IRIX 6.2 provides a new startup script to help you prepare for installation. This script checks for COFF programs, which will not run on IRIX 6.2. It also checks for old kernel files and large files you may no longer need and, with your approval, removes them. You launch the script by clicking the ``OK'' button in this window.

Silicon Graphics strongly recommends that you run the startup script.

Note: If you ran the startup script for a previous 6.2 installation, you may wish to skip it. To skip the script, click the ``Cancel'' button.

How The Startup Script Works

The startup script performs a three-part check. You can run (or skip) each part separately. When the script finishes, it returns control to Software Manager so that you can begin installing IRIX 6.2.

Check for COFF Programs

IRIX 6.2 does not run COFF programs, which were built for IRIX 4.0 and earlier releases. To determine whether any COFF programs exist, you can run coffcheck in the first part of the startup script. (You can also quit this installation session, reboot with your present version of IRIX, and run coffcheck from the CDROM using the command ``/CDROM/coffcheck''.)

The coffcheck script identifies COFF programs on locally mounted (not NFS) filesystems and lists these programs (and the names of other programs that should be replaced) in one or more files for your review. Review the list before proceeding with the installation. Do not proceed if you determine that the lists contains necessary COFF programs for which you have no replacement.

Check to Increase Available Disk Space

Because IRIX 6.2 contains a number of new products, it might require more disk space than your current IRIX release. Silicon Graphics recommends that you remove unnecessary files, such as old kernel crash files, program core files, and files in user dumpsters. The second part of the startup script checks for such files and removes them individually, as you approve each removal.

Check for Old Kernel Files

To insure a successful installation and kernel configuration, it is often advisable to remove old kernel files in the /var/sysgen and /usr/cpu/sysgen trees. The third part of the startup script removes these old files; any modified and custom kernel files are saved.

Note: You should only run this third check if you are planning a full IRIX installation.