WINSET.EXE (ms-WINdows and DOS SETup file lister)

version 1.0 (c) copy right 1992 All Rights Reserved
no edition date.

Have you been using many MicroSoft Windows softwares or worst,
updating old Windows softwares for new Windows softwares? (or
any DOS software which writes many files to your hard disk?)

If you have, then you're probably inundated with hundreds of
files which the installation or setup utility wrote to your
hard disk, not telling you which files were newly made
(copied) by which software.

This program runs under DOS, not under MS-WINDOWS.

Actually, the hot key may not work, but, as long as
WINSET.EXE is ON, this will give you the list of files
accessed by MS-WINDOWS, since Windows has no disk access
feature and relies on DOS for it.

The listing feature was tested under 386/486 enhanced
mode under MS-Windows version 3.1.

If necessary, the info on "Using Memory Resident
Programs" with MS-Windows version 3.1, is on page 254 in
the MicroSoft Windows User's Guide book.

This program will make a file indicating which files were
newly made (copying a file requires that a file be made),
opened or deleted by your WINdows or DOS SETup (installation)
diskettes. It also tells you which subdirectory was made,
removed or deleted. The Change Confinement parameter can
restrict the listing to only newly made files.

This can also be used to see what files your DOS and Windows
software makes and deletes without your knowing it.

The default setting turns OFF making the list until you turn
it ON, or type altM followed by "N" to turn it oN.

The set up of this document is as follows:

IN-LINE COMMAND PARAMETERS
HELP
RUNNING WITH DEFAULTS ONLY
TURNING ON/OFF WINSET.EXE
FILE LOCATION
CHANGING CONFINEMENTS
A NEW HOT KEY
FAILED ATTEMPT LISTING
COLUMN LINE ALIGNMENT
STATUS REPORT
THIS DOES NOT WORK ON
HOW WINSET.EXE WORKS
COPYING A FILE
DOES WINSET.EXE RUN UNDER MS-WINDOWS 386 ENHANCED MODE?
CHAT IN A HAT
PROMPTS AND MESSAGES
DISK ERRORS BEFORE RUNNING YOUR SOFTWARE
DISK ERRORS WHILE RUNNING YOUR SOFTWARE
CRITICAL ERROR HANDLER
CRITICAL ERRORS WHILE ACTUALLY WRITING YOUR DISKETTE
DISCLAIMERS, INFO FOR SYSOPS ETC

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IN-LINE COMMAND PARAMETERS
WINSET parameters explanations
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HELP

If you simply type

WINSET

then you get the help page built into this program for quick
reference so that you can avoid reading documents such as
this. Typing incorrect parameters also gives you similar
helps, but are explained in this document as well.

It's not essential that you read this document file, because
when you type parameters with incorrect or missing values,
they usually give detailed context sensitive help messages
which will substitute for this, but skimming through this
first will help you.

The "" is our way of saying , ^M, ^13, ,
carriage return, etc which all mean the same thing.
We also use for backspace, for the escape key,
and "any key" to mean any function key, cursor key, letters,
etc etc. There is no one key with the word "any", but if we
say "space bar" or "space key", we mean the big long key.

There is no , control code or extended ascii in this
file, should you print this to paper. There is no form feed
here, so if you use single sheets, you must add them yourself.
If you use a daisy wheel printer without the less than sign
"<" or the greater than sign ">", change them to the left
parenthesis "(" and right parenthesis ")" respectively.

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RUNNING WITH DEFAULTS ONLY

To run this with defaults, simply type

WINSET RUN

Just the letter "R" in "RUN" will work also. There is no
difference between the capital letters and small letters,
unless it is specifically stated otherwise.

Any other command or text after the Run parameter is
ignored. The Run parameter is used when you run
WINSET.EXE without setting any other parameter or for
commenting purpose:

WINSET R anything else here becomes comments

The defaults used are as follows:

1) This program will become memory resident in the OFF state.
This way, this can become memory resident long before it's
needed and then turned ON with the ON parameter or altM and
the letter "N" as in oN.

2) Unless you specify the drive name and subdirectory where
WINSET.EXE can write its list file containing the list of
files which your software makes, the default drive and
subdirectory where you were is used to write the list file
when the ON parameter or altM and "N" is used.

3) The listing is not confined to only opening existing file
or making new files. The C2 parameter can Change the
Confinement so that only newly made files will be listed.

4) The default hot key is the altM key combination: Press down
on the alt key and while keeping it pressed down, also
press down on the "M" key (there is no need to press down
on the Shift or Caps Lock to make it capital "M".).

5) All FAILED attempt to open files will also be listed in the
file, as well as those which were allowed.

6) The listing is not aligned in any column order.

If your editor or word processor lets you see the at
the end of each line here as a music sign, ignore them.
Sometimes, the music signs are aligned for our benefit
while this document is edited, but it is not significant.

Often some details are reworded in a later section to help
you grasp the meaning better. So rapidly scan through the
document first, before concentrating on a section which
interests you.

NOTE:

This program does not turn ON when you Run it by default
because you will want to turn this ON just before you run your
setup (installation) software and turn this OFF just as soon
as you run your software by running a batch file like this:
(assuming that your software is called "SETUP.EXE" and the
following is the content of your batch file)

WINSET ON
SETUP.EXE
WINSET OFF

You can also type altM and "N" to turn the program oN, run
your SETUP.EXE and then altM and "F" to turn the listing file
oFf.

