Installing SCORE on Windows XP
99% of installing SCORE on XP is tweaking the operating system to handle SCORE's memory limitations.
The remaining 1%—getting the SCORE program on your XP machine—is actually fairly mechanical:
Either use the installation diskettes that came with SCORE, or copy existing SCORE directories from your old machine to the XP machine in wholesale fashion.
But there's one caveat: when transferring SCORE 3.11, you need to copy the C:\SCORE, C:\LIB, and C:\HLP directories as individual entities; don't simply copy their contents into the newly-created C:\SCORE on your XP box. Each directory has its own function for SCORE 3.11, and that version of the program expects to find each directory as an independent directory.
In contrast, when transferring SCORE 4 you need only to transfer the C:\SCOR4 directory and all of its contents, including subdirectories. This is true because in SCORE 4, the \LIB and \HLP directories are simply subdirectories off of C:\SCOR4
Once you have SCORE in place, the tweaking of XP may begin:
STEP 1
- Open MyComputer
- Locate CMD.EXE in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32
- Right-click it and make a shortcut; move the shortcut to your desktop
- Right-click the shortcut on your desktop
- Select "Properties" at the bottom of the list
- Click on the "Shortcut" tab, and then locate the "Start in" field
- In the "Start in" field, put C:\SCOR4 or C:\SCORE or whatever directory you'd like as your initial working directory
- Click "Apply" and "Ok"
- Now you should be able to get to a command prompt by clicking on the CMD.EXE shortcut. Click on it; it should open in the directory that you specified.
- To close the command prompt, type EXIT and press <Enter>
STEP 2
- Open MyComputer
- Locate the C:\WINDOWS directory
- Locate the file named _DEFAULT
- Right-click on the _DEFAULT file
- Click on Properties at bottom of list
- Select Program tab
- Clear-out [Close on exit] box (it should be unchecked.)
- Click Apply and OK (This causes the effects of AUTOEXEC.NT and CONFIG.NT to be instated and to remain persistent in CMD (DOS) sessions.)
- Select Memory tab
- Everything should be set to AUTO
- In the Conventional Memory pane, make sure "protected" is unchecked.
- In the Extended Memory pane, make sure "Uses HMA" is checked.
- Click Apply and OK
STEP 3
- Open the file CONFIG.NT found in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32; you can do this using NotePad, or with the DOS editor.
- Edit the file so that it contains these lines in this order:
dos=high, umb
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40
buffers=40
- Any other lines should be either deleted or rem'd out by beginning the line with "REM ", like this:
rem device=%SystemRoot%\icecream\float
- Save the file.
STEP 4
STEP 5
- Click on Start--> Settings---> Control Panel
- Locate and click on System in Control Panel
- Click on the "Advanced" tab
- Click on "Environment Variables"
- In either the "System Variables" pane or the "User Variables" pane (it doesn't matter which one you choose), scroll through the list until you find a variable named PATH
- Click on the Path line; it will highlight (presumably in blue)
- Click on Edit
- In the Variable Value window, add the name of the directory where your copy of Score is housed; you will also want to add the directory where FONTCONV/FONTCVT4 is housed (typically in the default library directory.)
—If you're using Score 3.11, you'll want to add C:\SCORE;C:\LIB
—If you're using Scor4, you'll want to add C:\SCOR4;C:\SCOR4\LIB
—PRECEDE THE ENTRY WITH A SEMICOLON (;)
Thus, if the existing path ends with:
...C:\WINDOWS;C:\CAT\DOG
then, if you're using Score 3.11, you should edit it to end with:
...C:\WINDOWS;C:\CAT\DOG;C:\SCORE;C:\LIB
or, if you're using Score 4, you should edit it to end with:
...C:\WINDOWS;C:\CAT\DOG;C:\SCOR4;C:\SCOR4\LIB
If you're using both versions, add both sets of directories, like this:
...C:\WINDOWS;C:\CAT\DOG;C:\SCORE;C:\LIB;C:\SCOR4;C:\SCOR4\LIB
- Click OK and exit
STEP 6
The next step ensures that there is sufficient environment space to execute SCORE. When environment space is insufficient, the following message or one like it will be reported:
Not enough space for environment
STEP 7
- Click on your CMD.EXE shortcut that we created in step one
- Execute Score by typing "SCORE" (if you're using Score 3.11) or "SCOR4" (if you're using Score 4)
- The program should execute.
