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OS/2


Using New Deal software with OS/2

To run New Deal software under OS/2

  1. Run your New Deal software in a regular full-screen DOS box, not a box that boots a specific version of DOS. In other words, the DOS_STARTUP_DRIVE setting on the session page should be clear.
  2. Increase the number of DOS_FILES available to that DOS box to at least 80.
  3. Make sure the HW_TIMER setting is on.
  4. All other values can be left at their defaults.
No special installation of your New Deal software is necessary.

"SYS Error 0005. Access Denied"

You may get this error while installing under OS/2, because OS/2 thinks there is an extended attribute set for all of the files on the installation disks.

To change this extended attribute:

  1. Use the DISKCOPY command to copy each New Deal installation disk to a diskette that is not write protected.
  2. Run CHKDSK /f on each diskette. OS/2 will correct what it thinks is an extended attribute error on every single file.

Serial (COM) Port Issues

In OS/2's PROGRAM PARAMETERS, set DIRECT_COM_ACCESS to ON.

Printing or Parallel Port Issues

Run Preferences in NewManager. Select the Computer module and be sure the LPT port is set to "7" (not BIOS or DOS).

In your CONFIG.SYS file:

  1. To optimize printing time, add/IRQ to the line
    BASEDEV=PRINT01.SYS
  2. If you are using only one printer, you may delete PRINT01.SYS
  3. If you have only one printer, your buffer size should be PRINTMONEBUFSIZE=1024,0,0 . The maximum buffer size is 2048. The minimum appears to be 134. There have been no reported problems with using a setting of zero.

CD-ROM Drives

If NewManager does not properly recognize your CD-ROM drive, try adding a line like this one to the [system] section of your GEOS.INI file:
drive e = 65535
where e is the letter corresponding to your CD-ROM drive.

Task Switching

If you cannot task switch between your New Deal software and OS/2's WorkPlace Shell, it may be that your video board is unable to make the change from your OS/2 video mode to the New Deal video mode and back.

Try using the standard VGA 640x480 (16-color) driver in New Deal, or try using the same video resolution (same screen size and same number of colors) in both OS/2 and in your New Deal software.

OS/2 and FaxWorks

If you have installed FaxWorks, it will be configured as a printer in your New Deal software on LPT3.

In the Light version of FaxWorks, only the IBM Proprinter emulation is supported, so you must install the IBM Proprinter driver on LPT3 in New Deal's Preferences, Printer.

If you have the full version of FaxWorks, you can use the HP LaserJet driver in New Deal, which may provide a better quality result than the Proprinter driver.

If everything is installed and configured properly, to fax a New Deal document simply print it using the appropriate printer driver for LPT3. You will be switched to the FaxWorks phone book and prompted for the destination phone number for your fax. When your fax has been transmitted, you will be returned to your New Deal software.

Support Limitations

Please note that we cannot provide you with OS/2 support beyond the information contained in this document. However, you should have no problems running your New Deal software under OS/2 using the settings above. The following suggestions from our customers have not been verified or tested by New Deal.

User Tips

Differences in hardware and software configurations from one computer to another can require different settings. Because OS/2 offers a wide variety of configurations, we cannot guarantee any of these settings will work for you. However, some of our customers recommend the settings below.

One customer reports increased performance when using the following parameters:

Another customer reports best performance with these parameters: A third customer recommends these settings:
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