When using Windows, just replace the "SETUP.EXE" above with
"WIN.COM".

If there is already a first copy of WINSET.EXE in memory and
you ran a second copy with only the Run parameter, then the
second copy will abort, telling you that there is already a
first copy of itself in memory.

The second copy will, however, check to see if the first
copy is the same version and other house keeping chores.

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TURNING ON/OFF WINSET.EXE

The default Run parameter does not turn ON making the listing
file. To turn it ON, at the DOS prompt (A>, B>, C> etc)
you must type

WINSET ON

instead of

WINSET RUN

or type both as in

WINSET RUN
WINSET ON

or after you RUN it, type the altM key combination and type
the letter "N" to turn this ON. AltM and "F" will turn it
back oFf. AltM followed by anything else will only beep,
waiting for you to type either "N" or "F".

The ON option is allowed when first making this program memory
resident so that instead of the default Run option, you can
use the above ON option to make this memory resident.

To turn this OFF, you must type either

WINSET OFF

or type the altM key combination and type the letter "F" to
turn this oFf.

You can type only one "F" as in

WINSET OF

If you type

WINSET OFX

then the "X" is accepted as the next parameter, but since
there is no such parameter, this is an error: The parameters
up to and including the "X" will be displayed and a message
telling you that this is an unknown parameter.

If you type both as in

WINSET ON OFF
WINSET OFF ON
WINSET OFF ON OFF

the OFF state is chosen for safety's sake.

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FILE LOCATION

By default, if you run this program without specifying where
you want its listing file to be made, the current drive and
subdirectory where this program was run from is recorded and
is the location which is written.

Suppose that you're in drive C:, subdirectory LEAF and you
used the default

WINSET R

then this is the same as if you typed


WINSET FC:\LEAF\WINSET.

There must be no space or tab between the File parameter
and the drive letter "C".

You can type the easier to type semicolon ";" instead of
the required colon ":" and the reliable regular slash "/"
instead of the wandering back slash "\". The period "."
after the file name as in "WINSET." is used to
indicate that the listing file has no file name extension
such as .TXT, .DOC etc.

If you use more than one type of keyboard, then
you've noticed that the back slash "\" has been
moving around from the 83/84 key keyboard to the
101/102 and other variations, but the regular slash
"/" has remained in the same location.

If you want the listing file to be called "DOSSET.LST" and
want it in drive D: root directory, then type

WINSET FD:\DOSSET.LST

To have the listing file as the default WINSET (no file name
extension such as .TXT or .DOC) in drive D: root directory,

WINSET FD:\

The presence of the back slash (or a regular slash) not
followed by letters will make WINSET.EXE fill it with the
default WINSET file name.

WINSET FC:\ABC RUN

This is the same as

WINSET FC:\ABC

and will write the listing file "ABC" to drive C: root
directory. The "RUN" parameter is not necessary because
you're not using the default values.

WINSET RUN FC:\ABC

this is as if you never typed the "FC:\ABC" because everything
after the RUN parameter becomes a comment.

For the sake of performance, it is best to use a RAM (virtual)
disk as the location to write the listing file.

If there is already a first copy of WINSET.EXE, then the
second copy which you ran will send the new File parameter to
the first copy in memory.

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CHANGING CONFINEMENTS

Normally, the listing file contains the changing of drives
(A:, B:, C: etc), changes to subdirectories, making new files,
opening existing files and deleting files. In effect,

WINSET C0

If you Change the Confinement to C1 as in

WINSET C1

then the subdirectory listings will not be placed in the
listing file. The changing drives and deleting files will
still continue. (if you type "DEL filename..." at the
DOS level, that is not included because that is not
intercepted.

If you Change it to C2 as in

WINSET C2

then the subdirectory listing will not be placed in the
listing file and the opening of existing files will also not
be placed in the listing also. The changing drives and
deleting individual files will still continue.

The C2 option will in effect list only the files which are
copied, not bothering to list anything else.

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A NEW HOT KEY

The hot key will not work while running MS-Windows.

The idea of using the letter "M" for a controlling hot key
sounds nuts if you haven't used any of the other programs in
the series, but normally, a hot key is associated with a pop
up Menu, hence the letter. If you need a way to remember the
significance of the letter M, may be Memory resident program's
oN/oFf control key?

If you don't want to use the altM key combination followed by
"N" to turn oN making the list file and "F" to turn it oFf,
there are many combinations of hot keys which you can use.

The letters "N" to turn it oN and "F" to turn it oFf
cannot be changed.

The allowed key combinations are function keys, cursor keys,
ctrl/shift/alt with function keys, alt with letters or
numbers, etc. But these are probably used by your word
processor or other softwares. In that case, you can choose
the combination made of pressing down on the alt key and
while keeping it pressed, typing the numbers "1" through
"255" on the numeric keypad to the right side of the regular
keyboard. This is normally used to enter chr$(128) through
chr$(255) into word processors, but can generate chr$(1)
through chr$(255). If you like, regular letters such as "x"
or "C" can be made the hot key but since they are used by any
software, they are not recommended.

