BootWizard v. 3.1. OPERATING SYSTEM BOOTING MANAGER
USERS GUIDE.
The contents of this guide may change without any prior
notice.(C) 1995-98 PhysTechSoft, Ltd. All rights reserved.
PTS, PTS-DOS and BootWizard are registered trademarks of PhysTechSoft, Ltd.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, Windows NT and Windows logo are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in USA and/or other countries.
IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of IBM in USA and/or other countries.
Any other brandnames that appear in this guide might be registered trademarks
of some companies.
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BootWizard - what is it for? Features survey
1.2 Conventional signs key
1.3 Hardware requirements
1.4 Operating system and other software compatibility
1.5 Technical support service
2. INSTALLING BOOTWIZARD ON YOUR COMPUTER
2.1 BootWizard distribution package
2.2 How to install BootWizard on your computer
2.3 Please, register!
3. BOOTWIZARD - BEHIND THE FUNCTIONALITY
3.1 Disk space organization on Intel platforms
3.1.1 Disk space structure
3.1.2 Partitions
3.1.3 Master Boot Record
3.1.4 File system
3.1.5 Boot sector
3.1.6 Logical disks
3.1.7 Clusters
3.1.8 Computer boot sequence
3.2 How does BootWizard work
3.2.1 Compatibility of several operating systems on one computer
3.2.2 BootWizard - solution to the problem
3.3 BootWizard registry
4. BOOTING THE COMPUTER WITH BOOTWIZARD
5. CONFIGURING BOOTWIZARD
5.1 BootWizard configuration window
5.2 Boot sections list
5.2.1 Operating systems
5.2.2 Booting from floppy disks
5.2.3 Separators
5.2.4 Turning power off
5.3 Scanning and registering installed operating systems
5.4 Setting up operating systems parameters
5.4.1 OS name
5.4.2 Backup directory
5.4.3 Associated files
5.5 System and configuration files
5.6 Creating associated files list
5.7 Editing configuration files
5.8 Copying configuration sections
5.9 Removing sections from the "Choose configuration section" menu
5.10 Deleting configuration sections
5.11 BootWizard options
6. ADDING AND REMOVING OPERATING SYSTEMS
6.1 Adding operating systems
6.2 Removing operating systems
7. DISABLING AND REINSTALLING BOOTWIZARD
7.1 Temporarily disabling BootWizard
7.2 Complete BootWizard uninstallation
7.3 Reinstalling BootWizard
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 BootWizard - what is it for? Features survey
BootWizard operating system booting manager allows installation and
non-conflicting usage of different operating systems and/or different configurations
of one operating system on one Intel based personal computer (so called
"PC platform").
This feature might be very useful for software designers, testers, computer-related
writers and any PC users that for this or that reason have to use applications that
run under different operating systems.
BootWizard has built-in functions for hard disk management, so it can be installed
and used without any additional software like Fdisk, format etc.
1.2 Conventional signs key
Characters, icons and fonts that are used in this guide have the following meaning:
SIGN IS USED FOR
* List item.
1. Step of a sequence in a procedure
[Ctrl]+[A] A key or combination of keys.
Green color Important comment.
1.3 Hardware requirements
BootWizard may be installed on any Intel-based personal computer with
Intel 80386 or higher compatible CPU. BootWizard requires 350K of free space on
a disk with FAT file system. There are no special requirements to RAM size. A mouse will be handy.
1.4 Operating system and other software compatibility
BootWizard provides the compatibility of the following operating systems
in one disk space:
* Microsoft MS-DOS;
* PhysTechSoft PTS-DOS;
* Caldera OpenDOS;
* IBM PC-DOS;
* Microsoft MS-DOS + Windows 3.x;
* Microsoft Windows 95 Russian, American, paneuropean and
German versions;
* Microsoft Windows OSR2 Russian, American, paneuropean and
German versions;
* Microsoft Windows NT 3.51, 4.0;
* IBM OS/2;
* Linux;
* FreeBSD UNIX.
BootWizard might conflict with some BIOS built-in boot virus control. Turn this
control off in order for BootWizard to work properly.
BootWizard work might cause some warning messages from certain antiviral
programs that check the status of Master Boot Record (MBR) and the bootsectors.
Some antiviral programs "think" that the reinstal.com file is infected
with a boot virus. If you have any reasons to suspect that your computer is really infected,
then launch a diagnostic and cure process and thyen reinstall BootWizard from
definitely sterile diskettes.
1.5 Technical support service
Registered users of BootWizard get a free technical support from PhysTechSoft.
