                                                                (06-13-2009)

                             README.TXT For...

                       9xClone.bat:  9x Clone (v1.3)
                       *****************************


CONTENTS:
~~~~~~~~~
  I.  INTRODUCTION
 II.  THE SKINNY
III.  INSTALLING
 IV.  ISSUES
  V.  LICENSE
 VI.  CONTACT
VII.  MISCELLANY


I.  INTRODUCTION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bla (creator of Blaware and this document) decided to make this batch
program (9x Clone) to make system backups and restorations easier on his
Win9x computers.  Having long used XXCOPY (http://www.xxcopy.com/) to do
backup and restore operations via the command line, it was time to just put
together a batch program to simplify these tasks.


II.  THE SKINNY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9x Clone, basically just a precisely-limited frontend for [XXCOPY /CLONE],
via menu offers the Windows 9x user the option to backup or restore the full
contents of drive C:, incorporating up to two "backup" disk drives.


III.  INSTALLING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note:  If upgrading from a previous version, simply deleting the existing
-----  files and folders and replacing them with the new is recommended.


> Bla's Suggested Setup   : probably the easiest way to set up the program
> ---------------------
   > Bla's Personal Setup : how Bla has it set up to run on his machines
   > --------------------


> Bla's Suggested Setup
> ---------------------
> Assemble the required apps and install them to one of the system's %PATH%
> directories (a directory included in the system's PATH statement--type
> "PATH" at a command prompt to see a list of these directories).  These
> required apps likely include:
>
>      DRVEXIST.BAT        NSET.COM
>           RFN.BAT         MD5.EXE
>      BATCHMAN.COM      MD5SUM.EXE
>       BIGFONT.COM       PKZIP.EXE
>      FREETEST.COM      XXCOPY.EXE
>
> Of course, the required external programs that are part of MS-DOS (v7.xx)
> are already installed and should remain where they are [most likely in the
> (%windir%\Command\) directory].  Perhaps verify their existence.  These
> likely include:
>
>        CHOICE.COM        FIND.EXE
>        FORMAT.COM       LABEL.EXE
>          MODE.COM         MEM.EXE
>          MORE.COM     REGEDIT.EXE
>         DEBUG.EXE       START.EXE
>       DELTREE.EXE
>
> And most likely already located in the "%windir%" directory should be:
>
>         HIMEM.SYS
>      RUNDLL32.EXE
>      SCANDSKW.EXE
>      SMARTDRV.EXE


   > Bla's Personal Setup
   > --------------------
   > Bla piles all his external DOS apps (*.COM and *.EXE) that are used
   > frequently into his (C:\DOS\) directory.  All his batch programs
   > (*.BAT) are located in his (C:\BAT\) directory.  These two directories
   > are both included in the system's PATH statement [which is set in the
   > (AUTOEXEC.BAT) file].


> Bla's Suggested Setup
> ---------------------
> Install the (9xClone.zip) package of files to the (C:\Bat\9xClone\)
> directory.  These files include:
>
>       9xClone.bat      9xC_Add.reg
>       Get_MD5.bat      9xC_Rem.reg
>       File_id.diz      Editing.txt
>      MD5_Sums.md5      History.txt
>       9xClone.nfo       Readme.txt
>       Blaware.nfo     Req_Apps.txt
>
> ...as well as the screenshots, (9xCss01.png - 9xCss10.png).


   > Bla's Personal Setup
   > --------------------
   > Bla has the (9xClone.zip) package of files installed to the
   > (C:\Bat\9xClone\) directory, except for the main program file,
   > (9xClone.bat), which he installed to the (C:\Bat\) directory.


> Bla's Suggested Setup
> ---------------------
> If (9xClone.bat) is installed to a location other than
> (C:\Bat\9xClone.bat), then the line (at :0G)...
>
> [set !PATH=C:\Bat\9xClone.bat]
>
> ...within (9xClone.bat) (amongst the code lines, not in the "NOTES"
> section) must be edited to reflect the full path to (9xClone.bat).
>
> See (Editing.txt) for important details on editing (9xClone.bat).


   > Bla's Personal Setup
   > --------------------
   > Bla has (9xClone.bat) installed to (C:\Bat\9xClone.bat), so the line...
   >
   > [set !PATH=C:\Bat\9xClone.bat]
   >
   > ...within (9xClone.bat) exists unaltered, as shown above.


> Bla's Suggested Setup
> ---------------------
>
> Disk drives (including the C: drive) that are to be used by 9x Clone in
> backup and restore operations must have volume labels that contains a