To find what command parameter you need to make any of these
combinations act as the new menu hot key, type

WINSET M

This will ask you to type any valid key combination which
can be used as a new menu hot key. If you press down on the
altM key combination at this time, then it responds with a

you need
50,000

and if you enter the command parameter

WINSET M50,000

then altM will act as the menu's pop up hot key combination
as is the default.

If you pressed down on the alt+ combination, then it tells
you that

you need
131,000

so enter this command parameter

WINSET M131,000

to make alt+ the menu's pop up hot key.

As you can see, to make altM, alt+, control-F1 and
other keys into the new menu hot key, numbers are
followed by three zeros.

If you pressed down on the alt key and while keeping it
pressed down, you type "22" on the numeric keypad on the
right side of the keyboard and them let go of the alt key,
then

WINSET M22

will make this the new hot key for the menu.

WINSET.EXE ignores the comma "," and counts the number only.
The comma is only for your sake, so

WINSET M131000

will also make alt+ the new hot key. But

WINSET M131 000

will not work since WINSET.EXE accepts the space between the
"131" and "000" as the beginning of a new command parameter.

WINSET M1310,0,0

will work since the location and the number of commas is not
significant and is ignored anyway. But

WINSET M131.000

will get WINSET.EXE confused since it accepts the period as
the terminator of "131" and tries to process it as a new
command parameter which begins with ".000" and aborts.

WINSET M 131,000

with the space between the Menu parameter and the number is
allowed because WINSET.EXE will search for a number as soon
as it encounters the Menu parameter.

WINSET R M22

will run with the default altM as the hot key because the
Run parameter considers everything after itself as comments
which are not checked.

WINSET M1 M22

will tell WINSET.EXE to use the alt numeric keypad "1" as
the hot key but then makes it use alt and "22" as the one to
really use, since the later one overrides the former one.

The internal counter can count up to approximately
4,000,000,000 but all numbers not allowed will be rejected.
If you maliciously decide to enter large numbers, modulus
four billion (2 to the power of 32 or 10 to the power of 9)
is used to calculate the number.

While the prompting parameter with

WINSET M

only displays valid key combinations which are accepted by
your computer, you can do

WINSET M255,000

which causes WINSET.EXE to run with an impossible code
which not even 101/102 key keyboards can generate.

After you ran this program with the hot key set to
M255,000 to prevent the pop up, if you run this program
again with, for example,

WINSET M131000

Then this second copy of WINSET.EXE will detect that a
first copy of itself is already in memory and will not
make itself memory resident, but it also notes that
the hot key option is used. In this case, this second
WINSET.EXE will change the hot key of the first copy
of itself in memory to this new value (M131,000 is
alt+) so that if you now type the alt+ key
combination.

The hot key will not work while you're running MS-Windows 386
enhanced mode softwares such as MS-Write and Paint.

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FAILED ATTEMPT LISTING

By default, if your software tried to open a file which did
not exist (or tried to open a subdirectory as a file), that
attempt is also in the listing file once WINSET.EXE is ON.

The word "FAILED!" is added to the listing file line
telling you that it failed.

If you don't want failed attempts listed, turn it OFF with

WINSET -F

There must be no space or tab between the minus sign "-"
and the letter "F".

Now the failed attempts are not listed, keeping down on the
clutter which may otherwise prevent you from seeing the list
of files your setup software opened for copy.

To turn it back ON, just use

WINSET +F

If you type both as in

WINSET +F-F
WINSET -F +F
WINSET +F-F+F

then the +F is used to list all failed attempts in the listing
file as well.

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COLUMN LINE ALIGNMENT

By default, the messages such as "Make a new file" and
"Open existing file" is followed by the name of the file. If
you find this hard to read or hard to manipulate with your
macro key utility, align the messages so that they become

Make a new file c:\root\micmac
Open existing file micmac

in your listing file by turning ON the Line alignment as in

WINSET +L

There must be no space or tab between the minus sign "-"
and the letter "L".

The default is -L for no Line alignment.

If you type both as in

WINSET +L-L
WINSET -L +L
WINSET +L-L+L

then the -L is used for no Line alignment to save hard disk
free space where the listing file is written.

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STATUS REPORT

If you want to know if this program is actually in memory and
if so where the listing file is, etc, just ask by typing

WINSET ?

When there is a first copy of WINSET.EXE already in memory,
this will tell you whether the first copy is

1) ON or OFF
2) where the listing file is written
3) the meaning of any error displayed

If the first copy of WINSET.EXE in memory cannot find the
subdirectory where the WINSET file is supposed to be or
if there is no more space on the drive where the listing
file is written, you'll get appropriate messages asking
you if you want to continue or abort.

Type "Y" to continue, hoping that you can write to
WINSET file, "N" to continue with your setup
software but turn OFF WINSET.EXE so that the
listing file is not written or to turn
WINSET.EXE OFF and also try to abort your setup
software as well, so that you're back to the DOS
prompt such as C>, D> etc.

