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Q197538: Full-screen DOS Window Is Split with Some Number 9 Video Cards

Article: Q197538
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT400sp4fix
Last Modified: 20-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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SYMPTOMS
========

Starting a full-screen command prompt on some Number Nine video adapters may
result in a split-screen doubling of the full screen.


CAUSE
=====

Vga.sys needs to set the character cell height for the MS-DOS mode. Character
cell height is held in the lower 5 bits of the VGA register CR9. However,
Vga.sys destroys the upper 3 bits of CR9 when writing the character cell height
into the lower 5 bits of the register. The state of one of those upper three
bits is required by the flat-panel MS-DOS mode.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or
Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack



If obtaining the service pack at this time is not a viable alternative, you can
contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete
list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on
support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

  Date      Time                 Size    File Name     Platform
  -------------------------------------------------------------
  10/27/98  11:08a                14,704 Vga.sys       (x86)
  10/27/98  11:08a                22,832 Vga.sys       (Alpha)

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT
Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows
NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
Service Pack 4.

Additional query words: 4.00 #9 Number 9 video card display adapter
======================================================================
Keywords          : kbWinNT400sp4fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : winnt:4.0
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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