
        BOOTCON version 2.1                                          8/10/94


---[ Contents ]------------------------------------------------------[1.0]--

            1.0     Contents

            2.0     Getting Started
                        Welcome to BOOTCON
                        Upgrading from BOOTCON 2.0
                        The Modular Program Scheduler for Windows

            3.0     Compatibility Notes
                        DOS Versions
                        Norton AntiVirus
                        PC Tools VSAFE
                        MS-DOS 6 VSAFE

            4.0     Documentation Corrections and Additions
                        Using Includes
                        Using Alternate Files
                        Using Monochrome Mode with VGA
                        Customizing the Video Mode
                        DOS 6 Notes

            5.0     Advanced Techniques
                        Boot Methods

            6.0     Troubleshooting
                        Editing
                        Using BOOTCON on SUBSTed Drives

            7.0     Technical Support


---[ Getting Started ]-----------------------------------------------[2.0]--

        --- Welcome to BOOTCON ---

        Thank you for choosing BOOTCON as your configuration manager.  We
        have put a great deal of effort into version 2.1 to make it the
        most powerful and easy-to-use configuration manager on the market.

        Unless you are upgrading from an earlier version, you will find a
        registration card in the BOOTCON package.  Please fill out and
        return this card in the enclosed envelope.  Your comments are 
        valuable to us and will help us create an even better product in 
        the future.


        --- Upgrading from BOOTCON 2.0 ---

        When upgrading from an earlier version of BOOTCON 2.x, be sure
        to specify that the new version of BOOTCON be installed into
        the same directory as the old version.  This will ensure that
        all your configurations and your old serial number are preserved.
        Note, however, that any password information will need to be
        re-entered.


        --- The Modular Program Scheduler for Windows ---

        BOOTCON 2.1 includes the Modular Program Scheduler for Windows.
        All the MPS related files are stored in the MPS subdirectory
        of the BOOTCON distribution disk.  If you received BOOTCON on
        two or more disks, MPS would normally be found on the second
        disk.  See Appendix F in the BOOTCON manual for instructions on
        installing and using MPS.  You should examine the README file
        in the MPS directory before installing MPS.


---[ Compatibility Notes ]-------------------------------------------[3.0]--

        --- DOS Versions ---

        This version of BOOTCON was specifically designed for MS-DOS and
        PC-DOS versions 3.1 through 6.3, DR-DOS 6.0, and Novell DOS 7.
        If you are using another version of DOS, please contact Modular
        Software Systems.

        Throughout this document the words "DOS 6" refer to MS/PC-DOS
        6.x.  DR-DOS 6.0 is treated just like PC-DOS 4 unless otherwise
        specified.


        --- Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2.10 ---

        Early revisions of Norton AntiVirus version 2.10 are incompatible
        with BCSETUP.  Specifically, using the NAV&.SYS program may
        prevent BCSETUP from executing your editor.

        If you are using Norton AntiVirus 2.10 with files dated prior to
        10-3-92 you should contact Symantec Technical Support.  Note that
        the date on NAV&.SYS is changed during the installation process so
        use the date of NAVSETUP.EXE instead.

        As an alternative, you could use NAV_.SYS instead of NAV&.SYS.


        --- Central Point Software VSAFE.COM ---

        The VSAFE programs supplied with PC Tools for Windows and with
        MS-DOS 6 will forcibly attempt to keep interrupt 0x21 pointing
        to themselves when the /N command line parameter is used.

        This is a risky technique that may cause the system to become
        unstable.

        When exiting BOOTCON Setup, "Unexpected Error" 0xD740 will occur
        because BCSETUP detects that another program has modified
        interrupt 0x21 after BCSETUP had chained into it.

        If this happens, you can safely instruct BCSETUP to "Attempt to
        Continue" and the program will exit normally.

        To prevent this error message from appearing, you can add the
        following line to your BOOTCON.INI file:

                FORCE_INT21 = ON

        This behavior occurs only when the /N command line switch is
        used with VSAFE.COM.


        --- MS-DOS 6.x VSAFE.COM ---

        See the previous note about Central Point Software VSAFE.


---[ Documentation Corrections and Additions ]-----------------------[4.0]--

        --- Using Includes ---

        When placing an Include in a configuration, do not put an "@"
        sign at the beginning of the line.  This character will prevent 
        BOOTCON from recognizing that the statement is an Include.

        Whenever you delete an Include you must ensure that any config-
        urations that use the Include are modified accordingly.

        If you rename an Include and instruct BOOTCON to rename the
        Include in all the configurations where it is used, and then you
        <cancel> out of the Include List, the Include will retain its
        original name, however the configurations that used the Include
        will reference the new name.


        --- Using Alternate Files ---

        Within any given configuration, you may not have more than one
        Alternate file with the same name, even if they are located in
        different directories.


        --- Using Monochrome Mode with VGA ---

        The BOOTCON Menu Options screen has the ability to instruct
        BOOTCON to use a monochrome mode.

        If you are using a 386 or better computer with a VGA adapter,
        you should only use the monochrome mode if your memory manager
        is not using the monochrome video memory buffer for high memory.