This parameter will tell you the meaning of any error message
you may get while WINSET.EXE is making the listing file, but
it's also listed here later on for your reference.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
THIS DOES NOT WORK ON
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Although this is called a WINdow SETup files listing program,
it is designed to work under DOS, not in the MicroSoft
Windows, so the hot key will not work while you use MS-Write
under 386 enhanced mode, for example. But as long as
WINSET.EXE was turned ON while in DOS (before you ran Windows
by typing "WIN"), all files and subdirectories accessed
will be in the listing. You can turn WINSET.EXE OFF once you
exit Windows, back to DOS.

The name of the program was chosen because softwares which are
designed to run under Windows copy so many files everywhere
that it's easy to loose track as to which software copied
which files to your hard disk, often forcing you to keep some
unknown files because you don't know what it's for.

For example, you may have tried MicroSoft Excel for
Windows and then Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows and then decided
that you prefer 1-2-3 for Windows, but you don't know
which files you can delete because you've shuffled the
files around and they're mixed with the files used by
WordPerfect for Windows and others.

Aside from that limitation, there is no other limitation, as
long as DOS 2 or above is used.

MS-Windows 3.1 (the latest as of this writing) will not
work with anything less than DOS 3, however.

When using this program outside Windows, in DOS, then DOS
2 can be used as well.

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HOW WINSET.EXE WORKS
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

After you boot up your computer under DOS and while still in
DOS, run this program with

WINSET RUN

Now, before you run your setup diskette which will copy
hundreds of files from diskettes to your hard disk, either
type

WINSET ON

or press down on the alt key and while keeping it pressed
down, also type on the letter "M": You'll hear a short beep.
Now type "N" to turn the listing file oN or "F" to turn it
back oFf. Typing any other letter will produce a short beep
telling you to try again.

If you do not want Failed attempt at accessing your
disk(ette)s or want to align the Lines, please see above
corresponding sections.

Now run your setup (installation) diskette.

While your setup diskette is copying files, the list of files
opened and changing subdirectories are automatically placed in
the listing file WINSET.

If the setup diskette should remove the subdirectory where
WINSET is written, the drive itself becomes inoperable, the
drive where WINSET is written runs out of free space etc, then
the WINSET.EXE will interrupt you and asks you whether to
continue or abort.

If you type "Y", then an attempt will be made to write to
the WINSET listing file again.

If you type "N", then WINSET.EXE turns itself OFF so that
your setup diskette can still continue, but without
anything written to the WINSET listing file.

If you type , then WINSET.EXE turns itself OFF and
also tries to abort your setup diskette so that you'll be
left back in the DOS prompt such as C> or d>.

This may cause your computer to lock up if your
setup diskette takes over an interrupt. Normally,
setup diskettes aren't that sophisticated, but the
possibility is there.

If you should intentionally delete the WINSET listing file at
any time, this is not an erroneous condition: WINSET.EXE will
simply make a new WINSET listing file.

You can change the listing file location anytime by using the
File parameter, as well as the other parameters listed by
typing them anytime you like. The copy of WINSET.EXE which
you run will notice that there is already a first copy of
itself in memory and sets the parameters within the first copy
and exits without itself also becoming memory resident.

After you run with

WINSET ON

or after you type altM and "N" to turn oN the file listing,
try typing this while still in the DOS prompt such as A>, C>:

TYPE WINSET

DOS will tell you that no such file exists because nothing was
stored in the WINSET list file. But now that DOS tried to
OPEN such an existing file, WINSET.EXE has noted it and stored
the failed attempt so that if you "TYPE WINSET" again,

Open existing file winset FAILED!

this is what you'll get. But this time, WINSET.EXE notes that
WINSET file now exists and will also write another line to the
list file without the "FAILED!" message.

COPYING A FILE

Unfortunately, there is no DOS feature called "COPY", but
copying a file involves opening an existing file and then
making a new file with that name in another location.

Hence, the lists which begin with "Make a new file ..." are
actually the lists of new files copied in your case.

Using the Change Confinement parameter C2 will make a
listing file containing only newly made files and ignore
opening existing files or subdirectory.

So, if you're in drive E: and you copy the file ABC from drive
D:, subdirectory LEAF by typing "COPY D:\LEAF\ABC", then
the WINSET list file has the following (using default C0
parameter setting, not the C2 parameter setting)

Open existing file D:\LEAF\ABC
Change to subdirectory D:\LEAF\ABC FAILED!
Change to subdirectory D:\LEAF
Change to subdirectory D:\LEAF
Open existing file D:\LEAF\ABC
Make a new file E:ABC

The FAILED! attempt line can be suppressed by using the
"-F" optional parameter.

DOS first tries to open D:\LEAF\ABC to make sure that it
exists. If this succeeds, DOS knows that ABC exists, but it
doesn't know if ABC is a file name or a subdirectory name.

DOS is assuming that ABC may be a subdirectory and that you're
trying to copy everything inside it to the current default E:
drive. Failing that, it tries to see if D:\LEAF subdirectory
exists. The first time it succeeds, so it does change to
D:\LEAF the second time.

Now the D:\LEAF\ABC file is opened and a new file, E:ABC is
made and copied to it.

The actual listing file made in your case may be very
different from this sample because different DOS versions
behave somewhat different from each other. WINSET.EXE is
simply laying bare what it normally hides from the user.

