I'm an old fan of MaxThink DOS. The Windows versions of MaxThink I've tried by they just don't do it.

Well, I found my old Win98 laptop and she still works!

I've copied all teh DOS Maxthink files into C:\MAX but when I start her up I get a quick splash of the MaxThink logo on the black dos background and then it goes blank like it's trying to load but instead up pops a small dos window with the following msg:

"FILE CONFIG91.MT not found program terminated_"

Any ideas what the problem may be? I haven't messed w/ Windows 98 and / or DOS in years

Best,
Norm

Have you created a pif file--now known as a shortcut to an MS DOS program? You have to specify settings in it. My DOS programs worked weell in Win98 and 2000, but not XT.

-cassius

No I did not and know nothing about "pif" or the needed settings. But I know what to look for at least. Many thx for pointing me a direction Cassius.

Best, Norm

Cassius wrote:

Have you created a pif file--now known as a shortcut to an MS DOS program? You have to
specify settings in it. My DOS programs worked weell in Win98 and 2000, but not
XT.

-cassius

The only description of the MT file extension I've been able to find describes it as a "miscellaneous file type," which is useless and probably doesn't apply in this case.

I'm just guessing, but it's possible that the MT was derived from (M)ax(T)hink. This could be an application specific configuration file, i.e., a file that contains various default settings for the program. If that's the case, you'd need to find the MaxThink documentation describing the file contents (if the documentation exists).

One possibility that might or might not get you anywhere would be to create a text file with a couple of empty lines or just random text and rename it CONFIG.MT (or whatever the exact file name was). Then, if you launch MaxThink, you MIGHT get some error messages that would give you a clue about what's supposed to be in the file. Or Windows 98 could explode in your face. I vaguely remember using 98 and it was prone to sudden explosions.

Thx Gary for ur efforts.

The MT file is indeed a specific configurations file for MaxThink and the config92.mt file is currently in c:\Max which as best as I understand these things, is exactly where it should be.

I dug out the old DOS MaxThink manuals and tried a few things mentioned re: what to add to autoexec.bat and config.sys but again, got the exact same error msg... can not find bla bla.

BTW, Cassius, I tried setting up a PIF and got the same result.

Thx again guys.

Ugh,
Norm

If the config file is in C:\Max, but MaxThink can't find it, maybe you need to add the path C:\Max to autoexec.bat or config.sys or one of those system files. I can't remember what system files Windows 98 used. All I can remember about 98 is that it was incredibly unstable.

no ho, did you create the pif (shortcut) file by
1) copying (CTRL-C) the Max.exe file and then
2) using the right-click contest menu, pasting its shortcut where you want it (e.g., the desktop}?
Then, when you right-click on the shortcut and choose Properties, you should see about 10 tabs. (At least there are 10 in Win XP.)

I think I said this worked for me with GrandView through Win 2000, but not very well in XP. It may that MaxThink is just too incompatible with what Microsoft pretends is DOS in later versions of Windows.
--------------------------------------------------------------
no ho wrote:

Thx Gary for ur efforts.

The MT file is indeed a specific configurations file for
MaxThink and the config92.mt file is currently in c:\Max which as best as I understand
these things, is exactly where it should be.

I dug out the old DOS MaxThink manuals
and tried a few things mentioned re: what to add to autoexec.bat and config.sys but
again, got the exact same error msg... can not find bla bla.

BTW, Cassius, I tried
setting up a PIF and got the same result.

Thx again guys.

Ugh,
Norm

I assume that what you have written below includes a typing error (91 instead of 92 or vice versa); if it doesn't, then it may be the answer to your problems. I.e. you should rename the file to what MaxThink is looking for.

no ho wrote:

?FILE CONFIG91.MT not found program terminated_?

and

The MT file is indeed a specific configurations file for
MaxThink and the config92.mt file is currently in c:\Max which as best as I understand
these things, is exactly where it should be.

I would also guess a possible issue with the PC's clock. It is quite reasonable for the lithium battery to have been exhausted by now, and the PC clock being reset to a very old date, probably related to its year of manufacture. MaxThink may be programmed to look for a config9x.mt version related to the date.

Good possibility, Alex--I'd never have thought of it.

Another possibility: Was there a configuration file in MaxThink when it came out of the box, or did MaxThink create it when it was first run? If the latter, don't delete the existing config file, just temporarily rename it (e.g., add the letter z to the front of the name) and see if MT will create a new config file.

I'm having similar problems getting Max89 to run on Linux using dosemu. Max.exe exits with the following error message:

FILE c:\MAX\MESSAGES.MT not found program terminated

Anyone got a copy of the MESSAGES.MT file?

Thanks!

I now have MaxThink working on Linux using dosemu.

Buckeye,

I've had no luck w/ suggestions posted here. My prob: I attempt, on old Acer Laptop Windows 98, to start MAX and I get a quick splash of the MaxThink logo screen/page on the black dos background and then it goes blank like it?s trying to load but instead up pops a small dos window with the following msg:

?FILE CONFIG91.MT not found program terminated_?

I do have the Messages.MT file. How do I get it to you? My email is advoh @ yahoo .com

Best,
Norm

On page 1-4 of my Max89 manual are the instructions to "Run MaxThink From Any Directory"

Change autoexec.bat to include:

PATH=C:\MAX
SET MAX=C:\MAX

This assumes that you have installed MaxThink in a directory named MAX on your C: drive. Including the SET command tells MAX.EXE where to find the files like ConfigXX.MT needed to support the MaxThink executable.

Once you've done this type CD \ followed by AUTOEXEC.BAT

Then check your environment variables by typing PATH followed by SET.

If everything looks right type MAX.

Hope this works!

Thx Buckeye for the reassurance. I did mess around with those changes as well, w/o any luck, but since I'm encouraged by your suggestion I'll go back and check my work.

Did u need that MT file?

Best,
Norm

No thanks, got it working :-)

Here's a link to some information on sample Windows 98 Program Information (.pif) Files:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/188157