KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q28033: QB.EXE Can Hang Using $INCLUDE on Single-Drive System

Article: Q28033
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | B_BasicCom buglist4.00 bc6PTM237 buglist4.00b fixlist4.50 | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 4-DEC-1988

The QB.EXE editor can hang on a single-drive system when using
$INCLUDE file loading, name parsing, and/or file opening, as shown in
the example below.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in QuickBASIC Versions
4.00 and 4.00b, and in the Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and
6.00b (buglist6.00, buglist6.00b) for MS-DOS and OS/2. This problem
was corrected in QuickBASIC Version 4.50.

QuickBASIC will hang in the following single-drive configuration:

 1. Make the following two floppies (5.25 inch or 3.5 inch):

       Disk 1: QB.EXE
       Disk 2: HIDE.BAS, QB.BI, QB.QLB

    (Note that HIDE.BAS, QB.BI, and QB.QLB are provided on the
    QuickBASIC Version 4.00 release disks.)

 2. Set PATH, LIB, and INCLUDE to nothing (i.e., SET PATH=).

 3. Put Disk 1 in Drive A (single-floppy systems only, hard disk
    allowed).

 4. Set Drive A as the default drive.

 5. Type the following command:

       QB B:HIDE /L.

 6. Answer location for QB.QLB with Drive B.

 7. Swap disks as prompted.

 8. Modify the include line to be b:QB.BI instead of QB.BI (this can
    be done before starting QuickBASIC).

 9. Press SHIFT+F5.

10. Insert Disk 1 in Drive A, press ENTER; at this point, QuickBASIC
    hangs.

Please note that Disk 2 is the one to use when you are asked to insert
a disk in Drive B. If you modify HIDE.BAS before running QuickBASIC,
then QuickBASIC will hang when trying to load QB.BI.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.