If drive E: had the ABC file, the "Make a new file ..." will
still be used. This may seem strange, but it is required:

Lets say the D:\LEAF\ABC had the words "byebye Tom" and
lets say that the E:ABC had the words "hello Al ", then.xyz

DOES WINSET.EXE RUN UNDER MS-WINDOWS 386 ENHANCED MODE?

Now type "DEL WINSET" and the list file is gone. While
WINSET.EXE is ON, try going to C:\WINDOWS (or wherever you
store your MS-Windows) and run WIN in 386 enhanced mode (if you
have 386/486 and at least 2MB of memory)

The hot key will not work, but the file listing feature does.
This is because MS-Windows depends on DOS for file access and
WINSET.EXE works under DOS.

You can tell that the hot key is not working because the
pitch of the short beep made by the hot key is higher
than the pitch of the short beep made by MS-Windows
softwares such as MS-Write.

This is the kind of listing file WINSET.EXE will make when C0
default parameter is used.

Use drive C
Change to subdirectory windows
Open existing file EMMXXXX0 FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\win386.exe FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\win386.exe
Open existing file QEMM386$ FAILED!
Open existing file 386MAX$$ FAILED!
Open existing file SMARTAAR FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\win386.exe
Open existing file $DebugDD FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\lvmd.386 FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\lvmd.386
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\vtdapi.386 FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\vtdapi.386
Open existing file SMARTAAR FAILED!
Open existing file SMARTAAR FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\SPART.PAR FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\SPART.PAR FAILED!
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\SPART.PAR FAILED!
Open existing file C:\SPART.PAR FAILED!
Open existing file C:\DOS\SPART.PAR FAILED!
Open existing file D:SPART.PAR FAILED!
Make a new file D:\WIN386.SWP
etc

The attempt to open "win386.exe" in "C:\WINDOWS" failed, but
the attempt to open it in "C:\WINDOWS\system" succeeds. If
you used the "-F" to avoid listing Failed attempts, the file
would look like

Use drive C
Change to subdirectory windows
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\win386.exe
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\win386.exe
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\lvmd.386
Open existing file C:\WINDOWS\system\vtdapi.386
Make a new file D:\WIN386.SWP
etc

If you used the C2 parameter, then the above will look like

Use drive C
Make a new file D:\WIN386.SWP
etc

In this case, the WINSET list file has only the newly made
files, the changing of the default drive and the deletion of
individual files.

Typing "DEL *.X" at the DOS level will not cause the
files to be listed in the WINSET list file because
WINSET.EXE does not intercept it. Only deletion of
individual files by softwares will be intercepted.

As long as your hard disk has enough space, you can use this
to list all files accessed by your Windows softwares.

Using the C0 default, you can use this program as a debugging
tool to find out what Windows is doing with your software.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
CHAT in a HAT
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Let me sound racist for a while: Blacks. When someone says
"Asian" or "European", noone expects all Asians to speak the
same language, or one European to understand the customs and
manners of every other Europeans, but when someone say, with
no racism, says "Black, African-American etc" everyone under
this category is classified as if they all came from uniform
backgrounds in one country. There are blacks who hate other
blacks, just as the English battled the French. Before you,
or others can control crime, poverty, neglect and other such
social ills, you need data bases on the subject in question.
Think about it, the next time you see a black hand (yours?).
.
In the 1910's, the U.S. sent 67 or so of its elites to J to.
learn J. They came back almost ten years later with just a.
group of 20, who could just barely read and write. They've.
deduced, that the J language is as complex as five European.
languages. Funny thing about the human mind is that when a.
child grows up in an enriched environment, the child adapts.
and becomes smart. Americans will, of course, argue that a.
complex language is different from an enriched environment..
Before you can control your destiny, you need data bases....

I read about a person (lets just say "he" to protect the
innocent American family where "he" stayed). He found a
life where he was so isolated by the lack of his ability
to understand English that he acted nuts. At first, the
Americans around him thought that he was funny, and then
as time passed, that he was crazy. Some of these "he" I
talk about fell in the grip of the mob, others got fired
from their jobs etc. Knowledgelessness is such a waste:

Strange thing about the American magazine ________ Week. It
keeps saying that the German Autobahn has no speed limit. I
haven't seen anyone speeding there due to the delayed action
fine for speeding that they have. It's report of the east &
west uniting was gargantuan, but a bit away from the border,
the celebration was so-so. I don't claim to be even a cheap
reporter, but being there, I wonder if it was not stretching
and suppressing a few facts? While one science magazine has
given credit to J, for taking low-temperature diamond growth
in the lab into a fast commercial scale process, that US mag
said that J copied it, though it didn't mention that the now
defunct US cold fusion had its origin in Russia and Germany.
Noone invents reality from thin air: It builds on the last.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
PROMPTS AND MESSAGES
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


=-=-=
Unknown parameter on the command line
=-=-=

Something not recognized was found on the line when you ran
the program. If you ran this program from a batch file,
error messages are followed by errorlevel = 1 so that you
can have your batch file take appropriate actions.

The list of parameters will be listed up to the erroneous
parameter so that you know which one was incorrect.

=-=-=
You don't have to do it, WINSET.EXE is already in memory
=-=-=

You tried to run this program when a copy of this was
already in memory.

