OS/2 Frequently Asked Questions
Release 1.9g; March 20, 1992
Compiled by Timothy F. Sipples

For changes/suggestions/additions please mail sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu.  
This List may be freely distributed.  Mention of a product does not 
constitute an endorsement.  Answers to questions closer to the bottom of 
the List may rely on information given in prior answers.  Customers 
outside the United States should not necessarily rely on 800 telephone 
numbers, part numbers, or upgrade policies contained in this List.

Release Notes:  The official release of OS/2 2.0 is fast approaching, 
and more 2.0-specific information will find its way into the List.  As 
always, suggestions are welcome.  Questions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 
15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 31, 33, and 34 have been revised.

Questions Addressed in this Release:

(1)	What is OS/2?
(2)	What are the differences between versions?
(3)	What is the difference between Standard and Extended Edition?
(4)	What about DOS and Windows compatibility?
(5)	Where can I buy OS/2?
(6)	How much does OS/2 cost?
(7)	Does IBM offer educational discounts on purchases of OS/2?  Site 
	licenses?
(8)	What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 1.3 SE?
(9)	What applications are available for OS/2 1.x?
(10)	Where can I obtain OS/2 freeware and shareware?
(11)	My Logitech mouse doesn't seem to be working with OS/2.  What's
	wrong?
(12)	Is there a driver available for my SCSI adapter?
(13)	How about a high resolution driver for my video adapter?
(14)	How about a driver for my printer?
(15)	How do I access HPFS partitions on my hard drive without booting
	from the hard drive?  I've done something (like changing
	CONFIG.SYS) that doesn't let me boot OS/2.
(16)	I can't install OS/2 from Drive B.  What's wrong?
(17)	Is there a Norton Utilities for OS/2?
(18)	Sometimes Presentation Manager will freeze when I run an
	application, and I have to reboot.  What's wrong?
(19)	My dealer doesn't know OS/2 from Unix.  How can I get answers to
	my OS/2 questions?
(20)	How can I get ahold of the beta release of OS/2 2.0?
(21)	Why should I use HPFS?  What does it offer me?  Does it work with
	DOS?
(22)	I'm a Unix wizard.  How do I make OS/2 resemble Unix?
(23)	I would like to set up an OS/2 BBS.  What is available?
(24)	The printed and online manuals do not document REXX in any detail.  
	Where can I obtain more information?
(25)	Doesn't OS/2 have applets like Windows?  I miss Solitaire.
(26)	How do I redirect printer output to a file?
(27)	Can I use COM3 and COM4 in OS/2?
(28)	On my 1024x768 high resolution display I get obnoxiously large
	icons (64x64).  How do I make them smaller?
(29)	How do I start a background process from the OS/2 command line?
(30)	How do I start a DOS application from a PM icon?
(31)	What are CSDs, how do I tell which I have, and where do I get
	them?
(32)	How do I add the Paste option to the system menus of windowed,
	non-PM applications?
(33)	How do I add new fonts for Adobe Type Manager?
(34)	Are there any tips and tricks for OS/2 2.0?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)	What is OS/2?

OS/2 is an advanced operating system for PCs and PS/2s with an 80286 
processor or better.  It was codeveloped by Microsoft and IBM and 
envisioned as the successor to DOS.

It was designed from the ground up with multitasking and multithreading 
in mind.  It also protects applications from one another (a single 
misbehaved program will not typically bring down the entire system), 
supports multimegabytes of physical RAM, and supplies virtual memory to 
applications as requested, breaking DOS's 640K barrier.

As shipped, it does not support multiuser operation, although several 
third parties have grafted multiuser (character mode) capabilities onto 
the base operating system.  Remote-OS, OS2YOU, Citrix, and PolyMod2 are 
four such products.  Remote-OS is published by The Software Lifeline, 
tel. 407-994-4466, and OS2YOU is available from the OS/2 
shareware/freeware sources (see Question 10).  Citrix Systems can be 
reached at 305-755-0559.  PolyMod2's publisher, MemSoft, can be reached 
at 407-997-????.

------------------------------

(2)	What are the differences between versions?

IBM OS/2 Version 2.0 was formally announced at Fall Comdex and is now 
available on a limited basis.  The full retail release with "seamless 
Windows" support and other extra features will appear in March, 1992.  
Version 2.0 will run only on machines with an 80386SX processor or 
better.  IBM is (now) developing 2.0 independently but is involving 
third party PC manufacturers in its testing.  Improvements include the 
ability to preemptively multitask DOS, Windows 2.x, and Windows 3.x 
(standard mode) applications (without purchasing any of these 
environments) in separate, robust, protected sessions; an object-
oriented Workplace Shell (including a "shredder" icon); a multiple 
operating system boot mechanism; 32-bit programming interfaces; support 
for more than 16 MB of physical RAM; and more third party device 
drivers.  It also provides EMS 3.2/4.0 and XMS 2.0/DPMI 1.0 (expanded 
and extended memory) services to DOS and Windows applications.  Version 
2.0 demands a minimum of 3 MB of RAM (4 MB minimum recommended).  See 
Question 4 for more information on OS/2 2.0.

IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 (CSD Level 05050; see Question 31) is currently the 
latest commercially available release.  This version distinguishes 
itself with built-in Adobe Type Manager (ATM), providing scalable 
typefaces for screen and printer, and reduced memory requirements.  
Procedures Language/2 (a.k.a. REXX), a powerful batch-oriented 
programming language, became a part of Standard Edition with this 
release.  (A few OEMs are shipping Microsoft OS/2 Version 1.3, but 
Microsoft has all but abandoned OS/2 development.)

OS/2 Version 1.2 was the first to incorporate the High Performance File 
System (HPFS, which supports long file names).  With this release IBM 
OS/2 added a dual boot mechanism and IBM Extended Edition introduced 
REXX.

OS/2 Version 1.1 was the first to include the Presentation Manager (PM) 
GUI/API, now an integral part of the operating system.  Microsoft OEM 
versions added a dual boot mechanism with this release.

OS/2 Version 1.0, introduced in 1987, was the first release of OS/2.  
Task switching was accomplished through a character-based shell and 
limited DOS compatibility was provided.

------------------------------

(3)	What is the difference between Standard and Extended Edition?

IBM makes this marketing distinction between two different flavors of 
OS/2 1.x.  OS/2 1.x is available either in its Standard Edition (SE, 
i.e. the base operating system) or in Extended Edition (EE, with several 
extra bundled software products: Communications Manager, LAN Requester, 
and Database Manager).

The distinction will change slightly when OS/2 2.0 is released.  IBM 
will upgrade EE features and drop LAN Requester from the package, to be 
renamed Extended Services (ES/2).  LAN Requester will be included in 
IBM's OS/2 LAN Server product.  Database Manager will be an optional 
component of ES/2.  The new ES/2 1.0 will still work with OS/2 1.3 and 
will be tested on a wide variety of PC compatibles.

------------------------------

(4)	What about DOS and Windows compatibility?

All 1.x versions of OS/2 include the optional DOS compatibility mode 
(sometimes called the penalty box) which allows a single, well-behaved 
DOS application to run alongside multiple OS/2 applications.  The DOS 
application stops running when the user switches to an OS/2 program.  
However, OS/2 programs will run in the background while a DOS program is 
running.

IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 SE yields approximately 520K free memory in the DOS 
box.  Windows 3.0 will run in real mode in the DOS box.  Also, DOS may 
be started by itself (in native mode) in two ways: by using the dual 
boot mechanism in OS/2 (described in detail in the printed manual) or by 
booting from a floppy disk.  In both cases DOS has access to all FAT 
(non-HPFS) partitions on the hard disk (that are not themselves preceded 
by a HPFS or other "foreign" partition).  (DOS 4.0 or later does not 
face this restriction if the primary, startable partition is FAT.)

Version 2.0 preemptively multitasks DOS and Windows (real and standard 
mode) applications in separate, protected sessions.  Windows enhanced 
mode features (with the exception of WINMEM32.DLL services) are provided 
by OS/2 2.0 directly.  Windows applications are well integrated into the 
overall OS/2 PM environment with DDE and Clipboard hooks, and OLE 1.0 is 
supported among Windows applications.  The "seamless Windows" support 
planned for March, 1992, means that Windows applications run alongside 
other applications on the Presentation Manager desktop and have access 
to OS/2 ATM services.  Each DOS application has significantly more 
available conventional memory -- up to 730K or so (with video emulation 
set to CGA), even after network and mouse drivers have been loaded.  
OS/2 2.0 also provides up to 32 MB of EMS 3.2 or 4.0, 16 MB of XMS 2.0, 
and/or 512 MB of DPMI 1.0 for each DOS or Windows application out of its 
pool of physical and/or virtual memory.  DOS applications which require 
DOS extenders run so long as the extender is DPMI (not VCPI) compliant.  
DOS applications can run either full screen or in PM windows.  Windowed 
DOS applications are able to use text mode or any graphics mode up to 
the resolution of the desktop.  DOS and Windows device drivers often 
work with DOS and Windows applications running under OS/2 2.0, but if an 
OS/2 2.0 driver is available a DOS or Windows device driver is 
unnecessary.  OS/2 2.0 even provides a facility to create a boot image 
of any real mode operating system.  For example, OS/2 2.0 can have 
separate sessions with DR-DOS, Minix, CP/M-86, DOS with Desqview, DOS 
3.3, DOS 4.0, and DOS 5.0 all running at once.

------------------------------

(5)	Where can I buy OS/2?

Microsoft versions of OS/2 are available only through OEMs (e.g. Compaq, 
Dell).

IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 is available from any authorized IBM dealer 
(although persistence helps) or directly from IBM (tel. 800-3-IBM-OS2, 
800-465-1234 in Canada).  IBM OS/2 1.3 SE on 5.25 inch disks is IBM part 
no. 84F7587.  For 3.5 inch disks ask for part no. 84F7588.  Media are 
high density.  Corresponding EE part nos. are 15F7196 and 15F7195.

IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 is also available from several mail order sources, 
including Egghead Discount Software (tel. 800-344-4323), Sears, and 
Elek-Tek (tel. 708-677-7660).

