MS-DOS program in full-screen mode (XP Pro SP1)

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I have recently moved to Windows XP Pro from Windows 98 SE. I have just installed an MS-DOS cashbook program that I have used since PCs ran MS-DOS. It is a “well behaved” program that runs in full-screen mode.

Windows XP it seems has another definition of full-screen and displays the program in the top halp of the screen, with the bottom half black. I have tried compatibility mode, Windows 95, Windows 98, 256 colours, 640×480 etc etc but the results are unchanged … it runs in the top half of the screen only.

I would be very grateful if someone could tell me how to get this program to run in full-screen mode.

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When you open this program, won’t “Alt+Enter” put the dos screen in full screen mode, and “alt+enter” gets it back to the size it default opened to in the Windows mode? Also if you click on the top bar of the dos screen, and then click on properties>layout you can adjust the screen size and screen buffer size. Another way should be to click the top bar of the dos screen>Properties Options tab>Display Options and you can put the radio button in “Window” size or “full size.”

I also experimented with it in full screen size, hitting “alt+tab,” because I’ve read about that combo to go between the two, besides it’s other well known ability to show the open IE windows, and I was able to minimize it to the task bar. When I opened it and hit alt+tab the second time I had two dos windows minimized, and I was able to click them both in the task bar and open one full screen and one regular default size which I could stretch around, close and have remembered.

I was not running any particular program, and I was using the dos prompt (cmd.exe) that comes up with cmd in the run box but “alt+enter switching” also works with the dos prompt that comes up with “command” in the run box as well (command.com). Using the dialogue box with radio buttons after clicking properties on the options tab only works with “cmd.”

How’s this work for you?

SMBP

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Unfortunately, the program is in full-screen mode when it displays in only the top half of the screen, it is not in a Window, so Alt+Enter just displays the “half screen” in a Window. I experimented with Buffer size and Window size, but also no luck.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully received.

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Just a thought.
If you have a shortcut to the DOS program, check the following.
Right click to properties.

Program (Tab) | Run,Maximised.
Screen (Tab) | Usage,Full Screen. Window,Restore settings at startup.
Compatibilty (Tab) | uncheck all check box’s

Hope this helps.

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Unfortunately the settings you suggest are where I started, but the program displays squashed up in the top half of the screen with the bottom half of the screen black.

Any other suggestions would be great.

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The settings I sent you are the same as mine.

Sounds to me like you need a different display driver to display DOS correctly.

I’m sorry I can’t help further with this , but my suggestion is to try a Google for a different driver.
Perhaps the card manufacturer has come across this problem before and updated it’s versions.

Sorry

Good Luck

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Good idea, I’ll follow it up.

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Try the following:

Open the application and switch to window mode by pressing Alt+Enter.
Open the system menu by clicking the little button on the left hand side of the title bar.
Select Properties, then activate the Layout tab.
Set the Screen Buffer Size to 80 (width) by 25 (height); this is the default size of an old-fashioned DOS window.
Click OK and specify that the changes should be applied to the shortcut.
Then, switch to full screen again by pressing Alt+Enter.

Hope this helps.

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Thanks for the suggestion Hans. I had tried this in the early stages of my struggle to get this to work and unfortunately when I switch back to full-screen mode, I once again get the display squashed into the top half of the screen with the bottom half black.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that it’s not a Windows setting thing, but some system problem (either Operating System or more likely display driver), so I will next follow up a display driver update. The problem is that I am using an NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440 with AGP8X card with a version 4.4.0.3 driver and I can’t seem to find exactly that card on the NVIDIA site. Their driver downloads are a little odd and the only graphics driver version I see is version 45.23, so I’m not game to download and install it in case it’s the wrong one and things get horribly worse.

I will contact the PC manufacturer for advice (because NVIDIA don’t provide end-user support) … but I’m not very confident.

I’m very grateful for the assistance I have been offered in the Lounge though.

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One other thing: is this behavior limited to this particular MS-DOS application, or is a full-screen MS-DOS window always squashed into the top half of the screen?

If the latter is true, you might be able to solve it by fiddling with the controls of your monitor. Multisync monitors often store settings for each resolution separately, so even if your standard Windows resolution looks fine, the MS-DOS screen might be squashed. Try increasing the height of the used area while in full-screen MS-DOS mode.