In case you have troubles with installing and/or using BootWizard and you
are unable to correct this troubles by means of this guide and README.TXT file,
please contact our technical support service at
phone # +7(095)408-7072 or E-mail: bootwiz@PhysTechSoft.com.
When addressing the technical support service you have to provide you BootWizard
register number, that is shown on your ownership certificate that comes
with the distribution package.
2. INSTALLING BOOTWIZARD ON YOUR COMPUTER
2.1 BootWizard distribution package
BootWizard distribution package includes an envelope with an installation diskette,
this guide, registration card, ownership certificate, license agreement and
some information and advertisement materials.
2.2 How to install BootWizard on your computer
To install BootWizard on your computer it is necessary that at least one partition
uses FAT12, FAT16 or FAT32. If you are using some DOS-compatible OS, Windows 95 or
Windows 95 OSR2, than this condition is met. If you are using Windows NT 4.0 or
OS/2 than it is possible that there is no partition with a required file system. In
this case in order to install BootWizard you have either to format one of the
partitions for FAT or change the disk structure and add another partition with FAT
to currently existing partitions (see below).
To install BootWizard on your computer
1. Insert the installation diskette into drive A:.
2. Launch install.exe from disk A: by doing the following:
* Under MS-DOS, PTS-DOS and other DOS-compatible systems:
* Type a:\install.exe in the command line
* Press [Enter].
* Under Microsoft Windows 95:
* Press "Start" button and choose "Execute" from the menu
* In the "Execute program" dialogue window type a:\install.exe
in the "Open" field
* Press "OK" button or [Enter] key.
* When installing BootWizard from other operating systems we strongly
advise you to reboot your computer after inserting the installation
diskette into drive A:. The reason behind it is that operating systems
like Microsoft Windows NT or, for example, OS/2 do not allow programs
to access the disk directly, like the BootWizard installation
program does.
3. The installation program will display a window with general BootWizard
and installation program information. To continue installation,
press "Continue"
Carefully follow the installation instructions and read the messages and prompts
that are displayed by the installation program. Otherwise you might get
unexpexted and undesired results. On any stage of BootWizard installation you can
get help by pressing the "Help" button or cancel installation by pressing
"Cancel" button. On every stage except the first you can return to the previous
stage by pressing the "Back" button. On pressing the "Cancel" button a "Cancel
installation" dialogue window will open. If you really want to cancel
Bootwizard installation, press "Exit". To continue installation, press
"Continue".
4. Please read the license agreement that will be displayed by the
installation program in the "license.htm" window. Press [Esc]. A
confirmation dialogue window will open. If you agree with the conditions
of the license agreement, press the "Yes" button. If you can not accept
the licence conditions, press "No" and the BootWizard installation
will be cancelled.
5. Choose one of the following options in the "Create boot disk"
dialogue window:
* Create BootWizard boot disk and continue installation. Select
the "Create boot disk and install BootWizard" radio button.
* Install BootWizard without creating the boot disk. Select the
"Install without creating boot disk" radio button.
* Create boot disk without installing BootWizard. Select the
"Create boot disk without installing BootWizard" radio button.
Press the "Continue" button.
If you have chosen "Create boot disk and install BootWizard", the boot disk is
created not after pressing the "Continue" button, but one screen later along with
transferring BootWizard files on the hard disk.
6. If the installation program finds BootWizard installed on one of
logical disks, it offers to reinstall it instead of full installation.
Reinstallation guarantees that BootWizard registry contents will be saved.
To reinstall BootWizard select the "Install on this disk" radio button" To
install BootWizard again on this or some other disk select the "Install
on other disk" radio button.
6.1 If the installation program does not find a pre-installed BootWizard
on the coputer, it opens the "Choose disk for installation" dialogue
window. Select the disk you want to install BootWizard on in the
"Choose disk" list from this window. All the partitions on this
computer that are suitable for BootWizard installation are listed here
along with the amount of free space on them. Press the "Continue"
button to continue with installation.
7. The "Confirm installation" dialogue window will open. If a boot disk
is created along with installation, insert an empty floppy disk into the
drive that is specified ny the installation program. To finish BootWizard
installation, i.e. transfer all the necessary files onto the hard disk and
maybe create a BootWizard boot disk, press the "Finish" button.
8. The "Copying File" dialogue window will open and will remain on the screen
until all the BootWizard files are transfered on the hard disk.