IBM plans to make OS/2 2.0 available everywhere DOS is purchased, to 
bundle 2.0 with new systems, and to offer free or discounted upgrades 
depending on the product replaced (DOS, Windows, or OS/2 1.x).

------------------------------

(6)	How much does OS/2 cost?

IBM OS/2 Version 1.3 SE retails for USD 150.  Upgrades to Version 1.3 
(SE part no. 85S1656 for 5.25 inch media, 85S1657 for 3.5 inch media) 
from IBM PC-DOS or IBM OS/2 1.x retail for USD 99.

IBM will offer OS/2 2.0 for USD 195 (USD 149 if upgrading from DOS or 
Windows) retail (although the trade press has reported rumors of a lower 
price).  However, licensees who acquire OS/2 1.x (apparently including 
non-IBM versions) on or before March 31, 1992, may upgrade to IBM OS/2 
2.0 before July 31, 1992, at no charge.  Version 1.x EE licensees will 
receive the full 2.0 with ES/2 upgrade.  Consequently the least 
expensive route to OS/2 2.0 is to purchase or upgrade (from DOS) to OS/2 
1.3 today.  To receive an OS/2 2.0 upgrade form, call the OS/2 Hotline 
at 800-3-IBM-OS2.  IBM reserves the right to revise or add to these 
terms.

------------------------------

(7)	Does IBM offer educational discounts on purchases of OS/2?  Site 
	licenses?

IBM has both.  The educational price is approximately USD 99 for OS/2 
1.3 SE.  (IBM has a special telephone number for educational inquiries, 
800-222-7257.)  SE also comes in non-media (manual and license only) 
packages at a reduced price, part no. 84F8528.  An SE additional license 
(entitles holder to make one copy of media and manual) is part no. 
15F1655; EE, 15F7201.

------------------------------

(8)	What hardware do I need to run IBM OS/2 1.3 SE?

You need a PC, PC compatible, or PS/2 with at least an 80286 CPU, 2 MB 
or more of RAM (configured as 640K base plus the remainder as extended 
memory), a 20 MB or larger hard disk (with at least 10 MB free on C:), a 
supported video adapter (CGA, EGA, VGA, MCGA, 8514/A, XGA, or third 
party driver) with appropriate display, and a high density 3.5 or 5.25 
inch floppy drive for installation.  A mouse is recommended.

PM will not operate with the Monochrome Display Adapter or the Hercules 
Monochrome Graphics Adapter.  Usually PM will fail to work with 
monochrome EGA.  However, some EGA adapters (e.g. Paradise Monochrome 
EGA Card, ATI EGA Wonder) will emulate all color EGA modes on TTL 
monochrome monitors and, thus, will work with PM.  "Autoswitching" on 
non-IBM EGA adapters and "shadow RAM" should be disabled (usually with a 
DIP switch or jumper setting).  It may be necessary to switch third 
party VGA adapters into 8 bit mode.  OS/2 is particularly sensitive to 
bad RAM (often reflected in TRAP 2 error messages).  Use a thorough RAM 
testing utility, and try not to mix 9 chip and 3 chip SIMMs.

On (E)ISA bus machines, OS/2 supports 16-bit (or wider) hard drive 
adapters which conform to the Western Digital chipset interface standard 
(i.e. nearly all MFM, RLL, IDE, and ESDI adapters).  An adapter capable 
of sector remapping should be used (and enabled) with hard drives larger 
than 1024 cylinders.  (The 1024 cylinder limit is a BIOS constraint.)  
Certain Quantum hard drives require a free ROM update available directly 
from the manufacturer.

IBM OS/2 1.3 is directly compatible with IBM's Microchannel SCSI 
adapters and attached devices.  Question 12 discusses third party SCSI 
compatibility, including CD-ROM issues.  Certain Irwin (tel. 800-348-
6242) and Maynard (tel. 407-263-3500) tape backup systems are OS/2 
compatible.  Iomega (tel. 800-456-5522) has OS/2 drivers for its 
Bernoulli removable media mass storage products.

Supported printers include the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet family; IBM 
ExecJets, Proprinters, Quickwriters, Quietwriters, Pageprinters, and 
Laserprinters; Epson dot matrix printers; Postscript devices; and other 
printers compatible with these families.  A variety of IBM and HP 
plotters is also supported.  If difficulties are encountered in printing 
make sure the printer port generates interrupts and does not conflict 
with other installed devices.  Also make sure that a high quality, fully 
wired cable is used.  IBM PS/2 Models 90 and 95 must have their parallel 
printer ports set to compatibility mode using the setup disk.

