Windows Tips

The main thing you need to know is you "DO NOT NEED the Latest Greatest Windows OS"
to run Dos programs, ... they will run fine on a most older PC's.

1> Install using Win95-98-ME-XP
2> Printing using Win95-98-ME
3> Faster Printouts
4> Graphics.com ....READ THIS
5> Saving DOS files

Microsoft would have you believe that Windows is now an operating system that no longer runs under DOS. It's not the case. There is almost no difference in the relationship between Windows 95-98-ME and it's hidden DOS 7.0+, and the older Windows 3 and DOS 6.

3> Type in A:\1 or B:\1 (which ever drive is your floppy drive letter), and then Press <Enter> to start the Install. For our New CD-Rom disk, use your CD <Drive letter>:\1 - Example... E:\1

4> Important:....You must set program DOS Properties BEFORE running programs so they run in the DOS window, not Win95-98-ME window. It's really EASY!

5> After Install is completed, 'Do Not start programs yet', check on the DOS window properties settings.

6> Open Windows EXPLORER, go to C:\TSR_PROG <folder> and 'Right' Click on Start.bat.

7> Go to Properties, then Screen Usage and set 'Screen' to '25 lines', and 'Full Screen' then Click on Apply.

NOTE:... 'DOS' will NOT print to USB ports, you need to connect to your L.P.T.1. port for data to stream to your printer

Note: Using Windows XP or later versions, set the Window size to "Full-screen".

I'm using XP or XP Pro and the DOS screen in the Full Screen Mode only fills half the screen.

8> Do this again for program 'Menu_tsr.exe'. Note:...This should also be done for these same two files in any other folder like PORT2000 - PORTTIME - NEWPIPE - ROADTORQ, etc., just in case you want to start from these folders in the future.

9> Now you can create a Shortcut by 'Right' Clicking on 'START.bat' in the 'TSR_PROG <folder>'. Click on 'Make Shortcut', and then Drag this new shortcut onto your desktop.

10> Now you can start all my TSR programs from this New Shortcut to the 'Start.bat' file.

11> For TEXT only printouts in Windows XP (or later versions) from programs such as the 'Layout.exe' program that comes with TSR Newpipe program.... Set your own printer properties like the picture below. This should send the file TEXT to your printer.

Tip for XP and above Windows users: ...Check to see your Printer is set to point to LPTI port, DOS programs may not print directly to USB ports. (Right click on your printer in control panel to see details.)

Microsoft Windows 2000: ....MS-DOS Programs Troubleshooter

3> Start TSR programs by clicking on START file, in TSR_PROG <Folder>.

4> You can run any program on the MENU_TSR.exe program menu screen, that you purchased.

Note:......... ALL programs are always listed on my Menu_Tsr. You can only load what you purchased.

5> Use SHIFT & PRINT SCREEN keys together, to send a snapshot picture of Screen to your printer. Some keyboards use a different key sequence. Using PRINT SCREEN alone sends it to ClipBoard for copying into a program like Paint. You can use this idea for Much Nicer looking output picture. Better!

Note:....... Dos programs will not print directly to a USB printer port only to your standard LPT1 printer port.

Read Win95-98.txt file, in the TSR_PROG folder, to set up printer to print direct to printer. Good for any DOS program.

SEE the 'PrintKey' sub Folder in my TSR_PROG folder for another Win-98-Me way to do a Print Screen capture to printer. 'PRINTKEY.EXE' is a GREAT little program to make your PrintScreen key work in Win-95-98-ME-XP or XP Pro.
Click here http://www.geocities.com/~gigaman/ if you are a TSR Program User and you do not have this program. I suggest that you Download the Lite version for Free and try it out. Then get the newest Pro Version as soon as you can, it's Very Cheap, downloadable and powerful.

Note:... You cannot print directly to a USB port from inside any DOS programs.
Again, DOS does not recognize any USB port . But you can print to any Serial (LPT1) port !

NEW WAY: USB port printing can be done using "PRINTER POOLING". You tell your software to print to LPT1, but don't have a printer on your LPT1 port, and set up printer pooling with your USB printer. Windows will see that the printer isn't available on LPT1, and instead pool it over to your USB printer. Look up Print Pooling using Windows Help..... :- D

Note: if 'Apply' button turns on click on it. Now when you press Print Screen button to print out screen it will go directly to your printer.

