It is required to have SMP-version of DOSCALL1.DLL, i.e. the system must to be SMP.

It is suggested to be on XR_C005 or XR_C006 fixpack level.

Unpack the package on you boot drive, for example in \OS4 directory:

• UNZIP os2krnlSVNxxx.ZIP -d \OS4 (Where xxx is number)

• CD \OS4

Backup your original boot loader and kernel in root directory of the boot drive:

• COPY \OS2LDR \OS2LDR.ORG

• COPY \OS2KRNL \OS2KRNL.ORG

Copy new boot loader and its configuration file in root of the boot drive:

• COPY OS2LDR \OS2LDR

• COPY OS2LDR.INI \OS2LDR.INI

Copy the new OS/4 kernel and boot logo in root of the boot drive:

• COPY OS2KRNL \OS2KRNL

• COPY OS4LOGO \OS4LOGO

Modify \OS2LDR.INI file if you need. Supplied configuration file will boot the OS/4 kernel by default and allow you to select booting with your original OS/2 kernel.

What is it for

• It was developed to minimize int 13h calls by jumping to processor's RealMode and getting back. It also speeds up of repeating drivers reading like PRINT01.SYS, CLOCK01.SYS and USB. The main goal is to run ACPI on AMD chipsets where int 13h cannot be used after switching ACPI on.

How does it work

• The files list has been reading in memory and then each file in list is loading in memory structure. If the file is absent on disk then only file name and special mark are placed in memory structure. This mark means that file is absent and it is not required to search for it again in future. All files missed in list will be loaded by regular way. When OS2DASD.DMD is loaded and booting is switching from MFS to IFS phase then all this memory structure will be discarded.

How to use it

• There is the files list in OS4KRNL.INI that need to be loaded. The file structure is simple. Each line contains the file name to be loaded. The only problem is that kernel may try to load file that is not present on disk like .SYM files for drivers. To avoid this failures it is useful to add all such files to list. How to investigate the files to preload in your system. Just create OS4KRNL.INI with only two lines:

  • resource.sys

  • resource.sym

• Then in OS2LDR.INI set LOGSIZE=XXX parameter in [config] section.

• Then reboot and get the boot log with commands:

  • copy ___hlp$ kernel.log if you have ACPI or

  • copy oemhlp$ kernel.log if not.

• Investigate the log for messages like "==Need 'xxxxx'==" where 'xxxxx' is a file name and put all this names in preloading file list in OS4KRNL.INI. When you put all required files in the list then there will be no messages like "==Need 'xxxxx'==" in boot log.