Lotus Express Version 1.0 (82411)

SUMMARY

Lotus Express is an electronic mail package that runs under MS-DOS versions 3.x or earlier. However, a utility called METRO.EXE version 1.11a allows Lotus Express to run under MS-DOS versions 4.x and 5.0. For more information, contact Lotus Express customer support.

For proper use of Lotus Express with Microsoft Windows, do the following:

Do not load Lotus Express before starting Windows. Instead, start Lotus Express from a program information file (PIF) after loading Windows. The Lotus Express icon and EXPRESS.PIF file are included with the Windows Setup disks.
In standard mode, you must close Lotus Express to switch to other tasks. As a result, Lotus Express can't run in the background.
In enhanced mode, Lotus Express can run in the background, but you may still encounter problems. The KB Required (Memory Requirements) field may be reduced from 320K to 155K if needed in EXPRESS.PIF.

WARNING: Lotus Express version 1.0, even when run from its PIF, may still be incompatible with Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

The Lotus Express documentation states that Lotus Express should be loaded BEFORE running Windows, and should be unloaded AFTER exiting Windows.

This is NOT recommended with the Microsoft Windows versions 3.1 and 3.11.

The following can occur if Lotus Express is running before starting Windows:

With Lotus Express running, Windows 3.1 Setup may fail because of insufficient memory to read SETUP.INF. Either unload Lotus Express (press ALT+SHIFT+END) before running Setup, or load HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE at bootup before running Lotus Express and Windows Setup.

With Lotus Express running before loading Windows 3.1 in standard mode, some applications may appear to load; however, only the icons appear on desktop. You can call Lotus Express screens ONLY from the FIRST MS-DOS box, and you must exit screens to switch tasks. If you attempt to unload Lotus Express from an MS-DOS box, it won't work. If after such an attempt you want to close the MS-DOS box, the system will stop responding (hang or restart).
With Lotus Express running before loading Windows in 386 enhanced mode, some applications may not be able to run due to insufficient memory. It is possible to decrease the KB Required field (Memory Requirements) in the PIF for some applications to enable them to run. Problems loading large files may be encountered. You can access Lotus Express screens ONLY from ANY ONE virtual machine session. Windows may experience contention between Lotus Express and any application for some resources such as COM ports, which will require your intervention.
In either mode, Lotus Express will not re-install itself from an MS-DOS box or virtual-machine session. Also, Lotus Express sometimes cannot unload itself from memory when you press ALT+SHIFT+END, which requires you to restart your system after exiting Windows.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kbsetup kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: win31