


              NOVELL TECHNICAL INFORMATION DOCUMENT

TITLE:              Stacker Conversion Issues
DOCUMENT ID:        014946
DOCUMENT REVISION:  A
DATE:               05MAY94
ALERT STATUS:       Yellow
README FOR:         NA

NOVELL PRODUCT and VERSION:
Novell DOS 7

ABSTRACT:

This documents covers the steps and issues involved with
converting to Stacker from Doublespace, Superstor, and retail
versions of Superstor and Stacker.

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DISCLAIMER
THE ORIGIN OF THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL TO
NOVELL.  NOVELL MAKES EVERY EFFORT WITHIN ITS MEANS TO VERIFY
THIS INFORMATION.  HOWEVER, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS
DOCUMENT IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY.  NOVELL MAKES NO EXPLICIT
OR IMPLIED CLAIMS TO THE VALIDITY OF THIS INFORMATION.
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ISSUE

     Stacker Conversion Issues:

     ================================================
     DOUBLESPACE and SUPERSTOR Drives

     Drives that have been compressed using Doublespace or
     SuperStor are supported by Novell DOS 7.  However, to gain
     the full benefit of reduced memory consumption and more
     robust disk compression, Novell recommends converting your
     Doublespace or SuperStor drives to Stacker.  You can use the
     conversion option in the Novell DOS 7 SETUP program.  Run
     SETUP after you install Novell DOS 7.

     For performance reasons, this conversion operates initially
     on the container file format only. Conversion of actual data
     to Stacker format is performed subsequently whenever any
     existing SuperStor or Doublespace compressed data is written
     back to the disk.

     If you run the DISKOPT program on a drive that is partially
     converted, the disk optimizer automatically performs a
     complete Stacker conversion by compressing all remaining
     data.  Refer to the Novell DOS 7 User Guide or DOSBook for
     information about DISKOPT and its options.

     Before Stacking any fixed disk, be sure to have a backup and
     disable all TSRs, such as disk cache and virus detection
     software.

     -------------------------------------------------------
     INSTALLING ON A MS DOS 6.0 MACHINE THAT IS DOUBLESPACED

     1.   Boot the machine, then insert the installation disk. 


          Do not boot from the installation disks.

     2.   Be sure to have a complete backup and run CHKDSK before
          proceeding.

     3.   Place the Novell Dos 7 INSTALLATION disk in the
          diskette drive. (For this example, we will use drive
          letter A:.  If your install disks are in the B: drive,
          then substitute B for that drive letter in these
          instructions)

     4.   Type A: INSTALL <Enter>

     5.   Then continue with a normal install. Follow the
          instructions on the screen.

     6.   If your boot drive (C Drive) is DoubleSpaced, System
          files will be copied to your startup drive.

          Example:

               A machine with one hard drive that is completely
               DoubleSpaced may have H: as a startup drive.

     7.   When install is complete, you can reboot your machine. 
          Be advised that your machine is still using
          DoubleSpace.  To convert DoubleSpace to Stacker, see
          instructions in this file.

     ------------------------------------------------
     CONVERTING DOUBLESPACED DRIVES TO STACKER DRIVES

     1.   Novell DOS 7 must be installed on your machine.  Be
          sure to have a complete backup of your drive before
          proceeding.
     
     2.   Disable all TSRs, such as disk cache and virus
          detection utilities.
     
     3.   Boot your machine.

     4.   At the C: prompt, type: SETUP

     5.   Select DISK COMPRESSION and press <Enter>.
     
     6.   When given the option to reboot the machine to disable
          TSRs, Novell strongly recommends that you choose this
          option.

          After reboot you will see the message:

               SETUP HAS DETECTED ONE OR MORE DOUBLESPACE DRIVES
               ON YOUR SYSTEM.  IF YOU WISH, THESE CAN BE
               CONVERTED TO STACKER DRIVES.  THIS IS A REASONABLY
               FAST PROCEDURE WHICH SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN A
               FEW MINUTES.

     7.   Select the CONVERT COMPRESSED DRIVE(S) TO STACKER
          option.


          Then you will see the message:



               SETUP WILL NOW START THE STACKER CONVERSION
               PROCESS

     8.   Select OK.

          When conversion is completed, your computer will
          reboot. You will then see the message:

               CHKDSK WILL NOW BE RUN TO VERIFY THE INTEGRITY OF
               THE DOUBLESPACE DRIVE(S).

     9.   At this point, select CONTINUE.

          After CHKDSK has completed, you will see the following
          prompt:

               PERFORM A SAFETY CHECK OF THE DOUBLESPACE
               DRIVE(S)?

