Keyboard disabled when switching DOS-application to full-screen-mode,

[Jannis Diglidis]

Hi everybody,
I had a problem with a DOS-application.
Running the program in windowed-mode is no problem. When I'm switching to
full-screen (Alt+Enter), the keyboard looses control. Even if I switch back
I didn't get control back. The only thing I can do is to quit the task.
First I thought it's the program. Then I tested cmd.exe witch edit.com and
got the same results.
A test with a runing virus-scan (f-prot for DOS) showed that the program is
still running, but the keyboard-commands can't get through.

I then tested the behavior of cmd.exe + edit.com on several machines (WinXP
Home /Prof.). Some where ok the others not!?

My configuration is:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build
2600
CPU x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~1991 Mhz
BIOS-Version/-Date American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T, 02.04.2001
RAM 512,00 MB

Graphic RADEON 7000 AGP (0x5159), ATI Technologies Inc.-kompatibel
RAM 64,00 MB
Driver ati2dvag.dll
Version 5.2.3790.2

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jannis Diglidis

 

[Tom Barclay]

Is it a USB keyboard? If so, you may have to activate USB keyboard emulation
in the BIOS. A BIOS update may be necessary.

 

[Jannis Diglidis]

Hi Tom,
there where no tested machine with an USB keybord.

 

[Tom Barclay]

I'm sure you've probably tried the obvious... running the DOS programs in
compatibility mode, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

 

[Jannis Diglidis]

Yes Tom,
I was so desperate that I tried compatibility-mode. Although there is no
reason.
The program edit.com is from Microsoft and it was delivered with Windows XP.
So why should I use compatibility-mode.

Greets,
Jannis Diglidis

"Tom Barclay" <[email protected]

I'm sure you've probably tried the obvious... running the DOS programs in
compatibility mode, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

"Jannis Diglidis" <[email protected]

switching
[...]

 

[Tom Barclay]

Edit.com is a DOS editor. Some DOS programs don't work too well with XP's
command emulator, especially those that try to access hardware which may not
be DOS compatible (printers come to mind with edit.com). You may want to try
using an editor like Notepad if you're looking for something simple with no
hidden formatting.

Yes Tom,
I was so desperate that I tried compatibility-mode. Although there is no
reason.
The program edit.com is from Microsoft and it was delivered with Windows XP.
So why should I use compatibility-mode.

Greets,
Jannis Diglidis

"Tom Barclay" <[email protected]

I'm sure you've probably tried the obvious... running the DOS programs in
compatibility mode, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

"Jannis Diglidis" <[email protected]

switching
[...]

 

[Jannis Diglidis]

Hi Tom,
it's not my intension to use edit.com with the command emulator.
I want, respectively my customers, had a DOS program they want to use in
full screen mode.

I only pointed out edit.com because it is shiped with XP. And if it don't
work properly witch cmd.exe it is logical that our DOS-application has the
same problem.
I think it is not a problem with our application.

Jannis Diglidis

Edit.com is a DOS editor. Some DOS programs don't work too well with XP's
command emulator, especially those that try to access hardware which may not
be DOS compatible (printers come to mind with edit.com). You may want to try
using an editor like Notepad if you're looking for something simple with no
hidden formatting.

Yes Tom,
I was so desperate that I tried compatibility-mode. Although there is no
reason.
The program edit.com is from Microsoft and it was delivered with Windows
XP.
So why should I use compatibility-mode.

Greets,
Jannis Diglidis

"Tom Barclay" <[email protected]

I'm sure you've probably tried the obvious... running the DOS programs
in
compatibility mode, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

"Jannis Diglidis" <[email protected]

Hi Tom,
there where no tested machine with an USB keybord.

"Tom Barclay" <[email protected]>
Is it a USB keyboard? If so, you may have to activate USB keyboard
emulation
in the BIOS. A BIOS update may be necessary.

"Jannis Diglidis" <[email protected]>
Hi everybody,
I had a problem with a DOS-application.
Running the program in windowed-mode is no problem. When I'm

switching
[...]

 

[Tom Barclay]

The problem with running DOS programs in XP is that some run well, and
others just won't run without problems. If your customers use a DOS program
that accesses any hardware, and that hardware isn't DOS compatible, then it
probably won't run properly. I have some 15 year old games which don't
access any hardware, but running them in XP is impossible (especially in
full screen mode). My only other suggestion would be to make a small DOS
partition (FAT, not NTFS) on the HDD, and boot from a floppy disk when using
ill behaved programs, or have a dual boot system with Win98SE and XP (as
many gamers do). Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Hi Tom,
it's not my intension to use edit.com with the command emulator.
I want, respectively my customers, had a DOS program they want to use in
full screen mode.

I only pointed out edit.com because it is shiped with XP. And if it don't
work properly witch cmd.exe it is logical that our DOS-application has the
same problem.
I think it is not a problem with our application.

Jannis Diglidis

Edit.com is a DOS editor. Some DOS programs don't work too well with XP's
command emulator, especially those that try to access hardware which may not
be DOS compatible (printers come to mind with edit.com). You may want to try
using an editor like Notepad if you're looking for something simple with no
hidden formatting.

Yes Tom,
I was so desperate that I tried compatibility-mode. Although there is no
reason.
The program edit.com is from Microsoft and it was delivered with Windows
XP.
So why should I use compatibility-mode.

Greets,
Jannis Diglidis

"Tom Barclay" <[email protected]

I'm sure you've probably tried the obvious... running the DOS programs
in
compatibility mode, but thought I'd mention it just in case.

"Jannis Diglidis" <[email protected]

Hi Tom,
there where no tested machine with an USB keybord.

"Tom Barclay" <[email protected]>
Is it a USB keyboard? If so, you may have to activate USB keyboard
emulation
in the BIOS. A BIOS update may be necessary.

"Jannis Diglidis" <[email protected]>
Hi everybody,
I had a problem with a DOS-application.
Running the program in windowed-mode is no problem. When I'm
switching
[...]