OSDAVRUQ - GENERAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT RUNNING DOS APPLICATIONS IN OS/2 08/16/96 ====================================================================== General Questions and Answers about Running DOS Applications in OS/2 ====================================================================== Please Read Entire Document for Full Explanation of Procedures -------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION Running DOS Applications in OS/2. RESOLUTION Question 1 ----------- I am trying to run a DOS program in OS/2. I keep getting the message: "Incorrect DOS version." How can I resolve this problem? You need to include the name of your program in the DOS Version Table. To do this, modify the DOS_VERSION setting for the program object being used: 1. Click on the DOS Window or DOS Full Screen program object being used with mouse button 2 to display the pop-up menu. 2. Select Settings to open the Settings notebook. 3. Select the Session tab. 4. Select the DOS Settings... push button. 5. Click on Ok. 6. Highlight DOS_VERSION in the list of DOS Settings. Include the name of your program at the bottom of the value list by following the instructions on the help panel that appears when you highlight DOS_VERSION. For more information on program object settings, refer to pages 185 and 201 of the OS/2 guide: "Using the Operating System." Question 2 ---------- I'm having problems migrating a DOS application to my OS/2 desktop. Where can I find more information on how to do this? There are a number of ways to migrate DOS applications to the OS/2 desktop. The most straight forward method to migrate any application is to use the Migrate Applications utility from the System Setup folder. To use the Migrate Applications utility, double-click on the OS/2 System icon from the OS/2 desktop. Then, double-click on the System Setup icon in the OS/2 System window. Finally, double-click on the Migrate Applications icon in the System Setup window. To migrate only DOS programs, uncheck the OS/2 and Windows programs selections. Click on the FIND button to search for all DOS programs in the highlighted drives and follow the instructions on the migration panel that appears. See page 69 of the OS/2 guide: Using the Operating System. Question 3 ---------- How do I do a proper selective installation of DOS and WIN-OS/2 support? Steps to a proper selective install of DOS and WIN-OS/2 support: Note: Do not use the Selective Uninstall utility to remove OS/2 DOS and WIN-OS/2 Support. 1. Delete everything in the OS2\MDOS directory, including everything in the WINOS2 directory, which is under the OS2\MDOS directory. 2. Go to Selective Install. 3. Select DOS and WIN-OS/2 Support. Question 4 ---------- DOS sessions do not start. There is no error message; just a blinking cursor. Note: You might first notice a problem with a WIN-OS/2 session; always check to see if DOS sessions start. Things to check: 1. Open the Settings notebook for the DOS program object; on the Session page, press the DOS Settings button, then Ok. a. Make sure the DOS_DEVICE statement is blank. b. Check DOS_AUTOEXEC; the default is C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you are using a different file, take a look at it and make sure there's nothing out of the ordinary. 2. Video; try resetting to VGA mode. Use Selective Install to reset to VGA (do not use Alt-F1 and the recovery options, as it doesn't effect DOS and WIN-OS/2); then verify that the CONFIG.SYS statement is changed to: DEVICE=C:\OS2\MDOS\VVGA.SYS If it still references VSVGA.SYS, change it to VVGA.SYS. Question 5 ---------- How to save and load DOS Settings under OS/2 Warp Saving DOS Settings -------------------- To save customized DOS settings to a disk file under OS/2 Warp: 1. Open the OS/2 System folder. 2. Click on either DOS Window or DOS Full Screen with mouse button 2 to display the pop-up menu. 3. Select Settings to open the Settings notebook. 4. Select the Session tab. 5. Select the DOS Settings... push button. 6. Select OK. 7. Select Print. 8. Select Encoded File. 9. Type the file name in which to save the DOS settings. 10. Select OK. 11. Press Cancel and close any open windows to return to the OS/2 Desktop. The file created in steps 9 and 10 can be distributed. Use the instructions in the next section to put the DOS settings into a new, unconfigured, DOS program object. Loading DOS Settings --------------------- To load customized DOS settings under OS/2 Warp: 1. Open the OS/2 System folder. 2. Click on either DOS Window or DOS Full Screen with mouse button 2 to display the pop-up menu. 3. Select Settings to open the Settings notebook. 4. Select the Session tab. 5. Select the DOS Settings... push button. 6. Select OK. 7. Select Load. 8. Type the encoded file path and file name in the text-entry field. 9. Select Load. 10. When the DOS Settings window reappears, select Save to permanently apply the DOS settings to the program object being configured. 11. Close the DOS Settings window. 12. Close the Settings notebook window. The DOS application program object is ready for use. Note: The DOS settings file created in the first section cannot be used by the Add Programs utility program that comes with OS/2 Warp. Third-party programs can convert the encoded file into an acceptable format that can be used by Add Programs. These third-party utility programs can convert the encoded file into a format with the DATABASE.TXT file that comes with OS/2 Warp. ______________________________________________________________________ IBM disclaims all warranties, whether express or implied, including without limitation, warranties of fitness and merchantability with respect to the information in this document. By furnishing this document, IBM grants no licenses to any related patents or copyrights. 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