If that doesn’t work, you might see if Windows Update offers a new driver in the Driver Updates section. (I got version 4.5.2.3 that way; works fine on my display)

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Hans, you are a genius!

I downloaded the driver update as you suggested and bingo! What can I say … you’re really great!!

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Hans, you are a genius!

I downloaded the driver update as you suggested and bingo! What can I say … you’re really great!!

Reply | Quote

One other thing: is this behavior limited to this particular MS-DOS application, or is a full-screen MS-DOS window always squashed into the top half of the screen?

If the latter is true, you might be able to solve it by fiddling with the controls of your monitor. Multisync monitors often store settings for each resolution separately, so even if your standard Windows resolution looks fine, the MS-DOS screen might be squashed. Try increasing the height of the used area while in full-screen MS-DOS mode.

If that doesn’t work, you might see if Windows Update offers a new driver in the Driver Updates section. (I got version 4.5.2.3 that way; works fine on my display)

Reply | Quote

Thanks for the suggestion Hans. I had tried this in the early stages of my struggle to get this to work and unfortunately when I switch back to full-screen mode, I once again get the display squashed into the top half of the screen with the bottom half black.

I am fast coming to the conclusion that it’s not a Windows setting thing, but some system problem (either Operating System or more likely display driver), so I will next follow up a display driver update. The problem is that I am using an NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440 with AGP8X card with a version 4.4.0.3 driver and I can’t seem to find exactly that card on the NVIDIA site. Their driver downloads are a little odd and the only graphics driver version I see is version 45.23, so I’m not game to download and install it in case it’s the wrong one and things get horribly worse.

I will contact the PC manufacturer for advice (because NVIDIA don’t provide end-user support) … but I’m not very confident.

I’m very grateful for the assistance I have been offered in the Lounge though.

Reply | Quote

Try the following:

Open the application and switch to window mode by pressing Alt+Enter.
Open the system menu by clicking the little button on the left hand side of the title bar.
Select Properties, then activate the Layout tab.
Set the Screen Buffer Size to 80 (width) by 25 (height); this is the default size of an old-fashioned DOS window.
Click OK and specify that the changes should be applied to the shortcut.
Then, switch to full screen again by pressing Alt+Enter.

Hope this helps.

Reply | Quote

Good idea, I’ll follow it up.

Reply | Quote

The settings I sent you are the same as mine.

Sounds to me like you need a different display driver to display DOS correctly.

I’m sorry I can’t help further with this , but my suggestion is to try a Google for a different driver.
Perhaps the card manufacturer has come across this problem before and updated it’s versions.

Sorry

Good Luck

Reply | Quote

Unfortunately the settings you suggest are where I started, but the program displays squashed up in the top half of the screen with the bottom half of the screen black.

Any other suggestions would be great.

Reply | Quote

Just a thought.
If you have a shortcut to the DOS program, check the following.
Right click to properties.

Program (Tab) | Run,Maximised.
Screen (Tab) | Usage,Full Screen. Window,Restore settings at startup.
Compatibilty (Tab) | uncheck all check box’s

Hope this helps.

Reply | Quote

Unfortunately, the program is in full-screen mode when it displays in only the top half of the screen, it is not in a Window, so Alt+Enter just displays the “half screen” in a Window. I experimented with Buffer size and Window size, but also no luck.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully received.

Reply | Quote

When you open this program, won’t “Alt+Enter” put the dos screen in full screen mode, and “alt+enter” gets it back to the size it default opened to in the Windows mode? Also if you click on the top bar of the dos screen, and then click on properties>layout you can adjust the screen size and screen buffer size. Another way should be to click the top bar of the dos screen>Properties Options tab>Display Options and you can put the radio button in “Window” size or “full size.”

I also experimented with it in full screen size, hitting “alt+tab,” because I’ve read about that combo to go between the two, besides it’s other well known ability to show the open IE windows, and I was able to minimize it to the task bar. When I opened it and hit alt+tab the second time I had two dos windows minimized, and I was able to click them both in the task bar and open one full screen and one regular default size which I could stretch around, close and have remembered.

I was not running any particular program, and I was using the dos prompt (cmd.exe) that comes up with cmd in the run box but “alt+enter switching” also works with the dos prompt that comes up with “command” in the run box as well (command.com). Using the dialogue box with radio buttons after clicking properties on the options tab only works with “cmd.”

How’s this work for you?

SMBP

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