Developer Forum

Hi,

I recently uninstalled a problematic anti-virus program on a pc, ran
adaware, spybot s&d, ccleaner etc and did a defrag. Since then I've been
unable to get open a full screen dos prompt, I just get a blank screen. None
of my dos applications run in full screen either, It's as if the program is
there (as if I type "exit" at the dos prompt the window closes) but I can't
see anything. I can run in windowed mode without any problems.

Can anyone suggest what might have caused this? Can it be rectified fairly
easily without losing any existing data?

I really appreciate any help, thanks.

Well, let us look at the Properties of your Windows DOS box...
"START, Programs, MS-DOS prompt". Don't click it. R-Clk it & select
Properties. Here are my settings.

(1) General tab:
Size is 1474 bytes.
Attributes: Only Archive is checked.
(2) Program tab:
Name: MS-DOS Prompt
Cmd line: C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
Working: Blank
Batch file: Doskey
Shortcut Key: None
Run: Normal window
Close on exit: Checked
Advanced button: Only "Suggest MS-DOS mode as necessary" is
checked.
(3) Font tab:
"Both font types" is bolted.
Font size: Auto
(4) Memory tab:
Everything is Auto; everything else is checked.
Details button: Complains about "NoEMS".
(5) Screen tab:
Window is bolted.
Initial size is 50 lines.
Everything else is checked.
(6) Miscellaneous tab:
QuickEdit, Exclusive mode, & Always suspend are unchecked.
Everything else is checked.
Idle sensitivity slider is in the middle.

If that is all well, then we must check the Properties of both your
Command.com.


COMMAND.COM
Type: MS-DOS Application
Location: C:\WINDOWS
& C:\
Size: 93,890 bytes
Created: Friday, April 23, 1999 10:22:00 PM
& (unknown)
Modified: Friday, April 23, 1999 10:22:00 PM

....the one in C:\ is "Created: unknown". However, I'm not worried,
because many system files are like that.

In various threads here, wise ones have said to keep both. The important
thing is that both have the same Size & Mod date. If one does not, then
it could be a virus, & an investigation must begin.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR
XXXX@XXXXX.COM

| Hi,
|
| I recently uninstalled a problematic anti-virus program on a pc, ran
| adaware, spybot s&d, ccleaner etc and did a defrag. Since then I've been
| unable to get open a full screen dos prompt, I just get a blank screen. None
| of my dos applications run in full screen either, It's as if the program is
| there (as if I type "exit" at the dos prompt the window closes) but I can't
| see anything. I can run in windowed mode without any problems.
|
| Can anyone suggest what might have caused this? Can it be rectified fairly
| easily without losing any existing data?
|
| I really appreciate any help, thanks.

ttp://search.support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1&spid=1139
The MSKB doesn't have much on "Full Screen DOS"...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/139473/en-us
Cannot Switch Away from Full-Screen MS-DOS-Based Program

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/264340/en-us
ALT+ENTER Does Not Always Switch MS-DOS Prompt from Full Screen to a Window

It could be a Video Adapter driver problem...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/187217/en-us
Computer Hangs When Viewing MS-DOS-Based Programs Full-Screen (187217)

Maybe un/re-install your monitor & Video Adapter...

For the Monitor...
(1) Boot to Safe Mode
(Hold F5 as you boot or CTRL for the Startup Menu)
(2) "START, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager tab"
(3) Open the Monitors branch, & Remove all entries.

Perhaps, FIRST, even in Normal Mode, note what is installed
similar to below for the Adapter. That is...
(a) D-Clk the monitor there for Properties, Driver tab.
(b) Click the Update Driver button, then "Next".
(c) Bolt "Display a list...", & click "Next".
(d) Bolt "Show all hardware".
Examine the two panes to see what is currently installed.
That is likely what you wish to end up with, after step (4).

(4) Boot to Normal Mode.

Hopefully, it will be rediscovered & installed. Then, if still
necessary, here is the rigmarole of the Display Adapter...

.......Quote..........
The first thing to do is to remove the video adapter you have
installed. Right-click on the desktop; choose "Properties" from the
drop-down menu; select "Settings;" click on the "Advanced" button; and
click on "Adapter". An adapter is a program that tells Windows how to
deal with a specific video card. Make note of the adapter that is
currently installed. Then, change the adapter to "Standard Display
Adapter (VGA)" and restart the system.

[That is: Click "Change, Next, bolt 'Display a List...', Next, bolt
'Show all hardware', scroll left pane to top, select '(Standard display
types)', select 'Standard Display Adapter (VGA)' in right pane, click
'Next'"... PCR]

This will remove the current adapter and replace it with a generic VGA
adapter that works with all video cards. You will not like VGA because
it supports only 16 colors, but the purpose of installing it is to get
rid of whatever was there before.

