http://home.att.net/~wymette /programs AptivaNotes\ErrorMsg Desktop Management Interface (DMI) Windows Service Layer Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Del IBM Date: Tuesday, July 06, 1999 Paul, For a "DMIDIR environment variable not set" message, try this: - Click Start > Click Run - Type SYSEDIT > Click OK - Choose the Autoexec.bat file - If you do not see the following line: SET DMIDIR=C:\DMI . . . add it anywhere below "@ECHO OFF" - Click File > Click Save (snip) Del Franklin IBM World-Wide OnLine HelpCenter Topic: DLL file not found? (3 of 3) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Alice Wyman Date: Wednesday, July 07, 1999 Paul, I have a 2140 L5H. Here's what my autoexec.bat looks like, in case it helps: @ECHO OFF SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4 PATH C:\IBMTOOLS LH DOSKEY SET DMIDIR=C:\DMI C:\IBMAV95\IBMAVSH /F00 Alice ------------------------- Topic: DMI WOSL initialization arror (2 of 2) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 Community From: awyman Date: Monday, October 02, 2000 06:26 PM On 9/28/00 3:11:00 PM, reclapper wrote: >I have an Aptiva Module >2142-S6H I am running windows >95 and explorer 5.0 and am >using Road Runner for an >internet connection. >My problem is this I re >installed my entire system >using a backup I created with >my HP CD-R all went well and I >am back up and running but I >do have one remaining problem >it skipped a file : > >C:\DMI\DOS\BIN\SLDB.DMI > >when start my computer I get >this error code: > >DMI WOSL INITIALIZATION ERROR >SL.MIF NOT PRESENTIN \DOS\MIFS >DIRECTIRY >MIF DATABASE COULD NOT BE >GENERATED >SERVICE LAYER NOT LOADED > >My questions are: > >1. How do I fix this ? Check my notes at http://home.att.net/~wymette/programs/WinslDMI.txt The easiest way to get rid of this error message is to remove the DMI program entirely, since it is not needed. According to my notes, to do this, you would: 1. edit the registry or use a Startup Manager program to remove the DMISL and WREGBIOS values to keep the two programs from running or attempting to run at startup 2. edit your autoexec.bat file and remove the line SET DMIDIR=C:\DMI 3. delete the C:\DMI folder and all it's contents. I used Brad Stower's Startup Manager program to disable DMISL (C:\DMI\DOS\BIN\winsl.exe) and Wregbios (C:\DMI\DOS\BIN\wregbios.exe) so they do not load at startup. (snip) >2. Where do I get the missing >file ? > >3. How do I install it ? > >4. if I replace the file will >the rest be there or do I need >the program whatever it is . > >Please help! > >Bob >rec3@twcny.rr.com The file would be inside the C:\DMI folder if you would rather go that route. What you could do is a selective recovery using the red Product Recovery CD-rom and use the "recover selected files" "specify a file or directory" option and recover C:\DMI\*.* see http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/MNOK-3QYV6B.html for details on the selective recovery process. Topic: Sound problems on a 2140-L5H (6 of 6) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Alice Wyman Date: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 12:58 PM On 5/5/99 11:13:37 AM, Ben Klein wrote: >P.S. What does the DMI >directory contain? The reason >I ask is I think I executed a >pgm called DOSBIOS.EXE in the >bin subdirectory of the DMI >directory which started this >problem. I was getting >messages about Windows Service >Layer MIF Installation. > Here's a copy of an old forum post on this. You may also want to search the Intel support site http://support.intel.com/support/search.htm for more information on "Desktop Management Interface" AND "Windows Service Layer". Alice ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Windows Service Layer" From IBM Aptiva Support Forums Topic: Windows Service Layer (1 of 7) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Mike Ito Date: Monday, November 02, 1998 05:54 PM Ever since the last time I reinstalled the Aptiva software I am getting a low-tech window (i.e. it looks more like win 3.1 than win 95) on each restart after windows is initially loaded (my final desktop is being displayed). The window indicates "Windows Service Layer MIF Installation" in the title with no data output to the window, and then goes away after several seconds. It doesn't seem to be causing any problems, but bugs me that it is output at all. Any one have any ideas? Topic: Windows Service Layer (2 of 7) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Judy IBM Date: Monday, November 02, 1998 09:04 PM Mike, I am searching on this, but have found nothing from either Aptiva support or Microsoft in this regard. I will post here if I do. Sincerely, Judy Colclough IBM Online HelpCenter Topic: Windows Service Layer (3 of 7) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Donna Coble Date: Monday, November 02, 1998 11:23 PM Mike, I had the same thing on my L5h. Nobody on the forums knew what it meant or how to get rid of it. After I did a recovery with the CD it went away. It didn't cause any problems other than waiting for it to go away after I re booted. Donna Topic: Windows Service Layer (4 of 7) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Gregg Macmann Date: Thursday, November 19, 1998 04:30 PM The reason you received that low-tech win31 message is because IBM's OEM version of the DMI (Desktop Management Interface) software was written for win31 (not win95 or win98); basically, the DMI software provided by IBM is seriously outdated (as shown by testing with SiSoft Sandra). Whether this has anything to do with the problems that have been reported concerning device recognition and other system functions handled by the DMI software is beyond my expertise, but it certainly does raise some suspicions. Topic: Windows Service Layer (5 of 7) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Michel Robert Date: Friday, December 04, 1998 04:59 PM Did you have by any chance succeeded in getting rid of this "Windows Service Layer" stuff. I have the exact same problem after reconfiguring my 2140 with the CD recovery and I really hate it. Thanks, Michel Robert Topic: Windows Service Layer (6 of 7) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Mike Ito Date: Wednesday, December 09, 1998 05:56 PM I was hoping someone in the forum could help, but it appears we are stuck with the message forever. Topic: Windows Service Layer (7 of 7) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Robert Sauvola Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 10:33 