WinLoader 4.02
Programmed By Lee Kin Chung
kinchung@cyberway.com.sg
kinchunglee@hotmail.com
winloader@hotmail.com
 
PLEASE READ THIS README FILE, ESPECIALLY FOR SECTION 3. MANY USERS HAVE 
EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS AS THEY BYPASSED THE README AND RUN SETUP. AS A RESULT, 
SOME OF THEM EVEN DID NOT CONFIGURE THE SCRIPT. :(
 
Contents:
1. Usage
 
2. System Requirements
 
3. Installation
3.1 Putting the files in the right places
3.2 Configuring the script for the first time
 
4. Detailed Scripting
4.1 Non-displaying comments
4.2 Displaying comments
4.3 More about LOAD
4.4 WAIT
4.5 PROMPT
4.6 SOUND
4.7 CHDIR
4.8 SWITCH
4.9 Line Editor
 
5. Uninstall
 
6. Incompabilities
 
7. Disclaimer
 
1. Usage

ZDnet's Hotfiles review of WinLoader 4.00 - 5 star rating.
WinLoader is a slick little program that gives you more control over the way 
Windows loads. You edit a script file that it reads to load programs at 
startup. You can designate how to load programs, by specifying an area in 
your Registry or your Startup folder or by utilizing the load and run values 
of your Win.ini file. WinLoader provides the opportunity to consolidate these 
entries into a single format, giving you much greater control over the 
process. The script design is simple and allows you to assign a specific 
order in which the programs are loaded. You can establish pauses between 
the programs to avoid possible conflicts, assign starting folders, and even 
generate message boxes that display when Windows loads. You can also add a 
sound event to your startup and add comments to the file. What WinLoader 
doesn't do is provide a means of gathering your startup program information. 
You must do this manually, which requires at least nominal familiarity with 
the Windows Registry. WinLoader does provide an easy-to-use editor for 
building the script file, with tool buttons that add the appropriate 
commands. It's very easy to use and puts you in control of your Windows 
startup.
Reviewed on Nov 11 1998.

WinLoader boasts a function that can play a sound right in the middle of startup 
and has a new basic line editor to edit the script. This version also provides 
detailed info on further enhancing startup by the means of editing the Windows 
Registry. However, this program does not have a shortcut importer as there might 
be certain inconveniences for the user if the script cannot be handled with 
manually. The main use of WinLoader and WinLoader-related programs are to 
facilitate the startup of Windows 95, which can be very taxing to the computer. 
Thus, these programs put pauses between the loading of the programs to prevent 
hang-ups. Furthermore, it allows the programs to run in the order you want them 
to, not in alphabetical order. For example, you might want to run a hard-disk 
imaging program last in order to keep the latest changes. I've personally seen 
many similar programs, but they all lag out in the way that the scripts have to 
be compiled first, and that they take up hard disk space. WinLoader takes up 
only a mere 2MB and can be easily installed and downloaded. Furthermore, it does 
not tweak with the registry and put things that they don't clear up during 
uninstall. WinLoader also plays a sound at the end of the load, no matter how 
long and no matter MIDI or Wave.

2. System Requirements
Computer running Windows 95/98
2MB free hard disk space
Windows-compatible sound card for sound

3. Installation
 
3.1 Putting the files in the right places
If you have older versions of WinLoader, you must make a copy of WinLoad.txt 
then UNINSTALL it. Then, you will have to install Visual Basic 5 Runtime if your 
computer has not already have a program created by Visual Basic 5. Lastly, run 
the SETUP program. If you had just uninstalled WinLoader, restore your 
WinLoad.txt file.

