How to Make Visual C++ Version 1.5x Books Online Start Faster

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.5, 1.51, 1.52

SUMMARY

Visual C++ installs Books Online for use from the CD-ROM drive only. If you are accessing the CD-ROM drive over a network, or you want to run Books Online from your local hard disk, you may need to change the drive designation for the location of the Books Online files. This information is maintained in the Contents.ini file, which is located in the root directory of your Windows or Windows NT installation.

NOTE: running Books Online directly from your hard drive requires approximately 60-80 megabytes of additional hard disk space. Despite this increased disk consumption, you may want to run Books Online from your hard disk for the following reasons:

• To improve access time - depending on your hardware configuration, running Books Online directly from your hard disk will be faster than running it from the CD-ROM disc.
• To free up the CD-ROM drive. You may want to keep a CD-ROM disc other than the Visual C++ CD-ROM disc in the CD-ROM drive.

1. Copy the following files from the \Msvc\Help subdirectory of the CD-ROM disc to a directory of your choice on your local hard drive:

   VCBKS15.HDX VCBKS15.IND VCSDK15.HLP

2. Edit the Path= statement in the [VCBKS15] section of the Contents.ini file so that it points to the directory you chose in step 1. Be sure to include a trailing backslash as in this example:

   [VCBKS15] Path=C:\MSVC\HELP\

3. Save the Contents.ini file, and then restart Books Online.

4. Copy the Contents.hlp file from the \Msvc\Help subdirectory of the CD-ROM disc to the directory you chose in step 1. If this help file is missing, the Help button on the Contents window displays a blank Windows Help window, and a dialog box appears saying it can't find the Help file. You won't be able to access the Books Online Help chapter in Contents.hlp.

   VCBKS15.HDX
   VCBKS15.IND
   VCSDK15.HLP