Setting Up the GWBasic Platform


Preparation for running GWBasic

All that is necessary to setup for running GWBasic is to locate the file named gwbasic.exe, copy it to a location that is handy and you are ready to use it. By convention, it is suggested that a Folder named GWBASIC be created in the C: (root directory) of the hard drive and copy gwbasic.exe into it. This will make it easier to follow the subsequent lessons.
After this is done, you are through with this lesson because you have a suitable platform to continue on with the remaining lessons. However, if you are curious, then a more detailed explaination of the setup, gwbasic.exe and how to use it is given below.


A more thorough explaination of the GWBasic Platform

Oh great, I see you decided to explore a little more about how to setup for running GWBasic. The purpose for locating our gwbasic interpreter in a folder with a conventional name is because some instruction in GWBasic require knowing where the Folder (directory) is located on the hard drive. These instructions will be addressed later. The use of the location and name of the GWBasic folder is a useful convention for us.


There is another useful setup for running GWBasic. Simply format a floppy disk as a SYSTEMS disk and make a copy of gwbasic.exe on it. This is very useful because GWBasic does not require Windows to function. If this floppy disk is mounted in it's A: drive when the computer is initially turned on and booted, then the system will load up and be prepared to run GWBasic without needing to even open up Windows. This can be very handy, especially if Windows is acting up.


Having done either of these tasks, the computer is prepared to launch into using GWBasic as a programming tool. How to run GWBasic is in the next lesson. How to program GWBasic and a number of programs will be given in following lessons.
In Summary:
The setup for using GWBasic is to create a floppy disk formatted as a system disk with the GWBasic.exe program on it or to create a Folder on the hard drive named GWBASIC with a copy of gwbasic.exe in it.



Create a floppy disk for using GWbasic

How to prepare the floppy disk for using GWBasic.... Just in case, for those not familiar with the floppy disk use:...

Get a floppy disk and make sure the square hole on the upper right of the disk is closed. There is a slide tab on the back of the disk that permits it to be either opened or closed. Put the slide so that you can't see through the disk, as you can with the square index hole on the other side of the disk.

Boot up Windows as you normally do
Mount the prepared floppy disk in the floppy disk drive
Double click on the "My Computer" icon
Right click on the 3.5 inch Floppy (A:) icon
Select Format from the drop down menu

When the Format Window opens, set up for the format sequence:
Select 1.44 Mb (3.5") for the capacity if it isn't already selected by default
Select Quick Erase under Format Type if it isn't already selected by default
Type a name for the disk in the Label's input fiels, Perhaps GWBASIC or any other name
Check the Copy System files box that is normally unchecked for a simple data disk
Click the START button to begin the fomatting process

The floppy will chatter a wee bit and the formatting events will be showed in the bottom of the Format Window. When the formatting process is complete, a summary will be displayed
Close both windows and return to the "My Computer Window".
Right click on the Floppy icon and select properties from the drop down menu
A pie chart should show that about a quarter of the disk is used for the system files and the remainder of the disk is prepared to receive any files we wish to put on it. You may change the label text at this time if you wish.
Close the summary display window

The final step is to double click on the floppy icon to open its window, drag and drop a copy of GWBasic.exe into it and the preparation for your GWBasic floppy disk is complete.

Oh yes....Some systems have the BIOS set up to read from the floppy disk on start-up if a floppy disk is mounted in the floppy disk drive. If it isn't, then the boot sequence looks to the hard drive for the remainder of the boot process.
If your system is configured this way, then be sure and remove the floppy disk from the floppy drive before you re-boot. If the floppy is mounted in the drive, then the next time you boot up, you will come up in the A: drive. Then you may use DOS commands to run the GWBasic program. Command line program control will be explained in later lessons.