README.WRI from Windows for Workgroups Version 3.1 (Part C)

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

SUMMARY

The following information was taken from the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 README.WRI file. This article contains sections 11.0 through 14.0

MORE INFORMATION

11.0 Using Specific Mice with Windows for Workgroups

This section describes some problems you may encounter using specific types of mice with Windows for Workgroups.

11.1 Microsoft Mouse

Windows for Workgroups includes version 8.20 of the Microsoft mouse drivers. If you have a Microsoft mouse, Setup installs the Windows mouse driver (MOUSE.DRV) in your Windows SYSTEM directory and an MS- DOS mouse driver (MOUSE.COM or MOUSE.SYS) in your Windows directory. If you have additional versions of the Microsoft mouse drivers on your system, make sure that you are using the mouse drivers provided with Windows for Workgroups.

If you use the Microsoft Mouse Control Panel version 8.0 or later, you need to set your MS-DOS mouse variable to the directory on your hard disk that contains the control-panel program files POINT.EXE and PANEL.COM. You can do this by modifying your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. For example, if the control-panel program files are located in the \MOUSE directory, you would add the following line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

   set mouse=c:\mouse

It is recommended that you use the mouse driver MOUSE.COM instead of MOUSE.SYS, and that you load MOUSE.COM from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you use MOUSE.SYS, you may encounter problems saving MS-DOS mouse control-panel settings. If you must use MOUSE.SYS and you encounter problems saving mouse settings, make sure you load the driver from your mouse directory instead of from your Windows directory.

For more information about installing the mouse drivers, see Chapter 6, "Troubleshooting," in the "Getting Started" manual.

11.2 Genius Mouse

If you are using a Genius mouse and are running MS-DOS-based applications in 386 enhanced mode, the mouse may not work properly, especially if you have several MS-DOS-based applications running at the same time.

To correct this problem, add the following line to the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file:

   local=PC$MOUSE

11.3 Logitech Mouse

Some Logitech mouse models are detected as "Microsoft or IBM PS/2" mouse models by the Setup program. In this case, Setup installs the mouse driver for the Microsoft or IBM PS/2 mouse. If you have a Logitech mouse, you should use the Logitech mouse driver instead.

To install the Logitech mouse driver, run Windows Setup from the Main group, and then select Logitech from the list of Mouse options. For more information about using Setup after you have installed Windows, see Chapter 10, "Configuring Hardware," in the "Microsoft Windows for Workgroups User's Guide."

When installing the Logitech mouse driver, Windows Setup copies the LMOUSE.COM file to your Windows directory. This is the mouse driver that is required in order to use the Logitech mouse with MS-DOS-based applications. To use your mouse with MS-DOS-based applications, you need to load LMOUSE.COM before you start Windows. You can do this by adding it to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. You also need to add the following line to the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file:

   local=PC$MOUSE

11.4 Logitech Cordless Mouse

If you have a Logitech Cordless mouse and you run Windows in 386 enhanced mode, you may encounter problems, such as an unresponsive pointer, when running MS-DOS Prompt or MS-DOS-based applications in a window.

To correct this problem:

1. Change the baud-rate setting for the mouse driver. To do this, add the following line to the [LogiMouse] section of the SYSTEM.INI file:

       BaudRate=1200
   

2. Include the 1200 option in the command line that loads the MS-DOS Logitech mouse driver (which is provided with Windows for Workgroups) as follows:

         LMOUSE 1200
   

3. Add the above line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to load the mouse driver each time you start your system. The next time you start Windows for Workgroups, your mouse should work correctly.

11.5 Logitech or Microsoft BallPoint Mouse on a Toshiba T2200SX

If you are using a Toshiba T2200SX computer with a BIOS version earlier than 1.20 and you have a Logitech or Microsoft BallPoint mouse connected to the PS/2 mouse port, you may have problems moving the mouse pointer. If the mouse does not respond, try connecting your mouse to the serial port instead, or contact Toshiba for an upgraded version of the BIOS.

11.6 Mouse Systems Mouse on PS/2 Ports

The "Mouse Systems" serial and bus mouse drivers provided with Windows do not support a Mouse Systems mouse when it is connected to a PS/2 style mouse port. If you are using a Mouse Systems mouse connected to a PS/2 style mouse port, Setup installs the "Microsoft or IBM PS/2" mouse driver for you. This is the correct driver. Do not change it.

12.0 Using Additional Hardware Configurations with Windows for Workgroups

This section contains information about using Windows for Workgroups with different types of computers and hardware configurations.

12.1 CD-ROM Drives

If you are using a CD-ROM drive with Windows for Workgroups, you should use version 2.21 of Microsoft MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX) with all configurations of CD-ROM drives. If you use version 2.20 or later, you must also remove the following setting from the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file:

   device=LANMAN10.386

For more information about changing settings in the SYSTEM.INI file, see the SYSINI.WRI online document.

