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Family-Soft

Girl-Friend Girl-Friend+ FianCee Wife Mistress Boy-Friend Warning HusBand

Family-Soft

FamilySoft^SM programs all share one interesting feature; each new version has increasingly sophisticated features, which would be simply unplayable by the novice; so it is impossible to upgrade, for example, from Girl-Friend 1.0 to Girl-Friend 4.0; the user must work through each version, bugs and all. The programs have been designed to work together - but still contain conflicts at all levels.

Girl-Friend

Girl-Friend 1.0

Warning: incompatible with DrinkingBuddies 1.0
DrinkingBuddies will not crash if Girl-Friend is run in background mode and the sound is turned off. But this is not possible with Windows 3.x; FamilySoft advice is to run them separately, or upgrade.

Girl-Friend also seems to have a problem co-existing with Golf programs, often with some sort of timing incompatibility.

Girl-Friend 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 can be uninstalled manually, but tend to leave files in the systems directory. This is a serious bug in Girl-Friend 1.x, which may lead to complete re-installation without any conscious effort.

Features under consideration for later versions

1. "Don't remind me again" button

Girl-Friend 2.0

Girl-Friend 2.0 does have better performance than Girl-Friend 1.0, but you need to be sure that you have enough cache to run Girl-Friend 2.0 It may require a Token Ring to run properly. As soon as you purge your cache, it will uninstall itself.

Girl-Friend 2.0 can be uninstalled manually, but may leave undesirable files in the systems directory.

Features under consideration for later versions

1. "Don't remind me again" button
2. 'Minimize' button.

Girl-Friend 3.0

Girl-Friend 3.0 was marketed as a sophisticated program: All the bugs were supposed to be gone, but it turned out to be susceptible to all sorts of viruses, requiring the whole system to be shut down for a while.

Features under consideration for later versions

1. "Don't remind me again" button
2. 'Minimize' button.
3.'Install' feature that allows Fiancee 1.0 and then Wife 1.0 be installed with the option to uninstall at anytime without the loss of cache and other system resources.

Girl-Friend.4.0

Girl-Friend 4.0 will not run with any other version of Girl-Friend in the system. Girl-Friend 4.0 has a feature (not advertised) that automatically senses any other version of Girl-Friend and communicates with it in some way, which may result in the immediate uninstalling of both versions.

In practice, this program cannot be installed successfully without first uninstalling earlier versions; different versions of Girl-Friend have conflicts over shared use of the I/O port.

The uninstall program (Girl-Friend 3.0+ only) does not work very well, each version leaving undesirable traces of the application in the system.

Like all versions of Girl-Friend, Girl-Friend 4.0 is written in an encrypted language, not widely understood, let alone reprogrammed. Many users complain that there is too much attention paid to the look and feel rather than the desired functionality. Also, gold-plated contacts are required to get the best connections with hardware. Girl-Friend 4.0 is totally "object-oriented."

Girl-Friend 4.0 continually displays pop up messages about the advantages of upgrading to Wife 1.0

Features under consideration for later versions

1. "Don't remind me again" button
2. 'Minimize' button.
3.'Install' feature that allows Fiancee 1.0 and then Wife 1.0 be installed with the option to uninstall at anytime without the loss of cache and other system resources.
4. Option to run the network driver in 'serial monogamy' mode. This would allow total uninstall and recuperation, with cache extension and general systems upgrade

Girl-Friend+

Girl-Friend+ 1.0

Girl-Friend+ 1.0 is a Terminate and Stay Resident version of Girl-Friend. Girl-Friend+ 1.0 expires within a year if you don't upgrade to FianCee 1.0; It has received poor reviews, on the basis that it is no more than a marketing ploy, with constant offers of "Wife 1.0 bundled with FreeSexPlus."

Girl-Friend+ 1.0 includes subroutines that may convert Boy-Friend Programs into Fiance 1.0; especially if FamilyMeeting feature has not been disabled

Features under consideration for later versions

1. "Don't remind me again" button
2. 'Minimize' button.
3.'Install' feature that allows Fiancee 1.0 and then Wife 1.0 be installed with the option to uninstall at anytime without the loss of cache and other system resources.
4. Option to run the network driver in 'serial monogamy' mode. This would allow total uninstall and recuperation, with cache extension and general systems upgrade
5. Option to run the network driver in promiscuous mode, which would allow the systems hardware probe feature to be much more useful.

FianCee

This program is often considered no more than a Beta Version of 'Wife'. It requires large amounts of memory, cache and setting up. It can conflict with virtually any related (or unrelated) program

Wife

Wife 1.0

The resource allocation module of Wife 1.0 sometimes prohibits access to FreeSexPlus, particularly the new Plug-Ins featured in the promotional literature. On top of that, Wife 1.0 must be running on a well warmed-up system before it is fully functional.

Wife 1.0 leaves very little system resources for other applications.

Wife 1.0 may also spawn Child-Processes, which further consume valuable resources. On installation (not an option), Wife 1.0 sets up a permanent shortcut in the startup file, ensuring that it is always launched at system initialization in order to monitor all other system activity. Previously stable applications such as PokerNight 10.3, BeerBash 2.5, and LadsNight 7.0 are no longer able to run, often crashing the system when selected.