     10.  Select YES.

          After completion of the safety check, you will see the
          following prompt:

               STACKER IS READY TO CONVERT YOUR DOUBLESPACE
               DRIVE(S).

     11.  Choose CONTINUE.

          The next message displayed will be:

               CONVERSION TIME WAS "  " STACKER WILL NOW RESTART
               YOUR COMPUTER.

     12.  Choose CONTINUE.

     Your machine is now converted; however, it is not
     necessarily fully RESTACKED.  Full RESTACKING can take place
     as you access data (on the fly) or by running DISKOPT on
     your machine's STACKED drive(s).

     If you wish to perform an immediate RESTACK, then disable
     all TSRs, reboot your machine, and run DISKOPT.


     -----------------------------------------------------
     INSTALLING ON A DR DOS 6.0 MACHINE THAT IS SuperStored

     1.   You must boot the machine, then insert the installation
          disk.  Do not boot from the installation disks.

     2.   Be sure to have a complete backup and run CHKDSK before
          proceeding.

     3.   Place the Novell DOS 7 INSTALLATION disk in the
          diskette drive. (For this example we will use drive
          letter A:.  If your install disks are in drive B:, then
          substitute B for the drive letter referenced in these
          instructions.)

     4.   Type A: INSTALL <Enter>

     5.   Then continue with a normal install. Follow the


          instructions on the screen.

     If your boot drive (C Drive) is compressed, system files
     will be copied to your startup drive.

     Example:

          A machine with one hard drive that is completely
          SuperStored may have D: as a startup drive.

     When install is complete you can reboot your machine.  Be
     advised that your machine is still SuperStored.  To convert
     SuperStor to Stacker see instructions in this file.


     ----------------------------------------------------
     CONVERTING DR DOS SuperStor DRIVES TO STACKER DRIVES

     The following section is for DR DOS-specific SuperStor only:

     1.   Novell DOS 7 must be installed on your machine.  Be
          sure to have a complete backup of your drive before
          proceeding.
     
     2.   Disable all TSRs, such as disk cache and virus
          detection utilities.
     
     3.   Boot your machine.

     3.   At the C: prompt, type: SETUP

     4.   Select DISK COMPRESSION and press the <Enter> key.
     
     5.   When given the option to reboot the machine to disable
          TSRs, Novell strongly recommends that you choose this
          option.

          After reboot you will see the message:  

               SETUP HAS DETECTED ONE OR MORE SuperStor DRIVES ON
               YOUR SYSTEM.  IF YOU WISH, THESE CAN BE CONVERTED
               TO STACKER DRIVES.  THIS IS A REASONABLY FAST
               PROCEDURE WHICH SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN A FEW
               MINUTES.

     6.   Select the CONVERT COMPRESSED DRIVE(S) TO STACKER
          option.

          You will then see the message:

               SETUP WILL NOW START THE STACKER CONVERSION
               PROCESS

     7.   Select OK.

          When conversion is completed your computer will reboot.
          You will then see the message:

               CHKDSK WILL NOW BE RUN TO VERIFY THE INTEGRITY OF
               THE SuperStor DRIVE(S).

     8.   Select CONTINUE.



          After CHKDSK has completed, you will see the following
          prompt:

               PERFORM A SAFETY CHECK OF THE SuperStor DRIVE(S)?

     9.   Select YES.

          After the completion of the safety check, you will see
          the following prompt:

               STACKER IS READY TO CONVERT YOUR SuperStor
               DRIVE(S).

     10.  Choose CONTINUE.

          The next message displayed will read:

               CONVERSION TIME WAS "  " STACKER WILL NOW RESTART
               YOUR COMPUTER.

     11.  Choose CONTINUE.

     Your machine is now converted; however, it is not
     necessarily fully RESTACKED.  Full RESTACKING can take place
     as you access data (on the fly) or by running DISKOPT on
     your STACKED drive(s).

     If you wish to perform an immediate RESTACK, then disable
     all TSRs, reboot your machine, and run DISKOPT.


     ----------------------------------------------------
     RETAIL SuperStor Pro and SuperStor 2.0 COMPATIBILITY

     There is no conversion from retail versions of SuperStor Pro
     or SuperStor 2.0 to Novell DOS 7 Stacker 3.12.

     To upgrade to Novell DOS 7 Stacker 3.12 from the retail
     versions of SuperStor, you do the following:

     1.   Backup your hard drive.

     2.   Delete the SuperStor volume.

     3.   Then through the Novell DOS 7 setup utility, Stac the
          drive.

     Data then can be restored to the Stacker volume.