If a CD-ROM drive causes instability in your system or causes your system to fail, you may need to update the CD-ROM driver. Also, the MCI (Media Control Interface) driver MCICDA.DRV may not work properly with older CD-ROM drivers. Contact your CD-ROM-drive manufacturer about obtaining an updated driver.

12.2 EISA Systems with More Than 16 Megabytes of Extended Memory

On some EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) computers, there may be more extended memory available than the system's Int 15h/88h BIOS call can detect. On these computers, HIMEM.SYS uses only the amount of extended memory detected. This can result in a large amount of unused memory.

You can have HIMEM.SYS use all available extended memory by using the /EISA option in the CONFIG.SYS file. For example, if HIMEM.SYS is located in your WINDOWS directory, you would use the following command line in the CONFIG.SYS file to take advantage of all available extended memory:

   device=c:\windows\himem.sys  /EISA

   device=c:\windows\himem.sys  /EISA  /INT15=128

To determine if your device driver or application use the Int15h/88h BIOS call, see the documentation for your device or contact your device dealer. For more information about using HIMEM.SYS with the INT15 option, see Chapter 11, "Managing Memory and Performance," in the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups User's Guide.

12.3 Epson Screen Savers

Some Epson computers have screen-saver utilities that clear the screen after a specified period of inactivity. With Windows for Workgroups, the screen saver might detect that the system is idle when it is not. Windows will function properly even though the screen is blank, but nothing will be displayed until you quit Windows and then restart it.

See the documentation that you received with your Epson computer for instructions on how to turn off the screen saver.

12.4 NCR 925 with EMM386.EXE

If you are using an NCR 925 with EMM386.EXE, include the following option on the device=EMM386.EXE command line in your CONFIG.SYS file:

   device=EMM386.EXE  X=E000-EFFF

12.5 Non-US Keyboard Layouts: Using Application Shortcut Keys

Some non-US keyboards show two characters per alphabet key and three characters per alphanumeric key. To type the second or third character, you must press and hold down CTRL+ALT or ALTGR before pressing the key. If you are using such a keyboard layout, do not use keys that show two or three characters as application shortcut keys.

12.6 Plus Hardcard

To run Windows for Workgroups with a Hardcard, you must include the following line in the [386Enh] section in the SYSTEM.INI file:

   VirtualHDIRQ=OFF

Note: This procedure is not necessary if you are using a Hardcard II or a Hardcard II XL.

It is also recommended that you use SMARTDrive with a Hardcard. For more information about using SMARTDrive, see Chapter 11, "Managing Memory and Performance," in the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups User's Guide.

12.7 SCSI Hard Disk Using DMA

If your computer has a SCSI hard disk that uses Direct Memory Access (DMA), you must include the following entry in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file:

   VirtualHDIRQ=OFF

For information on how to modify the SYSTEM.INI file, see the SYSINI.WRI online document.

12.8 Columbia Data Products SCSI Hard-Disk Controller

To use the Columbia Data Products SCSI hard-disk controller with Windows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode, you must update the Columbia Data Products SCSI driver to version 3.35 or higher.

12.9 Serial Ports on 80286-Based Computers: Improving Performance

If the bit rate-setting for your COM ports is 9600 bits per second (BPS) or higher and you are experiencing slow COM performance or are losing characters when sending or receiving information using a communications application in standard mode, try the following solutions to correct the problem. Try solution one first. If that doesn't work, then try solution two, and so on:

1. Reduce the number of MS-DOS drivers and terminate-and-stay-resident programs (TSRs) loaded from your CONFIG.SYS file.

2. Add the following line to the [standard] section of the SYSTEM.INI file:

         FasterModeSwitch=1
   

   Note: The FasterModeSwitch setting may not work on older systems or systems that are incompatible with Windows for Workgroups. In this case, Windows may fail when you start it.

3. Do not load MS-DOS 5.0 into upper memory (do not include the command line dos=high in your CONFIG.SYS file).

12.10 Sound Blaster Audio Card

If you are using a Sound Blaster audio card that includes a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) chip earlier than version 2.0, you may want to upgrade to version 2.0 to improve audio performance. To find out which version of the DSP chip you currently have, run the TEST-SBC.EXE utility included in your Sound Blaster package. To receive version 2.0 of the DSP chip, contact Creative Labs, Inc.

12.11 Tandy 2500 XL with MS-DOS in ROM

The Tandy 2500 XL can be configured to use MS-DOS in read-only memory (ROM). If you want to use this feature, after you run Windows Setup you must run the Tandy setup program (SETUPXL). Modify your configuration so that your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files are read from drive C.

12.12 Wyse Computers

If you are using a Wyse computer to run Windows, you might need to modify the device=HIMEM.SYS line in your CONFIG.SYS file to read:

   device=[path]HIMEM.SYS  /M:WYSE

13.0 Using Mail

This section gives some additional information about using Mail with Windows for Workgoups.

13.1 Running Mail with Windows for Workgroups in Standard Mode

If you plan to run Mail with Windows for Workgroups running in standard mode, you must run SHARE.EXE before starting Windows for Workgroups. SHARE controls file-sharing and file-locking in standard- mode. Each application that accesses your Mail message file must be able to lock portions of the file to prevent other applications from overwriting information in the file. Mail will not start if you have not run SHARE.EXE.