IBM OS/2 1.3 runs on a wide array of clones with a wide variety of 
hardware.  However, compatibility cannot be assured with every non-IBM 
device.  Often problems can be fixed with a BIOS upgrade or an OS/2 CSD 
(see Question 31; for example, the latest CSD for IBM OS/2 1.3 will fix 
a problem involving the loss of CMOS setup information on certain PC 
compatibles).  Version 2.0 will, however, be officially tested and 
supported on a wide variety of non-IBM equipment, including machines 
manufactured by Acer, ALR, Apricot, Arche, AST, AT&T, Blackship, Club 
American, Compaq, CompuAdd, CSS Labs, DEC, Dell, Dolch, Epson, Everex, 
Hertz, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Logix, Memorex, NCR, NEC, Netframe, 
Northgate, Olivetti, Panasonic, Parallan, Reply, Siemens, Tandon, 
Tandy/Grid, Tatung, Tricord, Toshiba, Twinhead, and Wyse.  (In fact, IBM 
will offer a blanket money back guarantee on OS/2 2.0.)  The number of 
supported peripherals and displays will also increase substantially.

------------------------------

(9)	What applications are available for OS/2 1.x?

They number in the low thousands at present and include applications 
from almost every category imaginable.  Some are character based 
applications; some are PM based.

DOS/Windows applications with OS/2 counterparts include Lotus 1-2-3 
(both character and PM), Freelance, Microsoft Word (both character and 
PM), Excel, Multiplan, Aldus Pagemaker, Ventura Publisher, Corel Draw, 
WordPerfect, DisplayWrite, DeScribe, Micrografx Designer, AutoCAD, 
Oracle, RBase, PC SAS, SPSS, HyperAccess/5, DynaComm, Pro-YAM, Borland 
Sidekick, Paradox, Wingz, Brief, QEdit, and many others.  In some cases 
DOS and OS/2 versions ship together (e.g. Microsoft Word 5.5, Lotus 1-2-
3 3.0, Wingz).  Utilities include PKZIP/UNZIP, SEA's ARC, LHA, Zoo 2.1, 
GNU tools, tens of different file finders, desktop clocks, calculators, 
and many more.  Programming languages include Assembler, C++, COBOL, 
Pascal, C, Fortran, BASIC, REXX, Smalltalk, Modula-2, LISP, Forth, and 
still more.

The IBM NSC BBS (tel. 404-835-6600) provides an online product database 
of hardware and software compatible with OS/2.  A directory of OS/2 
applications, IBM document number G362-0029-00, is published by Graphics 
Plus, tel. 800-READ-OS2.  TINF is an applications listing (for use with 
the OS/2 help facility) available from the freeware/shareware sources 
listed below.

------------------------------

(10)	Where can I obtain OS/2 freeware and shareware?

Many BBSes hold large OS/2 libraries.  Fernwood (tel. 203-483-0348) has 
over 50 MB worth.  The OS/2 Shareware BBS (703-385-4325), Bay Area OS/2 
BBS (510-657-7948), and Greater Chicago Online (708-895-4042) carry 
still more.  The IBM NSC BBS has some shareware/freeware as well, along 
with CSDs (see Question 31) and the PS/2 Assistant (an invaluable 
resource for locating almost any sort of information on OS/2).  IBM 
Canada maintains several support BBSes (604-664-6466, 416-946-4255, and 
514-938-3022 at 2400 bps; 604-664-6464 and 416-946-4244 at 9600 bps).

The Usenet conference comp.binaries.os2 carries OS/2 software.  And 
several sites are available via anonymous ftp.  (No ftp?  Send a single 
line message with the word HELP to bitftp@pucc.bitnet or 
ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com to learn about ftp mail servers.)  They include 
(with Internet node numbers and subdirectories):

hobbes.nmsu.edu             128.123.35.151     pub/os2, pub/os2-1.x
mtsg.ubc.ca                 137.82.27.1        os2:
luga.latrobe.edu.au         131.172.2.2        pub/os2
msdos.archive.umich.edu     141.211.164.153    msdos/os2
funic.funet.fi              128.214.6.100      pub/os2
sun0.urz.uni-heidelberg.de  129.206.100.126    pub/os2
novell.com                  130.57.4.1         os2

The last site should not be accessed weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 
p.m. Pacific Time.

Other sources include CompuServe ("GO IBMOS2") and the Bitnet/EARN site 
BLEKUL11 (send a single line message with the word HELP to 
LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET for more information).

------------------------------

(11)	My Logitech mouse doesn't seem to be working with OS/2.  What's
	wrong?

The Logitech Series 7 and 9 serial mice work with the Mouse Systems PC 
Mouse driver; all other Logitech serial mice, the Microsoft Serial Mouse 
driver; bus mice, the Microsoft Bus Mouse (199) driver; PS/2 mice, the 
IBM PS/2 Mouse driver.  Native DOS/Windows users with C7 or C9 serial 
mice should issue the command MOUSE [2] PC before booting into OS/2.

The complete Logitech technical bulletin on OS/2, from which the above 
information was obtained, is required reading for users experiencing 
problems.  It is available from the Logitech Support BBS, tel. 510-795-
0408.

------------------------------

(12)	Is there a driver available for my SCSI adapter?

IBM PS/2 SCSI adapters are supported directly under IBM OS/2 1.3 and 
2.0.  Non-IBM SCSI support has improved dramatically in the past few 
months.  Users should make sure, however, that driver support extends to 
multiple SCSI devices, including CD-ROM, tape backup, and both primary 
(bootable) and secondary (nonbootable) hard disk drives in both FAT and 
HPFS configurations.  Such extensive support is still rare.