     *** WARNING ***
     The retail SuperStor disk compression and diskfix utilities
     should be used on the SuperStor volume(s) only.  DO NOT USE
     the Novell DOS 7 Diskopt on the SuperStor Pro or SuperStor
     2.0 volume(s).


     ================================================
     STACKER DRIVES

     --------------------------------------------
     RETAIL Stacker 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1 COMPATIBILITY

     Novell DOS 7 provides no utility for converting Stacker 2.0,


     3.0 or 3.1 to Novell DOS 7 Stacker 3.12.

     Stac Electronics compression technology includes both
     CONFIG.SYS loading drivers and drivers that load from the
     DOS kernel.  Stacker 2.0 and Stacker 3.0 uses config.sys
     drivers; Device=C:\Stacker\Stacker.com and
     Device=C:\Stacker\Sswap.com.  Stacker 3.1 utilizes both the
     config.sys drivers and kernel loading drivers.  Depending on
     when Stacker 3.1 was purchased and in what box it was
     purchased, version 3.1 refers only to the kernel loading
     drivers or it can refer to both the CONFIG.SYS supported
     drivers and the kernel loading drivers.

     ___________________________________________
     The following section is for Stacker 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1 using
     the config.sys drivers:

     You have the following three options:

     Option 1:

          Leave on the Stacker 2.0, 3.0 or 3.1.

          *** WARNING ***
          The retail Stacker disk compression and diskfix
          utilities should be used on the Stacker volume(s) only.
          DO NOT USE the Novell DOS 7 Diskopt on the Stacker
          2.0,3.0 or Stacker 3.1 volume(s).

     Option 2:

          1.   Backup your data.

          2.   Remove the existing Stacker 2.0 or Stacker 3.0
               volumes.

          3.   Consult you Stacker Manual for the best method of
               removing and unstacking the existing Stacker
               volumes.  Then Stac the drive through Novell DOS 7
               setup under the Disk Compression option.

          4.   Restore your data.

     Option 3:

          Do a manual conversion to Novell DOS 7 Stacker 3.12. 
          While this is not "Officially supported" a manual
          conversion is possible.  It has worked successfully in
          in-house tests.  Stacker has also said that it "should"
          work.  To do a manual conversion, use the following
          steps:

          IMPORTANT!
          While the in-house tests showed no loss of data, data
          loss is possible with any compression conversion.

          1.   Backup your data.

          2.   Create a STACKER.BIN by issuing the following
               commands while in the NWDOS directory.  (The
               STACLOAD.BIN and STACKER.COM are located in the
               NWDOS subdirectory.)
     


               COPY /B STACLOAD.BIN+STACKER.COM C:\STACKER.BIN
               ATTRIB +RHS C:\STACKER.BIN

          3.   Using a text editor, create the C:\STACKER.INI
               file.

               The following example shows only one STAC'd
               volume.

                    /I-
                    /P=9
                    /F=32
                    /DIR=C:\NWDOS
                    C:\STACVOL.DSK,SW

               The C:\STACVOL.DSK is the location of and file
               name of the compressed Stacker volume(s).  This
               can be found by looking at the CONFIG.SYS.  The
               line will read as follows:

                    DEVICE=C:\STACKER\STACKER.COM C:\STACVOL.DSK

               The following STACKER.INI example shows multiple
               Stacker Volumes:

                    /I-
                    /P=9
                    /F=32
                    /DIR=C:\NWDOS
                    C:\STACVOL.DSK,SW
                    E:\STACVOL.DSK,SW

               The CONFIG.SYS Stacker driver line was as follows:

                    DEVICE=C:\STACKER\STACKER.COM C:\STACVOL.DSK
                    E:\STACVOL.DSK

          4.   Rem-out Stacker drivers from CONFIG.SYS.

               An example of the Stacker drivers are:

               DEVICE=C:\STACKER\STACKER.COM C:\STACVOL.DSK
               DEVICE=C:\STACKER\SSWAP.COM C:\STACVOL.DSK /SYNC+

          5.   Reboot.  During the reboot, the STACKER 3.12
               driver should be shown as loading.

     ___________________________________________
     The following section is for Stacker 3.1 using the kernel
     loading drivers:

     You have the following two options:

     Option 1:

     1.   Backup your data.

     2.   Remove the existing Stacker 2.0 or Stacker 3.0 volumes.

     3.   Consult your Stacker Manual for the best method in
          removing and unstacking the existing Stacker volumes. 
          Then Stac the drive through Novell DOS 7 setup under
          the Disk Compression option.


     4.   Restore your data.

     Option 2:

          Do a manual conversion to Novell DOS 7 Stacker 3.12. 
          While this is not "Officially supported" a manual
          conversion is possible.  It has worked successfully in
          in-house tests.  Stacker has also said that it "should"
          work.  To do a manual conversion, use the following
          steps:

          IMPORTANT!
          While the in-house tests showed no loss of data, data
          loss is possible with any compression conversion.

