Windows: Ensemble 2.0 and Windows 95
Many of our customers are running Ensemble 2.0 from Windows 95.
The most common problem is a KR-29 "No valid font files in Userdata\Font"
message. This happens because Windows 95 provides a new version of DOS, MS
DOS 7, and GEOS cannot find an appropriate file system driver for this new
version of DOS. Fortunately, Microsoft also provides SETVER to fix this
problem.
Ensemble may be installed from Windows 95, just launch an MS-DOS window and
install normally. If GEOS cannot find your mouse driver, try the one named
for your mouse and try the "No Idea" choice near the top of the list. If you
still can't find an appropriate mouse driver, choose "None" or "Arrow Key
Mouse" and you can install the mouse driver later in Preferences.
If you're installing on a Pentium or other fast computer and experience a
KR-01 error, see the article about that in this database.
ADD LOADER TO THE VERSION TABLE
Before running Ensemble from Windows 95, you need to add LOADER to the
version table. In your MS-DOS window, enter the following two commands:
CD \WINDOWS
SETVER C:\WINDOWS LOADER.EXE 6.3
(or you can use LOADER.EXE 5.0 or LOADER.EXE 6.0, any version prior to 7.0
should work). If your Windows 95 is installed on a different drive or in a
different directory, modify the commands as appropriate for your drive and
path name, of course. Do not include any path for LOADER, however.
Now shut down and restart your computer to make the changes to the version
table take effect.
CONFIGURE WINDOWS 95 TO RUN ENSEMBLE
Back in Windows 95, click the right mouse button and choose Explore. In
Explorer, locate the \GEOS20 directory and click the right mouse button on
the GEOS20.PIF file. The file will appear as an MS-DOS icon. Choose
Properties and make sure that the file is a "Shortcut to MS-DOS Program" and
the file name is GEOS20.PIF.
In Properties, click the Program tab and check that the path and working
directory are correct. If you make any changes, click Apply. Click the
Advanced button. Look at the settings for the two items below.
[ ] Prevent MS-DOS based programs from detecting Windows.
[ ] Suggest MS-DOS mode as necessary.
Some folks recommend toggling them both ON. Your mileage may vary. When
you're running Ensemble, if you find that Windows interrupts you to recommend
DOS mode, answer NO. Then return to this setting and try changing "Suggest
MS-DOS mode as necessary" to OFF.
Click the Memory tab. All the items should be set to Auto. At least one user
recommends that Conventional Memory/Protected be toggled OFF and Extended
(XMS) Memory/Uses HMA be toggled ON.
Click the Screen tab. Set Usage to Full-screen, initial size: Default. Leave
the Window and Performance buttons toggled ON. Click Apply, then click OK.
Now you can double click on the GEOS20.PIF file to run Ensemble 2.0.
MAKE AN ICON OR LAUNCHER FOR ENSEMBLE
Here are three different ways to create an icon or button for Ensemble on
your Windows 95 desktop.
1. Click the right mouse button on the GEOS20.PIF file and choose Create
Shortcut. Drag the "Shortcut to GEOS20" to your desktop.
2. Using the left mouse button, drag the GEOS20.PIF file to the Start button.
3. Add GEOS20.PIF to your Start/Programs menu.
IF YOUR MOUSE IS NOT WORKING
If your mouse is not working in Ensemble, use keyboard navigation to run
Preferences. Choose the Mouse module and select the Change button. Try the
"No Idea" driver. If that doesn't work, try the "Generic" mouse driver or the
driver named for your mouse.
If you're loading a MOUSE.COM or MOUSE.SYS driver in your DOS startup files,
you may need to stop doing so and use Windows 95's built in mouse support.
PRINTING
If you are having trouble printing from Ensemble when running from Windows
95, there are two different places you may need to change your configuration.
One is in Windows 95 itself, and the other is in Ensemble's Preferences. The
necessary settings vary from one computer to another.
Run Preferences in Ensemble. Click on the Computer button. Your printer is
most likely on LPT 1. There are four choices for the LPT port: DOS, BIOS, 5,
and 7. Most customers have success using the 7 setting. If that doesn't work,
try the BIOS setting or try the DOS setting.
In Windows 95, choose Printers in the Control Panel. Click the right mouse
button on your default printer and choose Properties. In Properties, click on
the Details tab. Click Port Settings and Spool MS-DOS print jobs. Click Spool
Settings. You'll see the following choices. If printing isn't working with
one choice, try the other one.
[ ] Start printing after the last page is spooled
[ ] Start printing after the first page is spooled
Article#0090
Updated 09/27/95
Transmitted: 95-09-30 00:59:41 EDT (tt0090)