No color in DOS programs in Win98

[LadyDee]

I've upgraded my system and have no color in the DOS programs in windows or in the MS-DOS mode. I started with a 486 VLB running Win 3.11 with two small HD. Changed the MB, video card, added a 400MB HD running Windows 98, and a CDROM.
System Properties reports;
AuthenticAMD
x86 Family 4 Model 15 Stepping 4
Intel MMX(TM) Technology
64.0 MB RAM

Newer Video card...Trident Video card using driver:
Trident Chip for ISA/VL V1.0...(driver selected by Windows)

Monitor:
Aamazing..."no driver files are required or have been loaded for this device" Provider: Microsoft Date: 5-11-1998

At bootup, the first item shown on the screen is as follows:
Trident TVGA BIOS C4.5 (01)
1024K 32Bit Bus DRAM VGA Mode
Copyright 1994 Trident Technologies
Copyright 1990 Phonix Technologies (S-B16-V16-Foff)

We replaced the MB and Video Card. At that point I was still using/trying to use the 2 sm HDs with Win 3.11. Had no problem accessing the DOS programs, but had no color. Actually had no color period! Win 3.11 wouldn't run at all. Didn't try to troubleshoot because we were going to replace with Win 98.

Next added 400MB HD as C: drive (Primary 1st) This HD was already setup with 1 partition, 32 bit, with Win 98 installed. Moved my original C:/ to Primary 2nd, my original 2nd drive to Secondary 1st and my CDROM to Secondary 2nd. (This wasn't done on the first try...several attempts before figuring it out and CD wouldn't work...remember the old DOS Lastdrive and had to get an ooold MS-DOS book to figure where to put it and hope it was still in dos. Later discovered you folks. Could have saved myself many hours and headaches)

At this point everything is working well together except for the color problem. I have an older version of Quattro Pro, PeachTree accounting, and Q&A database that really need color to work effectively.

Does anyone have any ideas?

[BigBlue66]

Hi LadyDee,

I am at work now on NT 4.0, so can't check for sure on my advice. (I have 98SE at home. I have 95B on an old 486 here at work and have checked on what my advice is going to be, but unfortunately 95 doesn't give the options I thought would work, but that's not to say that 98 won't)

Anyway, find the executable file for whichever DOS program you want to run, either by going to My Computer and then to the directory and sub-directory of the program, or use explorer, either way you can find the .exe file. Right-click on the file, choose Properties, and go through all the options presented. Maybe one has to do with using Windows colors, but I can't guarantee that.

Otherwise, you may be stuck with no color, simple as that. I use SuperCalc 5, an old DOS spreadsheet program, on the 486 running 95B, and have no colors either.

Good luck. Only other alternative that I can see, is to upgrade your old programs to a Windows version.

Maybe some others can shed more light on this, in which case, I will learn also. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66




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You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you in a court of law.

[LadyDee]

Hi BigBlue66,

Thanks for the reply. Tried your suggestion. There's no information regarding color. I'm running the same three DOS programs on my home computer with Win98 and have color so I know they do have color in Win98...just not on this machine.

Any other ideas?

[BigBlue66]

Hi Lady,

Guess I will have to do a bit of research on this one. In the meantime, I suggest you figure out what's different between the two machines, as far as system and startup files, or in the three programs' properties.

Hopefully, someone else will have a few ideas. Hang tight.

Cheers,

BB 66


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You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you in a court of law.

[BigBlue66]

Hi Dee,

Ok, just thought of something. On the problem machine, try booting to the MS-DOS prompt and run the programs from there, rather than trying to run them in an MS-DOS window within Windows. See if that makes a difference.

Whoops, wait a minute, just noticed that you say that MS-DOS mode makes no difference. Oivay! It's hell to get old. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Does Windows recognize your video adapter? In Device Manager, under Display Adapters, is your video card listed correctly? Is your monitor listed correctly?

You may need to try different settings for the video card, such as Standard VGA, SVGA, etc..

If these ideas lead you nowhere, then my prior advice still holds, i.e. try to figure out what's different between the two machines relating to real-mode drivers, startup files, Windows system files, etc..

Good luck.

BB 66


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You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you in a court of law.

[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 03-22-2001).]

[LadyDee]

Hi BB 66,
Checked as you suggested. Windows does recognize the video adapter. In Device Manager the video card and monitor are listed correctly. Tried different settings...no effect except I'm tooo old to read such small print! (small monitor)

Something I didn't make clear in the original info...The two machines were both using the DOS programs with color. The upgrade involved upgrading the MB and video card in the home machine, then upgrading the store machine with the MB and video card from the home machine. The home machine displayed the DOS programs in color with both the old & new MB/video card. The store machine is the one with the problem. Before I changed the HDs on the store machine, it had the newer MB/video card with Win3.11 and had no color anywhere, plus it wouldn't open Win3.11. Once I changed the HDs and began using Win98, I have color in Win98 and all Window programs...just no color in DOS programs running in Windows or in MS-DOS mode.

You suggested comparing the real mode drivers, startup files, Windows system files, etc. Where do I look for these files and how do I view them? I haven't done much trouble shooting in Windows 98.

Last night the store machine couldn't find any HD drives. After much reading in PCGuide, I found a faulty Y-splitter and all is well there. Thanks so much to the author! Now back to the color problem and my question above. Where do I find these files?

