ID: Q90980
3.10 WINDOWS kb3rdparty kbfasttip kbfile
The information in this article applies to:
This article contains questions and answers about using third-party utilities.
The following information applies to Microsoft Windows(TM) for Workgroups version 3.1.
1. Q. Is Microsoft Windows for Workgroups compatible with
utilities produced by other software companies (for example, PC
Tools(TM) Backup and Norton Desktop for Windows)?
A. Windows for Workgroups is compatible with most popular third-
party applications. However, as discussed in the Setup section
of FastTips, Windows for Workgroups should be installed in a
newly created directory if you experience problems with updating
your current Windows installation. Third-party drivers, font
software, and desktop shells should then be reinstalled in the
new directory location of Windows for Workgroups. Third-party
utilities that are known to adversely affect the Windows for
Workgroups Setup program are Norton Desktop for Windows, PC
Tools Backup version 7.1, and disk-compression software.
2. Q. Can I use Norton Desktop for Windows with Microsoft Windows
for Workgroups?
A. Before you upgrade to Windows for Workgroups from Microsoft
Windows versions 3.x, disable the Norton Desktop shell to avoid
functionality conflicts with Norton Desktop for Windows.
Disabling Norton Desktop includes replacing the line
"shell=ndw.exe" (without the quotation marks) with
"shell=progman.exe" (without the quotation marks)in the
SYSTEM.INI file and removing all other Norton Desktop references
in both the SYSTEM.INI and WIN.INI files. After you successfully
install Windows for Workgroups, you can reinstall Norton Desktop
for Windows version 2.0 or later.
When you use Norton Desktop for Windows, you cannot disconnect a
network drive using the Desktop's Disk menu. You must use File
Manager's Disk menu to disconnect a network drive. Norton
Desktop for Windows lacks the functionality to share directories
with other workstations in your workgroup. At this time, only
the Windows for Workgroups File Manager Disk menu can provide
the user interface and functionality to share directories.
3. Q. I use a disk-compression utility to compress my hard drive.
What steps should I take to install and use Microsoft Windows
for Workgroups?
A. When you install Windows for Workgroups to a drive that has been
compressed with a disk-compression utility, such as Stacker(TM),
some Windows for Workgroup files are copied to the root of the
boot drive. These files include the network card and protocol
device drivers, PROTMAN.DOS, WORKGROUP.SYS, and HIMEM.SYS. The
network device statements should be loaded after the disk-
compression device statements in the CONFIG.SYS file.
4. Q. When I exit PC Tools Backup, Windows stops responding and
hangs. How can I correct this problem?
A. If Windows hangs after you exit PC Tools Backup, use the
following five steps:
1. Open the SYSTEM.INI file in an ASCII text editor such as
Microsoft Windows Notepad.
2. In the [386enh] section, search for the line
"dmabuffersize=" (without the quotation marks). If this line
exists, increase its value. If it does not, add the line
"dmabuffersize=64" (without the quotation marks).
3. Check for the line "device=*vdmad" (without the quotation
marks). If this line exists, replace it with
"device=vdmad.386" (without the quotation marks).
4. Save the SYSTEM.INI file.
5. Check the date of the file VDMAD.386. This file should be
located in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory and be dated
October 1992. If VDMAD.386 is located in the WINDOWS
directory, rename or delete it, and expand the VDMAD.386 file
to the WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory.
After carrying out these steps, if the PC Tools Backup utility
continues to cause Windows to hang, please contact the
manufacturer (Central Point Software, Inc.) directly.
Keywords : wfwg
Version : 3.10
Platform : WINDOWSLast Reviewed: June 28, 1998