DOS has stopped working 
If I have a DOS window running in Windows (whether it is command.com or a self-made C++ program), the keyboard won’t do anything. Nothing I press has any effect. The [Windows] key works, as does [Alt][ctrl][del], but nothing else - not even [alt][F4].
Does anyone have any suggestions, as I really have to do some work on my summer C++ project - and as I’m sure you can guess, not being able to input anything is a real bummer.
Thanks in advance…
If it a USB or PS-2 connection keyboard? If USB you might want to check that “legacy USB devices enabled” or a similar option is enabled in the BIOS on boot up.
Plain ol’ PS-2, I’m afraid…
In the properties section of the DOS box if you set the DOS box to go full screen does it still do this or only when displayed as a sub-window?
This properties box BTW, controls how DOS boxes act under windows. You might want to check the tabs of the DOS box applet and see if any funky defaults have been set.
Question, what OS is this happening in, Win 95, 98, me, 2000?
Second, is there any BAT file configured to run whenever a DOS window is opened? If so, there’s a small chance that is is disabling the keyboard intentionally but not re-enabling it afterwards.
How do you run the DOS box? Start/Run/Command, or some icon like “MS-DOS Prompt”? If A, try B else if B try A.
Thanks for the help so far.
It does the same thing.
This properties box BTW, controls how DOS boxes act under windows. You might want to check the tabs of the DOS box applet and see if any funky defaults have been set.
I’ve tried disabling [alt][tab] and then re-enabling it, but nothing changes.
*Question, what OS is this happening in, Win 95, 98, me, 2000? *
ME
*Second, is there any BAT file configured to run whenever a DOS window is opened? If so, there’s a small chance that is is disabling the keyboard intentionally but not re-enabling it afterwards. *
Not as far as I am aware.
How do you run the DOS box? Start/Run/Command, or some icon like “MS-DOS Prompt”? If A, try B else if B try A.
I’ve tried both methods, and again, nothing changes.
This article about protected mode might be of technical interest re programming but is unlikely to solve your immediate problem.
Protected Mode Basics by Robert Collins
http://x86.ddj.com/articles/pmbasics/tspec_a1_doc.htm
Does this problem occur in real mode DOS?
What interrupt is your keyboard using and is there something sharing this interrupt? You can see the interrupt assignments displayed by double clicking on the computer icon in the control panel > system > device manager applet.
It should typically be IRQ 1. You can try setting these resources as reserved so that other windows apps wont step on the keyboard memory addresses.
Have you tried another keyboard? Do you have some keyboard utility running like the Intellikey applet used by the Microsoft keyboard? Many new keyboards with hot key features (email-volume etc) run these applets in the background.
As a side note another issue to consider is that ME is different from 98 et al in that it boots directly into protected mode and IIRC there were other issues re ME’s true DOS compatability that did not make it the best choice for working in both modes. If there is something (for your setup) that needs to happen or be loaded via a DOS boot command it is likely being bypassed.
If you are going to work with DOS complied stuff ME is probably not your best choice as an OS in that one of the points of ME is that it was the start of making the break from seamless DOS compatibility.
*What interrupt is your keyboard using and is there something sharing this interrupt? *
It says, under the resources tab, that the Interrupt Request is 01
*Do you have some keyboard utility running like the Intellikey applet used by the Microsoft keyboard? *
Indeed I do, its called “Hotkey”, and has several extra buttons on the keyboard - (Internet Explorer, CD player controls, volume controls and four user-defined applications)
*If you are going to work with DOS complied stuff ME is probably not your best choice as an OS in that one of the points of ME is that it was the start of making the break from seamless DOS compatibility. *
I haven’t had this problem before with ME before, and I haven’t used C++ or DOS in a while, so I couldn’t say when the problem kicked in, or what was installed to cause it.
I’ll try Real DOS now…
So call me a moron (all: you’re a moron), but how do you get into real DOS? Has Microsoft hidden it or something?
There’s no “reboot to DOS mode” command…
You will have to boot from and old DOS or pre ME windows floppy. ME got rid of real DOS, thats why it sucks more than 98se. I think there may be some complicated trick to get real DOS in ME, but I’m not sure.
Thanks everyone…
It seems Windows was having one of those days.
A couple of reboots, and its fine.
Could a mod please close this.