An odd problem, probably unresolvable - DOS hangs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Julie
  • Start date Start date
J

Julie

This scenario occurred whether we installed Win2K or WinXP.

The motherboard is an Asus P4S533-MX with onboard SIS651
video chip. After we install the operating system (clean install), but before
installing any video drivers, DOS programs work just fine in
either a window or full-screen.

After we install the SIS video driver (either the one packaged with
the motherboard, or the latest one from the SIS website), DOS programs
will work ONLY in a window. Using full-screen causes the application
to hang. (Even a DOS prompt alone is impossible in full-screen mode!)

If we uninstall the driver, the problem remains. And if we disable the
onboard video and install a different video card, the problem also remains.
This makes me think the SIS uninstaller is leaving something behind -- whatever
it is that breaks the DOS full-screen mode.

Finally, running in safe mode will always allow the DOS programs to work
in both windowed and full-screen modes.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
 
Julie said:
This scenario occurred whether we installed Win2K or WinXP.

The motherboard is an Asus P4S533-MX with onboard SIS651
video chip. After we install the operating system (clean install),
but before installing any video drivers, DOS programs work just fine
in
either a window or full-screen.

After we install the SIS video driver (either the one packaged with
the motherboard, or the latest one from the SIS website), DOS programs
will work ONLY in a window. Using full-screen causes the application
to hang. (Even a DOS prompt alone is impossible in full-screen mode!)

If we uninstall the driver, the problem remains. And if we disable
the onboard video and install a different video card, the problem
also remains. This makes me think the SIS uninstaller is leaving
something behind -- whatever it is that breaks the DOS full-screen
mode.

Finally, running in safe mode will always allow the DOS programs to
work
in both windowed and full-screen modes.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Is it possible that it is a screen resolution problem? What happens at
640x480 and 8 bit color depth?

Q
 
Is it possible that it is a screen resolution problem? What happens at
640x480 and 8 bit color depth?
Click to expand...

No, that makes no difference. It will hang regardless of these settings.
 
After we install the SIS video driver (either the one packaged with
the motherboard, or the latest one from the SIS website), DOS programs
will work ONLY in a window. Using full-screen causes the application
to hang. (Even a DOS prompt alone is impossible in full-screen mode!)
Click to expand...

We ended up just disabling the onboard SIS video and installing an ATI
AGP card, followed by a clean install. Now everything works fine.

We won't be buying any motherboards with SIS integrated graphics again!
 
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