If it doesn't execute, type MEM at the command prompt. My MEM reading is:
655360 bytes total conventional memory
655360 bytes available to MS-DOS
584848 largest executable program size
4194304 bytes total EMS memory
4194304 bytes free EMS memory
19922944 bytes total contiguous extended memory
0 bytes available contiguous extended memory
15580160 bytes available XMS memory
MS-DOS resident in High Memory Area
The crucial line is "largest executable program size". Score 3.11 needs 570k to execute; Scor4 may need the same. If you don't have at least 570k, then you'll need to go back to Step 2 and adjust the Memory settings (usually shutting off EMS will do the trick.)
STEP 8
If you are using SCOR4, an incorrect PORT setting in the PREF-4.SCR may cause SCOR4 to exit during input mode (specifically, when pressing the spacebar during inputting.) One SCOR4 user had a PORT setting of 330; this caused the problem just described. By changing the PORT setting to 816, the problem vanished.
- Click on your CMD.EXE shortcut that we created in step one
- Navigate to C:\SCOR4\LIB by typing "CD \SCOR4\LIB" and pressing <Enter>
- Open PREF-4.SCR with the DOS Editor by typing "EDIT PREF-4.SCR" and pressing <Enter>
- Search for the PORT setting(s) (If there is more than one, delete all but one of them.)
- If it is set to 330, change it to 816
- Save the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing S
- Exit from the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing X
STEP 9
Does SCORE not proceed past the initial splash screen?
Regardless of whether you are using SCORE 3.X or SCOR4, an incorrect SCREEN setting in the preference file may prevent the program from displaying. The default value for SCREEN is 17, but any value from 0 to 18 may be used. Unfortunately, the only way to determine which value is correct is by trial-and-error: Start by setting SCREEN to 18, save the preference file, start SCORE, and then see what happens. If it doesn't work, then set SCREEN to the next lower number, save the preference file, and start SCORE again. Repeat for each value from 18 down to 0 until a compatible setting is found. Some settings may cause XP to crash; never fear, just reboot and select the next lower setting.
The listing of SCREEN values and the display types they support is found only in the appendix of the SCORE Reference Manual. The values refer to many antiquated screen displays:
- 0 = Tandy 2000: 640x400
- 1 = Hercules: 720x348
- 2 = IBM CGA: 640x200
- 3 = IBM EGA: 640x350
- 4 = IBM EGA w/mono monitor
- 5 = PS/2 MCGA: 640x480
- 6 = ATT 6300: 640x480
- 7 = EGA PLUS: 640x480
- 8 = Yamaha C1: 640x480
- 9 = C1 with ext. Hercules
- 10 = GENOA EGA: 800x600
- 11 = GENOA EGA: 640x528
- 12 = GENOA EGA: 912x480
- 13 = GENOA EGA: 752x410
- 14 = Video 7: 800x600
- 15 = Video 7: 720x540
- 16 = Video 7: 752x410
- 17 = PS/2 VGA: 640x480
- 18 = HP VGA: 800x600
If you are using SCORE 3.X...
- Click on your CMD.EXE shortcut that we created in step one
- Navigate to C:\LIB by typing "CD \LIB" and pressing <Enter>
- Open PREF.SCR with the DOS Editor by typing "EDIT PREF.SCR" and pressing <Enter>
- Search for the SCREEN setting
- Set it to a value from 0 to 18 (Recommendation: start with 18 and work downwards)
- Save the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing S
- Exit from the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing X
- Execute SCORE by typing SCORE + <Enter>
- See if SCORE advances past the splash screen and if the program appears to function properly; if it doesn't, exit from SCORE and repeat the steps above, re-editing the PREF.SCR file by selecting a different value for the SCREEN setting.
If you are using SCOR4...