3.2 Configuring the script for the first time
Open the file WinLoad.txt using WinLoader Line Editor and remove all the example 
lines that start with "LOAD". Then, type, with separate entries in separate 
lines, "LOAD" followed by a space and the programs you have to run during 
startup. You can do this by selecting the shortcuts in Windows\Start 
Meun\Programs\Startup using Browse. The actual filename for the files will 
appear. It is recommended to type in the full path if you do it manually.
E.g.
To run C:\Program Files\WinMystery.exe
LOAD C:\Program Files\WinMystery.exe
After that, move (not copy) all your existing shortcuts to a backup folder, 
except for WinLoader itself.
your script.
For experienced Windows 95 users only:
Run REGEDIT and go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Then, enter 
all the values of each string value as a LOAD command in the script. Then, run 
WinLoader from the Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder and remove all statements 
that cause error messages. Then, delete all the registry values that are 
accounted for in the script. Restart the computer and go back to the same 
directory in REGEDIT. Remove the LOAD commands that are accounted for in the 
registry. It is recommended that the LOAD statements you create from the 
registry are put in the beginning of the script.

4. Detailed Scripting
 
4.1 Non-displaying comments
Non-displaying commands are like the REM statements in batch files. They allow 
text in the WinLoad.txt file that will not interfere or affect the running of 
the script in any way. This method can be used to disable lines of script. These 
lines start with an apostrophe (').
E.g.
'This line is not executed
'LOAD C:\Program Files\Ammensia\Ammensia.exe

4.2 Displaying comments
Displaying commands are shown in the main window, together with the list of 
files executed. They are typed in directly in the file. However, these comments 
should never start with the names of any other commands. If they do, please 
prefix the comment by "DIS" and a space.

4.3 More about LOAD
Before LOAD runs the program, it searches for the path, excluding the filename. 
Then, it changes directory to the path where the program is in, then it executes 
the program. This is sometimes necessary in some programs.

4.4 WAIT
The WAIT command allows WinLoader to pause for a specified number of seconds, 
from 0.1 to 99. Type "WAIT" followed by a space and the number of seconds to 
wait. However, the number should be only a maximum of two digits. WAIT 
statements with value above 99 will cause an error message.

4.5 PROMPT
To put a message in a message box, type "PROMPT" followed by a space and your 
message.

4.6 SOUND
To play a MIDI or Wave sound after startup has completed, type "SOUND" followed 
by the full path of the sound file. A maximum of 100 sounds can be used. The 
sounds will play in order. Invalid files (wrong filename, wrong extension, wrong 
type) will be ignored.

4.7 CHDIR
Some programs have their target directory in a different place from the actual 
program itself. To prevent problems, put a "CHDIR" line before the "LOAD" line 
and type a space followed by the target directory.

4.8 SWITCH
This command has two parameters, namely the script path and filename, then the 
prompt you want the user to see. These parameters are separated by a 
semicolon(;). The first one will be considered. The prompt will allow the user 
to choose whether he wants to switch to the script. This command is useful if 
there are multiple users for the computer and different startup configurations 
are necessary.
e.g. SWITCH C:\SCRIPT2.TXT ; Do you want to switch to the next script?

4.9 Line Editor
Line Editor is a text editor optimized for editing your script. However, it is 
possible, and sometimes even recommended, that you use your own text editor. 
However, Line Editor allows you to configure which drive the script Winload.txt 
is located.

5. Uninstalling
Uninstalling is relatively simple. Just restore the shortcuts that you have 
removed during install. After that, go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and 
uninstall Winloader. After that, remove the directory you installed WinLoader 
in, including the one (or two) .DAT files. If you are not satisfied with 
WinLoader, please express your thoughts by email. (use one of the addresses at 
the top of this readme.)

6. Incompatibilities
Norton Crashguard: Please do not use "Kill Task" or "Antifreeze" on WinLoader. 
Various undesirable outcomes might happen, including the system freezing up or 
sound drivers being disabled.

COMCTL32.OCX, TABCTL32.OCX, MCI32.OCX: Different programs use different 
versions of this file. Please ensure that future setups do not replace this 
file with an OLDER version. These files are of Visual Basic 5 SP2 equivalent. 
Visual Baisc 5 users must install Service Pack 2 or above to prevent problems 
with Application Setup Wizard.


7. Disclaimer
Although maximal effort has been put in to make this program error-free, I, Lee 
Kin Chung, will not take any responsibility for damage or loss to the user or 
user's property whatsoever, either direct or indirect.

