Using Windows 3.1 with Qualitas 386MAX or BlueMAX

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

Windows version 3.1 works correctly with Qualitas 386MAX or BlueMAX memory managers version 5.1 and later.

Behavior of Windows Setup

Windows Setup should detect 386MAX or BlueMAX if they are running when you install Windows, and Setup should take appropriate action. If you are running 386MAX or BlueMAX versions 5.1, 5.11, or 5.12, Setup upgrades several files in your 386MAX or BlueMAX directory. These files are only used for supporting Windows. The files are 386MAX.VXD, BLUEMAX.VXD, and WINDOWS.LOD.

The .VXD files are loaded automatically by 386MAX or BlueMAX when Windows starts in 386 enhanced mode; they are not needed if Windows is run in standard mode.

Windows Setup automatically creates or modifies a 386MAX.PRO file in your memory manager directory, and makes sure this file instructs the memory manager to load the WINDOWS.LOD file when the memory manager is started. It does so by including the line

   LOAD=<path>WINDOWS.LOD"

   PRO=<path>\386MAX.PRO

The following sections describe known problems that may occur.

386MAX or BlueMAX Not Configured for Windows

When you install 386MAX or BlueMAX, the installation program asks you whether or not you intend to use Windows. If you answer No, then the program disables all Windows support features by inserting the NOWIN3 keyword in the 386MAX.PRO file or on the command line in CONFIG.SYS.

If you later install Windows, you must remove this keyword in order to let the two programs run at the same time.

Software Loaded High

Windows Setup may not be able to detect memory-resident software that is loaded into upper memory blocks using the Qualitas 386LOAD utility.

Upgrading from to 386MAX or BlueMax 6.0 or Later

If you have installed Windows for use with 386MAX or BlueMAX versions below 6.0, and later upgrade to version 6.0, your memory manager profile file (normally 386MAX.PRO or BLUEMAX.PRO) still contains the line to load WINDOWS.LOD at boot time. This is no longer required and can be removed to free up a small amount of additional memory.

Qualitas Installation May Install QCACHE Along with SMARTDRV.EXE

Older versions of the 386MAX or BlueMAX installation programs recommend installing the QCACHE disk cache even if SMARTDRV.EXE version 4.0 is already installed. You should never attempt to run two disk cache utilities at the same time. Disable QCACHE.

Running ASQ Utility Under Windows

The Qualitas ASQ utility (similar to Microsoft Diagnostics) is not compatible with Windows and should not be run while Windows is running. Doing so may cause your workstation to hang.

Using the VGASWAP Option with 386 Enhanced Mode

Windows 386 enhanced mode should work correctly when 386MAX or BlueMAX VGASWAP options are enabled, provided that you do not set the UseRomFonts=1 switch in the [386enh] section of SYSTEM.INI. Using that setting in conjunction with VGASWAP may cause some full-screen messages to be drawn incorrectly and be difficult to read.

Windows May Use B000-B7FF

By default, Windows 3.1 uses the UMA addresses B000-B7FF. Many loadhigh managers attempt to also use this area, causing a conflict with Windows. There are two solutions to this problem:

1. Exclude the range B000-B7FF with the memory manager.

   -or-

2. Install MONOUMB2.386.

   a. Copy and expand the MONOUMB2.38_ file that is on your Windows

         disk to your Windows SYSTEM directory by typing the following at
         the MS-DOS command prompt:
   

            expand monoumb2.38_ c:\windows\system
   
      b. Add the following setting to the [386Enh] section in the
         SYSTEM.INI file:
   
            device=monoumb2.386
   
   

386MAX Parameter EXT=0 Not Recommended

Qualitas 386MAX program has a parameter EXT=0 that may cause problems with Windows version 3.1. Qualitas does not recommend using this setting; Windows 3.1 does not support it. Do NOT use this setting.

If you use this setting, Windows 3.1 fails during Setup and may hang in standard mode when you exit.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.