-- RELEASE NOTES FOR THE SYSINFO PROGRAM --



About SYSINFO :
---------------

System Information is a small application that continuously monitors
the system resources in easy-to-read bar graphs. It changes colours
to inform you of critical condition (low memory or disk space). Works
in small window OR icon, and can optionally be used as a Clock/Calendar.
Also produces information on all system hardware.


Installation :
--------------

To install simply copy all files to a directory. You can copy the
*.DLL and *.VBX files to your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory. You must
also find a copy of the Visual Basic runtime library VBRUN300.DLL and
copy it to your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory.


Further configuration :
-----------------------

SYSINFO will create a configuration (ini) file containing all options,
the first time it is run. All options can be changed from within the
program, and SYSINFO remembers these options when it is run again.

It also opens at the exact place and size it had when you closed it.
For example if you run it minimized and select to view the resources,
when you run it again it will show the same information by running 
minimized.

A good idea is to put SYSINFO in your STARTUP GROUP so that it runs
automatically when Windows starts. By monitoring memory and disk usage,
you will prevent system crashes that occur when resources fall low. You
will also identify programs that misbehave by 'eating-up' memory.

SYSINFO has an option of staying on-top of other applications. You are
advised not to disable this option if you want a continuous monitoring.
You can also use SYSINFO as a desktop Clock & Calendar, by selecting to
view the time either when maximized or minimized.


An introduction to Windows memory problems :
--------------------------------------------

Q: What are the Windows resources ?
A: The GDI and USER resources are two small memory reserves, with a
   fixed 64 Kbyte size.

Q: I have 32 Mbytes of RAM (lucky you) and yet when i run a few 
   "heavy" tasks (such as top word processors and drawing apps)
   i get a message "out of memory". How can that be ?
A: Even if you had 1 Gbyte of RAM, if the two small memory reserves
   of 64 Kbytes fill up, Windows faces a memory problem !

Q: So, what can i do ?
A: Nothing ! (Except probably wait for Chicago). Well, actually what
   you can do, is keep SYSINFO running. SYSINFO continuously monitors
   your free resources, and if these fall low (below 50%), the bars 
   turn to red, alerting you. If resources fall extremely low (below
   30%) the bars turn to yellow. This is critical condition. You must
   NOT open any more applications. You are advised to close any apps
   that are not needed.

Q: OK, so i closed some applications, but the resources didn't rise
   as i expected.
A: This is typical of some badly written applications that misbehave.
   Resources are not freed when you exit such an application. If free
   resources are low while you have terminated most applications, the
   only thing left to do is restart Windows.


And finally ....
----------------

Sysinfo is distributed as Freeware, and as such requires no special
fee payed to the author. However, i would be glad to receive any
suggestions, comments or postcards from your town ! 


Thanks,
        Antonis

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Internet mail :  ayan@hol.ath.forthnet.gr 

Snail-Mail    :  Antonis Giannopoulos  
                 18 Miltiadou Str.
                 Holargos 155 61
                 Athens, Greece 
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