At installation, Wife 1.0 automatically installs Plug-Ins such as Mother-In-Law '55 and Brother-In-Law Beta release. The Mother-in-Law program is obsolete, and includes many memory-hungry pop-up featues, while the other FamilyMember progams are early betas; system performance inevitably diminishes with time.

Troubleshooting

It is impossible to uninstall, delete, or purge the program file from the system once installed. You cannot go back to Girl-Friend x.x because Wife 1.0 is designed to abort the system at any such attempt. Some have tried to install Girl-Friend 8.0 or Wife 2.0, but this is not recommended, as you may end up with more problems than the original system.

Read the entire section regarding General Partnership Faults (GPFs). You must assume all responsibility for faults and problems that might occur, regardless of their cause.

If the system freezes, the best course of action will be to enter the command C:\ APOLOGIZE, because ultimately you will have to give the APOLOGIZE command before the operating system will return to normal. Do not expect immediate response. Re-entering the APOLOGIZE command at regular intervals has been suggested as a preventative measure, its success depends on the local setup.

Consider buying addition software to improve the performance of Wife 1.0.
Flowers 2.1, Chocolates 5.0, Jewelry 4.0 or Romantic Weekend 1.0 often improve functionality.

Warning: Do not, under any circumstances, install ShortSkirtSecretary 3.3. This is not a supported application for Wife 1.0 and is likely to cause irreversible damage to the operating system.

Features under consideration for later versions

1. Wife 2.0 is envisaged as a mature program, with predictable functionality.
2. Wife 2.0 may be available in a 'try before you buy' format.
3. Wife 2.0 may tolerate shared cache and other system resources.

Mistress

Mistress 1.x

A popular but misunderstood and misused program, Mistress 1.x rarely continues past Anniversary 1.0 and never survives parallel operation with Secretary 1.0, if Wife and Secretary are coexisting successfully

Bug Warning

Any attempt to install Mistress 1.x before uninstalling Wife 1.0, will result in the deletion of MSMoney files during self-uninstallation. Then Mistress 1.x will refuse to install, claiming insufficient system resources.

Beware of shareware 'Mistress' applications that have been known to carry viruses that may affect Wife 1.0. Research suggests that these might be avoided by installing Mistress 1.x on a seperate system, preferably your lap top.

Mistress 1.x may be installed safely on a different system provided no file transfer applications, such as Laplink 6.0, HomePhone 2.3 or HomeVisit (any version) are utilised. Another solution would be to run Mistress 1.0 via a UseNet provider under an anonymous username. Here again, beware of the viruses which can accidentally be downloaded from the UseNet.

Boy-Friend

Boy-Friend 6.0

Boy-Friend 6.0 will not work without MemoryBooster, version 1.31 installed; out of the box Memory Cards are inadequate to run Boy-Friend 6.0 correctly.

Please note the following performance hits:
Response time suffers
Memory leaks increase
With multitasking feature enabled, there is continued degrading of performance
Increased networking during football season
Virus downloads dramatically increase need for custom support
Maintenance needs increase inexorably
Interface, as compared to Boy-Friend 6.0, is much less user friendly

Manufacturer's Warning:

Upgrading from Boy-Friend (any version) is difficult. 
FamilySoft recommend upgrading via Fiance.2.x
Do Not upgrade from Fiance 1.0, which introduces fatal errors.

Fiance 1.0 is not available commercially;
It is a special upgrade from Boy-Friend 6.x using PlugIns
These are packaged with M-in-Law 1.x and Girl-Friend 6.0

Fiance 2.0 can be created by upgrading Fiance 1.0
(adding cache development properties)
Defrag, AntiVirus and other utilities are essential,
to improve reliability before further upgrading to Husband 1.1

HusBand

Husband 1.1 ("RamBoid")

This early version of HusBand reflects the gold-wearing, brain-free, unreconstructed creature of the 1970s. What may appear to be unresolved bugs are, most likely, design features.

Husband 1.1 is an enhanced version of Fiance 2.0.

Special features:
Energy conservation during any televised sports
External setup and monitoring; no self-booting
No random (or other) communication in mobile mode
Predictable cache access
Sulk Mode (SelfScreenSaver^tm)
Spontaneous domestic management advice

Features under consideration for later versions
Remote reboot feature
Remote status monitoring
Location confirmation in mobile mode
Remote cache access
Option to make sulk mode permanent
Volume controls in advice mode; mute button

Outstanding bugs
Inadequate cleanup feature
Response lags, slow acknowledgement packets
Sporadic dropping of communication packets
Limited voice interface when used near sporting broadcasts
Sets up a permanent shortcut in the startup file, launching PokerNight 10.x, BeerBash 2.x, and others at random intervals
Constant need for reconfiguration of custom settings
"Always on top" feature cannot be disabled.

As with all UnitMale Systems, documentation is non-existent.

"Domestic Sharing" feature can be degraded by "Domestic Violence" virus: immediate uninstall essential

NB uninstallation much easier than FemaleFriend advises (This is a bug in FemaleFriend Versions 1 thru 234)

Husband 2.0 ("NewMan")

Special Features:
Background multitasking without performance degradation
CouchPotatoCancel much improved
Football season functionality wavers, but responds to firm handling
Response time improved
Memory backup fully functional
AntiVirus avoids need for custom support
Self Maintenance
Mute button
User friendly interface.

Features under consideration for later versions
Virtual cattle prod
Pinafore feature
Reduction in sedative effects
Remote cache access
Support for Child-Processes