Columbia Data Products (tel. 407-869-6700, BBS tel. 407-862-4724) 
supplies or plans to supply OS/2 1.3 device drivers for numerous third 
party SCSI adapters, including some of the products mentioned below.  
Support may be limited to a choice of one primary SCSI hard disk drive, 
or one or more secondary SCSI hard disk drives.  Micro Design 
International (tel. 407-677-8333) offers SCSI Express, a package 
supporting secondary hard disks, rewritable optical disks (both with 
HPFS if desired), WORM, CD-ROM, and tape drives with BusTek, Adaptec 
154x/1640, and IBM SCSI adapters.

Adaptec (tel. 408-945-2550, BBS tel. 408-945-7727) provides OS/2 1.x 
support for FAT hard disk drives attached to its line of ISA SCSI 
adapters.  (Dell, tel. 800-624-9896, has Adaptec support available for 
its own systems running Dell or IBM OS/2.  [Can anyone confirm that this 
support is somehow different?])  Always Technologies makes an OS/2 1.x 
driver available on its BBS (tel. 818-597-0275) for its IN-2000 ISA SCSI 
adapter.  At present the driver supports secondary hard disk drives 
only.  Bustek (tel. 408-259-6237) has OS/2 1.x and 2.0 (beta) drivers 
for both FAT and HPFS hard disk drives attached to its BT-742A EISA SCSI 
adapter.  CE Infosys (tel. 703-435-3800) has OS/2 1.x support in place 
for its Microchannel and ISA SCSI adapters and is committed to future 
enhancements.  DTC/Qume (tel. 408-262-7700, BBS tel. 408-942-4197) 
supports OS/2 1.x on its 3280 ISA SCSI adapter.  Both FAT and HPFS hard 
disk drives are supported, but secondary drives cannot coexist with a 
primary drive.  Future Domain (tel. 714-253-0400) provides OS/2 1.x 
drivers with its Microchannel and (E)ISA SCSI adapters that support up 
to six FAT or HPFS hard disk drives.  Western Digital (tel. 714-863-
0102, BBS tel. 714-753-1234) offers OS/2 1.3 driver support with its 
7000 FAAST ISA SCSI adapter for both FAT and HPFS hard disk drives.  
Seagate (BBS tel. 408-438-8771) has chosen not to supply an OS/2 driver 
for its ST-01/02 ISA SCSI adapters.

Corel Systems (publisher of Corel Draw, tel. 613-728-8200) supplies OS/2 
compatible CD-ROM (and rewritable) systems.

IBM OS/2 2.0 (as of the 6.177 beta) includes direct support for many 
third party (E)ISA SCSI adapters (notably Adaptec and Western Digital) 
and devices (see Question 34).

------------------------------

(13)	How about a high resolution driver for my video adapter?

In many cases an up-to-date OS/2 driver is available.  If not, a driver 
for an older version of OS/2 may work.  OS/2 1.3 includes 8514/A and XGA 
drivers, and these may work.  (For example, the 8514/A driver works with 
ATI's Ultra and Vantage lines.)  If all else fails, standard VGA must 
suffice.

Drivers are available directly from the manufacturer of the video 
adapter or, in many cases, through the shareware/freeware sources listed 
above.  Orchid and Eizo (based on Tseng Labs chips) and Trident (among 
others) have released high resolution drivers for OS/2 1.3.  A third 
party ATI driver is available from the shareware/freeware sources.

Third party OS/2 2.0 video support should be available from many vendors 
(and probably through IBM) shortly after 2.0's retail release.  In the 
meantime, most OS/2 2.0 features will be available using an OS/2 1.3 
display driver, and DOS and Windows programs running under OS/2 2.0 will 
work with their own device drivers.

------------------------------

(14)	How about a driver for my printer?

If your printer is not compatible with one of the drivers supplied with 
OS/2, check with the printer manufacturer first then with the IBM NSC 
BBS.  For example, a Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III driver for IBM OS/2 
1.3 is available on the NSC BBS.  If you own an IBM printer, check with 
the Lexmark BBS (tel. 606-232-5653).

IBM recommends that DeskJet owners select the LaserJet Classic driver  
for output with OS/2 1.3.  Custom DeskJet, PaintJet, and other drivers 
will ship with OS/2 2.0, and these new drivers will work with OS/2 1.3.
Non-PM applications may supply their own printer drivers, and text only 
output is always an option.

------------------------------

(15)	How do I access HPFS partitions on my hard drive without booting
	from the hard drive?  I've done something (like changing
	CONFIG.SYS) that doesn't let me boot OS/2.

With IBM's OS/2 1.3, insert the Installation Diskette in Drive A and 
reboot.  When the logo appears on screen, press ESC.  You will be given 
an OS/2 command line prompt.  (With OS/2 2.0 the first two diskettes are 
required.)

Make sure you backup CONFIG.SYS before making any changes so that you 
can easily revert to the old version should things go wrong.

Incidently, you may use this method to run CHKDSK on your OS/2 boot 
partition.  After obtaining the OS/2 command line prompt, remove the 
Installation Diskette and insert Diskette 1.  (With OS/2 2.0 insert 
whichever diskette contains the CHKDSK program.)  Type CHKDSK C: /F to 
repair damage to the boot partition.

