NewAge on Windows
How to set up NewAge to run on Win 9X/ME, Win 2000, Win XP Windows 9X/ME
Trying to run NewAge on a Windows 95/98/ME computer without the proper setup will produce the error "2 No setup file NewAge.PRG on disk, Please copy setup file" The reason for this is that the BTRIEVE record manager needs to run in an upper memory (above 640KB) block and Ms Windows is using that block for disk caching.
To overcome this we run the older DOS disk caching program, SMARTDRV.EXE before trying to open a DOS window. To setup NewAge proceed like this:
- Edit the C:\Autoexec.bat file to include the line "SMARTDRV.EXE /X 128 128". The extra parameters are purely to minimize the environment resources used by SMARTDRV.EXE. To edit the Autoexec.bat, go to <Start> <Programs> <MsDos Prompt>. Type "edit c:\autoexec.bat" and press <Enter>. Now ensure that "SMARTDRV.EXE /X 128 128" (without the quotes of course) appears on a line on it's own. Press the <Alt> key on your keyboard which drops down the menu to save the file and exit the editor. Type "exit" and <Enter> to close the Dos prompt.
- You will have to restart the computer for this change to take effect. (This is the wonderful world of Microsoft remember?)
- To create an Icon to run NewAge, right click anywhere on your desktop (not on top of another Icon) and select <New> <Shortcut>.
- In the block for the location of the item enter "C:\NewAgeV4\Newage.exe" and press <Enter>. Leave the name as is or change it to anything that makes sense to you. Press <Enter> again and choose an appropriate Icon. Click <Finish>.
- To refine it a little you can right click on your new Icon and select <Properties>. In the "Program" tab ensure that you have ticked the "Close on exit" block and in the "Screen" tab tick the "Full screen" block.
NOTE that we are assuming here that NewAge was installed on your computer using the default folder name (NewAgeV4). Clearly if NewAge is installed into a different folder, or indeed on another computer on your network, the location of your item in item 4 above needs to change accordingly.
Windows XP/2000
The same error "2 No setup file NewAge.PRG on disk, Please copy setup file" will occur if you try and run NewAge on WinXp/2000 the normal way for the same reasons. The difference from Win 9X/ME is that a MsDos window on the NT based operating systems creates a new environment every time. Trying to load SMARTDRV.EXE at boot up time is therefore of no use. SMARTDRV.EXE is also not included on these new systems, so you will have to find a copy from an older machine and paste it into your C:\Windows (C:\WINNT on Windows 2000) folder. Here's what you need to do:
- Go to a command prompt. (<Start> <Run>. Enter the letters "cmd" in the white block and press <Enter>.
- Type "cd \windows\system32" and <Enter>>. (On Windows 2000 it is "cd \winnt\system32")
- Now type "copy autoexec.nt *.na" and <Enter>. Also type "copy config.nt *.na" and <Enter>.
- Type "edit autoexec.na" and <Enter>. You can now delete everything in this file and simply enter a new line that reads: "SMARTDRV.EXE /X 128 128".
- Press <Alt> and save the file and exit the program. Type "Exit" and <Enter> at the command prompt to exit the Dos screen.
- Now type "edit config.na" and <Enter>. Enter
the lines "DOS=HIGH,UMB" and
"device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys" and "files = 40".
- Press <Alt> and save the file and exit the program. Type "Exit" and <Enter> at the command prompt to exit the Dos screen.
- Create a new shortcut on your desktop exactly the same as was explained in the Windows 9X/ME section above.
- Right click on your new icon and select the <Properties>. Select the "Program" tab and click on the <Advanced> button. Edit the "Autoexec filename" to read "%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NA". In other words change the very last "T" to an "A".
- Edit the "Config filename" to read "%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\CONFIG.NA"
- Remember to ensure that you have ticked the "Close on exit" block in the "Program" tab and tick the "Full screen" block in the "Screen" tab.
That's all for the moment folks, but we are busy compiling loads more handy help articles so look back here soon for more NewAge and other computer related assistance.