An odd problem, probably unresolvable - DOS hangs

[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.

 

[Quaoar]

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.

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

Q

 

[Julie]

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

No, that makes no difference. It will hang regardless of these settings.

 

[Julie]

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!)

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!