- Click on your CMD.EXE shortcut that we created in step one
- Navigate to C:\SCOR4\LIB by typing "CD \SCOR4\LIB" and pressing <Enter>
- Open PREF-4.SCR with the DOS Editor by typing "EDIT PREF-4.SCR" and pressing <Enter>
- Search for the SCREEN setting
- Set it to a value from 0 to 18 (Recommendation: start with 18 and work downwards)
- Save the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing S
- Exit from the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing X
- Execute SCOR4 by typing SCOR4 + <Enter>
- See if SCOR4 advances past the splash screen and if the program appears to function properly; if it doesn't, exit from SCOR4 and repeat the steps above, re-editing the PREF-4.SCR file by selecting a different value for the SCREEN setting.
STEP 10
Does the mouse not move the cursor?
Regardless of whether you are using SCORE 3.X or SCOR4, an incorrect IRQ setting in the preference file may prevent the mouse from moving the cursor. In general, the IRQ cannot be set to 2 or 8. An IRQ value of 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 will typically solve the problem.
If you are using SCORE 3.X...
- Click on your CMD.EXE shortcut that we created in step one
- Navigate to C:\LIB by typing "CD \LIB" and pressing <Enter>
- Open PREF.SCR with the DOS Editor by typing "EDIT PREF.SCR" and pressing <Enter>
- Search for the IRQ setting
- Set it to either 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7
- Save the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing S
- Exit from the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing X
- Execute SCORE by typing SCORE + <Enter>
- See if the mouse moves the cursor; if it doesn't, exit from SCORE and repeat the steps above, re-editing the PREF.SCR file by selecting a different value for the IRQ setting.
If you are using SCOR4...
- Click on your CMD.EXE shortcut that we created in step one
- Navigate to C:\SCOR4\LIB by typing "CD \SCOR4\LIB" and pressing <Enter>
- Open PREF-4.SCR with the DOS Editor by typing "EDIT PREF-4.SCR" and pressing <Enter>
- Search for the IRQ setting
- Set it to either 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7
- Save the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing S
- Exit from the file by depressing <Alt>+F, then pressing X
- Execute SCOR4 by typing SCOR4 + <Enter>
- See if the mouse moves the cursor; if it doesn't, exit from SCOR4 and repeat the steps above, re-editing the PREF-4.SCR file by selecting a different value for the IRQ setting.
Regardless of whether you are using SCORE 3.X or SCOR4, an incorrect IRQ setting in the preference file may prevent the mouse from moving the cursor. In general, the IRQ cannot be set to 2 or 8. An IRQ value of 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 will typically solve the problem.
STEP 11
Would you prefer a full-screen DOS mode with full-width characters, as in the DOS of Win98 and previous incarnations of Windows?
- Right-click the shortcut to CMD.EXE on your desktop
- Select "Properties" at the bottom of the list
- Click on the "Options" tab
- In the "Cursor Size" field, select Small
- In the "Display Options" field, select Full Screen
- In "Command History" field set Buffer Size = 50, Number of Buffers = 4, and leave "Discard Old Duplicates" unchecked
- In "Edit Options" field select Insert Mode
- Now select the "Layout" tab at the top of the window
- In the "Screen Buffer Size" field, set Width = 80 and Height = 25
- In the "Window Size" field, set Width = 80 and Height = 25
- In the "Window Position" field, set Left = -4 and Top = -4
- Clear-out [Let System Position Window] box (it should be unchecked.)
- Click "Apply" and "Ok"
STEP 12
Would you prefer the DIR command to format its results into multiple, alphabetized columns that pause between screens?
- Click on Start--> Settings---> Control Panel
- Locate and click on System in Control Panel
- Click on the "Advanced" tab
- Click on "Environment Variables"
- Locate the "System Variables" pane
- Click on "New"; a New System Variable dialog box should appear
- In the Variable Name field type "dircmd"
- In the Variable Value field type "/w /p /a /oen"
- Click OK and exit
Now SCORE and/or SCOR4 should execute and operate properly.
Good luck!
This page last updated 11 April 2007
Webpage Copyright © 2001–2007 Thomas Brodhead
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