------------------------------

(16)	I can't install OS/2 from Drive B.  What's wrong?

IBM OS/2 can only be installed from Drive A.  If you have the wrong disk 
size go back to your dealer and obtain the correct media.  Otherwise you 
could go inside your machine and swap floppy drive cable connectors, use 
your system's setup utility to set the new CMOS parameters, and then 
install OS/2 from the new Drive A.  Sometimes the floppy drive cable 
connectors will not be the same.  If so you can use the DOS program 
FDFormat (filename FDFORM18.ZIP, available via anonymous ftp from wsmr-
simtel20.army.mil, directory pd1:<msdos.dskutl>, or via mail from 
LISTSERV@NDSUVM1.BITNET) to create 1.44 MB (80 tracks, 18 sectors per 
track) 5.25 inch disks.  As before, reset your CMOS parameters to fool 
your machine into thinking the 5.25 inch drive is actually a high 
density 3.5 inch drive, DISKCOPY the diskettes, and install.

IBM is working to make the install process friendlier; improvements are 
slated for OS/2 2.0.

------------------------------

(17)	Is there a Norton Utilities for OS/2?

Not yet.  But the GammaTech Utilities should fill the role with UnDelete 
and other programs.  Contact their publisher at tel. 405-359-1219.  Note 
that OS/2 2.0 has a built-in undelete utility, and HPFS is resistant to 
fragmentation.

------------------------------

(18)	Sometimes Presentation Manager will freeze when I run an
	application, and I have to reboot.  What's wrong?

Often the problem can be traced to the DOS box.  If at all possible, 
upgrade to true OS/2 applications.  OS/2 1.x provides far more 
protection in native mode.

PM has some protection of its own.  It can trap applications that do not 
respond to input, but you have to give it a chance.  Press CTRL-ESC (to 
attempt to bring up the Task Manager), then wait up to a full minute 
before rebooting (without moving the mouse or pressing any other keys); 
a dialog box may appear with further instructions.

------------------------------

(19)	My dealer doesn't know OS/2 from Unix.  How can I get answers to
	my OS/2 questions?

If your question is not answered in this List, post a note to the 
appropriate Usenet conference: comp.os.os2.apps carries discussions 
related to finding or using any application running under OS/2, 
comp.os.os2.programmer addresses anything related to OS/2 programming, 
and comp.os.os2.misc is for any other OS/2-related discussion.  These 
groups are watched closely by IBM's OS/2 development team.  BLEKUL11 (on 
Bitnet/EARN) distributes its own OS/2 conference by mail; send a single 
line message with the word HELP to LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET for full 
instructions.

Your local FidoNet BBS may carry the OS/2 echo conference.  If not, ask 
your system operator to get ahold of it.  CompuServe ("GO IBMOS2") is 
also an excellent source of information.

The IBM NSC BBS was established as a support forum.  That BBS's message 
areas, product database, and PS/2 Assistant file(s) are invaluable 
resources.  And the company has launched an OS/2 Hotline (tel. 800-3-
IBM-OS2) for user inquiries and orders.  (Ask about the OS/2 T-shirts 
and videocassettes.)

OS/2 has its own magazines as well.  To subscribe to IBM Personal 
Systems Developer, a quarterly publication, telephone 407-982-1105.  For 
information on OS/2 Monthly send netmail to JDS Publishing at 
72550.2440@compuserve.com or telephone 908-985-8358.

------------------------------

(20)	How can I get ahold of the beta release of OS/2 2.0?

U.S. residents may order OS/2 2.0 beta by calling 800-426-3040.  
Canadian residents should telephone IBM Personal Systems Software at 
800-465-1234 to order.  Residents outside North America should contact 
local IBM branches for specific information on availability of OS/2 2.0 
beta.  Developers may wish to contact the IBM Developer Assistance 
Program (tel. 407-982-6408).

------------------------------

(21)	Why should I use HPFS?  What does it offer me?  Does it work with
	DOS?

HPFS offers long file names (greatly exceeding the "8 dot 3" limit in 
FAT/DOS file systems), resistance to file fragmentation, improved media 
error handling, and speedier disk operation, particularly on large hard 
disks.  HPFS is not case sensitive, although it does preserve case in 
file names.

However, HPFS is not currently supported on removable media, although 
some programs (e.g. BACKUP) preserve long file names on such FAT disks.  
Also, native mode DOS cannot access a HPFS partition.  However, 
DOS/Windows sessions running under OS/2 "see" all files that conform to 
the "8 dot 3" naming conventions, even if they are stored on HPFS 
volumes.

------------------------------

(22)	I'm a Unix wizard.  How do I make OS/2 resemble Unix?

A great number of GNU and other standard Unix utilities have been ported 
to OS/2 native mode and are available from the shareware/freeware 
sources listed above.  A uucp package, UUPC/Extended, is available via 
anonymous ftp from sun.soe.clarkson.edu, directory pub/uupc; netmail 
help@kew.com with questions.

