FILE NAME: W V 9 5 - 0 3 . R E F ORIGINAL DATE: June 13, 1997 REVISE DATE: August 2, 1999 FROM: Artic Technologies Help Center Artic Technologies 1000 John R. Road Suite 108 Troy, MI 48083. (248) 588-7370 Extension 11 Sales (248) 588-2650 Fax (248) 588-1425 Help Center www.artictech.com InterNet WEB Site sales@artictech.com InterNet E-Mail Sales help@artictech.com InterNet E-Mail Help TO: All Artic Users SUBJECT: Windows 95 Version "B" Screen Reader Lockups when an MS-DOS Serial Synthesizer Screen Access Program is being Shut Down from an MS-DOS Box. Recently we have discovered that Windows 95 version "B" will lock up when exiting an MS-DOS box which has a serial speech synthesizer, screen Access program running in it. This is especially so when a screen Access program for Windows 95 is concurrently being used with the same speech synthesizer. The problem does not occur with the original Windows 95 version "A". The reason for this is that the software which handles serial port contention under Windows 95 version "B" appears to have a problem within the code. With input from Microsoft's Programmers, our engineers found that a file called "VCD.VXD" taken from an original Windows 95 version "A" distribution, and placed in Windows 95 Version "B"'s "\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32" directory, will correct this problem. Below are step by step directions which you can follow to correct this problem. Again, please keep in mind that you will not experience this problem with the original WinDows 95 version "A" installation. If you have installed Windows 95 Version "B" in to a directory other than "C:\WINDOWS" you may have to modify some of the examples noted below so that they will work with your computer system. Do to MicroSoft's Licensing agreements, we here at Artic Technologies can not legally distribute the "VCD.VXD" file separately from the Windows 95 Version "A" distribution. It is up to you to locate an original Windows 95 Version "A" CD or diskettes before continuing with the steps noted below. We recommend contacting your local computer store or MicroSoft for assistants in obtaining an original Windows 95 "A" version. 1. How do I know which version of Windows 95 is installed on my computer? The following steps will help you discover which version of Windows 95 is installed on your system. A. From the Windows 95 "Desk Top" press (control escape). This will bring up the Windows 95 start menu. B. Now press the letter "S" to go to the "Settings" menu. C. From the "Settings" menu type the letter "C" to access the "Control Panel". D. From the "Control Panel" press the letter "S" several Times until you reach the "System" option. Now press (enter) on "System". E. Once you have pressed (enter) on the "System" option, a screen will pop up. Look on the screen for the following information as shown below. If you do not see the letter "B" as apart of the message below, you do not need to continue reading this reference document as this document covers problems with the B version of Windows 95 and external speech synthesizers. System: Microsoft Windows 95 4.00.950B F. Now to exit this screen, press your (tab) key one or more times until you reach the "OK prompt and press enter. You should be back at the "System" option in the "Control Panel". G. Finally, Press the ALT F4) key. This should return you back to the Windows 95 "Desk Top". 2. Changes made to Windows 95 Version "B". Below are the changes which you need to make to Windows 95 version "B". Read carefully through each step before proceeding. A. Locate a Windows 95 version "a" CD diskette and insert it in to your CD-ROM Drive. If you have instead, the Windows 95 Version "A" on diskette, insert the diskette number "4" with the file called "WIN95_04.CAB" in to your "A:" or "B" floppy drive. B. Shut down Windows 95 and Re-start in MS-DOS before making any of the changes noted below. This is accomplished with the following steps: #1 From within Windows 95, hold down the (Control) key and press the (Escape) key. This will bring up the START menu. #2 Type the letter "U". This will bring up the Windows 95 Shut Down Menu. #3 At this point, press the letter "M" and then press (enter). The computer will re-boot to an MS-DOS prompt. #4 From your "C:\WINDOWS > " prompt, type: CD\ (enter) This will place you at the MS-DOS "C:\ >" root directory prompt. If you plan to run an MS-DOS screen access program such as Business vision from Artic Technologies, and/or an MS-DOS Screen Enlargement program such as Magnum GT/Deluxe, do it at this time. C. At this point it is time to extract the "VCD.VXD" file from the specific Windows 95 Version "A" cabinet file and place it in to the "\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32" directory. This is accomplished by typing one of the following three commands depending on media storage type: #1 Example for extracting the "VCD.VXD" file from the "WV95_04.CAB" file, found on Floppy Disk drive "A:". EXTRACT /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32 A:\WIN95_04.CAB VCD.VXD (then press enter) #2 Example for extracting the "VCD.VXD" file from the "WV95_04.CAB" file, found on Floppy Disk drive "B:". EXTRACT /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32 B:\WIN95_04.CAB VCD.VXD (then press enter) #3 Example for extracting the "VCD.VXD" file from the "WV95_03.CAB" file, found on CD-ROM drive "D:". EXTRACT /L C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32 D:\WIN95\WIN95_03.CAB VCD.VXD (then press (enter) D. Once the file has been extracted, verify that the "VCD.VXD" file has been placed in the correct directory. This is accomplish by typing the following MS-DOS command: DIR C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32\VCD.VXD (then press enter) If you are unable to locate this file, check the specific command which you use to extract the file. Make any changes to correct for drive and directory location. E. Depending upon which serial communication port the speech synthesizer is connected to, you need to add one of the following lines to the "[386ENH]" section of the Windows "SYSTEM.INI" file. #1 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM1:" add: Com1AutoAssign=0 #2 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM2:" add: Com2AutoAssign=0 #3 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM3:" add: Com3AutoAssign=0 #4 For a serial speech synthesizer on "COM4:" add: Com4AutoAssign=0 F. Now re-start Windows 95 by typing the following: C: (enter) CD\WINDOWS (enter) EXIT (enter) You will exit MS-DOs and return to Windows 95. G. Now Shut down Windows 95 and turn off your computer. This is accomplished through the following steps: #1 From within Windows 95, hold down the (Control) key and press the (Escape) key. This will bring up the START menu. #2 Type the letter "U". This will bring up the Windows 95 Shut Down Menu. Press Enter to Shut Down Windows 95. #3 Once there is no more hard drive activity, turn off your computer. The next time the computer is turned on, these changes will take affect. For your knowledge, Artic Technologies has developed WinVision 95. It is a screen access system with speech synthesizer and braille display support for Windows 95. Also, Artic Technologies has developed and released Magnum Deluxe 95. It is a screen Enlargement system for individuals with impaired vision who needs screen enhancement under Windows 95. Telephone Artic Technologies at: (248) 588-7370 for Product information, pricing and/or to order. Remember, if you have installed Windows 95 Version "B" in to a directory other than "C:\WINDOWS" you may have to modify some of the examples noted above so that they will work with your computer system. Again, do to MicroSoft's Licensing agreements, we here at Artic Technologies can not legally distribute the "VCD.VXD" file separately from Windows 95 Version "A" distribution. It is up to you to locate an original Windows 95 Version "A" CD or diskettes before continuing with the steps noted above. We recommend contacting your local computer store or MicroSoft for assistants in obtaining an original Windows 95 "A" version. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Remember, all Trade Marks and/or Product Names are the legal property of their respective companies. Artic Technologies welcomes you to use the above information, but cautions that you do so at your own risk. Even though these steps have been thoroughly tested, we cannot guarantee that they will work in your specific computer environment. This is an Artic Technologies Help Center reference document. You may share it freely with anyone as long as the document remains intact and complete, the information is not modified and no charges are levied for it.