9. When transfer is complete, the "Installation complete" dialogue window
is opened. Here you can choose either to reboot the computer and continue
BootWizard installation (press the "Reboot" button) or postpone
installation until the next reboot (press the "Exit" button)
Do not forget to remove floppy disks from the drives before rebooting your
computer.
10. When the computer is rebooted BootWizard analyzes hard disks and
collects the information about partitions on them. All the operating
systems that are found by BootWizard are recorded in the registry. If
BootWizard encounters a partition with unknown bootsector contents, it
opens the "Unknown system" dialogue window. If you know that there is
no operating system in that partition or that there should not be any
file system at all, press the "Skip" button. If that partition really
contains an operating system that is unknown to BootWizard, press the
"Add" button, and remember to enter the information about the
associated files for this system after installation. See additional
information on adding OS information into BootWizard registry in the
"Adding operating systems" paragraph.
BootWizard installation program changes all the autoexec.bat files on all
the disks by adding to them a reinstal.com line.
Besides if other than C: drives have autoexec.bat file on them, the
installation program copies the file reinstal.com into their root
directories. The reinstal.com program writes the BootWizard boot code into
MBR (Master Boot Record). It is rone to prevent BootWizard deactivation if
some other program, for example an operating system that was installed after
BootWizard, changes the MBR contents. If some program still manages to
deactivate BootWizard, reinstall it (see the "Reinstalling BootWizard" paragraph.
During BootWizard installation a BOOTWIZ directory is be created in the
root directory of the selected drive, and all BootWizard files as well as the
registry of all the operating systems that are installed on this computer
are stored in it.
2.3 Please, register!
The BootWizard distribution package has a registration card in it. Please,
complete it and send it to the indicated address. By doing so you acquire
the BootWizard registered user status that grants you free technical support
and discounts on next BootWizard versions. Registered users regularily get
information about new PhysTechSoft products releases.
3. BOOTWIZARD - BEHIND THE FUNCTIONALITY
This chapter contains some general information that is strictly speaking not
crucial for using BootWizard, but it helps to understand some special
things about the functioning of this software.
3.1 Disk space organization on Intel platforms
3.1.1 Disk space structure
Several hard disks may be installed in one Intel-based personal computer. System
software allows applications and therefore users not to care about how many hard
drives are there in the computer, what is their capacity and how is the
informaion stored on them. But you can not ignore this information when
usingh BootWizard.
A hard disk consists of several coaxial magnetic disks, on their surface
information can be stored. Each disk is divided into concentric circles,
tracks, and the later are divided into sectors. Tracks from different disks
that have the same radius form a cylinder. Heads that are placed between the
disks and are able to move from one track to another are used to read and
write information. For each disk there is a separate set of heads (for
example one for reading and another for writing) but usually such sets are
referred to as one head. The disks rotate all the time when the computer is on.
To read the information from some sector the computer (or, precisely, the
hard disk controller) does the following:
* Calculates, on which disk the specified sector is located;
* moves the corresponding head to the track on which the sector is;
* waits until the sector gets under the head;
* reads the information from the sector while it passes under the head.
Writing the information is done in the same way.
So each sector has three coordinates: disk number (or, commonly
speaking, head number), cylinder number and sector number.
But usually an absolute enumeration is used when the first sector of the first
track on the first disk has number 0, the next sectro on the same track of the
same disk has number 1 etc.
The number of magnetic disks of the hard disk is defined only by it's
construstion. The number of tracks and sectors per track are defined by
by the disk construction as well as by the limits of BIOS software from the
computer ROM. Software like BootWizard or, or example, fdisk, is unable to
change the amount of sectors and, of course, the disks, and has to deal with
partitioning that was done when the hard disk was formatted on low level.
3.1.2 Partitions
Each hard disk can be divided into several (not more than four) primary
partitions made of concentric cylinders. Note that some cylinders might not
belong to any partition, i.e. there can be free space.
Some situations require creation of more than four partitions, so one primary
partition may be divided into any number of secondary partitions. In this case
the number of primary partitions is reduced to three. There must be at least
one primary partition on the hard disk.
Each partition has it's own number. Primary partitions have numbers from 1 to
4 (or to 3 if there are secondary partitions on the disk), and the numbers of
secondary partitions are not less than 5 (i.e. the first secondary partition
has number 5).
Division of a hard disk into partitions is done when the disk is marked with
a utility like "Disk manager" (BootWizard unit) or fdisk.exe from MS-DOS
package.