In addition, the Hamilton C Shell is available from Hamilton Labs, tel. 
508-358-5715 or netmail 3890321@mcimail.com.  The Thompson Toolkit, a 
Bourne-like shell, is published by Thompson Automation, tel. 206-224-
1639.  Thompson offers a version of awk as well.  MKS (tel. 519-884-2251 
or netmail pat@mks.com) publishes a number of standard Unix utilities 
for OS/2.  TCP/IP support is available from IBM (and no longer requires 
EE), Essex Systems (tel. 508-532-5511), FTP Software (send netmail to 
info@ftp.com), and others.  Argosoft (tel. 510-795-7921) publishes 
ARGO/UX, a BSD 4.3 Unix compatible environment.

------------------------------

(23)	I would like to set up an OS/2 BBS.  What is available?

OS/2 is an excellent environment for BBS operation, including large 
multiline facilities.  Related software will enable FidoNet 
capabilities, gateways to Usenet/UUCP, nodelist processing, additional 
file transfer protocols, and more.

Five popular OS/2 BBSes are Maximus and Simplex (available from the 
shareware/freeware sources listed above), Omega Point/2 (BBS tel. 404-
564-1961), Magnum (tel. 818-706-9800, BBS tel. 818-706-9805), and Multi-
Net (tel. 503-883-8099, BBS tel. 503-883-8197).

------------------------------

(24)	The printed and online manuals do not document REXX in any detail.  
	Where can I obtain more information?

IBM publishes two separate manuals:

"IBM Operating System/2 Procedures Language 2/REXX User's Guide," Part 
No. 01F0272, Document No. S01F-0272; and

"IBM Operating System/2 Procedures Language 2/REXX Reference," Part No. 
01F0271, Document No. S01F-0271.

An alternative is "The REXX Language: A Practical Guide to Programming 
(2nd Ed.)" by Mike Cowlishaw, Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-780651-5.

In addition, there are at least two different versions of REXX online 
references available from one or more of the shareware/freeware sources 
listed above.  REXX is documented in OS/2 2.0's online help.

------------------------------

(25)	Doesn't OS/2 have applets like Windows?  I miss Solitaire.

All the Windows applets have been ported to OS/2.  The package is called 
Windows Libraries for OS/2 (WLO) Version 1.0.  They should be available 
from the shareware/freeware sites listed above.  IBM OS/2 2.0 will ship 
with several applets including Calendar, Notepad, Tune Editor, Database, 
Chess, Solitaire, Klondike, Cat and Mouse, Jigsaw, Enhanced Editor, 
Calculator, To-Do List, Daily and Monthly Planner, Spreadsheet, and 
Terminal.

------------------------------

(26)	How do I redirect printer output to a file?

The Postscript printer driver has a built-in option for printing to a 
file.  Navigate through the PM Print Manager configuration options to 
access this feature.

For all other drivers, first hold (pause) the Print Manager queue then 
print from the application.  The output file will be located below the 
SPOOL subdirectory.  COPY the file elsewhere then cancel the job from 
the Print Manager.

These methods assume the IBM OS/2 1.3 Print Manager (spooler) is 
installed and active.  OS/2 2.0 has a FILE device for printer output.

------------------------------

(27)	Can I use COM3 and COM4 in OS/2?

IBM OS/2 1.x ships with a driver that supports COM3 on Microchannel 
PS/2s only.  However, the Fernwood BBS and other sites carry a 
replacement driver, COM16550, which supports COM3 and/or COM4 on (E)ISA 
bus machines.  This driver also supports speeds greater than 19,200 bits 
per second.  However, COM ports cannot share interrupts on ISA machines 
(even under DOS) because of bus design limitations (cf. Roger C. Alford, 
"Under the Hood: How Interrupts Work," Byte Magazine, February, 1992, 
pp. 249-256).  Another replacement driver, PolyCom, supports up to eight 
ports with the right hardware.

OS/2 2.0 will include built-in COM3/COM4 support.  There may be some 
limitations with ISA machines (as noted above).

"Smart" (coprocessor controlled) multiport communication adapters should 
be used when installing more than four ports.  Such an adapter will work 
with OS/2 if the manufacturer has written an appropriate driver.  
Examples include IBM's own ARTIC products, Digitalk (tel. 213-645-1082) 
and Stargate (tel. 800-782-7428) adapters.

------------------------------

(28)	On my 1024x768 high resolution display I get obnoxiously large
	icons (64x64).  How do I make them smaller?

Patch the display driver file, DISPLAY.DLL, using a program like DOS's 
DEBUG.  Search for the byte sequence 40 00 40 00 20 00 20 00 
(hexadecimal) (sometimes the sequence is 28 00 28 00 20 00 20 00) and 
change it to 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00.

------------------------------

(29)	How do I start a background process from the OS/2 command line?

Look up the START and DETACH commands in the online reference.

------------------------------

(30)	How do I start a DOS application from a PM icon?

In IBM OS/2 1.3 DOS applications can be started from a PM program group 
icon just like native OS/2 and PM programs (assuming the OS/2 CONFIG.SYS 
file contains the lines DEVICE=...\DOS.SYS and PROTECTONLY=NO).