Thanks for the help,
LadyDee

[BigBlue66]

Hi Lady,

The files I refer to are:

Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
Win.ini
System.ini
Protocol.ini

And any other .ini files that you see. The simplest way to find these files all in one easy step is to go to Start/Run and type SYSEDIT. A whole bunch of windows will pop up, each one representing one of the files listed above. Do that for both machines. The topmost window will be the active one. On the file menu, choose to print the contents of the file. Once that's done, just close the window to view the next file(window).

Pay close attention to anything that's related to video settings, drivers, etc., especially in the .ini files. There will be a whole bunch of subheadings in the .ini files. Look for those that relate to the above mentioned items. Expand them, then print the file. After all printing is done, then of course, you can do a vis-a-vis comparison. Note: the autoexec.bat and config.sys files will probably be different for each machine. Post at least the contents of both of those files from each machine here. The .ini files should be virtually the same, so no need to post them here, unless you do note differences.

One other thing, have you checked the properties for those DOS programs to make sure they are the same for each machine? Are there any settings within those programs that could possibly be different, hence, color on one machine and not the other? For instance, when the programs were installed, was there an option for color monitor vs. b/w monitor?

That's the best I can do for now. I feel like I am slowly swirling the bowl on this one, 'cause I'm running out of ideas. Where is everybody???

Good luck.

Big Blue 66


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You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you in a court of law.

[Reid]

(After re-reading the above posts, I deleted mine since it doesn't seem to apply to the problem)
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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends install Windows ME

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 03-23-2001).]

[LadyDee]

Hi BB 66,

Well, I've checked all system files and found no differences related to video. There has been no change in either computer in the DOS programs. I'm not aware of a B/W option in any of the programs. Your idea of just moving to a Windows version was good, except for my cash flow. Not an option at this point, besides the current versions work fine except for this strange color problem. I thought since Win98 was originally installed on another machine that might have something to do with the problem. Ran fdisk then format /s on C: and did a clean install of Win98. Only change was no color at all! Reinstalled the driver for the video card from disk instead of the one provided by Windows and then had color in Windows. (Windows thought their driver was better than the one on disk, but I used the one on disk anyway which gave me color in windows.) No change in the Dos programs in Windows or in MSDOS. Tried reseating the video card, then moved the video card up one slot on the MB, checked the connection to the monitor, checked the pins on the monitor connection (none were bent). Nothing has helped. I have no clue where to check next. HELP!!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/confused.gif

Hoping for help,
LadyDee

[This message has been edited by LadyDee (edited 03-25-2001).]

[LadyDee]

Hi,

Thank you BigBlue 66 for all your efforts. Does anyone have any ideas what else I can check. A short review of the program:

The MOBO/Video card were on Home computer running Win98. The 3 DOS programs were installed and were running in color both in a window and from DOS.

I had the 3 DOS programs installed on Store computer with older VLB MOBO & older Video card running Win3.11. Ran all 3 in DOS in color.

Moved MOBO/Video card from the Home computer to the Store computer. Added a newer hard drive (400meg) with Win98 pre-installed. The two HD's in Store computer were left in Store computer. All 3 HD's and CDROM drive are seen by BIOS and Win98. No change made in 3 DOS programs. Loaded Driver for Video card. NO COLOR IN 3 DOS PROGRAMS IN WINDOWS OR DOS. Formatted the 400mg HD and did a clean install of Win98. Still no color.

Installed new MOBO & Video card in Home computer. Still have color in all 3 DOS programs in Windows and DOS on the Home computer.

Question: Why no color on Store computer in the 3 DOS programs?

Any ideas???? HELP!

LadyDee

[LadyDee]

UPDATE!

Haven't tried exchanging monitors. Tried this and problem disappeared!!! I'm still puzzled as to why...but the problem is resolved. I now have color in all 3 DOS programs on both machines! Anyone have a clue WHY???

I understand why some people say computers are magic boxes!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Very happy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

LadyDee

[BigBlue66]

Hey Lady!!

Coolness has been achieved! Yep, trying a different monitor was going to be my next bit of advice. hehe Not really. I am just as confused as you are, as to why a different monitor would work.

Maybe some others will have a clue.

Anyway, sure glad you have joy now.

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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He who laughs last, thinks slowest. hehehehe, Huh?!

[mjc]

Could it be that the old monitor did not support color in that particular VESA mode?

Maybe if you dropped the resoultion the color would be there (on the old monitor)?

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Do Vulcans even have to debug?

[LadyDee]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the replies and the suggestions. MJC, I'm not well versed in the term "VESA mode". After reading your reply I searched PC Guide and read about VESA. I'm still not sure what you mean by mode? I had the newer monitor on the machine that had no color. When I switched to the older monitor, the color appeared. The video card in the problem machine is about 4 or 5 years old, where the card in the home machine is about 2 years old.

As far as changing the color, both machines are set at 640 x 480 in High Color(16 Bit).

Does this give any one any ideas? Could it be that the older monitor was more compatible with the older video card? But why no color in DOS but I did have color in Windows?

Happy it works, but still wondering why http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

LadyDee

[mjc]

VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association)- an older video standard late '80's through early '90's.

Basically what I was getting at was that the monitor may not support the video mode that you were running, be it VESA, VGA or whatever, I'm sorry for any confusion. DOS uses different video modes than Windows does, when you go into a DOS application in Windows (DOS box) it resets the video to some form of DOS support, which can be a VESA or some other mode. IF the monitor doesn't support that particular configuration then strange things will happen in the video department (no color or the screen will look like it shrank, or distortion....). If application uses a graphics mode that isn't supported then no color could be the result.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Do Vulcans even have to debug?