3.1.3 Master Boot Record
The very first (i.e. zero) sector of a hard disk is called the Master Boot
Record - MBR. MBR contains the following data:
* Disk Partition Table with information about positions, sizes and
types of primary partitions on the disk, about which partition is active
(see below). Partition type is a number, that opration systems use to
determine whether they can use this partition or it is inaccessible to
them. Unfortunately sometimes it happens that different operating systems
use the same numbers to mark "their" partitions.
* Executable code that gets control from ROM BIOS when booting from a
hard disk.
3.1.4 File system
File system is a combination of files and directories that are stored in a
certain way in one or more partitions. Generally speaking, each OS may use it's
own file system. That would not have been any trouble if every OS could use
every file system. Unfortunately that is not the case. For example MS-DOS is
unable to use partitions where information is stored in accord with NTFS file
system that is used by Windows NT. Some modern operating systems "understand"
several different file systems, like Windows NT that supports NTFS, FAT16 and
FAT12 file systems. file system is defined when the partition is formatted
with a utility like "Disk manager" or format.com from MS-DOS package.
3.1.5 Boot sector
The very first sector of a partition is a boot sector. It's contents depends on
what OS uses it and what file system does it contain. Usually the boot sector
holds information about the file system and it's parameters. Besides there can
be the code that will get control from the MBR code during the booting.
Sometimes it can happen that the partition is completely used by an operating
system for it's internal needs (like arranging virtual memory), so the boot
sector has neither file system information nor the executable code. To differ
between such "meaningless" boot sectors from "meaningful" ones a special
signature is placed at the end of a boot sector - 0x55 and 0xAA (hexadecimal
85 and 170). Primary partition with a boot sector that is marked with this
signature is called bootable.
3.1.6 Logical disks
Microsoft operating systems use logical disks. Each logical disk occupies either
one primary or one secondary partition and is marked with an English letter.
First primary partition of the first hard disk is marked as disk C.
3.1.7 Clusters
Microsoft operating systems join consecutive sectors into chains that are
called clusters. Inside one file system (a file system might include several
partitions) all clusters consist of equal number of sectors. Cluster size
(i.e. the amount of sectors in a chain) is set when a logical disk is
formatted.
3.1.8 Computer boot sequence
When you turn on the computer, control goes to BIOS software that is recorded
in computer ROM. After some preliminary procedures (like testing the memory and
some peripherical devices) BIOS starts looking for a disk with the code that
it can give control to. Usually first BIOS tries to read this code from a
floppy disk in drive A:. If there is no disk in drive A: BIOS will pass control
to the code from MBR of the first hard disk. The following depends on what does
that code do. Usually it passes control to the code from the boot sector of
the primary partition that is marked as active in the partition table. This code
directly boots the operating system.
One can imagine an operating system that is booted by the code from MBR, but
even if operating systems like this exist, they are extremely rare.
3.2 How does BootWizard work
3.2.1 Compatibility of several operating systems on one computer
When an OS is installed the code that boots it is recorded in the
boot sector of one of the partitions. In other words each OS has
it's own boot sector that is written into the first sector of some partition
when the system is installed. So if you install two different operating systems
into one partition one after another, the boot sector of the system that was
installed first most probably will be lost, because the second OS
will overwrite it with her own boot sector. Thus the second OS will be blocked,
and only the second one will be booted.
Similar conflict might happen with configuration and system files (further we
will refer to them generally as to associated files). If two operating
systems use associated files that have the same names and paths (for example
both MS-DOS and OpenDOS use autoexec.bat that must be in the root directory
of the active partition), then after installation of the second operating
system associated files of the first system are lost. So in order to use two
operating systems on one computer without conflicts one has to "hide" the first
OS while installing the second one and then "uncover" it when necessary and
"hide" the second system. When working with several operating systems each
has to be "hidden" from the others.
3.2.2 BootWizard - solution to the problem
BootWizard installation program writes into MBR a code that starts BootWizard
shell. Old MBR contents is lost in the process, it may be done so because
the code to launch operating system should be stored not in MBR but in the boot
sector of the active partition (i.e. most operating systems do not care about
MBR contents).
When booted first BootWizard finds the OS in the active partition and stores it's
bootsector and associated files in the registry. Now if you install another
OS into the active partition the first OS will of course be blocked, since
the second OS does not know anything neither about the first one nor about
BootWizard. But when the computer is booted next time BootWizard that is
launched directly from MBR (and thus probably not blocked by the second OS)
* notices the change in the active partition boot sector;
* determines what OS was installed by the bootsector contents;
* stores the bootsectro and associate files for the new OS in the
registry;
* offers you to choose which OS to boot.
