From: S_Page@GO.COM
Newsgroups: comp.sys.pen
Subject: Re: Novice question on Penpoint installation on PC
Date: 8 Sep 92 04:25:10 GMT

>> My Penpoint installaton process in hitting upon the dreaded 1008 error
>> message; probably has to do with the VGA card in my PC.

Set the VGA card to be in standard 640x400 VGA mode.  If the card has some
auto-sensing stuff in it that lets it switch modes, disable it.

Also, try the HardDisk=hardware in \PENPOINT\BOOT\MIL.INI, or deleting some
services.  Plus the obvious like renaming CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT and
booting with an empty system.

It could be that you simply have Nonmaskable interrupts coming in, e.g.
from a bad ECC memory chip.

>> My PC is not a recommended configuration by Go; hence I am looking to
>> this newsgroup for help. Any tips would be appreciated.

I wouldn't give up just yet.  GO has yet to find a reproduceable case of a
desktop machine that meets the specs on p25 of PenPoint Development Tools
that won't run 1.0, except for some EISA machines (fixed in 1.01).

>> The PC configuration is as follows:

>> Mylex Motherboard with 386/20 and 8Mb Of RAM;  8 SIMMS, each is 1Mb x 9
>> Cheap Weitek VGA card with NEC MultiSync Monitor

Is this an EISA board?  From a list of machines that our customers
have reported successfully running PenPoint,
     Pyramid 303+ Waveline (Mylex MXA 386 Motherboard) 386/33 MHz.

If any of you have a working clone PC configuration that you would like to
recommend, I would be very happy to hear from you.

>>  The full list is on CompuServe (GO PENFORUM, Library 6, SDKPCS.TXT),
I've attached it.

Help!!!

GO Customer Services (415)358-2050 and GOCustomer@GO.com, can help with SDK
installation problems.

Aurobindo Tripathy
auro@mri.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

PCs that reportedly do or don't run the SDK      Revision 2.1 June 29 1992

Saved as SDK_PCs.TXT

Running PenPoint from DOS is similar to trying to run OS/2 from the DOS 
command line.  It's a challenge to make it work!  and it won't work 
with all possible PC configurations.

As always, the best thing to do is to install PenPoint on your desired 
development machine before you buy, or make sure you have a money-back 
guarantee.

However, as a service to developers, we are keeping track of reported 
successes and failures of the PenPoint development community running the 
PenPoint 1.0 SDK with different machines.  This is still only a guide:

o  Manufacturers of PCs change motherboards, BIOS revisions, disk drives,    
   etc. all the time.

o  One BIOS setup may work, but not another.

We've included the e-mail addresses of the developers reporting success with 
a given configuration.  This is no way implies any assumption of liability 
for helping you to get a similar configuration working on the part of those
developers.

The list of machines that reportedly don't work (at the end) is probably of 
more interest than the list of machines that do.  We believe the set of 
PCs that run the PenPoint SDK is much larger than the set of PCs that don't.
We didn't release the PenPoint 1.0 SDK until it ran on every PC we have 
in-house (that has the necessary memory, disk, and VGA).  On the other 
hand, PenPoint 1.0 simply may not work on a particular PC.  To repeat, try 
before you buy.  The SDK PC compatibility test disk (available on CompuServe
in the Pen Technology Forum library 6 as PCTST3.ZIP or PCTST5.ZIP) allows
you to test your PC with PenPoint if you don't have an SDK.

Help us keep this list up to date; post your experiences on GO's section on 
CompuServe, and contact GO Customer Services if you have a problem installing
PenPoint.

Yours in successful booting,

GO Developer Technical Support
GO Customer Services


MACHINE CONFIGURATIONS THAT WORK
================================

Tested by GO (from "PenPoint Development Tools")                              
------------

Compaq 386/20E  20MHz 386, no coprocessor, Compaq BIOS dated 31-May-89, DOS 
5.0, 640 + 8,192 Extended = 8,832KB total memory

Dell 325P   25MHz 386, no coprocessor, Phoenix BIOS dated 27-Sep-91 version 
1.10A16, DOS 5.0, 640 + 7,160 extended = 7,800KB total memory

IBM PS2/70  25MHz 386, no coprocessor, IBM BIOS dated 2-Feb-89, DOS 5.0, 640 
+ 7,424 = 8,064KB total memory

also older IBM PS2/70   IBM BIOS dated 11-Apr-88, 640 + 5,376 = 5,980KB total 
memory

IBM PS2/80

IBM PS2/90  33MHz 486, built-in coprocessor, IBM BIOS dated 30-Jan-91, DOS 
5.0, 640 + 11520 extended = 12,160KB total memory

IBM PS2/95  25MHz 486, built-in coprocessor, IBM BIOS dated 8-Jan-90, DOS 
5.0, 640 + 7424 extended = 8,064KB total memory

