Software Manager, Version 4.0 Copyright (c) 1995 PCSoft All Rights Reserved. Rescue Disk Help File ========================================================================== SELECT THE PRINT OPTION FROM THE FILE MENU TO PRINT THIS DOCUMENT. This document is organized into the following sections: o Rescue Disk Organization o Utility Program Descriptions o Starting System With AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS o Starting Your System Using the Windows Configuration Files on This Disk o Common Problems and Solutions Rescue Disk Organization ======================== This disk is organized into three directories. 1. The root directory stores utility programs that can help you identify and correct problems with your system. The root directory also contains a copy of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. Note that any reference to the Windows startup program, win.com, was removed by the Boot Disk Utility to ensure you can get control of your system. 2. The \VAULT directory stores key configuration files. These files contain two types of information. First, these files contain instructions that that are executed each time your machine is turned on or Windows is started. Second, these files contain information about your system configuration. For example, these files store information about your color and printer preferences. The configuration files stored on this disk are: AUTOEXEC.BAT - MS-DOS Startup Batch File. This file contains startup commands that are executed each time your machine is started (booted). This file is located in the root directory of your default drive (usually C:\). CONFIG.SYS - MS-DOS Configuration File. This file contains instructions to configure your system and is used each time your machine is started. For example, this file contains information about how memory is configured, how many files may be open at once. PROGMAN.INI - Program Manager Configuration File. REG.DAT - Windows Registration Database. Stores information about Windows Applications. For example, this database (and WIN.INI) store file associations used by Program Manager and File Manager. These associations allow you to double click on a filename like MYFILE.TXT and have it displayed by the NOTEPAD application. SYSTEM.INI - Windows Configuration File. Contains global information Windows when it starts. This file stores information about your video display. WIN.INI - Windows Configuration File. This file contains information about your Windows environment. For example, the DESKTOP section of WIN.INI stores information about the appearance of your desktop and the position of windows and icons. STARTUP.GRP - This file stores information about the Program Manager Startup group. All programs in this special group are started when windows is started. 3. The \USRFILES directory stores files you requested to be archived. Utility Programs ================ The root directory contains two types of utility files. (1) Utilities copied from your MS-DOS and Windows directories. (2) PCSoft Help File and Utilities. The MS-DOS and Windows Utilities listed below are normally copied to the boot diskette. Refer to any MS-DOS or Windows book or manual for additional information about these utilities. Items marked with * are not placed on the diskette if you are using DOS version 1.x through 4.x. CHKDSK - Checks the status of a disk and displays a status report. EDIT - Full Featured Text Editor * EXPAND - Expands a compressed file. You can use this command to retrieve one or more files from MS-DOS and Windows setup disks. These files are not usable unless you expand them. FORMAT - Formats a disk for use with MS-DOS. USE CAUTION WHEN USING THIS UTILITY!! MSD - Provides detailed technical information about your computer. SYS - Creates a startup disk by copying hidden MS-DOS system files and the MS-DOS command interpreter (COMMAND.COM) to the disk. * UNDELETE - Restores files that were previously deleted by using the DEL (delete) command. * UNFORMAT - Unformat a disk that was erased by using the FORMAT utility. Listed below are the PCSoft help and utilities on this diskette. AUTOEXEC.BAT - The Boot Disk Builder copied the AUTOEXEC.BAT file from your hard drive and made the following modifications: (1) References to Windows startup program, win.com, are commented out using the REM statement. (2) PCSoft Boot Diskette Menu is added at the end of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. COMPARE - Compares the configuration files on your system with the configuration files archived in the \VAULT directory of this disk. BOOTHELP.TXT - This text file with help information. NEEDHELP - Command to display this help information file. Starting System With AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS ================================================ Follow the procedure listed below to start your system using the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and/or CONFIG.SYS file archived on this disk. This procedure assumes your default hard disk is C: and the boot diskette is inserted in floppy drive A: Note: The commands below are typed at the DOS prompt. 1. Type the following commands to save the current AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files on your hard drive: COPY C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT C:\AUTOEXEC.SVE COPY C:\CONFIG.SYS C:\CONFIG.SVE COPY C:\COMMAND.COM C:\COMMAND.SVE 2. Type the following commands to replace the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files archived on this diskette: COPY A:\VAULT\AUTOEXEC.BAT C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT COPY A:\VAULT\CONFIG.SYS C:\CONFIG.SYS COPY A:\COMMAND.COM C:\COMMAND.COM 3. Remove the boot diskette and restart you system. Hint: If you are using MS-DOS version 6.0 or later, then you can press F8 when you see "Starting MS-DOS" to single step through the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. If you would like to start your system without using the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS, then press F5 when you see "Starting MS-DOS". Starting Your System Using the Windows Configuration Files on This Disk ======================================================================= Follow the procedure listed below to start your system using the Windows configuration files archived on this diskette. This procedure assumes your Windows directory is C:\WINDOWS and the boot diskette is inserted in floppy drive A: Note: The commands below are typed at the DOS prompt. 1. Type the following commands to save the current Windows configuration files on your hard drive. COPY C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI C:\WINDOWS\WIN.SVE COPY C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.SVE COPY C:\WINDOWS\REG.DAT C:\WINDOWS\REG.SVE COPY C:\WINDOWS\PROGMAN.INI C:\WINDOWS\PROGMAN.SVE COPY C:\WINDOWS\STARTUP.GRP C:\WINDOWS\STARTUP.SVE 2. Type the following commands to restore your Windows configuration files using the archives on this diskette: COPY A:\VAULT\WIN.INI C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI COPY A:\VALUT\SYSTEM.INI C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI COPY A:\VAULT\REG.DAT C:\WINDOWS\REG.DAT COPY A:\VAULT\PROGMAN.INI C:\WINDOWS\PROGMAN.INI COPY A:\VAULT\STARTUP.GRP C:\WINDOWS\STARTUP.GRP 3. Start Windows by typing the following command: C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM Note: C:\WINDOWS is the default Windows directory. Common Problems and Solutions ============================= Problem 1: Windows will not start after installing new software application. Solution : Run COMPARE.BAT on this diskette and determine what changes the install program made to your configuration files. Assuming you refreshed this diskette JUST BEFORE performing the application installation, you may restore configuration files by: 1. Restoring your Windows Configuration files using the procedure in the previous section of this document. 2. Restoring your MS-DOS Configuration files using the procedure listed in the Starting System With AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS section of this document. Problem 2: Windows will not start after uninstalling an application. Solution : Run COMPARE.BAT on this diskette and determine the changes made to your configuration files. Assuming you refreshed this diskette JUST BEFORE performing the uninstall, you may restore your system by: 1. Restoring your Windows Configuration files using the procedure in the previous section of this document. 2. Restoring your MS-DOS Configuration files using the procedure listed in the Starting System With AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS section of this document. 3. Run UNDELETE program on this diskette to recover files deleted during the uninstallation. Problem 3: Unable to start windows after changing video display using setup program. Solution : Run COMPARE.BAT on this diskette and determine the changes made to your configuration files. Assuming you refreshed this diskette JUST BEFORE using setup, you may restore your video display configuration by using the procedure in the previous section of this document. Hint : If you use the Windows Program Manager, then the last video driver file name used is stored in the file \VAULT\PROGMAN.INI. Look for the line display.drv=XXXXXXXX. The XXXXXXXX is the video driver file name. *** End of BOOTHELP.TXT (SM40) ***