MSB Human: ErrMsg: This Program Requires 256 Colors Video Mode (127914)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Scholastic's Magic School Bus series: Explores the Human Body for Windows

This article was previously published under Q127914

SYMPTOMS

When you install Magic School Bus Explores the Human Body on a computer with an ATI Mach 64 video card installed, you may receive the following error message:
This program requires 256 colors video mode. Run Windows Setup to reconfigure.

CAUSE

Magic School Bus Human Body requires a 256 Colors display setting to run.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate steps for your version of Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98

Use the display drivers for the ATI card that are included with Microsoft Windows.

For additional information about how to change video drivers, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

131806 How to install or change a video driver

Microsoft Windows 3.x

To resolve the problem, follow these steps.

Check to see if the video display driver is set to 256 colors:
  1. In Program Manager, open the ATI DeskTop program group.
  2. Run ATI DeskTop, and then click ATI FlexDesk.
  3. If 256 Colors is not already selected, click 256 Colors.
  4. Click the Advanced button.
  5. Click Color Pallete, and then click OK.
  6. Click OK to close FlexDesk.
  7. When you receive the message to restart Windows, click Continue.
After you select 256-color video mode, follow these steps to turn off (disable) ATI's WinSwitch:
  1. In Program Manager, open the ATI DeskTop program group.
  2. Run ATI DeskTop, and then click ATI FlexDesk.
  3. Make sure that the Winswitch box is not selected. This will disable the Winswitch feature of the ATI video driver.
  4. Click OK to close WinSwitch.
  5. Restart Windows when you are prompted to do so.
After you follow these steps, you should be able to install and run the program successfully.

MORE INFORMATION

WinSwitch is an ATI utility that allows you to use keyboard commands to dynamically change the number of colors available on the screen in Windows. To do this, however, it loads all 64,000 colors so they can be made available as needed.

When the 256 color option is selected in combination with WinSwitch, the color palette is not in use.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/15/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB127914