I am running Windows 3.1 on an IBM PS/1. For the past week, whenever it is turned on, Windows boots up but the program manager is nowhere to be found. It does not appear on the desktop like it always did before. The only icon that appears on the desktop is a program group for some games that were installed years ago. I can get to other files using "run" and "browse" and then opening the exe file. All programs seem to be funtioning properly but I still cannot find program manager. How can I get Program Manager to appear on the desktop at boot-up?

Hi Mark: If you get a program group on the screen then Program Manager must be running. The progman.exe file should be in system.ini under [boot] section (shell=progman.exe). You can try run winfile (File Manager) to get to your *.exe files, you can create new groups in Program Manager then use a minimized File Manager on top of it. From there drag & drop the *.exe file(s) to Program Manager group. You can then click on the icon & go to properties to make changes to name or change icon (using different one from a different location). You might have corrupted files if screen is messed up, you might need to reinstall Win 3.1. Good luck. Z

Program manager appears to be running but is using a different progman.ini from your previous one. Have a look in the windows directory for files that begin with progman.someting-you should be able to few the file date with filemanager. ignor .hlp and .exe files these are help and the progman executables. You can use notepad to veiw the contents. The one with the date close to when it went heywire should be the one you rename to progman.ini remembering to rename the existing file with that name to someting else. You may have to do the renaming in dos as windows will be using the current progman.ini. Good luck

........ who needs Program Manager?, get Calmira (www.calmira.org)

Program Manager uses less system resources than Calmira. But I have to say Calmira is a great shell for win 3.x