You did not use any optional parameter such as the File
parameter or the M hot key parameter. If you did, then this
copy of WINSET.EXE which you ran will notice that there is
already a first copy of itself in memory and sets the first
copy to the File or the M hot key which you used here.

=-=-=
DOS 2 or above needed.
=-=-=

You tried to use DOS 1.0 or DOS 1.1 to run this program.
This message should not appear, since DOS 2.0 and above has
been used for almost ten years by the time you're reading this
document.

=-=-=
The first copy of WINSET.EXE in memory is not the same as
this second copy which you are running now. Aborting.
=-=-=

You tried to change the settings of the first copy of
WINSET.EXE in memory using the second copy running now, but
the two were not the same version. The second copy will abort
without doing anything to prevent corrupting the first copy in
memory.

Please delete the older one and use only the newer version.



Note that the following messages are very explanatory and
often require no explanation, but brief explanations are
included since these documents often look like a dozen people
in a dozen cities wrote separate sections.

They are listed here so that you don't have to try to
recreate all the error conditions in order to see what types
of errors are generated by this program.

These error messages are meant to be context sensitive help
messages so that you can avoid referring back to this
document everytime you forgot to do something.

=-=-=
No hot key value given. Use
WINSET M
if you need help on finding a new hot key.
=-=-=

You typed incorrect menu hot key value

WINSET M0

If you only typed

WINSET M

then WINSET.EXE will simply prompt you to type any key.

When you type any valid key or key combination, then it
will tell you what value will be required to use this
key or key combination within the program.

=-=-=
This is not a valid value. For help, please use
WINSET M
=-=-=

You typed incorrect menu hot key value such as

WINSET M260
WINSET M256,257

WINSET.EXE accepts the number which you type and divides the
value by a thousand (1000) and checks if the whole number left
is between 0 - 255 and if the fraction is between .001 - .255
or not. If it does not meet this criteria, then it is
considered invalid and displays this message.

Note that you can turn OFF the hot key by entering allowed
value such as

WINSET M255,255

Since there is no such key combination, the hot key will not
work, acting as the equivalent of an OFF for the hot key.

Type any valid value such as "WINSET M50,000" and it
will work again.


=-=-=
I was expecting either the parameter "ON" or "OFF"
This is not either of them.
=-=-=

You typed the letter "O" as in

WINSET O
WINSET OOPS
WINSET OHOH

Since none of these follow the letter "O" with either "N" or
"F", these are incorrect and are displayed as such.

Typing only one "F" is acceptable as in

WINSET OF
WINSET OF-L
WINSET OF

but this will not work

WINSET OFFC:\WINSET

The second "F" is accepted as the third letter of the word
"OFF" and WINSET.EXE encounters a command called "C:\WINSET"
which doesn't make sense.

It will work if you typed

WINSET OF FC:\WINSET

because then the "OF" is accepted as OFf and the space
separating the next identifies it correctly as the File
parameter.

Although the programs in this series allow parameters to be
packed together without any space or tab between them, the use
of spaces between parameters will make it easier on your eyes.

=-=-=
After the plus sign "+", I was expecting only the letter "F"
to turn ON displaying FAILED attempt to make, open etc
or "L" for consistent Length of messages in list file.
=-=-=

After the plus sign "+" to turn ON something, something other
than the letter "F" or the letter "L" was encountered.

There must be no space or tab separating the plus sign "+"
from the letter which must follow it.

=-=-=
After the minus sign "-", I was expecting only the letter
"F" to turn OFF displaying FAILED attempt to make, open etc
or "L" for NO consistent Length of messages in list file.
=-=-=

After the minus sign "-" to turn OFF something, something other
than the letter "F" or the letter "L" was encountered.

There must be no space or tab separating the minus sign "-"
from the letter which must follow it.

=-=-=
There is no first copy of WINSET.EXE in memory to tell you
what was the last error or if it was turned ON.
=-=-=

You typed

WINSET ?

but there was no first copy of itself in memory.

=-=-=
The changes were made. Bye.
=-=-=

There was a first copy of WINSET.EXE already in memory and you
ran the second copy in order to change the first copy's
parameters. The change or changes were done and the second
copy will exit back to the DOS prompt.



DISK ERRORS BEFORE RUNNING YOUR SOFTWARE

The following are generalized list of regular disk errors
which may display when running WINSET.EXE from DOS, but not
while using your software with WINSET.EXE underneath.

Most errors are accompanied by the name of the file in
question.

=-=-=
There is not enough space on the diskette.
=-=-=

This should not display, because the WINSET list file is
written while you're running your softwares, not while you
change parameters in WINSET.EXE.

=-=-=
The subdirectory path specified does not exist.
=-=-=

You may have mistakenly typed zero "0" instead of oh "O", or
el "l" instead of one "1", or zed/zee "Z" instead of a two "2"
or reversed two letters, missing one letter or have an extra
letter by mistake.

=-=-=
Not enough handle available: Set FILES=20.
=-=-=

Starting with DOS 2, every file to be opened can be
manipulated by its handle.

=-=-=
No access allowed.
=-=-=

If you're using a floppy diskette drive, you may have
defined the maximum number of files allowed in the root
directory. On a 360kb diskette, this is 112 files. On a
hard disk, 512 files. The default for MicroSoft RANDRIVE
which comes with MS-Windows 3.1 is 64 files.

