Background Color Changes When Exiting MS-DOS Prompt (161373)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q161373

SYMPTOMS

When you exit from a full-screen MS-DOS prompt, the background color on your desktop computer changes.

CAUSE

This problem has been known to occur when the following three conditions hold true simultaneously:
  1. The computer's video card uses a Cirrus Logic chip set.
  2. The MS-DOS prompt has been configured to open to full screen as the default.
  3. The Cirrus Logic video driver included on the Windows NT 4.0 compact disc is being used.

RESOLUTION

Contact Cirrus Logic Technical Support for information concerning availability of an updated video driver.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

To restore the previous desktop color, open the MS-DOS prompt full screen and press ALT-ENTER to switch the MS-DOS prompt to a window. The desktop color is restored. Exit the MS-DOS prompt from the window. Go to Control Panel, MS-DOS Console, and change the display options to "Window."

As stated, this problem will only occur if the video card uses a Cirrus Logic chip set AND the MS-DOS prompt has been configured to open as full screen. If an MS-DOS prompt is opened as a window first and then switched to full screen, exiting from the full-screen DOS prompt will not cause this problem.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/8/2001
Keywords:KB161373
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.