If you choose the first system, BootWizard takes it's boot sector from the
registry and copies it to the first sector of the active partition. BootWizard
also restores the associated files from the registry. Now what about the second
OS, is not it blocked? Yes, it is. But since BootWizard keeps it's boot sector
and associated files in the registry, you will be able to restore it during
next reboot just like you did it with the first OS now.
Now let us explore what happens if the second OS overwrites MBR. Yes,
BootWizard becomes inactive. But it's activity is easy to recover by either
installing it again from the scrap or executing the reinstal.com file. It will
write the BootWizard-launching code into MBR. As for BootWizard registry, it
is stored in the BOOTWIZ directory in one of partitions and should not be
damaged with installation if second OS.
This sequence fails only if for one of the operating systems is crucial
that MBR contents remains the same as it becme during installation, for example
if the code that launches the OS should be in MBR and not in the boot sector
of the active partition. But even if such operating systems exist, they are
extremely rare.
3.3 BootWizard Registry
BootWizard registry contains the following information about each of the operating
systems that arre installed on the computer:
* information about which partition the OS is installed in;
* boot sector contents;
* names and paths to the associated files;
* associated files themselves.
4. BOOTING THE COMPUTER WITH BOOTWIZARD
When you boot a computer that is equipped with BootWizard, the "Choose configuration
section" window appears on the screen. In this dialogue window BootWizards
lists the available boot options: operating systems that are installed on this
computer and booting from floppy disks. The list may also include separators
that you can add for more convenience and order and a power off section.
So there may be four types of elements in the list: an OS, booting from
floppy disk, a separator and turning power off.
To choose a section you have to do the following:
1. Select the corresponding line in the list;
2. Press [Enter],
or you can double-click the corresponding line with the mouse.
BootWizard can be configured so that after some certain time after opening
the "Choose configuration section" window it will automatically load the default
section. Also it can be configured to load the default section without even
opening this dialogue window. If that is the configuration, you have to press
[Esc] when the computer is booted in order to open the "Choose configuration section"
dialogue window. See "Configuring BootWizard" chapter for more details.
Aside for the boot sectios list the "Choose configuration section" dialogue window
has two buttons: "Setup" and "Help".
If you press the "Setup" button, the "PTS BootWIzard configuration" dialogue
window will open and you will be able to change BootWizard options, register
and delete operating systems and edit boot sections list. See "Configuring
BootWizard" chapter for more details.
If you press the "Help" button you get help on how to work with "Choose
configuration section" dialogue window.
5. CONFIGURING BOOTWIZARD
5.1 BootWizard Configuration window
To enter BootWizard configuration mode press the "Setup" button in the
"Choose configuration section" window. "PTS BootWizard Setup" dialogue window
will open. There you will find configuration sections list and buttons for
changing configuration.
All the changes that are made from BootWizard setup window apply only after
you leave this window.
To leave BootWizard setup window, press the "Exit" button or the [Esc] key. A
window will appear offering either to save the changes (press the "Save
configuration" button), or forget the changes (press the "Don't save" button),
or return to BooyWizard setup window (press the "Cancel" button).
5.2 Boot sections list
Boot sections list from the "PTS BootWizard Setup" dialogue window is similar
to the list from the "Choose configuration section" dialogue window. In each
line of the list on the left is the boot section description and on the right the
information about what disk is it on. For operating systems that are installed
on the hard disk first number is the number of the disk and the second one that
comes after hyphen is the number of partition. For floppy disk booting only
the drive letter is shown, A: or B:.
You can change the item order in the "Choose configuration section" dialogue
window list by moving items in the "PTS BootWizard Setup" dialogue window
list (see the "Lists" paragraph).
As already stated, there can be four types of sections: operating systems,
booting from a floppy disk, separation lines and the power off section.
5.2.1 Operating systems
This is the most complicated configuration section type. Each such section
corresponds either to one OS or to one configuration of some OS. Operating
systems properties and ways to handle them are explained below.
5.2.2 Booting from floppy disks
Configuration sections list should not have more than two sections of this
type: one for "Boot from A:" and the other for "Boot from B:".
Unlike PTS-DOS most operating systems are unable to boot from disk B:.
To add booting from disk A: (or B:)
1. Press the "Add" button.
2. An "Add new section" dialogue window will open. Select "Booting from disk A:"
or "Booting from disk B:" radio button.
3. Press the "OK" button.
The only property of this section type that can be changed is it's description. To
change the description the floppy disk booting section
1. Choose it in the list.
2. Press the "Change" button.
3. An "Edit Floppy" dialogue window will open.
Enter the new section description in the "Description" field.