If you have space on your diskette or hard disk, simply
make a subdirectory by typing the following at the DOS
prompt (A>, B>, C> etc)

MD subdirectory-name
CD subdirectory-name

You Make-a-subDirectory and then Change-to-that-sub-
Directory. Now you can make more files.

If you're simply out of empty space, delete unnecessary
files or use another empty diskette. (or use a file
compressor to archive some unused files)

You may have set a file to read-only and it exists already.

If you use the latest DOS, use the included software to
change the attribute to remove it. If you don't use
the latest DOS, then use the program such as
CLEARFIL.EXE to change it.

If you're using this on a networked system, you may have
insufficient right/priority to do what you want.

Find someone else who can do it for you.

Since expensive networked computers behave like slow,
very-low cost non-networked computers, there may still
be some bugs which were not worked out yet: While DOS
3.0 is often required for networking, DOS 3.3 was made
partly to remove bugs in 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2. Similarly,
your present DOS may have bugs which conflicts.

Some companies tailor their softwares so that they work
despite the bugs in, say DOS 3.2, but such softwares
often become so dependent on that version that it will
not work if you use DOS 3.3, 4.0, 5.0 etc.

These are by no means the complete list of the reasons for
getting this error.


The following errors should not display, but they are listed
nonetheless. If they display, then the correct reason is
probably your software or memory resident utility running out
of control and before it locks up, it just happens to display
the messages stored in this program by mistakes.

If the messages are reproducible, then it may be a bug in
this program. Please state the circumstances under which
it occurred: The most important information required is
the DOS version which you used. While you may consider
many aspects of your computer and softwares to be
private, the information is not given to anyone outside
this group for any reason, and will in all probability be
thrown away, without it being stored anywhere.

=-=-=
Program error. Bad function number.
=-=-=

=-=-=
Program error. Incorrect handle specified.
=-=-=

=-=-=
Memory control block is destroyed.
Reboot As Soon As Possible (ASAP).
=-=-=

=-=-=
Program error. Bad memory block address specified.
=-=-=

=-=-=
Program error. Bad environment specified.
=-=-=

=-=-=
Program error. Bad format specified.
=-=-=

=-=-=
Program error. Bad access code used.
=-=-=

=-=-=
Program error. Bad data used.
=-=-=

=-=-=
The specified drive does not exist.
=-=-=

=-=-=
The current directory was removed.
=-=-=

=-=-=
This device is not the same as before.
=-=-=

=-=-=
Some error caused abortion.
=-=-=

An unlisted type of error causes this message.


DISK ERRORS WHILE RUNNING YOUR SOFTWARE

The following are error messages which appear on your
screen on row 25 while you were using your software and
WINSET.EXE had trouble writing the WINSET list file.

The messages are cryptical because the memory resident portion
of this program shrinks down to use only a small portion of
your conventional system memory (the 640KB part).

You can get descriptive messages by typing

WINSET ?

which will tell you the meaning of any last disk error.

If the error message appeared while you were using your
software, you can type the letter "Y" to try to continue
to let your software copy the files and try to write the
file names to the WINSET file.

If you type "N", then your software will continue to
copy the files, but WINSET.EXE is turned OFF so that no
more files will be written into the list file.

If you type , then WINSET.EXE is turned OFF and it
will also try to abort your software and get back to the
DOS prompt such as C> and D>.

=-=-=
A error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=


Diskette full error. Your diskette did not have enough space
to store all the key strokes.

To avoid this error, a hard disk to store your listing file is
highly recommended.

If your WINSET list file is becoming very large, simply delete
it and WINSET.EXE in memory will make a new WINSET list file.

=-=-=
B error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid function number was used by this program. If this
occurs, then it is a programming error.

If this occurs and your software locks up and other strange
things appear on your screen, your software or memory resident
utilities ran wild and before finally locking up, it may have
displayed this message by accident.

=-=-=
C error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

This message should not appear. This is the file-not-found-
error message, but if no listing file WINSET is found,
WINSET.EXE should make a new file and continue.

=-=-=
D error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

The subdirectory path which you specified did not exist.

Either you or your software deleted the subdirectory path
where the WINSET list file was supposed to be written.

=-=-=
E error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Your software and/or other memory resident utilities used up
all the file handles which were allowed. If you use a data
base, try to avoid using too many index files.

Does your CONFIG.SYS have this line? "files=20" If not, then
add this to cure this trouble.

=-=-=
F error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Access was not allowed error. See above under the regular
disk access error "Access denied." for detail.

This error will also display if you tried to use the name of a
subdirectory as the name of the WINSET list file. Or may be
you used a program such as JLOCK.EXE to prevent writing
anything into this file?

=-=-=
G error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid handle error. This error should not display.

=-=-=
H error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Memory control blocks destroyed error. This error should not
display. If it does, then some software destroyed the
integrated structure of your system memory. Explaining what
this is too technical, but if you try to do anything at all
after this message, then anything can happen, from locking up
to files not being saved correctly.

The following error messages should not display, but in case
they do, they are:

=-=-=
I error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Insufficient memory error.

=-=-=
J error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid memory block address.

