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Conference noted::windows95

Title:	Microsoft Windows 95 ("Chicago")
Notice:	Please read topics 1 to 22 before writing anything
Moderator:	EEMELI::BACKSTROM

Created:	Sun Nov 13 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2958
Total number of notes:	19968

2857.0. "DOS window causes monitor problem" by mro-ras-1-14.mro.dec.com::levine (Randy Levine) Tue Mar 18 1997 20:37

I've searched for a report of these symptoms with no success, so I
hope someone can help.

System is DECpc 466d2LP with VRC-16 monitor and 16MB memory.  W95 is
set to use the standard SVGA drivers and screen set to 640x480, with 
16-bit color.  W95 reports the display adapter as "S3 911/924".

Symptom is that if I try to open a DOS window or run any DOS program
the screen goes haywire.  That's a technical term, haywire: it appears
that every other vertical line is missing, and half the full-screen
horizontal lines are in the top half of the screen and the other half
are at the bottom.  So I get two very distorted views of the full
screen.

Sounds like an interlace problem, but I have no idea how to fix it.  I
have not tried the .inf for the VRC-16 in note 905 because this same 
monitor worked fine with the same settings on another system.  So I am
reasonably certain that the issue is in this particular machine and its
graphics system.

Suggestions are appreciated.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2857.1	Me too!	BSS::PROCTOR_R	Sniffing the floral arrangement	`Wed Mar 19 1997 15:54`	4
	I have the exact same config and the exact same problem... The only fix seems to be to start the DOS window in full screen mode, and [alt] [return] to go to a DOS window. FWIW.
2857.2	alt-enter twice is a work-around	dhcp-client-13.mro.dec.com::levine	Randy Levine	`Thu Mar 20 1997 08:40`	9
	I discovered last night that what .-1 suggests does provide a work-around: alt-enter to get to full-screen DOS then alt-enter to return to windows restores the display properly. I still don't know what's causing the original problem. It's an interesting way to find out when your machine is executing in DOS mode, though. Some things you expect (e.g., unpacking a self-extracting archive), and others you don't (e.g., logging in to DIGITAL1, which executes a DOS script on your machine locally).
2857.3	Try adjusting MSDOS.PIF(LNK?) parameters	POBOXA::KEEFER	Craig PK03-1/R11, DTN:223-4902	`Thu Mar 20 1997 10:43`	9
	>>> if I try to open a DOS window or run any DOS program >>> the screen goes haywire. I don't know if this will help, but if you alt-double-click on the MSDOS Icon you can bring up the properties for the MSDOS Window. You can change the mode, font, etc used by the MSDOS window. Perhaps, if you change one or more of these parameters, you'll find a combination that will keep your screen from going haywire.
2857.4	try the correct driver?	ODIXIE::SIMPSONT	PC = world's biggest con job!	`Thu Mar 20 1997 15:03`	6
	Why aren't you using the driver for the video adapter that is in your system? That might fix it...? Regards, Tom
2857.5	A clue ?	WOTVAX::16.194.208.3::warder.reo.dec.com::sharkeya	Who am I now ?	`Thu Mar 20 1997 15:14`	5
	I had this with an Orchid Prodesigner IIs in 72Hz mode. When I used a II in 60Hz mode, it was fine Alan