cs060128@csusac.csus.edu (H2 Philip Chen) (02/27/91)
In article <1991Feb26.155019.5929@linus.mitre.org> dhf@tatum.mitre.org (David H. Friedman) writes: >. I recently downloaded the Release 2.0 version of the TVGA drivers, and >started last night to replace the old version on my home system (NEC 386/20, >2Meg memory). I tried running SETUP.EXE from DOS after deleting the old >driver files, and found that SETUP starts off as if I'm doing a complete >fresh Win3 installation ("Enter a directory to install Windows into: ..."). >I couldn't seem to figure out how to tell it that I just want to replace a >driver! In the course of a few false starts, I managed to set Windows back >to standard VGA (I had been using 800x600x16 superVGA mode), and when it >looked like something in Windows had been put out of kilter, I finally took >a deep breath and decided to re-install Windows completely. I renamed my old >Windows directory from \W3 to \W3X, told SETUP to create a new \W3, and went >through the whole procedure - without a hitch, including installing the new >driver. Then I brought over the old WIN.INI and all the application files >that had been installed in the old \W3, including Command Post 7.0M, which >I use as my shell (also changed the "shell=" line in SYSTEM.INI). Did a >reboot, started the new Windows... ah, here's CommandPost.. but what's this >"EXEC Error" message box? Clicked on "OK" to get rid of the message, and >CmdPost seems to be OK, but is it really OK? At this point I gave up and >went to bed, not having checked the applications that were moved. > After a not-very-good night's sleep, I realize that the worst that can >happen is that I'll have to wipe the disk clean and re-install Windows and >the applications from the distribution diskettes, just so I can be sure >everything is properly initialized. I never did a complete disk backup, but >I have copies of all the pertinent files, so at worst it'll just be a few >evenings' work. Still, the whole experience has been very unsettling, and >it's still not resolved. > At the heart of it, as far as I'm concerned, is that Windows SETUP is >not very clear about whether it knows that I don't want to do a complete >re-installation, but only to replace a driver. It starts, as I said, by >asking what directory I want to install into. If I answer and proceed, then >it's not clear when I should stop and exit to avoid going into the complete >installation process. If it started with a message like.. > > To install Windows, press RETURN. > If you only want to change your configuration, update > or replace a driver, etc., press F6 (or whatever). > ... > >then there'd be no problem. I looked at Appendix A of the Microsoft Win3 >User's Guide, which talks about using SETUP to replace drivers, but found >nothing useful. Has anyone else had this experience with SETUP? If anyone >at Microsoft is reading this, please take note. > I might mention the PC Magazine DOS utility DIRMATCH, which I found very >helpful in comparing the old and new directories in order to move files. >DIRMATCH displays both directories side-by-side, with corresponding files >on the same line, the more recent version highlighted, and allows you to >move or copy individual files from one directory to the other. Also, I >realized it would be very useful to be able to do the same with *.INI >files, using a side-by-side text editor to compare versions and copy >individual lines. I don't know of such a utility, but it would be a great >thing to write, and maybe a good excuse to learn 8086 assembly language. >(PC Magazine guys, how about it?) > Finally, one thing I now wish I had done is keep a log, on PAPER, of >all the customizing changes I made during and after installation of my >original Win3 and the applications, so I could go through exactly the >same steps in the event of a complete re-installation. Half the stuff >in my WIN.INI makes no sense to me now. > Anyway, I hope I'm not boring anyone with all this detail (and I might >add, the trouble didn't happen because I'm new to this, I've been working >with computers of various kinds for 30 years) - I'm still not wide awake, >and anyway it's been very therapeutic getting all this out. I actually >think my hands are steady enough now that I can get back to work. > >dhf@linus.mitre.org Dave, sorry to hear about what you went through. There is a way load new video drivers without having to reload the whole Windows package : First, exit Windows and get into the DOS command line mode, i.e. you'll see that C:\> thing. Next, change the directory to where your Windows is located, i.e. "cd\windows" or "cd\w3" or something similar. Then run "SETUP" and Windows will give you a configuration menu where you can change the video, keyboard, network, and etc drivers. Summary : 1) If you're in the actual Windows directory, then SETUP will give you the re-configuration menu that you're looking for. 2) If you're NOT in the actual Windows directory, (i.e. you're in the root or some other directory), then SETUP will think that you'll want to install Windows all over again. (So readers, please be cautious about this.) Bye! -Philip -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * I need some new .signature, .disclaimer, and .funnyquote files. Which BBS did you get yours from?
cs060128@csusac.csus.edu (H2 Philip Chen) (02/27/91)
In article <1991Feb26.220640.6763@csusac.csus.edu> cs060128@csusac.csus.edu (H2 Philip Chen) writes: >In article <1991Feb26.155019.5929@linus.mitre.org> dhf@tatum.mitre.org (David H. Friedman) writes: >> [stuff by Dave deleted] > [stuff by me deleted] Oops! I guess you've got the answer already. I must have logged on a few hours too late. Computer technology... Isn't it wonderfully fast? Bye! -Philip -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ * I need some new .signature, .disclaimer, and .funnyquote files. Which BBS did you get yours from?