NCR 386sx/MC20  20MHz 386, no coprocessor, NCR BIOS version 1.01.00 and 
Phoenix BIOS dated 15-Oct-90 version 1.02.07, DOS 3.30, 640 + 7,424 extended 
= 8,064KB total memory

Informally tested at GO
-----------------------

Northgate 386 33E   Model FCH, 33MHz 386, no coprocessor, Northgate (AMI) 
BIOS dated 15-Sep-89 version 3.2B, DOS 4.01, Video 7 VGA version 1.09, 40MB 
type 22 drive, 640 + 7,552 extended = 8,192KB total memory

Samsung S800    20 MHz 386, no coprocessor, AMI BIOS version 3.04 03B dated 
30-Nov-87, DOS 5.0, ATI Basic 16 VGA, type 34 Western Digital IDE controller, 
Conner 201 MB drive

Toshiba 5200/100    20 MHz 386, no coprocessor, Phoenix BIOS dated 15-Jan-88, 
DOS 4.01, built-in VGA, 640 + 7,168 extended = 7,808KB total memory, 102MB 
drive.

Uniq 486/33 33 MHz 486, built-in coprocessor, American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI) 
486 BIOS for Vantage 486 version 2.0 dated 7-Jul-91, DOS 5.0, ATI VGA Wonder 
XL VGA w/ 1MB, 640 + 7,424 extended = 8,064KB total memory, type 47 
controller.

Detailed Reports from the field
-------------------------------

AST Premium Exec 386SX/25, 25 MHz 386SX, disabled math coprocessor, ??? 
BIOS, DOS 5.0.  This is a nice small portable, the LCD is small but looks 
great.

Beta 90  486/33 w/ 128k external cache, AMI 21-May-91 BIOS (Eteq chipset), 
3MB memory, IDE disk, Orchid ProDesigner IIs.  "I can't load DB, presumably 
because I don't have enough RAM"  Karl Butz (Karl_Butz@GO.com)

Blue Dolphin 486/50 w/ 256k cache, AMI Symphony BIOS, 8 MBytes RAM, 
240 MByte Quantum IDE drive, 
and
Blue Dolphin 486/50 w/ 64k cache, AMI Symphony BIOS, and Conner IDE drive.
"My partner Cathy Young and I are both using 486/50's with no boot problems
at all.  PenPoint boots in about 30 seconds."  Mitch DeShields, IQ Interface.


DECstation 325c , IDE C: disk and SCSI D: disk (Adaptec AT/SCSI BIOS version 
3.10)  "PenPoint seems to be able to see and browse the SCSI disk with no 
trouble when using Harddisk=BIOS, but I haven't exercised it thoroughly". 
SuperScript IIs tablet.  Dan Halbert (halbert@crl.dec.com)

Gateway 2000 486/33 33 MHz 486, built-in coprocessor, Phoenix 80486 ROM BIOS 
PLUS Version 0.10 G17-2, BIOS Shadow ram enabled, DOS 5.0, SpeedSTAR Plus V. 
4.23 video, 200 MB disk (Type 43), 8MB memory.  "This machine is noteworthy 
especially because it is so cost effective, costing less than $3000, & it 
was InfoWorld's Hardware Product of 1991."  James M. Nachbar 
(72755.126@compuserve.com)

HD 386/20mhz, no coprocessor, AMI BIOS (1990), DOS 5.0, 52 MB Plus Impulse 
drive (9ms), with 640 + 7424 extended = 8064KB total memory.  "I got it at 
HD computer (next to FRY's in Sunnyvale).   "I purchased a mouse pen for $40 
instead of a digitizer. Besides saving major bucks, there are a lot of 
advantages using the mouse pen.  Handwriting is not that bad after a while 
of practice and you don't have to move your hand in direct proportion to the 
screen."  Clayton Weimer (71005.2363@compuserve.com)

Orchid 486/33 Superboard motherboard, Orchid Fahrenheit 1280d graphics board 
and second monochrome monitor, "cheap IDE controller with parallel port, two 
serial, and a game port on the same card" with Maxtor 210 MB IDE drive, 16 
MB memory.  David Schachter (david@llustig.palo-alto.ca.us)

Solidisk-supplied 486-33   64k cache, AMI BIOS 5/5/91, no-name IDE 
controller and Seagate 80MB drive, Orchid Pro-II vga, with Logitech mouseman.  
(Solidisk are UK-based).  Iain Cooke (100010.3021@compuserve.com)

