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VUTRAX SOFTWARE ADVICE NOTICE
205 - (Issue 2 - 10 Dec 2000)
VUTRAX 12.2c with
Microsoft Windows ME
Users of the Free and Shareware
configuration will see Windows
ME reported as Windows 98 Version 4.9. For
most
purposes this identification is fine and you can trial
the system and use the freeware and shareware
configuration normally.
Windows ME, in common
with Windows NT
and Windows 2000,
does not permit direct port access, so direct output
from PLOT to
parallel and serial ports in PLOT will not work. Use
one of the options described for such output with
Windows NT.
Because Vutrax
does not realise this restriction applies to Vutrax running under
Windows ME,
PLOT
may hang if you attempt direct output, rather than
refusing to try.
Users installing high specification systems
on Windows ME
that need to use a key need to:-
- Ensure the key is the type with a 9 or
10 digit serial number. If not please contact the
office.
- The mouse can not 'route through' the
key - it must be configured on separate serial port.
- During installation, in the 'Setup
Preferences' dialogue, override
[Windows 98] by
clicking [Windows NT]
We suggest that you do not select private profiles.
If you insist on private profiles
your startup icons may not appear in the proper place.
The simplest solution is to
re-install as [Windows 98], but [Cancel] at the 'Ready to finalise the
installation' message box, and then
install
again, forcing the selection to [Windows NT] as
before, this time allowing the installation to
complete.
- After Installation, update the Vutrax startup command file
to force startup as if Windows
NT:-
- From the menu system select
[Enable Changes] from (File >
Setup > Configuration)
- Select [Open
Command File] from
(Text > Open > Command
Sequences] and
navigate to file
VUTRAX.BAT in the
Vutrax installation
directory.
- Invoke a global edit to change every
character pair %2
to NT as
follows:-
Ctrl+F
%2 and
press the Enter Key
SNT
and press
the Enter Key
D6 and
press the Enter Key
If this now reads 'Find: %2, Subst:
NT, Dirctv: 6':-
Enter key again.
If this goes OK:-
Ctrl+Q and confirm with
Y
- Re-protect appropriate files using
[Protect Files] from (File > Setup
> Configuration)
- Close down Vutrax (e.g. click the
[X] on
the window).
- On the keyboard press Ctrl+Alt+Del, Select
"VtxMsg"
near the end of the list, and click [End Task].
- Restart Vutrax using the start menu
or an icon if you opted to have one.
- If necessary specify the appropriate
serial port and/or other options using [Configuration] from (File > Setup).
- From here on you should be able to use
the system normally.
If you re-install Vutrax
12.2c (but not if you install
libraries or interface modules) you will need to perform
these
changes again.
Recommendations:
We are making no judgement about upgrading
to Windows ME.
This is a judgement you should make based on features
relative to your current Windows, hardware support
requirements (e.g. Hard disk space and RAM size), and
the direct cost.
We plan that the next issue of Vutrax
will support Windows ME fully automatically.
Distribution:
- Internet Site.
- For Customers reporting problems upgrading
to Windows ME.
- With every Vutrax
12.2c CD supplied
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