From: sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu (Timothy F. Sipples)
Subject: Re: Installation Advice...
Reply-To: sip1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: Dept. of Econ., Univ. of Chicago
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 04:53:38 GMT

In article <93009.172921WDH2@psuvm.psu.edu> <WDH2@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>Gulp, Well after reading this news group, talking to an IBM rep, firsthand
>experience with OS2 in demonstrations and firsthand experience with IBM
>service with our RS6K I'm going to take the plunge and use OS2.

Welcome aboard -- glad to have you here.

>I have had the upgrade release since last summer but critial projects, and
>fears of incompatiability have allowed me to postpone this and use windows
>until now.  I am really feeling the resource pinch with windoze lateley and
>much of my work uses DOS/Win3.1 products so an SCO UNIX or AIX for the PC
>was ruled out.  I am intrigued by Deskview/X but after reading that news
>group there doesn't seem to be that much of a base for me to be comfortable
>asking questions.  Besides, I have yet to read a Sipps-like person on any
>other group...

Doesn't alt.sex (or whatever it is) count?  :-)

>I'll cut to the chase, I have a Gateway 2000 25Mhz 486 DX,Pirahna 200MB
>hard drive, 8MB Ram, and the OEM installed Diamond Speedstar Plus video.
>I have read the TNT, FAQ and gone over some of the redbooks.  Basically
>I am a bit boggled by the amount of info and I have a few questions about
>pre-reqs and hints before I spend the week playing with my PC.
>(1) DUAL BOOT
>Those of you who have a native DOS partition, How much do you use it (native)
>as opposed to OS2/DOS (windowed or full screen?)?  I mean how much time do
>you spend in native dos as oppsed in the OS2/DOS sessions?  This may allow me
>to better gauge how much space to partition to DOS, or if I should bother.
>Secondly HOW do you use the NATIVE DOS:as a way to install programs, run DOS
>programs that would not / cannot run in OS2/DOS, or as a fallback?

I really can't answer that question for myself.  At the office, one
system has a DOS partition.  We did use it once -- I think because the
machine had a defective printer port (wouldn't generate interrupts),
and we had to print something from that machine on one day.  I suppose
that could have been done from a floppy boot, come to think of it.

>(2) DRIVERS, video, printer...
>What video driver should I get for the system mentioned above? How do I apply
>the driver and when?
>I also have a HPDeskJet 500.What driver should I get from hobbes?

You should apply the Service Pak to the base OS/2 release -- that
includes the Tseng 4000 drivers you need.  Or just run the OS/2 2.1
beta.  (It's the first beta I've put into "production" on my own
system -- I like it that much.)

The DeskJet driver is included in the beta, or you can get the one
from software.watson.ibm.com.  Just hunt for the correct filename in
/pub/os2/os2fixes -- I believe it is hpdjpm.zip.

>(3) CSD
>I have downloaded the CSD from watson.  what do these CSDs have?  How do you
>apply these to the system and when?

See above, or see the FAQ List for a general description of CSDs.
This particular CSD also includes the 32-bit graphics engine.

>(4) HARDWARE
>Any comments on the aforementioned system?
>What about tape drives? That isthe next peice of hardware I'm PLANNING on
>purchasing.  I have read, though not fully comprehended the thread on the
>Colorado/Sytos system.  Is this a system worth considering?

Your system looks fine.

As far as tape drives, it all depends on what sort of speed you want.
The Colorado product is a fairly nice low end option.  Or you can
spend as much as you want.  What do you gain with more money?  SCSI
compatibility, speed, reliability, standardized formats, and higher
capacity.  Choose based on these parameters, then factor in OS/2
compatibility (speak with the vendors I list in the FAQ List), then go
from there.

I see you requested netmail responses.  I'm posting because you did
ask some good questions of general interest.

-- 
Timothy F. Sipples      | Read the OS/2 FAQ List 2.0i, available from
sip1@ellis.uchicago.edu | 128.123.35.151, anonymous ftp, in /pub/os2/all/info
Dept. of Econ., Univ.   | /faq, or from LISTSERV@BLEKUL11.BITNET (send "HELP")
of Chicago, 60637       | [Read the List, THEN post to ONE OS/2 newsgroup.]