SYSINI.WRI from Windows for Workgroups Version 3.1 (Part B)

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

SUMMARY

The following information was taken from the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 SYSINI.WRI file. This article contains the second half of the SYSINI.WRI file.

MORE INFORMATION

[standard] Section Settings

The [standard] section contains settings that are specific to running Windows for Workgroups in standard mode:

The [standard] section can contain the following settings:

FasterModeSwitch=<0-or-1>

Default: 0

Purpose: Enabling this setting causes Windows for Workgroups running in standard mode to use a faster method of switching from protected mode to real mode on many 80286-based computers. When this setting is enabled, Windows for Workgroups responds quicker to hardware interrupts, allowing better throughput for interrupt-intensive applications, such as communications applications. In addition, you should enable this setting if you are using a Zenith Z-248 system and are losing characters while typing, or if you are using an Olivetti M- 250-E and lose mouse functionality.

Note: This setting has no effect on 80386-based computers. Some early IBM AT and compatible computers do not have the BIOS support necessary to use this setting. Enabling this setting on these computers may cause them to lock up when starting Windows for Workgroups.

Int28Filter=<number>

Default: 10

Purpose: Specifies the interval of INT28h interrupts, generated when the system is idle, that are made visible (or reflected) to software that is loaded before Windows for Workgroups. Windows for Workgroups will reflect every nth interrupt, where n is the value of this setting. For example, a value of 1 reflects every INT28h interrupt, a value of 2 reflects every second INT28h interrupt, and so on. Increasing this value might improve Windows for Workgroups performance, but may interfere with some memory-resident programs, such as network software. Set this value to 0 to prevent any INT28h interrupts from being reflected. Setting this value too low (from 1 to 9) might interfere with communications applications.

NetHeapSize=<kilobytes>

Default: 20

Purpose: Specifies the size (in kilobytes) of the data-transfer buffer that Windows for Workgroups running in standard mode allocates in conventional memory for transferring data over a network. If an application is not running correctly, your network may require a larger buffer than the default value. Increasing this value will decrease the amount of memory available to applications. If no network software is running, this setting will be ignored and no memory will be allocated.

[386Enh] Section Settings

The [386Enh] section contains information specific to running Windows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode, including information used for virtual-memory page swapping.

The [386Enh] section can contain the following settings:

AllVMsExclusive=<boolean>

Default: False

Purpose: If enabled, this setting forces all applications to run in exclusive full-screen mode, overriding all contrary settings in the applications' program information files (PIFs). Enabling this setting might prolong the length of the Windows session when you are running network and memory-resident software that is incompatible with Windows for Workgroups.

COMBoostTime=<milliseconds>

Default: 2

Purpose: Specifies the amount of time (in milliseconds) to allow a virtual machine to process a COM interrupt. If, while running a communications application, you lose keyboard characters on the screen, you can try increasing this value.

COMMdrv30=<boolean>

Default: False

Purpose: If enabled, the Virtual COM Driver (VCD) uses its own copy of the interrupt handler for the serial communications driver. This improves performance of your COM ports. Enable this setting if you are using a Windows version 3.0 serial communications driver. Disable this setting if you are using the standard Windows version 3.1 serial communications driver.

COM1FIFO=<boolean> COM2FIFO=<boolean> COM3FIFO=<boolean> COM4FIFO=<boolean>

Default: True

Purpose: Specifies whether the FIFO buffer of a COM port's 16550 Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) should be enabled (True) or disabled (False). If a serial port does not have a 16550 UART, this setting is ignored.

Note: These values are used by Windows for Workgroups for both standard and 386 enhanced modes.

COMIrqSharing=<boolean>

Default: True for Micro Channel Architecture and EISA machines; False for all other machines.

Purpose: Specifies whether COM interrupt lines are sharable between multiple serial ports or with other devices. Enable this setting if your machine uses the same interrupt for COM3 or COM4 as it does for COM1 or COM2.

DOSPromptExitInstruc=<boolean>

Default: Yes

Purpose: If this setting is enabled, when you start MS-DOS Prompt, a message appears with instructions on how to exit and switch away from MS-DOS Prompt. Disable this setting if you do not want to see the message.

DualDisplay=<boolean>

Default: See "Purpose" below.

Purpose: Typically, when running in 386 enhanced mode, the memory between B000:0000 and B7FF:000F is used by the general system unless a secondary display is detected. Enable this setting if you are using a VGA-based color display and want EMM386.EXE to include this address space as an upper memory block (UMB). In addition to enabling this setting, you must include the i= option in the device=EMM386.EXE command line in your CONFIG.SYS file as follows:

   device=EMM386.EXE  i=B000-B7FF

EMMExclude=<paragraph-range>

Default: None

Purpose: Specifies a range of memory that Windows for Workgroups will not scan to find unused address space. This has the side effect of turning off the RAM and ROM search code for the range. The range (two paragraph values separated by a hyphen) must be between A000 and EFFF. This scanning can interfere with some adapters that use the same memory area. The starting value is rounded down and the ending value is rounded up to a multiple of 16K. For example, you could set EMMExclude=C800-CFFF to prevent Windows for Workgroups from scanning the addresses C800:0000 through CFFF:000F. You can specify more than one range by including more than one EMMExclude line.

