-
- readme.txt this documentation file
- licence.txt user licence agreement
- s3aemul.exe the emulator top level
- epoc.dll used by the emulator (contains EPOC)
- epoc.rmi used by the emulator (rest of OS and APPS)
- hhserver.par configures the emulator
- rtm.exe run-time support
- dpmi16bi.ovl run-time support
-
- Licence agreement - important
- -----------------------------
- Note: before using this software, you must read and agree with the
- terms of the accompanying file LICENCE.TXT.
-
- Intended purpose
- ----------------
- Note: the intended purpose of S3AEMUL is as an unsupported tool for
- software developers. Treat it with the caution you would normally
- accord to unsupported software development tools - be sure to have
- backups of any data on your PC, before using S3AEMUL.
-
- That said, it has been the experience of developers who have already
- used S3AEMUL that no significant data loss has resulted from the use
- of this tool.
-
- However, Psion cannot offer any warranties or guarantees on this
- point. In particular, users are warned not to try running S3AEMUL
- from inside Windows, OS/2, or Windows NT.
-
- Installation of the software
- ----------------------------
- You should copy the following files into the same directory on your
- PC: s3aemul.exe, epoc.dll, epoc.rmi, hhserver.par, rtm.exe, and
- dpmi16bi.ovl.
-
- Rename S3aEMUL.EXE if you like, but don't rename any other file.
-
- Limitations of the emulator:
- ----------------------------
- You must be running a 386 (at least) PC.
- You must have at least 4MB ram.
- Only VGA graphics support.
- S3aEMUL will not run in a DOS box in Windows (it will "violate
- Windows system integrity").
- S3aEMUL will not run under Windows NT or O/S 2.
-
- To run the emulator:
- --------------------
- Go to the directory including S3aEMUL.EXE and type "S3aEMUL".
-
- NB The emulator will behave oddly if it cannot find an M:.
- So be sure that one is available (create one using SUBST if you need
- to), although there doesn't have to be anything special in it.
- (See below for notes on the DOS SUBST command.)
-
- To exit the emulator:
- ---------------------
- Press and hold down Ctrl-Alt-Esc simultaneously.
- Or execute a program (IMG or OPO) that calls HwExit (call($168e)).
-
- **** Ctrl-Alt-Z is an alternative to Ctrl-Alt-Esc.
-
- When the emulator exits:
- ------------------------
- The message "Fatal application error 00" will be displayed.
- This is perfectly normal (no error has, in fact, occurred).
-
- Other fatal application errors:
- -------------------------------
- These almost invariably mean that insufficient ram was available.
- For example, ram allocated to a ram drive is inaccessible to S3aEMUL.
-
- Special keys inside the emulator:
- ---------------------------------
- F1 is System, F2 Data, ..., F8 Sheet, F9 Menu, F10 Help, F12 Diamond
- F11 simulates the machine being switched off then on (only has any
- effect when a password is set).
- Alt is the Psion key.
- You can use the Insert key as an alternative to Shift-System.
-
- Other limitations of the emulator:
- ----------------------------------
- Limited emulation of the WVE sound system.
- Differences at the low-level filing system level.
- Address trapping is implemented differently.
-
- Run-time errors with the emulator:
- ----------------------------------
- The low-level memory manager inside S3aEMUL may generate exceptions,
- known as "run-time errors", if various error conditions arise - eg
- programs attempting to read or write outside the limits of the code
- and/or data segments. (On a real S3a, these conditions would lead to
- "panic"s, but they are caught earlier, at a lower level, inside
- S3aEMUL. This is not to say, incidentally, that *all* S3a panics are
- converted to S3aEMUL exceptions, only a fixed minority.)
-
- When a run-time error of this sort occurs, the whole emulator stops
- at once, and all data in all programs is lost (though not data saved
- to file). The emulator stops so suddenly that the screen will be
- left in graphics mode. To return it to standard character mode, type
- eg
- MODE co80
- (you'll have to type this "blind", since the characters you type
- won't be echoed onto the screen until after the command is processed).
-
- When a run-time error occurs, some part of the memory of the PC may
- on occasion be left tied up, even after S3aEMUL has exited. (Use eg the
- DOS MEM command to find out if this is the case.) Reset your PC if
- this becomes a problem.
-
- Note that under normal circumstances, S3aEMUL will not encounter a
- run-time error - only if a program contains a bug. However, if you
- use S3aEMUL to test programs under development, you may well encounter
- this situation.
-
- Remote Link:
- ------------
- Note that you can turn on Remote Link in the System Screen and gain
- access to an attached S3a (or other Sibo computer) as REM::.
-
- By default, this connection presupposes use of COM1. However, if you
- type "-p2" into the "Extra parameters" line in the "Remote link"
- dialog in the System screen inside S3aEMUL, COM2 will be used instead.
-
- Notes about SUBST:
- ------------------
- See your DOS manual for full details.
- Example syntax is
- SUBST M: C:\PSION
- To change a subst, you first have to "delete" it, eg using
- SUBST M: /D
-
- Note that before you can SUBST to M:, the LASTDRIVE setting in
- CONFIG.SYS must be set as least as high as M. (If you have to change
- your CONFIG.SYS, you will have to reboot your PC before this takes
- any effect.)
-
- You may also find it convenient to SUBST A: or B: whilst S3aEMUL is
- running, to lessen the amount of access made by S3aEMUL to your floppy
- disk drives.
-
- Troubleshooting:
- ----------------
- If you have problems running S3aEMUL:
- disconnect any serial mice and/or remove their drivers
- remove any ramdrives from your PC configuration
- remove other ram-guzzlers from your PC configuration
- re-read this document (sorry if this sounds condescending).
-
- Technical support for S3aEMUL:
- ------------------------------
- Psion regrets that no technical support is available on the use of
- S3aEMUL, whether by post, fax, telephone calls, or EMAIL.
-
- The sole exceptions to this are that questions raised about S3aEMUL in
- the PSION conferences on CIX will generally be answered within a few
- days.
-