AM The DMI (Desktop Management Interface) Windows Service Layer is from Intel and is used to define attributes of your system. The DMI is an enabling technology aimed at making desktop systems and network servers more manageable. At a fundamental level, the DMI performs two functions: it stores information about components, and provides the ability to query and change that information. Alas, do you need it? Heck no. And to disable it in Win98 use the "System Configuration Utility" in System information and make sure there is not a check mark next to the "DMISL" option. Or, if you have Win95 open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and search for DMISL and delete the key (remember all the warnings about this: don't try this at home! in-other-words, backup your system.dat and user.dat files before you do this.) Take care, Bob Sauvola Senior Engineer ---------------------- Topic: Successful Win98 upgrade on 2142-S46 Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Alice Wyman Date: Monday, August 09, 1999 07:33 AM On 8/9/99 4:59:07 AM, Richard Wright wrote: >I removed all Aptiva software, >Win95 Plus, DMI, etc. (snip) > Hi Richard, Just curious as to how you removed DMI. Did you just delete the C:\DMI folder and remove the reference to it in the Autoexec.bat file, and did you have to edit the registry? I have in my notes under DMI-Windows Service Layer, "...open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) and search for DMISL and delete the key..." (I've never used regedit myself) Alice Topic: Successful Win98 upgrade on 2142-S46 (3 of 3) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 From: Richard Wright Date: Monday, August 09, 1999 Alice, I deleted the Registry key entry - I have had no problem with doing this with other entries as well - just been very careful to understand what entry is being deleted. After that I made the other changes and rebooted to check that it was O.K. Richard --------------------- Topic: Desktop Management Interface problem (1 of 4), Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 Community From: James Cooley Date: Sunday, January 09, 2000 10:19 PM Dear Sirs, My Aptiva L31, with Windows 95 was running fine. Then one day, on turning it on I got the message "windows error exception. Restart your computer". Restart gave the same result. I tried many things and finally found that omitting the "set dmidir" from the autoexec file fixed it. The only problem is that I get an error message about the missing dmidir but otherwise it runs fine. Apparently this is needed for the desktop management interface. What can be the problem? Your help would be appreciated. ------------ Topic: Desktop Management Interface problem (4 of 4) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 Community From: Alice Wyman Date: Friday, January 14, 2000 09:18 PM On 1/14/00 4:49:50 PM, James Cooley wrote: >Since posting my problem, I >found the following >in the readme file in the DMI >folder: > >- Disk defragmentation >programs and SLDB.DMI (snip) >(It is best to remove the >invocation >of the DOS Service Layer from >WIN95 Registry >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\M >icrosoft\Windows\CurrentVersio >n\RunServices] >"DMIBIOS"="C:\\DMI\\DOS\\BIN\\ >WREGBIOS.EXE" before executing >a defragmentation program.) >In my machine the folder >mentioned has 2 items: >(Default) (Value not set) >Scheduling Agent >"mstask.exe" >and not the DMIBIOS line they >describe. I am very surprised >that they >ask the user to do this before >using the defragmentation >program. I am >very reluctant to do anything >to the registry. >Jim Cooley jwcooley@ieee.org > Jim, I've never figured out the purpose or need for the DMI. I did look inside SLDB.DMI with wordpad and it looks like the data base file contains a lot of very technical information, parts of which are unreadable in wordpad. In any case, I wouldn't take any special precautions except the normal disabling of screensaver and MAYBE closing all running programs with a Ctrl/Alt/Delete before running defrag. Even though my notes for removing DMI include a registry edit, since the winsl program (DMI Windows Service Layer) loads from there, I've been thinking of installing either Startup Cop or Startup Manager, to disable this program and other programs running in the background that load from the registry, to avoid needing to run regedit (snip) --------------------------- Topic: DMI BIOS MIF (1 of 2) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 Community From: gaxelrod Date: Thursday, July 13, 2000 12:38 AM When I sign on in the AM there is in my taskbar the above program running. What does it mean and should I do anything about it? I looked in the "readme" and it says not to defrag with this program on. How do you turn it off or get rid of it? 2140L61. 266 Pentium. Topic: DMI BIOS MIF (2 of 2) Conf: Aptiva 2140 and 2142 Community From: awyman Date: Saturday, July 15, 2000 06:16 PM I see that message flash by also sometimes when I first boot up. It is nothing to be concerned about. Just take the normal precaution of disabling your screensaver when running defrag. You can check my notes on the "Windows Service Layer, Desktop Management Interface at http://home.att.net/~wymette/programs/WinslDMI.txt - someone else asked the same question about defrag and the DMI readme concerning running defrag wth the DOS service layer running: >I found the following >in the readme file in the DMI >folder: > >- Disk defragmentation >programs and SLDB.DMI (snip) >(It is best to remove the invocation >of the DOS Service Layer from WIN95 Registry >[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ >Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices] >"DMIBIOS"="C:\\DMI\\DOS\\BIN\\ >WREGBIOS.EXE" before executing >a defragmentation program.) If it concerns you, you could get a Startup Manager program, or get a copy of msconfig.exe from someone with Win98 and put it in your C:\Windows\System folder, and then disable the startup entry for wregbios, C:\DMI\DOS\BIN\wregbios.exe and, while you are at it, disable the startup for Dmisl, C:\dmi\dos\bin\WINSL.exe I've never found any explanation from anyone about the need for the DMI program. Alice ----------------------------- see also the Readme text file in C:\DMI http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=287553 - Error Message "Verifying DMI Pool Data" http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/infobrf/dmia.html - An introduction to Desktop Management Interface AW