EMMInclude=<paragraph-range>

Default: None

Purpose: Specifies a range of memory that Windows for Workgroups will treat as unused address space regardless of what may be there. EMMInclude takes precedence over EMMExclude if you specify ranges that overlap. The range (two values separated by a hyphen) must be between A000 and EFFF. The starting value is rounded down and the ending value is rounded up to a multiple of 16K. For example, you could set EMMInclude=C800-CFFF to ensure that Windows for Workgroups can use the addresses C800:0000 through CFFF:000F. You may specify more than one range by including more than one EMMInclude line.

EMMPageFrame=<paragraph>

Default: None

Purpose: Specifies the starting paragraph where the 64K page frame will begin when Windows for Workgroups (running in 386 enhanced mode) cannot find a suitable page frame. Allows an EMM page frame in an area containing some unused RAM or ROM. For example, you could set EMMPageFrame=C400 to start the page frame at C400:0000.

EMMSize=<kilobytes>

Default: 65536

Purpose: Specifies the total amount of memory available for mapping as expanded memory. The default value allocates the maximum possible amount of system memory as expanded memory. Specify a value for this setting if you run an application that allocates all of the available expanded memory. If this is the case, you cannot create new virtual machines. If this value is zero, no expanded memory is allocated, but the EMM driver will load. To disable EMM and prevent the EMM driver from loading, use the NoEMMDriver setting.

EnableSharingPopUps=<boolean>

Default: False

Purpose: Specifies whether a SHARE.EXE sharing-violation message should appear when a sharing violation occurs while you are using VSHARE. If this setting is enabled, the SHARE.EXE messages will appear. If this setting is disabled, the SHARE.EXE message will not appear and you will not be notified of a sharing violation. Enable this setting if you are using an MS-DOS-based application that relies on the sharing-violation message.

FileSysChange=<on-or-off>

Default: Off in 386 enhanced mode; not supported in standard mode.

Purpose: Indicates whether File Manager automatically updates file information anytime an MS-DOS-based application creates, renames, or deletes a file. If this setting is disabled, a virtual machine can run exclusively, even if it modifies files. Enabling this setting can slow down system performance significantly. If you are sharing directories and someone else changes the contents of your directories by using an MS-DOS-based application, File Manager does not update the directory or file information, even if this setting is enabled.

InDOSPolling=<boolean>

Default: No

Purpose: If enabled, prevents Windows for Workgroups from running other applications when memory-resident software has the InDOS flag set. Enabling this setting is necessary if the memory-resident software needs to be in a critical section to do operations off an INT21 hook, but will slow down system performance slightly.

INT28Critical=<boolean>

Default: True

Purpose: Specifies whether a critical section is needed to handle INT28h interrupts used by memory-resident software. Some networks do internal task switching on INT28h interrupts. These interrupts might lock up some network software, indicating the need for an INT28h critical section. If you are not using such software, you might improve Windows task switching by disabling this setting.

LocalReboot=<on-or-off>

Default: On

Purpose: Specifies whether you can press CTRL+ALT+DEL to quit applications that cause an unrecoverable error in 386 enhanced mode. If this setting is enabled, you can quit the applications without restarting Windows for Workgroups. If this setting is disabled, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL will restart your entire system.

MaxBPs=<number>

Default: 200

Purpose: Specifies the maximum number of break points (a method for transferring control to Windows running in 386 enhanced mode) that can be used by the virtual-memory manager. You may need to increase this value if you are using Microsoft C version 7.0 or a third-party virtual-device driver that requires more break points than the default value.

MaxCOMPort=<number>

Default: 4

Purpose: Specifies the maximum number of COM ports supported in 386 enhanced mode. Change this value if you have more than four COM ports installed in your computer.

NetAsynchFallback=<boolean>

Default: False

Purpose: If this setting is enabled, Windows for Workgroups attempts to save a failing NetBIOS request. When an application issues an asynchronous NetBIOS request, Windows for Workgroups attempts to allocate space in its global network buffer to receive the data. If there is insufficient space in the global buffer, Windows for Workgroups typically fails the NetBIOS request. If this setting is enabled, Windows for Workgroups attempts to save such a request by allocating a buffer in local memory and preventing any other virtual machines from running until the data is received or the timeout period (specified by the NetAsynchTimeout setting) expires.