        If the command line to load your memory manager contains an
        address that includes the area B000-B7FF it is using the
        monochrome video adapter memory as high memory.

        You can safely use the "grayscale" video options without this
        concern.


        --- Customizing the Video Mode ---

        BOOTCON has the ability to customize the video mode for different
        color schemes and the number of lines on the screen during the
        boot.

        When the mode is changed from the default (usually 25 line color
        or monochrome) it is not automatically restored when BOOTCON
        finishes.  The system will continue booting using whatever mode
        was selected.  This can lead to some interesting effects such as
        Windows running in monochrome VGA mode instead of color.

        If you do not want to use the new video mode permanently, use
        the DOS MODE command to set the video mode to whatever mode you
        wish to use.  For example, at the beginning of the AUTOEXEC.BAT 
        you could add the command:

                C:\DOS\MODE CO80,25

        to set the system into a 25 line color mode.


        --- DOS 6 Notes ---

        When using DOS 6.x, any SET commands in the CONFIG.SYS will auto-
        matically be changed to upper case.  If you have SET commands that
        must remain lower case, put them in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file instead.

        BOOTCON does not have the ability to control the NUMLOCK command
        in the PC-DOS 6.x CONFIG.SYS file.  This means that you cannot
        have one configuration where NUMLOCK is ON and another where it
        is OFF.  Use the same NUMLOCK command in all your configurations.
        This problem does not occur with MS-DOS 6.x.


---[ Advanced Techniques ]-------------------------------------------[5.0]--

        --- Boot Methods ---

        BOOTCON has three different boot methods that may be used when
        choosing a new configuration from the Boot Menu.  The methods
        are SMART, COLD, and WARM.  These methods are described below:

        SMART   When you choose a configuration from the BOOTCON Menu,
                in most cases BOOTCON builds the desired configuration
                and the boot continues using the new configuration.

                In one situation an actual reboot will be needed.  This
                is when changing from a configuration where DOS=LOW to
                one where DOS=HIGH.  Note however that even in this
                situation a reboot will not be performed if you are using
                QEMM 7 with the DOSDATA feature enabled since DOSDATA
                will reboot the system anyway.

        COLD    When you choose a different configuration from the BOOTCON 
                Menu, BOOTCON builds the appropriate configuration files 
                and then performs a cold boot.  The system reboots into 
                the new configuration.  The BOOTCON Menu does not come up 
                a second time; however, if you are using an OS boot utility
                such as Boot Manager, the NT Multi-OS loader, or OS2DOS,
                you will need to make the OS choice again.

        WARM    This method is the same as COLD except that a warm boot
                is performed instead.

        Only in extremely rare situations should it be necessary to use
        a boot method other than SMART.  One situation might be when a
        new version of DOS is released that is not fully BOOTCON compat-
        ible.  To change the boot method that BOOTCON uses, use your
        text editor to edit the BOOTCON.INI file and find the line:

            bootmethod = n

        Use one of the following numeric values to set the desired boot
        method:

            SMART = 0
            COLD  = 1
            WARM  = 2


---[ Troubleshooting ]-----------------------------------------------[6.0]--

        --- Editing ---

        BOOTCON does not come with its own editor.  By default, it is
        configured to use the DOS editor (usually "EDIT"), however
        BOOTCON can be configured to use your favorite editor.  BCSETUP
        must be told where your editor is in order to work properly.

        If you are having editing problems, first make sure that the
        editor is defined properly in BCSETUP's Settings screen.  If the
        editor's directory is not in the DOS path, you must specify the
        full path to the file.

        If the editor name and path are properly defined, and the editor
        is still not working, the problem may be a lack of memory.  Make
        sure that you are using the SWAPXEC.DRV driver.  It should be
        present in the BOOTCON directory.

        SWAPXEC uses XMS memory if available.  If not, it uses your disk
        for swap space.  Make sure you have plenty of free disk space.
        Also, make sure that the TEMP or TMP environment variables point
        to valid directories.  If you still can't load the editor, try
        rebooting and choosing a configuration that leaves more memory
        available.  Alternatively, use an editor that does not require as
        much memory.


        --- Using BOOTCON on SUBSTed Drives ---

        If you have BOOTCON installed on a drive that is used by SUBST,
        you must not use the SUBSTed drive letter when starting BCSETUP.
        Instead, change to the real BOOTCON directory on the real drive,
        then start BCSETUP.


---[ Technical Support ]---------------------------------------------[7.0]--

        For technical support you should first contact the dealer where
        you purchased the program.  If they cannot help you, please feel
        free to contact us.

        When calling for technical support, please have the following
        information available:

                The BOOTCON version and serial number
                The DOS vendor and version number
                Details of any disk compression in use
                Details of any TSRs and device drivers in use
                The hardware configuration:

                    Brand and model of computer
                    Video type
                    Amount of memory
                    Hard and floppy drive configuration

        We can be reached at:

                Modular Software Systems
                25825 - 104th Ave. SE, Suite 208
                Kent, WA  98031

                Phone:           (206) 631-5781
                Fax:             (206) 631-5779


        We can also be reached on CompuServe Mail at user-ID 73367,176

---[ End of README ]--------------------------------------------------------
