APPNOTES.TXT: Using Applications with MS-DOS Version 5.0 (72182)



The information in this article applies to:
    Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0

This article was previously published under Q72182

SUMMARY

The following information was taken from the Microsoft MS-DOS 5 APPNOTES.TXT file. It contains notes on using applications with MS-DOS version 5.0. This document is from Microsoft MS-DOS 5 Upgrade. The three sections enclosed in a box do not appear in the file shipped with the Microsoft MS-DOS 5 product licensed to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). These three sections are also marked in the following index with *****.

MORE INFORMATION

This document provides important information not included in the "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference" or in online Help.

Look through the following table of contents to determine whether your application is included.

ATTENTION CODEVIEW AND INTEL ABOVEBOARD USERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sections 1.1 and 1.4 contain critical information
about using Intel Aboveboard and CodeView with
MS-DOS 5.0.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For information about installing MS-DOS 5.0 and using hardware and networks with MS-DOS 5.0, see the README.TXT file.

The following topics are discussed in this file:

    Making Your Software Compatible with MS-DOS 5.0
       1.1 Aboveboard 286 and Aboveboard Plus Installation Programs
       1.2 Amload                                                   *****
       1.3 AUTORUN.EXE
       1.4 CodeView
       1.5 Easel 6.0
       1.6 Fastback
       1.7 GeoWorks
       1.8 Keyboard Conflicts
           * Lotus Metro
           * Lotus Express
           * IBM Displaywrite III
           * Borland Turbo Lightning
           * Micro Logic Tornado 1.8
       1.9 LINK.EXE: Unexpected Error Messages                      *****
       1.10 Lotus 1-2-3 (3.0 or Later)
       1.11 Manifest
       1.12 Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions
       1.13 Paintbrush 2.0
       1.14 PC-Kwik Disk Accelerator
       1.15 Pklite
       1.16 ProKey and MS-DOS Editor/QBasic
       1.17 Sidekick 2.0
       1.18 Soft-ICE
       1.19 Software Carousel
       1.20 Task Swapper and Asynchronous I/O
       1.21 Turbo Debugger 386                                      *****
       1.22 Ventura Publisher
       1.23 WordPerfect WPINFO.EXE 5.1
       1.24 WordPerfect Office 3.0
       1.25 XTreeNet
    

1. MAKING YOUR SOFTWARE COMPATIBLE WITH MS-DOS 5.O

1.1 Above Board 286 and Above Board Plus Installation Programs

CAUTION: The Intel Above Board installation program tests memory in a way that corrupts extended memory.

Before using Intel's Above Board installation program, make sure you haven't loaded software such as SMARTDrive or RAMDrive that uses extended memory.
********************************************************
*                                                                 *
*  1.2 Amload                                                     *
*  ----------                                                     *
*  If you can't use the Apricot Computer Amload program,          *
*  use the following LOADFIX command:                             *
*                                                                 *
*     LOADFIX amload.exe                                          *
*                                                                 *
********************************************************
For information about the LOADFIX command, see Chapter 4 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS Getting Started" guide.

1.3 AUTORUN.EXE

If you can't use Mountain Network Solutions AUTORUN.EXE, a tape-drive backup program, contact your vendor for an upgrade.

1.4 CodeView

CAUTION: Using versions 3.0 to 3.13 of the CodeView CV.EXE file may cause the loss of data if your system has a 80386 memory manager (such as EMM386.EXE) and device drivers or programs that use extended memory.

To start CodeView versions 3.0 to 3.13 safely, use the CV.COM file included with MS-DOS 5.0.

Copy the CV.COM file from the distribution disks to the directory that contains your CV.EXE file. Then, type the following to start CodeView:

CV

or

CV.COM

If you start CodeView by using a batch file or program item in a shell (such as MS-DOS Shell), change the batch file or program item so that it specifies the CV.COM instead of the CV.EXE file.

Make sure you use HIMEM.SYS driver version 2.77 or later with CodeView. Otherwise, the CV.COM file does not prevent data loss. MS-DOS 5.0 includes version 2.77.

This problem has been fixed in CodeView version 3.14. Call Microsoft Sales Information Center (MSIC) for information about this version; see your registration card for the phone number.

1.5 Easel 6.0

Interactive Images Easel 6.0 is incompatible with the DOS=HIGH and EMM386 commands. Contact your vendor for an update.

1.6 Fastback

If you run MS-DOS 5.0 in the high memory area, you must use the LOADFIX command before running Fifth Generation Systems Fastback or the Fastback installation program. Type the following:

LOADFIX fb.exe

or

LOADFIX fbinstal.exe

For information about the LOADFIX command, see Chapter 4 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS Getting Started" guide.

1.7 GeoWorks

If you cannot run GeoWorks (PC/GEOS) after installing MS-DOS 5.0, use the SETVER command to report version number 4.01 to the GEOS.EXE file.

Do not run the installation program for GeoWorks Ensemble when MS-DOS Shell Task Swapper is active.