When you are running Mail with Windows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode, VSHARE.386 is loaded automatically, so SHARE.EXE is not needed.

13.2 Backing Up the Mail Message File

In some circumstances, Mail may encounter problems in the mail message file (.MMF) and you will be asked if you want Mail to repair the file. If you choose Yes, Mail makes a backup copy of the message file in the Windows directory or in the directory specified by the MailTmp parameter in the MSMAIL.INI file. Each time the file is repaired, a new backup file is created. The first such backup file will be named MSMAIL.BAK, and subsequent backup files will be named MSMAIL.001, MSMAIL.002, and so on. You can delete these backup files.

13.3 Creating and Accessing Other Message Files

You can create message files in addition to your primary message file by using the Backup command or the Export Folders command.

To access these files, use the /f option to include the name of the file in the Mail command line, as follows:

   msmail.exe  /f  filename

13.4 Checking for New Mail

The setting in the Options dialog box that determines how often Mail checks for new messages also determines how often Mail checks the Outbox for messages to submit to the postoffice. A message first waits in the Outbox for the amount of time specified, and then waits again for the same amount of time until Mail checks for new messages. For example, if you specified that Mail should check for new messages every three minutes, it can take up to six minutes before you receive new mail.

If it takes longer than you expect to receive your messages, try specifying a lower value.

13.5 Sending a Bitmap as an Attachment

In a mail message, if you include a bitmap that was created by using Paintbrush or another graphics application, the recipient may not be able to view the bitmap if using a display adapter that has a different resolution from yours.

13.6 Compressing Shared Folders

When compressing shared folders in the Postoffice Manager, the administrator should ensure that the shared folders are not being used by Mail users.

13.7 Connecting to a Postoffice on a NetWare Server

When you connect to an existing postoffice by using Mail, Mail displays a network-share browser which enables the user to select the network server and share on which the postoffice resides. For NetWare servers, the user must have previously attached to the server. Then, in the Network Path box, the user can specify the path to the postoffice directory.

13.8 Workgroup Postoffice Must Be at the Root of Share

If you create a Workgroup Postoffice on a LAN Manager or similar network server, you must define a share on that server that has the WGPO directory as its root. When users run Mail to connect to a postoffice on the network, they can select only a postoffice that resides in the root of the share, not one in a subdirectory of the share.

13.9 Workgroup Postoffice Share Name

The share name defined for a Workgroup Postoffice should not be longer than eight characters. Mail has difficulty connecting to the postoffice if the share name is longer than eight characters.

13.10 Multiple Mail Users on One Computer

Mail creates two files the first time a user signs in to Mail. These files, named MSMAIL.INI and MSMAIL.MMF, are created in the user's Windows directory. MSMAIL.INI contains the postoffice location and user-preference information. MSMAIL.MMF contains the user's messages. Access is controlled by the user's Mail password.

When a user runs Mail for the first time on a computer, Mail creates these two files for this user. If a second user wants to use Mail on the same computer, that user needs to rename the two existing files, to enable Mail to create new files for the second user. When the first user wants to use Mail again, he or she can rename the files.

For example, Joe signs in to Mail on his computer and Mail creates the MSMAIL.INI and MSMAIL.MMF files for Joe. After Joe quits and signs out of Mail, if Sue wants to run Mail she needs to rename these two files -- for example, to JOE.INI and JOE.MMF. When Sue signs in to Mail, new MSMAIL.INI and MSMAIL.MMF files are created for Sue. When Joe wants to sign in to Mail again, he needs to rename Sue's files to, for example, SUE.INI and SUE.MMF, and then rename JOE.INI and JOE.MMF to MSMAIL.INI and MSMAIL.MMF respectively. Joe and Sue can continue alternating the use of Mail by using this renaming process. Any number of users can use Mail on the computer at different times by using this renaming technique.

Caution: The MSMAIL.MMF file contains all the messages and folders for a user. Care must be taken to not delete or overwrite this file, or all the mail for that user will be lost.

13.11 Creating Schedule+ Resources

To create a Schedule+ resource (for a conference room, overhead projector, or other shared equipment), the Mail Manager must do the following:

1. Create a Mail account for that resource by using the Postoffice Manager command on the Mail menu.

2. Quit and sign out of Mail.

3. Sign in to Mail and Schedule+ by using the mailbox name and password that correspond to the resource.

4. From the Schedule+ Options menu, choose the General Options command.

5. Select "This account is for a resource," and then choose the OK button.

6. Quit Mail and Schedule+ by choosing Exit & Sign Out from the Schedule+ File menu.

14.0 Other Online Documents

The following table describes other online documents that contain important information about Windows for Workgroups that is not included in the Microsoft Windows for Workgroups User's Guide or in Help:

SETUP.TXT

NETWORKS.WRI

PRINTERS.WRI

SYSINI.WRI

WININI.WRI

PRINTERS.WRI