NetAsynchTimeout=<seconds>

Default: 5.0

Purpose: Specifies the timeout period (in seconds) when Windows for Workgroups will enter a critical section in order to service an asynchronous NetBIOS request. It is used only when the NetAsynchFallback setting is enabled. This value can include a decimal (such as 0.5).

NetCard=<filename>

Default: None (Setup sets this value to match your configuration.)

Purpose: Specifies the virtual-device drivers for your network adapter that Windows for Workgroups uses when running in 386 enhanced mode.

NetDMASize=<kilobytes>

Default: 32 on Micro Channel Architecture machines (IBM PS/2 or compatible); 0 on non-Micro Channel Architecture machines (IBM PC/AT or compatible).

Purpose: Specifies the DMA buffer size (in kilobytes) for NetBIOS transport software if a network has been installed. In this case, the buffer size is the larger of this value or the value of DMABufferSize.

NetHeapSize=<kilobytes>

Default: 12

Purpose: Specifies the size (in kilobytes) of the data-transfer buffers in conventional memory that Windows for Workgroups allocates for transferring data over a network when running in 386 enhanced mode. This setting is only needed if you are using real-mode protocols. It is not required if you are using the VNB.386 protocol. All values are rounded up to the nearest 4K.

Network=<filename-or-devicename>

Default: vnetbios.386, vnetsup.386, vredir.386, vserver.386, vbrowse.386, vwc.386

Purpose: Specifies the virtual-network drivers that are used when Windows for Workgroups is running in 386 enhanced mode.

ReflectDosInt2A=<boolean>

Default: False

Purpose: Indicates whether Windows for Workgroups should consume or reflect DOS INT 2A signals. The default means Windows for Workgroups will consume these signals and therefore run more efficiently. Enable this setting if you are running memory-resident software that relies on detecting INT2A messages.

SecondNet=<filename>

Default: None (Setup sets this value to match your configuration.)

Purpose: Specifies the virtual-network drivers for the networks you have added support for. Windows for Workgroups uses these drivers when running in 386 enhanced mode.

SyncTime=<boolean>

Default: True

Purpose: If this setting is enabled, Windows for Workgroups periodically synchronizes its time with the computer's CMOS clock. If this setting is disabled, Windows for Workgroups usually maintains the correct time, unless TrapTimerPorts is disabled and you are running applications that can cause the system time to run faster or slower than the actual time. This setting is related to the TrapTimerPorts setting.

TimerCriticalSection=<milliseconds>

Default: 0

Purpose: Instructs Windows for Workgroups to go into a critical section around all timer interrupt code and specifies a timeout period (in milliseconds). Specifying a positive value causes only one virtual machine at a time to receive timer interrupts. Some networks, protocols, and other global memory-resident software may fail unless this setting is used. However, using this setting slows down performance and can make the system seem to stop for short periods of time.

Transport=<filename>

Default: vnb.386 (Microsoft NetBEUI)

Purpose: Specifies the network-protocol virtual-device-driver file that Windows for Workgroups uses when running in 386 enhanced mode.

TrapTimerPorts=<boolean>

Default: True

Purpose: Specifies whether Windows for Workgroups should trap read and write operations to the system timer ports that are performed by applications. If this setting is disabled, Windows for Workgroups will not trap these operations, allowing applications that frequently read or write to the timer to run faster. However, this may interfere with ability of Windows for Workgroups to keep accurate system time. If this setting is disabled, Windows for Workgroups can usually detect when an application has changed the timer interrupt interval and then make any adjustments to the time. If your system's time appears to be running fast or slow, enable this setting. If you do not want to enable this setting, enable the SyncTime setting. This causes Windows for Workgroups to check the time periodically and then make any necessary adjustments.

V86ModeLANAs=<lana number, lana number>

Default: None

Purpose: Specifies the LANA numbers for all the real-mode protocols and NetBIOS's that Windows for Workgroups recognizes. This setting is for real-mode protocols and NetBIOS's only. This setting should not include any LANA numbers for protected-mode protocols or NetBIOS's. If you start the network before starting Windows for Workgroups, the values for this setting must include the LANA numbers for the real mode protocols and NetBIOS's that you want to use. If you do not start the network before starting Windows for Workgroups, make sure that the values for this setting do not include LANA numbers for protected-mode protocols or NetBIOS's.

VirtualHDIrq=<on-or-off>

Default: On for AT-compatible computers; Off for all other computers.

Purpose: If enabled, Windows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode can terminate interrupts from the hard disk controller, bypassing the ROM routine that handles these interrupts. Some hard disk drives might require this setting to be disabled in order for interrupts to be processed correctly. If this setting is disabled, the ROM routine handles the interrupts, which slows down system performance.