4. Press the "OK" button.
5.2.3 Separators
Separators help making sections list more convenient for use and more
comprehensible. Default separator is a white line betweeb two list items. You
can change separator look by substituting the white line with any text line.
To add a separator to the list,
1. Press the "Add" button.
2. An "Add new section" dialogue window will open.
Select the "Separation line" radio button
3. Press the "OK" button.
The separator will be inserted after the current list item.
To change the separator look
1. Choose it in the list.
2. Press the "Change" button.
3. An "Edit separator" dialogue window will open.
Enter a text line into the "Description" field.
4. Press the "OK" button.
5.2.4 Turning power off
With this section you are able to turn the power of your computer off, but
it is necessary that your hardware and BIOS support software power off function.
5.3 Scanning and registering installed operating systems
To find an operating system in one of the partitions (or on one of the logical
disks) and store the information about it in BootWizard registry
1. Press the "Add" button.
2. Select the "Operating system" radio button in the "Add section" dialogue
window and press the "OK" button.
3. An "Disk information" dialogue window will appear. In this window there
is a list about the hard disks and partitions that are present on your
computer. Each line corresponds to one partition. There are the following
columns in the list:
Column Contents
Disk Hard disk number.
OEM Record Identification record from the
partition boot sector.
Bootable partition indicates if this partition is bootable or not.
This flag is set to "Yes" if there is the 0x55 0xAA
signature at the end of partition boot sector.
Type Primary or secondary partition.
Size Partition suize in megabytes.
File system Partition's file system type.
4. Select a partition in the list in which you would like to find an
operating system and press the "Add" button. BootWizard will start scanning
that partition. If it finds a known OS in the partition, it adds the
information about it to the registry and a corresponding line to the sections
list. If partition contents is unknown to BootWizard, an "Unknown system"
dialogue window opens. If you know that there is no OS in this partition or
that there should not be any file system at all, press the "Skip" button.
If the partition really holds an OS that is unknown to BootWizard, press the
"Add" button and do not forget to enter the information about the associated
files for this OS afterwards.
5. To exit the "Disk information" dialogue window press the "Exit" button.
5.4 Setting up operating systems parameters
To setup OS parameters,
1. Choose the corresponding line in the "PTS BootWizard Configuration"
dialogue window.
2. Press the "Change" button.
3. ##########################################
4. Press the "OK" button.
5.4.1 OS name
OS name is entered in the "Description" field. When OS is found and registered,
this field is filled automatically, but you can change it's contents. This
is necessary for example when you create several cobnfigurations of one OS by
copying the corresponding configuration section with the "Copy" button.
5.4.2 Backup directory
Backup directory is a subdirectory of BOOTWIZ directory, where BootWizard
keeps all the system and configuration files for current OS, it's bootsector
and some other information. The name of this directory is entered in the
"Backup directory" field.
5.4.3 Associated files
Associated files (or stored files) are the OS files that might be damaged
or replaced when another OS or another configuration of this OS is booted.
For example MS-DOS configuration is defined by the contents of autoexec.bat
and config.sys files. If another MS-DOS configuration is loaded this files
are replaced. So in order not to loose the information about this configuration
this files have to be stored, and at the next booting the files of other
configuration should be replaced with them.
Associated files are stored in the backup directory.
5.5 System and configuration files
BootWizard recognizes two types of associated files: system files and
configuration files.
System files are binary OS files like command.com for MS-DOS compatible
systems. System files can not (or at least should not) be changed, so if
BootWizard finds that some system file is different from the system file
in the backup directory, it restores it from the backup directory.
Configuration files are the text files that hold information about system
configuration, for example autoexec.bat. Configuration file may be changed by
user or by an application (usually when the later are installed), so if BootWizard
finds that a configuration file differs from one in the backup directtory, it
freshens the copy in the backup directory.
5.6 Creating associated files list
You can browse and change the associated files list in the "System setup"
dialogue window. Each line in this list corresponds to one associated file.
There are two columns in this list. In the first column the type of the file
is indicated (SYS for system files and CFG for configuration ones) and in the
second the full path to the file is shown.
To add a file to the associated files list,
1. Press the "Add" button. The "Add file" dialogue window will open.
2. Enter the file name and the full path in the "File name" field. You can
either do it manually or press the "Browse" button and choose a file in
the "Choose file" dialogue window that will open. There are two lists
in the "Choose file" dialogue window. Disks and catalogues come in the
first list and files from the current catalogue are shown in the second
one. To give a catalogue the "current" status you can either choose it
in the left (catalogue) list and hit the [Enter] key or just double click
it with the mouse (same applies to the disks). To select a file, you
either choose it's name in the right (file) list and press [Enter] or
double click with the mouse on it's name.