Use the Exclusive Tasking option when running GeoWorks Ensemble with Windows, and use the Prevent Program Switch option when running it with MS-DOS Shell Task Swapper.

1.8 Keyboard Conflicts

Some software packages do not support the extended ROM BIOS for 101/102-key keyboards. These include Lotus Metro, Lotus Express, IBM Displaywrite III, Borland Turbo Lightning, and Micro Logic Tornado 1.8. If you can't use your keyboard after starting an application, restart your computer, and add the following line to your CONFIG.SYS file:

switches=/k

If you are using ANSI.SYS, also add a /k switch to the DEVICE=ANSI.SYS command in your CONFIG.SYS file.
***********************************************************
*                                                                    *
*  1.9 LINK.EXE: Unexpected Error Messages                           *
*  ---------------------------------------                           *
*  If you get unexpected error messages while linking programs,      *
*  make sure you don't have an old version of LINK.EXE in your DOS   *
*  directory or path.                                                *
*                                                                    *
*  LINK.EXE is not supplied with MS-DOS 5.0.                         *
*                    *
*                     *
***********************************************************

1.10 Lotus 1-2-3 (3.0 or Later)

If you run Lotus 1-2-3 3.0 with Task Swapper in MS-DOS Shell, set the XMS Memory KB Required option in the Advanced dialog box to 384.

For more information about specifying advanced properties, see Chapter 8 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference."

If you run Lotus 1-2-3 3.0 or later and load device drivers or memory-resident programs into the upper memory area, usethe RAM switch with the DEVICE=EMM386.EXE command in your CONFIG.SYS file.

1.11 Manifest

Version 1.0 of Quarterdeck Manifest is incompatible with MS-DOS 5.0. Contact your vendor for an upgrade.

1.12 Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions

Use a MSCDEX.EXE version that is compatible with MS-DOS 4.0 or later.

1.13 Paintbrush 2.0

If you have an EGA monitor and want to run Microsoft or ZSoft Paintbrush 2.0, you must remove the DEVICE=EGA.SYS command from your CONFIG.SYS file. After removing the command, you may have difficulty with screen swapping when using Task Swapper in MS-DOS Shell.

1.14 PC-Kwik Disk Accelerator

Do not load versions of Multisoft PC-Kwik Disk Accelerator earlier than 2.0 into the upper memory area.

1.15 Pklite

Do not use Pklite to pack device drivers.

If you have a PC-Kwik cache on your system, and you can't run a packed program, do one of the following:

* Use the LOADFIX command to start the program.
* Run MS-DOS 5.0 in conventional memory.
* Run a version of the program that was not packed with Pklite.
* Disable asynchronous reads on the PC-Kwik cache.

For information about the LOADFIX command, see Chapter 4 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS Getting Started" guide.

1.16 ProKey and MS-DOS Editor/QBasic

Some versions of RoseSoft ProKey are incompatible with MS-DOS Editor and QBasic.

1.17 Sidekick 2.0

If you are running MS-DOS 5.0 in the high memory area, use the following LOADFIX command to start Borland Sidekick 2.0:

LOADFIX sk2.exe

For information about the LOADFIX command, see Chapter 4 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS Getting Started" guide.

1.18 Soft-ICE

When using Nu-Mega Soft-ICE, load it before loading other drivers. Otherwise, you may lose data stored in extended memory by drivers such as SMARTDrive.

1.19 Software Carousel

Software Carousel 5.0 is incompatible with MS-DOS 5.0.

If you installed HIMEMSLS.SYS, remove the DEVICE=HIMEMSLS.SYS command from your CONFIG.SYS after running Setup.

To use DOSKEY, load it after loading Software Carousel into memory.

1.20 Task Swapper and Asynchronous I/O

Some programs that perform asynchronous communications are incompatible with MS-DOS Shell Task Swapper. Terminal-emulation software (such as SmartCom and Procomm Plus) and server/client software (such as Laplink and Blast) are asynchronous communications programs. If you can't use an asynchronous program, contact your vendor for more information.
***********************************************************
*                                                                    *
*   1.21 Turbo Debugger 386                                          *
*   -----------------------                                          *
*   The Borland Turbo Debugger 386 is configuration-dependent and    *
*   must be reinstalled after you upgrade to MS-DOS 5.0.             *
*                                                                    *
***********************************************************

1.22 Ventura Publisher

If you can't start Ventura Publisher, make sure your Ventura Publisher directory is within the first 70 characters of the PATH command in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

1.23 WordPerfect WPINFO.EXE 5.1

Some versions of WordPerfect WPINFO.EXE are incompatible with MS-DOS 5.0. Contact your vendor for more information.

1.24 WordPerfect Office 3.0

Some versions of WordPerfect Office 3.0 are incompatible with MS-DOS 5.0. Contact your vendor for more information.

1.25 XTreeNet

To use XTreeNet with MS-DOS Shell Task Swapper, select the Prevent Program Switch option in the MS-DOS Shell Advanced dialog box. For more information about specifying advanced properties, see Chapter 8 of the "Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference."

Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 1/31/2002
Keywords: KB72182