For Teachers

HOU Program User Support Preliminary Version*

Workaround Procedure for Windows 3.1 Users

*To ask questions or report bugs with this procedure, please contact HOU.

History:

Prior to 1997, the Hands-On Universe (HOU) curriculum software could be run on Windows 3.1. However, in upgrading the s/w for use with Windows95, changes within Win95 required our programming staff to make an "either/or" decision on which system to support. Reluctantly, we went with the more modern option.

However, it is clear that many of the teaches in our target audience are still using Windows 3.1 While our official policy is still that Windows95 is supported by HOU and Win3.1 is not, we seek to provide as much guidance as possible for those using the earlier operating system on their PCs.

File Standards and File Compression:

The file format standard for astronomical images is Flexible Image Transport System (FITS). Files of this type are named with the suffix ".fts". Some versions of the HOUIP software use files compressed with the proprietary HCOMPRESS tool. Files of this type are named with the suffix ".fth". Win95 versus Win3.1:

Windows 3.1 predated Windows95. Win3.1 is a 16-bit architecture. Win95 is a 32-bit architecture. In order to use the 32-bit HOU Image Processing (HOUIP) software on Win3.1 systems, the HOU software includes modules called "Win32s". This can be interpreted as "the 32-bit socket for use on Win3.1".

In the 1997 version of the HOUIP software, files appear in .fts format. In prior versions, either .fts or .fth may be used.

Using the 1997 version CD ROM of the HOU software with Windows95:

The CD-ROM should work easily with Windows95, This is what the CD-ROM contains:

Image processing software for Windows95
Curriculum images in uncompressed .FITS format
Text of curriculum booklets in Word for Windows format

Procedure: Using the CD-ROM software with Windows 3.1:

*** Important -- The bug to avoid: ***

Sometimes when you install Win32s -- which is included on the CD-ROM, the Windows operating system will delete or overwrite a file called "_MSSETUP.EXE". If this happens, you will probably see an error message that says:

Cannot access required initialization file:

'A:\_MSSETUP.EXE

If this happens, the trick is to undelete the previous version of MSSETUP.EXE. Then everything should work OK.

So, on the CD-ROM are the images of three diskettes: "IP DISK #1", "IP DISK #2", and "IP DISK #3". The MSSETUP.EXE is on the first of these disks.

Print a directory listing of IP DISK #1:

'A:\_MSSETUP.EXE

a:\dir >prn

The first file in the listing will be

' _MSTEST.EXE 89,504 bytes

Rename this file: Copy to _MSSETUP.EXE

Try the installation again. If that does not work, re-boot the system and try again.

Procedure: Using the pre-1997 software on diskettesk with Windows 3.1:

Note: This procedure is an update on the printed installation booklet by J. Refling and K. Govil.

Check to see whether your Windows 3.1 system has Win32s software installed already. For correct installation, you need to start with a system WITHOUT Win32s. If it has it, delete it.

Start the installation by installing the Win32s diskettes.

Follow the procedure as given on page 2 of the booklet:

"How To Install the Software from Diskettes onto a PC"

- This is not necessary for Windows95 or WindowsNT.

- If you try to run the IP software and receive the message: "Not Run in DOS Mode" it means you have not installed Win32s correctly.

Get three diskettes ready: "Win32s12 8/11/95 pc disk 1/3", "... 2/3", and "...3/3".

With Windows 3.1 running, insert the first diskette into the diskette drive, ususlly called a:.

Click on the following sequence with the mouse:

Program Manager

File

Run

Browse

Drive a: (or b: if appropriate)

(File Name)setup.exe

Answer all questions and complete the installation as prompted.