          1.   Backup your data.

          2.   Create a STACKER.BIN by issuing the following
               commands while in the NWDOS directory.  (The
               STACLOAD.BIN and STACKER.COM are located in NWDOS
               subdirectory.)
     
               COPY /B STACLOAD.BIN+STACKER.COM D:\STACKER.BIN
               (D: being the boot drive.)

               ATTRIB +RHS D:\STACKER.BIN
               (D: being the boot drive.)

          3.   Delete the DBLSPACE.BIN.  This file has system,
               hidden, and read only attributes.  To delete the
               file, type the following command:

                    Attrib DBLSPACE.BIN -rsh

          4.   Modify the Stacker.ini.

               The stacker.ini is located on the boot drive. 
               Change to the boot drive and type the following:

               ATTRIB STACKER.INI -RSH
               ATTRIB STACKER.BAK -RSH
               ERASE STACKER.BAK

          5.   Using a text editor, modify the STACKER.INI. 
               Change the /DIR=C:\STACKER line to /DIR=C:\NWDOS.

     ------------------------------------------------
     STACKER 4.0 COMPATIBILITY

     If Novell DOS 7 is installed on a MS DOS 6.0 or MS DOS 6.2
     with Stacker 4.0 installed, there are no known compatibility
     issues.  Stacker 4.0 will continue to work without further
     conversion.

     If Novell DOS 7 is installed on DR DOS 6.0 or MS DOS 5.0
     with Stacker 4.0 installed, you will get EMM386 Protection
     errors when accessing the Stacker volume(s).  Others users
     can access the Stacker volume(s); however, they cannot run
     any applications.  If EMM386.EXE isn't loaded, you can
     access the Stacker volume(s) without problem.

     Do not run the Stacker 4.0 Config.sys drivers, STACKER.COM
     and SSWAP.COM with Novell DOS 7.


     To update the system with the appropriate Stacker 4.0
     drivers, do the following:

     1.   Bootup from the hard drive.

     2.   When the STARTING DOS... message starts to display,
          press the F5 function key.  This will allow you to
          bypass the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

     3.   Run the Stacker 4.0 install from the floppy diskette. 
          This will modify the CONFIG.SYS by removing the
          following command lines:

               DEVICE=C:\STACKER\STACKER.COM
               DEVICE=C:\STACKER\SSWAP.COM

          The install will also create a C:\DBLSPACE.BIN file and
          copy the STACKER2.BIN file to the C:\ directory.

          A C:\NWDOS\_STACKER.OLD subdirectory is created.  The
          following files are moved from the C:\NWDOS to the
          C:\NWDOS\_STACKER.OLD directory:

               CREATE.COM
               DCONVERT.COM
               DCONVRT2.COM
               PASSWORD.EXE
               PREVIEW.EXE
               SCREXEC.EXE
               SDEFRAG.COM
               SDEFRAG2.EXE
               STACKER.COM
               UNSTACK.COM
               UNSTACK2.COM

     4.   Reboot the system.

     Now, you should be able to access the Stacker volume(s) with
     out problem.

     ____________________________________
     MANUAL INSTALL and UPDATE:

     Though reinstalling Stacker 4.0 is the preferred method to
     update the drivers, you can do a manual update.  The
     DBLSPACE.BIN and STACKER2.BIN files can be manually created
     and installed by doing the following:

     1.   Copy STACKER2.BIN from the Stacker 4.0 install disk #1
          to C:\.

     2.   Copy STACLOAD.BIN from the Stacker 4.0 install disk #1
          to C:\STACKER.

     3.   From the C:\STACKER subdirectory, type the following
          command:

          COPY /B STACLOAD.BIN+STACKER.COM C:\DBLSPACE.BIN

     4.   Edit the CONFIG.SYS and remove the following lines:

               DEVICE=C:\STACKER\STACKER.COM
               DEVICE=C:\STACKER\SSWAP.COM


     5.   Create the C:\NWDOS\_STACKER.OLD subdirectory.

     6.   Move the following files from C:\NWDOS to
          C:\NWDOS\_STACKER.OLD.

               CREATE.COM
               DCONVERT.COM
               DCONVRT2.COM
               PASSWORD.EXE
               PREVIEW.EXE
               SCREXEC.EXE
               SDEFRAG.COM
               SDEFRAG2.EXE
               STACKER.COM
               UNSTACK.COM
               UNSTACK2.COM

     7.   Reboot the system.

     Now, you will have access to the Stacker volume(s).

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