The video device failed to initialize for fullscreen mode

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ken Seamon
  • Start date Start date
K

Ken Seamon

Dec 07 2004

I am running a standalone XP SP2 PC (not a terminal server client).

When I press ALT+ENTER at the DOS prompt to get a fullscreen, I get
"The video device failed to initialize for fullscreen mode"

DOS Programs like RED SHIFT, which use DOS VGA graphics, will present the
same message.

This was NOT the case when the PC was first purchased. I have no idea when
the problem change\alteration first occurred, as I don't often run DOS in
fullscreen mode. However, it was a problem under XP SP1 as well.

This seems to be a long-standing unsolved problem for many people. I'd
prefer not to apply a 3rd party solution such as DOSBox, because this was
not a problem with the original configuration on the PC, and most people
running XP today do not have a problem opening fullscreen DOS.

I have done the following, with no result:

1 - adjusted the CMD.EXE properties for "full screen"
2 - set the compatability mode for RED SHIFT and other programs to Win95 (+
various adjustments)
3 - removed the NVidia GeForce 2 MX 400 video card and replaced it with a
ASUS Radeon 9200
4 - copied all files vga*.* from "c:\windows\(subdirs)\" of a no-problem XP
PC, to my XP PC.

The Microsoft knowledge base refers to this problem only in the context of
"terminal server clients" - which is not my case.

Any suggestions are most welcome. Thanks.

(e-mail address removed)
 
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