Next, return to the adapter screen and install an adapter that matches
your video card. This may or may not be the adapter that you are
using now. Examine the materials you received with your computer to
see if they include a CD-ROM or floppy disk that contains the correct
video adapter. Or go to the Gateway website and see if they have an
adapter for you to download. Or check the website of the company that
made your video card.

Bill Starbuck (MVP)
.......End....of quote....


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR
XXXX@XXXXX.COM
"SlackerAPM" < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message news: XXXX@XXXXX.COM ...
| Hi,
|
| I recently uninstalled a problematic anti-virus program on a pc, ran
| adaware, spybot s&d, ccleaner etc and did a defrag. Since then I've been
| unable to get open a full screen dos prompt, I just get a blank screen. None
| of my dos applications run in full screen either, It's as if the program is
| there (as if I type "exit" at the dos prompt the window closes) bu

hanks for your help,

It seems as if it is a display problem. When I booted into safe mode there
were 20+ display adapters and 3 different monitors.

However, I seem to have made a bit of a big mistake. I removed all of these
and restarted. I now cannot get into Windows, it boots as far as displaying
the Windows 98 screen then the screen just goes blank. I've tried restarting
in safe mode where it tells me I have to run in 640 x 480 mode with 16
colours. No display adapter or monitor is displayed either.

Is there any way I can select a display adapter before booting into windows?
Or make it pick one by default? Is this what is causing my blank screen
problems?

"PCR" wrote:

SlackerAPM" < XXXX@XXXXX.COM > wrote in message news: XXXX@XXXXX.COM ...
| Thanks for your help,
|
| It seems as if it is a display problem. When I booted into safe mode there
| were 20+ display adapters and 3 different monitors.

My God!

| However, I seem to have made a bit of a big mistake. I removed all of these
| and restarted. I now cannot get into Windows, it boots as far as displaying
| the Windows 98 screen then the screen just goes blank.

Damn! Terhune used to say it could be trouble to remove the Video Adapter in Device Manager. Those instructions I posted didn't actually involve the Device Manager remove button for it. But I can't blame you doing it with 20+ in there!

Did you FIRST do what I quoted of Starbuck in Normal Mode-- "change the adapter to 'Standard Display Adapter (VGA)' and restart the system". That could make a difference.

(1) Hopefully, a Registry /Restore will get you back to where you were.
(2) Then, in Normal Mode, follow my previous instructions to note which
monitor & which video adapter appear to be installed-- at the Device
Manager, Properties, Driver tab, Update Driver button. However,
under the circumstances, I'm not sure it knows!
(3) Switch to "Standard Display Adapter (VGA)", & boot to Normal Mode.
This may somehow make the difference for a better outcome.
(4) Boot to Safe Mode, & do the device manager removes again,
if you've still got that many showing.
(5) Boot to Normal Mode. Which show up as installed? Is all well?

I'm not a big proponent of a "/Restore", but sometimes it can do amazing things. And this sounds like a job for it. Before trying it, copy your current Registry backup files to a new folder.

(a) Boot to DOS (hold CTRL as you boot for the Startup Menu, &
select "Command Prompt Only")

(b) DIR C:\Windows\Sysbckup\RB???.cab /od
Shows you the current backups sorted by date.

(c) MD C:\RegBckup
This makes a new folder named RegBckup.

(d) COPY C:\Windows\Sysbckup\RB???.cab C:\RegBckup
This copies your Registry backups to the new folder, because the
originals will change as you do the following...

(e) SCANREG /Restore

It will offer five, one for each of the last five separate days you
booted successfully. Start with the one of the day the problem began, as
these backups of the entire Registry (& System.ini & Win.ini) are done
at boot, not at shut down.

CAVEAT: A /Restore restores settings only. If there was a file change
(other than to System.ini & Win.ini), those cannot be undone this way.
That could be a problem, especially if there was a hardware change or
large un/in-stall since the backup was made. Also, a large settings
change, such as adding/removing a User Profile, is likely best undone a
different way. Finally, some apps may keep a small database in the
Registry. I do believe Explorer itself may keep it's list of blocked
sites there.

| I've tried restarting
| in safe mode where it tells me I have to run in 640 x 480 mode with 16
| colours. No display adapter or monitor is displayed either.
|
| Is there any way I can select a display adapter before booting into windows?
| Or make it pick one by default? Is this what is causing my blank screen
| problems?

It's a possibility, because the video adapter was mentioned in that MS article.

| "PCR" wrote:
|
| > http://search.support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1&spid=1139
| >

In safe mode, access the video display setup and change the setting to
640x480 (it will already be set like that) and select OK. This should re-set
the setting for normal mode and allow you to boot so you can install the
proper driver for your card.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)