=-=-=
K error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid environment.

=-=-=
L error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid format.

=-=-=
M error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid access code.

=-=-=
N error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid data.

=-=-=
P error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Invalid drive specified.

=-=-=
Q error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Attempt to remove the current directory.

=-=-=
R error. Cannot write WINSET. Continue(Y/N) or abort?
=-=-=

Not same device.



The following is the types of messages which will appear in
the WINSET listing file. They will be made when your setup
software, regular software, Windows or just you typing the
appropriate commands at the DOS level when WINSET.EXE is ON.

If you used the C1/C2 Confinement parameters, some of the
below will not be included in the WINSET listing file.

=-=-=
Use drive ___
=-=-=

The ___ is the drive to use, as in A>, B>, C> etc.

This only displays when the default drive is changed by
interrupt 21 hexadecimal with register AH = 0eh hex.

When you type "C:" to change to drive C:, this will be in
the listing file.

Due to the changing inner workings of DOS versions,
your DOS may not behave as described here.

=-=-=
Make subdirectory ___
=-=-=

where ___ is the name of the drive and subdirectory or only
the subdirectory if the default drive is used.

This may appear in the listing when a new subdirectory is to
be made. The line will end with the word "FAILED!" if it
failed to make a subdirectory.

=-=-=
Remove subdirectory ___
=-=-=

where ___ is the name of the drive and subdirectory or only
the subdirectory if the default drive is used.

This may appear in the listing when a subdirectory is about to
be removed. The line will end with the word "FAILED!" if it
failed to make a subdirectory.

=-=-=
Change to subdirectory ___
=-=-=

where ___ is the name of the drive and subdirectory or only
the subdirectory if the default drive is used.

This may appear in the listing when your software switches
from one subdirectory to another.

This will provide you the clues to find all the subdirectories
which your software may be switching between as it copies the
files around.

=-=-=
Make a new file ___
=-=-=

where ___ is the name of the drive and subdirectory or only
the name of the file if the default drive is used.

This appears when a new file is about to be made. Usually,
your software will try to use the below "Open existing..."
first to find out if the file already exists or not.

If an existing file cannot be opened, then your software knows
that a new file must be made.

If an existing file can be opened, then it means that your
software has the option of either making it anew or opening
the old existing file and write over it.

Normally, your software will make a new file, rather than
open the existing file. This is essential if the latest
file is smaller than the older file because the garbage
from the older file will be stuck on the new file under
this condition.

When you first install a new software, you can ignore all the
file names in the listing file, except this, since copying a
file from diskette requires that the software first open the
existing file from the diskette and then make a new file with
the same name in the hard disk.

If you used the C2 Change Confinement parameter, the WINSET
listing file will not contain subdirectory messages or "Open
existing file..." messages.

=-=-=
Open existing file ___
=-=-=

where ___ is the name of the drive and subdirectory or only
the name of the file if the default drive is used.

This is used by your software to either open a file which
should exist or to find out if such a file exists or not.

=-=-=
Delete file ___
=-=-=

where ___ is the name of the drive and subdirectory or only
the name of the file if the default drive is used.

This is not a reliable method of noting all the files deleted,
since this program will only note individual files which were
deleted. If a bunch of files were deleted with the single
character substitution character "?" or the wild card
substitution character "*" using other than interrupt 21h and

AH=41h will not be listed here.

If you delete a file manually from the DOS prompt, the deleted
file will not be listed in the listing file.

Your software should use only the interrupt 21h and AH=41h for
deleting individual files since your software may make files
called ROBOTA, ROBOTB, ROBOTC and if your name is ROB, then
"DEL ROB*.*" will delete any file which begins with your
name as well.



Hopefully all the important messages were covered. Now for
the information to users:

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
DISCLAIMERS, INFO FOR SYSOPS ETC
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

All products and names mentioned are Trademarks or
Registered Trademarks of their respective corporations or
companies. That includes my group or any other group's
programs, of course. Some products may have patent
protections as well.

All enclosed programs, documents and other files are
provided AS IS, without any warranty, expressed or implied,
including but not limited to fitness for a particular
purpose.

A contribution of $10 (Cdn$10 if you're from Canada and
US$10 if from the US and others) is appreciated, or $20 for
an update as it becomes available. Default diskette sent
to you is 5-1/4" double-sided 360kb diskette unless you
specify otherwise. Shipping and handling are included.

Please indicate what version and any edition date you
have: Sometimes, the same version number & date is
kept, but the edition month/year differs.

In hard times, anything perceived as having resell value is
a target for theft, including diskettes in nice containers:
While disk mailers cost $2+tax etc, they're easy to tamper,
as we've noticed, so if you got your diskette in cardboard,
it was for your security, not our cheapness. But if you do
insist on a mailer, we'll comply. (but you were warned...)

NAME OF THE PROGRAM: WINSET.EXE $10-$20

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM:
When a software for MS-Windows installs itself, it writes a
lot of files everywhere. This tells you which files were
made so that you can group/delete/etc as you see fit. This
can also be used to see what your DOS/MS-windows software
does with files.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

c/o Dr. M. Sawada & Assoc.
P.O. Box 956
Outremont, Quebec
Canada H2V 4R8

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+