U.S. Micro Express JET 25  386/25 MHz 16MHz Intel 30387 math coprocessor, 
Chips & Technologies AT chip set, Kouwei Electronic motherboard (Taiwan), AMI 
EC&T-6061-040990-K8 BIOS dated April-9-90, Orchid ProDesigner II SVGA w/ 3.1 
Orchid video BIOS and 1 MB RAM, 32K BIOS extension loaded at boot time, 
Kouwei KW-554B IDE hard & floppy disk controller.
Summagraphics MM1201 "SummaSketch" using the UniPen MM protocol.  Works but 
needs some tuning.  Two tips: "Don't bother to use the SummaSketch puck 
device.  The standard two-switch pen does work, however.  Our second tip is: 
tape the barrel switch down and leave it there.  PenPoint only senses the 
pen's proximity when that switch is pressed."
"This system ... is a real "mutt" because it contains devices which span 7 
years (1985-1992) in manufacture and are from several vendors.  I find this 
encouraging.  PenPoint 1.0 may not be nearly as sensitive to atypical 
equipment types as the DR version apparently was."  H. Lonnie Smith 
(smithh@boeing.com)


Reports to GO Customer Service
------------------------------

ADD-X   340 386 40 MHz
AIC PC-Clone    386 25 MHz
AMD Unknown 386 40 MHz
AMI Unknown 386 33 MHz
AST Research    Premier 386 SX16    386SX   16 MHz
Compaq  386/20e 386 20 MHz
Compaq  386/33  386 33 MHz
Compaq  DeskPro 386 25 MHz
Compaq  DeskPro 386 33 MHz
Compaq  DeskPro 486 25 MHz
Compudyne   486 486 33 MHz
Data Pro    15A-486S    486 33 MHz
DEC 325C    386 25 MHz
Dell    333D    386 33 MHz
Free Technology Intel   486 33 MHz
Fujikama (clone)    Intel ETEQ 486 board    486 33 MHz
Gateway 2000    486 33 MHz
Gateway 386/33C 386 33 MHz
Greenleaf   Unknown 386 25 MHz
IBM LapTop  386 20 MHz
IBM PS/2 70 (8573)  386 20 MHz
IBM PS/2 90 486 25 MHz
IBM PS/2 95 486 33 MHz
Intel (S-486US motherboard) 80486   486 33 MHz
Intel/Orchid    Superboard 486  486DX   33 MHz
KIS 486 486 33 MHz
Magnavox    Max Station 386SX   16 MHz
Mega    386 386 33 MHz
NCR 3300    486 20 MHz
NCR PC386SX 386 20 MHz
Northgate   486/33  486 33 MHz
Northgate   Elegance 333    386 33 MHz
Northgate   Slimline SP433  486 33 MHz
Positive    386/33  386 33 MHz
Pyramid 303+ Waveline (Mylex MXA 386 Motherboard)   386 33 MHz
Solidisk    486 486 33 MHz
TC Systems  386-40  386 40 MHz
Technology Power    486 486 33 MHz
Toshiba T5200   386 20 MHz
Toshiba T5200   386 25 MHz
Victor  V386M   386 33  MHz


Passed superficial testing with early version of the PC Compatibility disk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The PC Compatibility disk is a stripped version of PenPoint containing the
PenPoint PC Compatibility Test Program.  If the test succeeds on a machine
it is fairly likely that PenPoint will run on that PC.

The (d) indicates that the drive needed to be labelled (hence would 
probably have worked had it been labelled).

BCC Avanti 025              PASSED      Needs 2 more meg than std config
Infiniti 386 sl NP 925      PASSED(d)   Needs 2      "   "
Tempo "Carrier" Notebook    PASSED      Needs 2      "   "
Commax 386 "Ultra-thin"     PASSED      Needs 2      "   "
Epson NB-SL/20              PASSED(d)   Needs 2      "   "
Etoile LT6000 (486dx?)      PASSED(d)   Slow floppy (?)
Samsung Notemaster 386 s/25 ? PASSED(d) Screen glitches during boot?


DOESN'T WORK
============

AST machine ???
Unconfirmed report that PenPoint affects its CMOS Setup.

NEC Ultralite SL20P
"The SDK 1.0a that we ship will not run on a NEC Ultralite SL 20P.
You may have seen a few of these machines within GO running the SDK, however
those SDKs have been specially modified. The SDK cannot be configured by the
user to run on this computer."

Tandy MCA machine ???  Had problems reading from floppy during installation.
May have been a bad SDK disk.

Failed superficial testing with early version of the PC Compatibility disk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

With additional configuration work, many of these might have successfully
run PenPoint.

IBM laptop 386sx/20         ?       Hangs...?  (but note success above)
Toshiba 3100/20             ?       Won't boot off floppy (?)
Epson NB3s                  ?       Drive not ready error (?)
Toshiba 4000 sx (486sx)             Broken Pen 1 (Drive Not Found)
Tempo-LX                    Broken Pen 8 (Wrong Signature)
Panasonic 370               Broken Pen 8
NBCC 386 SX                 Broken Pen 8
MITAC 3025 D                Broken Pen 8
IBM N51 sx                  Broken Pen 16 (PPReadError)
T2000sx/40                  Broken Pen 29 (??)
Toshiba 3100 sx             Broken Pen 26 (Unknown Drive)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.pen