From: sal8@po.cwru.edu (Steve Luzynski)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc,comp.os.os2
Subject: Re: Some OS/2 Related Questions...
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 22:08:35 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University
NNTP-Posting-Host: b61442.student.cwru.edu

In article <Bx88Js.5zz@ccu.umanitoba.ca> umnoor@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Nasir Ahmed Noor) writes:
>From: umnoor@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Nasir Ahmed Noor)
>Subject:  Some OS/2 Related Questions...
>Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 04:59:51 GMT
>
>I finally moved to OS/2. I have been waiting for this since I saw IBM's
>demo with a good friend, John. I have succesfully installed OS/2 and now
>I am very anxious to find answers to a few questions...
>
>1. I have 386DX/40 with 8Meg RAM. Is it enough horse power, or does it need
>   more?

Plenty for now. If you are seriously using a lot of DOS apps at one time 
then you may want to consider more memory later on. I've been happily 
running with that configuration for months now.

>2. I used automigration of autoexec and config.sys. Now someone tells me I
>   shouldn't have done it. How do I fix it and, if left un-"fixed", what are
>   the 'consequences'?

The only things you have to worry about are any device drivers you had in 
config.sys. Most of these will cause problems. Edit them out (if you're 
_sure_ that OS/2 didn't add them in). Of course, since you are able to boot 
with no problem, don't worry about it.

>3. My HD size is 105MB and I dont have windows installed. I have noticed that
>   when I boot up the system (I dont have any partition done on my HD and there
>   are only two DOS apps on my desktop besides standard OS/2 icons), the HD
>   really really works HARD for a few minutes. It worries me. Is it a noraml
>   thing at OS/2 startup time or something is wrong here?

Do you mean you have two apps autostarting at boot up? If so, then, yep, 
that's normal. It takes most people I've talked to around a minute or so to 
boot with _no_ autostarting programs. DOS apps also cause a lot of HD 
swapping - that's why I'd say if you do that a lot then buy more memory.

>4. Since I have 8Meg RAM, I have video and system shadow RAM enabeled and have
>   allowed the video BIOS the use of cache memory too [motherboard guide
>   says it will boost performance of computer]. Is it ok?, if not, why?

Turn off shadow ram. It's just wasting memory OS/2 could put to better use. 
As for the video cache thing, try turning it off and see if you notice any 
difference. If you don't then turn it off. Otherwise leave it alone. (I'm a 
strong proponent of the argument 'if it works leave it the hell alone.')

>5. Lastly and most importantly, how do I check the free RAM or amount of RAM
>   used by all programs?

It really doesn't matter so much...This seems to be a common hangup amongst 
DOS migratees (along with disk fragmentation). If you _really_ want to know, 
then check out ftp-os2.nmsu.edu for programs that can monitor swap size, etc.

>6. For people with comparable setup (no windows apps), what is the optimal
>   number of apps open at one time? (I use Paradox and Telix most of the time)
>
>I know that many (or all) of these questions will sound very basic for most of
>you but I would really appreciate any help I get.
>
Don't worry about asking 'basic' questions as long as you have read the FAQ 
first. Asking FAQs makes us cranky. :)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Luzynski @ Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH
sal8@po.cwru.edu             | voice calls cheerlessly accepted at x2153.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
wanna experience my current state of mind? get 'pretty hate machine' out and
put track 5 on continuous loop play. turn up to the threshold of pain and
leave it on for several hours.
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time for another beer run. this time i mean it.
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc