                PCPN Version 4.1a - INSTALL README File

Welcome to the world of PCPN - The Personal Network, one of the most
complete, personal, user-friendly, multi-featured Bulletin Board Systems
("BBS"es) available today!

Running PCPN allows you, the System Operator or "SYSOP", to grant "remote
users" controlled access to your personal computer. PCPN allows users to:

 *       keep informed about news, events, information (bulletins)
 *       send and receive electronic mail
 *       participate in public debates
 *       exchange programs and/or data

Registering your PCPN further enhances your BBS's capabilities when you
become a member "node" of "PunterNet" (named after its author, Steve Punter).
As a Node, you become a member of a North American electronic communications
network allowing your PCPN to communicate with other PCPNs with both
Electronic Mail and Echo Conferences, allowing your users to:

 *       exchange messages, both private and public, with users on other PCPN
         nodes

 *       participate in public discussion forums or "Echo Conferences" which
         are usually based on a single topic, not necessarily
         computer-related (for example, "Star Trek")

 *       share views and opinions with other users from across the continent:
         Conferences contain (almost) exactly the same messages on each and
         every PCPN that supports them!

With PCPN "add-ons", or "Program Links" (purchased from outside vendors),
PCPN can do pretty well anything you wish. For example, users may:

 *       send messages out as FAX calls to real FAX machines (with a FAX modem)
 *       play games
 *       take quizzes you make up
 *       access a database

The new Graphics-like User Interface ("GUI") will enable even the most
inexperienced BBS user to efficiently and effectively handle all of PCPN's
features with ease. Using a combination of pull-down menus, pop-up windows,
presented in full ANSI colour, this menuing system allows a user to select
PCPN commands with a single keystroke. Even in non-ANSI mode, PCPN can still
function in this manner. Help, should it be required, is available online for
every single command and prompt.

PCPN will also run as a "multi-user" system (more than one person online at a
time) under a "multi-tasking" operating system, or on a local area network
(LAN) such as Novell or Lantastic.

Evaluation Copies

PCPN can be run as either an "Evaluation" copy, or as a "Registered" copy. If
you received an evaluation copy from a friend, or downloaded one from a BBS,
you are free to operate it for a period of two or three weeks. Evaluation
copies contain all PCPN features except for PunterNet network access and thus
do not support Conferences, which are a major part of PCPN. Please do "try
before you buy"! If, after running an evaluation copy for two to three weeks,
you find that PCPN really doesn't meet your needs, you are under no
obligation to purchase the program, nor do you need to pay for the time
period you were using it. Just shut the system down and remove it from your
hard drive (the specifics of removal are covered in the installation manual).

Installation

It is highly recommended that you print out a copy of the installation manual
before attempting to install PCPN. A very basic copy of the installation
manual is included inside this archive as INSTALL.MAN. If you are a user of
WordPerfect 5.1 or 6.0, you can print the file INSTALL.WP5, which is a DTP
quality manual replete with charts, screen shots and instructions.

If you can't wait to get started, you should be able to get by with the
following limited instructions.


First, ensure that these four files are located on a floppy or hard drive
where they will be accessible:

PCPN41A2.ZIP
PCPN41A3.ZIP
PCPN41A4.ZIP
PCPN41A5.ZIP

PCPN41A1.ZIP is the file which contains the INSTAL.EXE program, and the text
file which you are currently reading.

Next, type INSTALL. You will be presented with the following screen:


PCPN Installation Program
-------------------------

Root Directory = C:\BBS

Do you wish to specify a different path?


It is *HIGHLY* recommended that you leave this path remaining as C:\BBS. If
you are installing the BBS to another drive, use the "\BBS" directory on that
drive as well, for instance "F:\BBS". Next, you will be shown the following
screen:


ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ»
Ί  PCPN System Generator Program -         V4.1A  Ί
Ί           (c) 1994 PC Ability                   Ί
ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ
                   * For C:\BBS *

1.  Create New System
      (Set Up an Evaluation Copy)

2.  Convert to a PunterNet Node
      (Convert to Registered Copy)

3.  Update to New Release
      (Changes Altered Files ONLY)

4.  Convert Pre-3.1A Sub-Directories

D.  Return to MS-DOS

Enter Option:

WARNING: If updating from version 3.2A to version 4.1A, choose option
3 as normal, but do not, under any circumstances, tell INSTALL to
create new 4.1A files, as the 3.2A conversion did that already!


Because this is the initial installation, the only option we are concerned
with is option 1, "Create New System". When selected, the following screen
will be shown:


ΙΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝ»
Ί                 Create System                  Ί
ΘΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΌ

Chosen Path = C:\BBS


Press <ESC> to Abort

Enter FULL PATH of PKUNZIP.EXE on your Hard Drive
>c:\util


Enter the directory that the file PKUNZIP.EXE can be found. In our example,
PKUNZIP.EXE resides in the "C:\UTIL" directory. Next, the following prompt
will show:


Enter <RETURN> if ZIP files are on a FLOPPY, or
Enter FULL PATH of ZIP files on your HARD DRIVE
>c:\transfer


In our example, the PCPN41A2.ZIP, PCPN41A3.ZIP, PCPN41A4.ZIP and PCPN41A5.ZIP
files are located in the C:\TRANSFER directory.

At this point, the install program will begin to ask you a series of
questions. Each of these questions will have a short "help screen" explaining
exactly what it is that it requires. When it finishes installing the BBS, it
will return to the main menu, where you can exit to DOS by pressing "D". At
this point, you should be able to start your new BBS by changing to the main
BBS directory (ie "CD \BBS") and typing the command "BBS".

It is highly recommended that if you are still mystified at this point, you
go back to the installation manual, which leads you through each step in
detail.

PCPN Registration and Support

To register your PCPN, send $99.95 cheque or money order (CDN funds in
Canada, US funds elsewhere) to:

 PCPN Support                            Make cheques payable to: Steve Punter.
 4342 Forest Fire Lane
 Mississauga, Ontario
 Canada  L4W 3P4

Please also state what size and density floppy diskettes you require (360K
5.25", 1.2M 5.25", 720K 3.5", or 1.4M 3.5"). It would be appreciated if you
would also supply your BBS's phone number, and a voice number where you may
be contacted should there be any network problems.

In return, you will receive the latest version on floppy diskettes, a printed
manual, and most importantly, your PunterNet network access code, Node
number, and Security Codes which will enable to you to complete your PCPN
installation.

We would like to be informed of any difficulties you do encounter, no matter
how small, as well as any suggestions for improvements, or even compliments,
that you may wish to pass on to the author. Please note that we can not
guarantee a response by mail (land mail, such as Canada Post, the U.S. Postal
Service, or a courier); once your PCPN is fully operational, please use
PunterNet messages or the Conferences for correspondence. Your continued
support will help us make PCPN a better program for all to enjoy for many
years to come.

Thank you for trying PCPN! We hope you will become a member of our network
soon!