3. If you want BootWizard to treat this file as a system file, select the
"System file" radio button position. If you want this file to be a
configuration file, select the "Configuration" file radio button.
4. Press the "OK" button.
To delete a file from the associated files list,
1. Choose the corresponding line in the list.
2. Press the "Delete" button.
3. A dialogue window will open where you can either confirm or refuse
to delete this file. If you really want to delete this file from the
associated files list, press the "OK" button, otherwise press the
"Cancel" button.
When you delete the file from the associated files list the file itself is not
deleted from the disk.
5.7 Editing configuration files
You can edit configuration files in the BootWizard built-in editor.
To edit a configuration file
1. Select the corresponding line in the list.
2. Press the "Change" button.
3. BootWizard editor window will open where you will be able to edit the
configuration file.
4. Press [F10] when you finish editing.
5. A dialogue window will open, offering either to save changes (press the
"Yes" button), to forget changes (press the "No" button) or to continue
editing (press the "Cancel" button).
5.8 Copying configuration sections
Operating system and separator configuration sections can be copied. Boot from
floppy sections can not be copied since there should not be more than one
"Doot from A:" or "Boot from B:" sections.
When you copy a separator you get one more separator that is exactly the same.
Things are not that easy with operating systems. When you copy an OS, another
configuration is created. A new backup directory is created, but the directory
with the OS files themselves (like WINDOWS) is not copied. So if you want to
create two Windows 95 configurations that differ only by win.ini and system.ini
files contents you have to manually add them to the associated files lists.
The main problem is that you have to know which files hold the properties
you wish to change. Is it enough to enlist just win.ini and system.ini?
Is it necessary to enlist system.dat as well? You will have to carefully
explore this question.
5.9 Removing sections from the "Choose configuration section" menu
You can "hide" some configuration section so that information about it will
not be removed from BootWizard registry, but it will not appear in the "Choose
configuration section" dialogue window.
To hide a configuration section
1. Choose the corresponding line in the list.
2. Press the "Hide" button.
After these manipulations the configuration section will be marked as hidden.
To display a hidden section again
1. Select the corresponding line in the list. "Hide" button will be
substituted with "Unhide" button.
2. Press the "Unhide" button.
5.10 Deleting configuration sections
To delete a section from the configuration sections list
1. Select the corresponding line in the list.
2. Press the "Delete" button.
3. A dialogue window will open where you will be offered either to confirm
or refuse deleting the section. If you really want to delete the section,
press the "OK" button, otherwise press the "Cancel" button.
See the "Deleting operating systems" paragraph for the information about what
happens when you delete an operating system type section.
5.11 BootWizard options
To change BootWizard options press the "Options" button. The "Options" dialogue
window will open, and you will be able to change BootWizard options from
there.
* "Boot default section at once" checkbox. Check this box if you want
one of the sections (the default section) to be booted automatically
without displaying the "Choose configuration section" dialogue window.
If you check this box, you have to press [Esc] when the computer is booted
to activate the "Choose configuration section" window.
* "Display Logo" checkbox. Uncheck this box to remove the PhysTechSoft logo
that is displayed in the upper left corner of the screen when the computer
is booted.
* "Check for boot viruses" checkbox. If you check this box BootWizard alerts
you if it finds any typical virus code in MBR or boot sectors. After
getting such an alert you can reboot your computer from a definitely non-
infected diskette.
* "Use mouse" checkbox. Uncheck this box if you do not want BootWizard to use
the mouse. This can help for example in case when for some reason
BootWizard uses the mouse incorrectly.
* "Display icons for sections" checkbox. Uncheck this box if you want to
remove section icons from the list in the "Choose configuration section"
window.
* "Enumerate sections" checkbox. Uncheck this box if you do not want the
sections in the "Choose configuration section" window to be enumerated.
* "Default section loading timeout" field. This field contains the timeout
length in seconds that passes between the "Choose configuration section"
dialogue window opening and default section automatical booting. If this
number equals to 0 default section booting is off.
* "NumLock state" radio buttons. Use this radio buttons to select the NumLock
state during the booting:
* "Off" radio button - "Num Lock" indicator is off;
* "On" radio button - "Num Lock" indicator is on.
* "Default" radioo button - "Num Lock" indicator is in BIOS defined
state.
