-=> Quoting Dan Ceppa to Jean Parrot <=-

 DC> As it is, I'm sorta running 3 versions of BW  One is 2.12, the one 
 DC> I use most often is 2.30 now.  But, I've been messing with 2.30/386 

 DC> That last one is just like the regular 2.30  But, it does not like 
 DC> to work within my SWITCHER program.  

From the manual: 

   Section 4.3  Requirements for Blue Wave/386

   Blue Wave/386  is an extended, or protected mode DOS program.  In very
   simple terms,  this means that it is capable of utilitizing all memory
   that is  installed on  your system.  (Please read the previous section
   for more  information).   In addition to the ability to use all memory
   in your computer, Blue Wave/386 can also 'simulate' memory through the
   use of a disk file.  This is sometimes called a 'swap file' or Virtual
   Memory.

   In order  to run Blue Wave/386 on your system, you must be running DOS
   4.0 or  higher, OS/2  v2.0 or  higher, or  Windows v3.0 or higher.  In
   addition, your computer processor must be at least an Intel compatible
   80386, 80486,  or Pentium.   This  version of  the  mail  reader  also
   requires more disk space than the rest.  A minimum of 2MB of free disk
   space (more if a swap file is used) is needed.

   You must  also have  at least  1MB of  free memory  available on  your
   system.   2MB of free memory is recommended for the fastest operation.
   Through the  use of  both RAM  and swap  space (Virtual  Memory), Blue
   Wave/386 can load thousands of message areas, thousands of messages in
   an area,  and messages that are several megabytes long without batting
   an eye.   Again, the only limit to Blue Wave/386 is the amount of real
   memory plus  the amount of disk space you can give it.  It will handle
   any mail packets you give it now and well into the future.

   For the technical wizards;  Blue Wave/386 will use a DPMI server, XMS,
   EMS, or  VCPI interface to upper memory.  A DPMI server is recommended
   (OS/2, Windows, and QEMM provide DPMI services).



   Blue Wave/386 utilizes the DOS4GW protected mode runtime loader.  This
   DOS extender may exhibit some incompatibilities on some hardware.  The
   author has  one such  machine.   It is  highly  recommended  that  you
   install and use this version before blindly purchasing a copy as there
   is a  slight chance  that it  may not work for you.  Sorry, no refunds
   can be given once you receive a registration number.


I'm assuming that the SWITCHER is like the old Win3.10 Task Switcher. 
The 386 version doesn't have a swap directory since everything is kept 
in RAM at all times. 

There is a possibility that DOS4GW.EXE is causing troubles somewhere 
within the SWITCHER program. 


   The 386  reader loads  an advanced memory manager, DOS/4GW by Rational
   Systems (DOS4GW.EXE),  to allow it to run in protected mode and access
   up to  16MB of  extended memory.   You  do not  need to  load the  DOS
   HIMEM.SYS and  EMM386.EXE drivers  in order  for DOS/4GW  to  operate,
   though DOS/4GW will work just fine with those drivers loaded (and vice
   versa).

   Normally, the  386 reader will not require more than 2MB of memory, as
   2MB should  be more  than enough  to handle any mail packet that comes
   your way.   However,  if you  do need  more memory,  but  your  system
   doesn't have it, DOS/4GW can use what is called a "virtual memory swap
   file".  Simply put, it can create a disk file that is treated as extra
   memory.

   The virtual  memory swap  file can be created by placing a file called
   BWAVE386.VMC into the same directory that contains BWAVE386.EXE.  This
   is a  configuration file for DOS/4GW containing instructions on how to
   create the  swap file.   A sample BWAVE386.VMC file is included in the
   reader's distribution  archive (it should have been placed in the main
   reader directory during the installation procedure), and contains full
   descriptions of  each available  option.  Use a text editor to examine
   this file, and to make any necessary changes.


   Section 10.2  386 Reader

   PROBLEM:  DOS/4GW will  not operate correctly on your system, refusing
             to load and execute the reader.

   SOLUTION: Try eliminating  some TSR  (memory  resident)  programs  and
             device drivers  from your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files,
             as one  or  more  of  these  may  be  interfering  with  the
             operation of  DOS/4GW.   (If you  are using  MS-DOS  6.0  or
             later, or  PC-DOS 6.1  or later,  you have a more convenient
             method:   Pressing the   key  after the 
"Starting  DOS"
             message is  displayed will  completely bypass the loading of
             AUTOEXEC.BAT and  CONFIG.SYS, resulting  in a  "bare" system
             configuration.)

             If eliminating  TSRs and  device drivers  doesn't solve  the
             problem, you  may be  faced with  the  problem  of  hardware
             incompatibility.   Some systems  simply refuse  to cooperate
             with DOS/4GW  and other DOS extenders.  In such cases, there
             is very  little that can be done, other than to replace your
             hardware (or switch to a different version of the reader).


Also read the BWAVE386.VMC for setting MINMEM, MAXMEM & VIRTUALSIZE. 

I have: 
 
MINMEM = 512

MAXMEM = 2048

VIRTUALSIZE = 2048

Keeping VIRTUALSIZE at or less then MAXMEM forestalls swapping 
to the hard drive. With all the RAM available today, just increase 
the size of MAXMEM if things start to slow down when a really 
large message packet is opened. 

Bruce Clark 

 
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5a