Graphics.com 'NOT' for WIN-98 (or later version) Users, See above PrintKey program.

WIN-95 Users -- Here's another way to PRINT SCREENS, and to Save Toner.

NOTE:.I suggest you use New 'PRINTKEY' or older 'PRINTNOW' Utility software provided for you. ('PRINTKEY is provided after 12/15/1999). This section is provided for DOS users, (and for people who would like to cut down on amount of toner their LaserJet, InkJet or BubbleJet printers use), on how to do DOS way of 'Print Screen' Captures.

Concerning GRAPHICS.com + GRAPHICS.pro files that I talk about in my setup literature. As you probably found out, there is no DOS <Folder> any more, as it was formerly called. But in fact there is, it is now called COMMAND <Folder> and is located one level down in the main Windows <Folder> ...C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND

Microsoft is just playing "Hide it game" with Dos 7.0 Stuff to sell more Windows Programs.

Look there to find the 2 Graphics files. If not there, look on the WIN-95 CD in a <Folder> called "OTHER \ OLDMSDOS"..... This is "NEW DOS 7.0."

If you want to use Graphics.com, first see if BOTH files were preloaded into following directory. If they were not loaded, copy BOTH files from "Other\Oldmsdos" <Folder> on the CD to your C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND <Folder>.

To simplify using Graphics.com, you'll need to add a line to my START.bat file to run GRAPHICS.com, before starting of my MENU_TSR.exe program.

Note: ...After 12/28/96, I did part of the job for you as you will see when you open the START.bat file. See the line with Graphics.com with a "rem" in front of it. Remove this "rem" and then add your printer name as described below. You don't need to remove any other Win95 comment (rem) lines.

Using your NOTEPAD program to add this line to START file, if it's not already done for you. C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\GRAPHICS

NOTE:...Now add whatever Printer name your printer is, to the end of the above line.

Check your Autoexec.bat file on your C:\ drive and be sure it has this in PATH command line......path=c:\windows;c:\windows\command

Path has to have extra .... ;c:\windows\command in the command line to be able to find Graphics.com. After you put it in, it will then be able to find it the 'next time you start your PC'.

READ this next paragraph carefully for why you need to do Graphics.com at all...The reason you can't just put it in your AUTOEXEC.bat file, like you used to in Windows 3.0-3.11, is because WIN-95 cancels GRAPHICS.com when you go back into WIN-95, and requires it to be loaded EVERY time you go into a DOS session. (That is if you want a Graphics printout direct to your printer.) By putting it in the START file it'll do job for you at the start of TSR programs. You only have to do this one time.

Note: Be sure to save the START file with 'bat' extension on it, (START.bat). You should then copy this file to any other TSR <Folder> like Newpipe-Porttime or Roadtorq. Now make a SHORTCUT to this START file and drop it on your desktop. (all of above is easier to do than it reads.)

GOOD way to print for INK JET or BUBBLE JET type printers. You'll know if you do this right by the way screen prints out. It will print out in LANDSCAPE mode on any GRAPHIC SCREEN when you use Print Screen key (or key combo), And it will be a line drawing, not a black or color filled in picture. SAVES a lot of TONER or INK this way.

Information is provided for you to assist you in using My TSR Software. You won't find this information on Graphics.com in WIN-95 literature.

When you are asked to put in a file Comment, if there is a previous Comment in file it will show up in line above Comment Entry. If the Comment is ok just press <Enter> and the same Comment will be saved. Or else you can type in a New Comment at that time.

When asked to Type in a file name you must follow the Dos convention for this and stay within the <8> character limit. You can use less but not more. Also the normal <3> character Dos extension is taken care of for you by my programs.

Example:... A useable name could be Testfile.xxx, the .xxx would be added by my software, so you need only type Testfile.

Unlike the Comment, you must type in the File name Every time you Save a file. This is so you do not save a BAD file over top of a Good file of the same name.

NOTE:....Most problems that end users have with ALL BRANDS of SOFTWARE is not because the software does something it's not supposed to, or that they don't want it to. It's because they are in too much of a hurry and don't want to read the authors notes, license, readme.txt or installation prompts. It's the "I can put this together without instructions" mentality, then they blame everyone or everything except themselves for the errors or problems that occur later....... :-}

This material is for personal use only. Republication and redissemination, including posting to news groups, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of TSR Software.

Does the NTVDM subsystem work?