> common text substring.  This text substring must NOT be present in volume
> labels of all drives that 9x Clone will NOT be using.  The line
> (at :0G)...
>
> [set !STRING=_120_]
>
> ...within (9xClone.bat) (amongst the code lines, not in the "NOTES"
> section) must be edited to reflect this common substring (provided it is
> to be something other than "_120_").
>
> See (9xClone.nfo) for information on editing drive volume labels.
> See (Editing.txt) for important details on editing (9xClone.bat).


   > Bla's Personal Setup
   > --------------------
   > Bla uses "_120_" as a volume label substring for all disk drives used
   > by 9x Clone in backup and restore operations, so the line...
   >
   > [set !STRING=_120_]
   >
   > ...within (9xClone.bat) exists unaltered, as shown above.


> Bla's Suggested Setup
> ---------------------
> Run (9xClone.bat) at each computer restart under Windows via a shortcut
> placed in the Windows StartUp folder, likely...
>
> [C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\]
>
> Edit the "Cmd line" field on the "Program" tab of the "Properties" of this
> shortcut so it has a first batch parameter of "A" (Auto-run).  It should
> look something like...
>
> [C:\PATH\TO\9XCLONE.BAT a]
>
> Indeed, (9xClone.bat) must be run at each computer restart under Windows
> so it can detect when a restoration has just been performed.  If no
> restoration has just been performed, it simply aborts.
>
> Alternately, run (9xClone.bat) at each computer restart under Windows via
> an entry at the Windows Registry address of...
>
> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
>
> The name of the string could be "9xClone" and it's data value
> "C:\Bat\9xClone.bat A".  The files (9xC_Add.reg) and (9xC_Rem.reg) are
> provided to ADD to or REMOVE from the Windows Registry such an entry.
> Just double-click, (or right-click > Merge) the appropriate REG file.
>
> IMPORTANT:  If the path to (9xClone.bat) is something other than
> **********  (C:\Bat\9xClone.bat), then the REG file must first be
>             edited in a text editor to reflect the true path!


   > Bla's Personal Setup
   > --------------------
   > Bla runs (9xClone.bat) at each computer restart under Windows with the
   > command...
   >
   > [CALL 9xClone A]
   >
   > ...in the file (C:\Bat\_WinBats.bat).  The (C:\Bat\_WinBats.bat) file
   > (which runs many batch programs at startup for Bla) is run via an entry
   > at the Windows Registry address of...
   >
   > [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
   >
   > The name of the string is "_WinBats" and it's data value is
   > "C:\Bat\_WinBats.bat".


> Bla's Suggested Setup
> ---------------------
> Run (9xClone.bat) on demand from a shortcut placed somewhere in the Start
> Menu, likely...
>
> [C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\]
>
> ...or Quick Launch Bar (for Win98, not Win95), likely...
>
> [C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\]
>
> Edit the "Cmd line" field on the "Program" tab of the "Properties" of this
> shortcut so it has a first batch parameter of "Q" (Quiet) or "V"
> (Verbose).  Use "V" if the desire is to see on screen any backup or
> restore changes that are being made.  Use "Q" if the desire is to see only
> a "Working" screen instead.  It should look something like...
>
> [C:\PATH\TO\9XCLONE.BAT q]
>
> ...or...
>
> [C:\PATH\TO\9XCLONE.BAT v]
>
> Of course, (9xClone.bat) could also be run on demand simply by typing that
> same "Cmd line" as above at a command prompt.                           ;)


   > Bla's Personal Setup
   > --------------------
   > Bla runs (9xClone.bat) on demand from a shortcut placed in the Quick
   > Launch Bar.  The shortcut's "Cmd line" is...
   >
   > [C:\Bat\9xClone.bat Q]


> Bla's Suggested Setup
> ---------------------
> Bla also recommends adding this line to the system's (CONFIG.SYS) file:
>
> [SHELL=C:\PATH\TO\COMMAND.COM /E:32768 /P]
>
> This will make it so that (in general) batch programs have the maximum
> amount of environment space to work with when they are run.  [Of course,
> edit that line so it reflects the true path to (COMMAND.COM).]


   > Bla's Personal Setup
   > --------------------
   > Bla also has this line in the system's (CONFIG.SYS) file:
   >
   > [SHELL=C:\COMMAND.COM /E:32768 /P]


IV.  ISSUES
~~~~~~~~~~~
In order to run 9x Clone, Windows must be found installed in the standard,
default location as verified by:

     1) Microsoft Windows 9x installation directory:  (C:\Windows\)
     2) Microsoft DOS 7.xx installation directory:    (C:\Windows\Command\)
     3) "Program Files" directory:                    (C\Program Files\)

If Windows is installed to a location other than the default as described
above, (9xClone.bat) would require quite a bit of editing in order to be
accommodating.  9x Clone just wasn't designed to have the Windows
installation directory as a variable.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

An excerpt from (9xClone.nfo):
------------------------------

   | IMPORTANT:  9x Clone, as an integral part of it's backup/restore
   | **********  functionality, stores full alternate backup copies of both
   |             the (C:\Windows\) and (C:\Program Files\) directories on
   | "backup" drive(s) that are used.  They are stored in folders named
   | "{BakWin}" and "{BakPgF}", respectively.  It is of utmost importance,
   | then, that the system (the C: drive) be literally swimming in free disk
   | space for 9x Clone to function properly.  FYI, on Bla's Win9x computers
   | "{BakWin}" and "{BakPgF}" combined amount to less than 2GB of data.

Of course, if programs are routinely installed to their default locations
(Bla rarely does this), then the "Program Files" directory could indeed be
approaching something gargantuan in (data) size.  If this is the case, it is
not recommended that 9x Clone be used as a backup/restore solution.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

If (9xClone.bat) is run and interrupted before loading (for instance if
there is a power failure or trip), there may be a file with scrap contents
left in the directory of (9xClone.bat).  (This would be a temporary file
used by the program that normally would be deleted once no longer needed.)
If this happens more than once, there could indeed be more than just one
scrap file left undeleted.  The scrap file(s) might be named (just a 1-digit
name, most likely) any of the following:

     Z # Q 0 V @ X 8 P & Y ^ J } B 4 W $ F 7 K ( D 5 T

          C ! G 3 R { H 9 M _ S 6 N ) L ' U ~ O 2 I - E 1 A

The contents (for positive identification purposes) of the scrap file(s)
would likely be only export data from the Windows Registry.  If discovered
and positively identified, the scrap file(s) should be deleted.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT:  When choosing an option at any of the program's on screen menus,
----------  please only press a key that is in the allowable key set as
            displayed on screen.  Pressing a key other than one of those
displayed on screen as options could produce results with unintended
consequences.                                                              !


V.  LICENSE
~~~~~~~~~~~
YOU MAY NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER....  Heehee,
just kidding.  It's free, open, all that good stuff--hey, it's on your
computer, it must be yours!  If you wish, change the code to launch nukes at
your enemies (no, no, don't even ponder that!).       *** PEACE ***       :)


VI.  CONTACT
~~~~~~~~~~~~
E-Mail:  Blaware@FastMail.fm


VII.  MISCELLANY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* The 9x Clone documents are best viewed in a fixed-width font
  such as Andale Mono, Courier, Fixedsys, Terminal (recommended),...

* Please read (9xClone.nfo) for more information on 9x Clone.

* For important information on editing (9xClone.bat), see (Editing.txt).

* In general, any of the "Blaware" batch files may contain information about
  their purpose and usage.  Just open them in a text editor.

* For console help with any of the (.\Blaware\*.bat) programs, type:
  [BatName /?]

* Other Blaware programs to look for may include:

  /---------------------------------------------------\
  |      ARCHIVE |  BATCH FILE  | PROGRAM NAME        |
  |==============|==============|=====================|
  | 9xBak100.zip | 9xBak100.bat | 9x Backup 100       |
  |--------------|--------------|---------------------|
  |  9xClone.zip |  9xClone.bat | 9x Clone            |
  |--------------|--------------|---------------------|
  | 9xRamDrv.zip | 9xRamDrv.bat | 9x RamDrive         |
  |--------------|--------------|---------------------|
  | 9xRegChk.zip | 9xRegChk.bat | 9x Registry Checker |
  |--------------|--------------|---------------------|
  | 9xRegRev.zip | 9xRegRev.bat | 9x Registry Revert  |
  \---------------------------------------------------/

* Have a swell day!  Hope 9x Clone works for you!


                                  THE END