* "Sections alignment" radio buttons. Use this radio buttons to adjust
sections alignment in the configuration sections list in the "Choose
configuration section" dialogue window:
* "Left" radio button - sections are aligned to the left;
* "Center" radio button - sections are centered;
* "Right" radio button - sections are aligned to the right.
If you want to save the changes then press the "OK" button, otherwise press
the "Cancel" button.
If you refuse to save changes when exiting the BootWizard configuring
window, changes that you have made in the "Options" dialogue window also
remain unsaved.
6. ADDING AND REMOVING OPERATING SYSTEMS
6.1 Adding operating systems
Installation of an operating system on a computer that works under BootWizard
is done in the following way:
1. Install a new OS according to the instructions that come in it's manuals.
2. Reboot the computer.
3. The rest depends on whether MBR was rewritten during the installation of
the new operating system. If yes, than new OS is loaded after reboot.
Reinstall BootWizard (see the "Reinstalling BootWizard" paragraph) and
reboot your computer.
4. When booted BootWizard finds the changes in the boot sector of the
partition where the new OS has been installed. If this OS is known to
BootWizard it automatically adds it to the registry. If the new OS is
unknown to BootWizard, the "Unknown system" dialogue window is opened.
To add a new system to the registry, press the "Add" button in this dialogue
window. In the last case do not forget to create a list of associated files
for this system (for the known systems BootWizard creates this list automatically).
6.2 Removing operating systems
To remove an operating system
1. Press the "Setup" button in the "Choose configuration section"
dialogue window. A "PTS BootWizard Setup" dialogue window opens.
2. Choose an OS that you want to remove in the list and press the "Delete"
button.
3. A dialogue window opens and you can either confirm or refuse deleting the
configuration section. If you really want to remove the section, press
the "OK" button, otherwise press the "Cancel" button.
When you delete an OS information about it is removed from BootWizard registry,
but the OS files themselves (like WINDOWS directory with all it's contents)
are not deleted.
7. DISABLINGING AND REINSTALLING BOOTWIZARD
7.1 Temporarily disabling BootWizard
To temporarily suspend BootWizard and leave configuration intact
1. Press the "Setup" button in the "Choose configuration section"
dialogue window. "PTS BootWizard Setup" window will open.
2. Press the "Uninstall" button in this window. In the window to appear
press the "Disable" button.
3. A list of sections is displayed next. Here you have to choose a section
that will become bootable after disabling PhysTechSoft BootWizard.
MBR contents is changed so that after reboot and further on an operating
system will be booted.
7.2 Complete BootWizard uninstallation
When BootWizard is completely uninstalled it is removed from the computer and
all the operating systems are configured as before BootWizard has been installed.
If after BootWizard installation an operating system that was present
before it's installation has been removed or the configuration of logical disks
has been changed you have to disable BootWizard as described in
"Temporarily disabling BootWizard" paragraph and then manually delete the
BOOTWIZ directory.
To uninstall BootWizard completely
1. Press the "Setup" button in the "Choose configuration section" dialogue
window. "PTS BootWizard Setup" dialogue window will open.
2. Press the "Uninstall" button.
Press the "Uninstall" button in the window to appear.
Once again confirm your desire to uninstall BootWizard completely by
pressing the "Uninstall" button.
After that BootWizard will be uninstalled.
Deleting BOOTWIZ directory, formatting the hard disk and even repartitioning
it with the fdisk.exe program from MS-DOS package might be not enough for
complete BootWizard uninstallation. To correctly remove BootWizard from your
computer do it only in the way it is described in this paragraph.
If for some reason BootWizard is deleted but not uninstalled, you have to
reinstall BootWizard first and then continue with uninstallation.
7.3 Reinstalling BootWizard
In case when BootWizard is temporarily disabled or is blocked after a new
operating system has been installed on the computer, you can reinstall it.
To reinstall BootWizard launch the reinstal.com program file from the
BOOTWIZ directory. This program will automatically restore the MBR contents.
It might happen that the OS (for example Windows 95, Windows NT or OS/2)
would not allow reinstal.com to recover MBR contents. In this case you have
to reinstall BootWizard from the installation diskette and choose the disk
with disabled BootWizard on it as installation destination disk.
[Features and limitations of different OSes. Installation recommendations]
[PhysTechSoft BootWizard Text Editor]
Copyright (C) PhysTechSoft, Ltd. 1995-98. All rights reserved.
http://www.PhysTechSoft.com
e-mail: bootwiz@PhysTechSoft.com
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