From the PM desktop go to a program group and select New.  Enter the DOS 
program's title (e.g. "Lotus 1-2-3"), the path to the program (to an 
EXE, COM, or BAT file, e.g. "C:\Lotus\Lotus.Exe"), and any optional 
parameters like command line options and/or the DOS application's 
working directory (e.g. "C:\Lotus").  Select the Add button, and PM will 
create a DOS icon with that application's name in the program group.  
These parameters may be altered by highlighting the icon and selecting 
Properties.  Double clicking on that application's icon will cause OS/2 
to switch to the DOS compatibility box and start the application.

------------------------------

(31)	What are CSDs, how do I tell which I have, and where do I get
	them?

CSDs are Corrective Service Diskettes, or bug fixes, periodically issued 
by IBM.  The OS/2 CSD level number may be obtained using the command 
SYSLEVEL from the OS/2 command line prompt.  CSDs are cumulative, i.e. 
only the most recent CSD is required to bring a system up from any 
previous CSD level.  However, CSDs only apply within a major version 
number.  For example, a full upgrade, not a CSD, would bring OS/2 
Version 1.2 up to Version 1.3.  Note also that SE CSDs are not the same 
as EE CSDs, and each language (e.g. French, U.K. English) uses a 
distinct CSD.

CSDs may be ordered by anyone with an IBM customer number (usually large 
sites) directly from IBM Defect Support (tel. 800-237-5511).  OS/2 users 
without customer numbers should ask authorized IBM dealers to order CSDs 
from that source.  Many dealers do not know about this program, so be 
persistent.  CSDs may also be downloaded from the IBM NSC BBS or 
CompuServe ("GO IBMOS2").

------------------------------

(32)	How do I add the Paste option to the system menus of windowed,
	non-PM applications?

In OS/2 1.3, start a windowed text mode application (e.g. the OS/2 
Window command line).  Bring up the system menu with SHIFT-ESC.  Use the 
down arrow key (not the mouse) to highlight Mark.  Press SHIFT-ENTER.  
Close the window.  Paste will then appear in system menus.

------------------------------

(33)	How do I add new fonts for Adobe Type Manager?

First create a temporary directory (e.g. C:\TEMP) and copy all the new 
font files to that directory.  Each font should consist of two files 
with extensions PFB and AFM.  (PFM files are used by Windows and can be 
converted to AFM, if necessary, using the PFM2AFM utility available from 
many of the shareware/freeware sources listed above.  AFM files for 
Adobe commercial typefaces can be obtained via netmail; send a single 
line message with the word HELP to ps-file-server@adobe.com for 
instructions.)  Then, using the Control Panel, install the fonts making 
sure to choose the temporary directory instead of A:\.  After 
installation is complete the files and temporary directory may be 
deleted.

------------------------------

(34)	Are there any tips and tricks for OS/2 2.0?

This List will include more and more OS/2 2.0-specific information.  
However, the following information may be of some use with recent beta 
releases.

To enable (E)ISA SCSI adapter support (for the 6.177h level beta), 
rename files as follows before installation: on Disk 1, DISK01.SYS to 
DISK01.OLD and DSKBIOS1.SYS to DISK01.SYS; on Disk 2, DD01 to DD01.OLD 
and DSKBIOS1 to DD01.  With other beta releases (e.g. 6.304e), consult 
the accompanying documentation.

If experiencing problems with extended attributes, mouse control, 
keyboard control, or other odd behavior, be sure to download the latest 
patch files applicable to your beta level from the IBM NSC BBS (or 
another shareware/freeware source).

To improve OS/2 2.0's performance, consider:
	adjusting Idle_Sensitivity, HW_Timer, memory requirements, and 
other parameters in DOS Settings;
	adjusting cache size;
	adjusting BUFFERS;
	moving the swap file to a separate partition;
	switching to HPFS;
	defragmenting FAT partitions;
	reducing the number of on screen colors by changing video drivers;
	closing unnecessary objects.

Do not move objects to the Startup folder.  Create shadows and put them 
in Startup instead.

Always use Shutdown before turning off the system.  To avoid possible 
problems later on, immediately Shutdown after taking the post-
installation Tutorial.  After modifying folders in some fashion 
explicitly close them before shutting down.

To experiment without the Workplace Shell, try SET 
RUNWORKPLACE=C:\OS2\CMD.EXE in CONFIG.SYS.

Closing a DOS window is like shutting off the power to a (virtual) PC; 
be sure to exit the program using the DOS application's built-in 
command(s).

OS/2 2.0 cannot utilize a math coprocessor with certain early 80386 
CPUs.  To find out the step level of your 80386, use the DOS program 
386Step (from the February 11, 1992, issue of PC Magazine), available 
from many of the shareware/freeware sources listed above.  If the 
program reports "Step level D0 or later," you do not have an early 
80386.

To get recalcitrant DOS programs running under OS/2 2.0, consider using 
a "real" version of DOS.  Look up the VMDISK command in the online 
reference.  Also pay particular attention to your DOS Settings.

A new book on OS/2 2.0, entitled "The Design of OS/2," by Deitel and 
Kogan, Addison Wesley, ISBN No. 0-201-54889-5, has been published.

