MS-DOS Prompt Does Not Shut Down with Third-Party TSRs (134563)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q134563

SYMPTOMS

If a third-party keyboard enhancement Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) program is installed on the computer, you may be unable to shut down MS-DOS prompts. Any of the following actions (and possibly others) may not shut down the MS-DOS prompt:
  • Shutting down the computer
  • Closing all programs and logging off
  • Clicking the X button in the corner of the MS-DOS prompt window
  • Clicking the End Task button in the CTRL+ALT+DELETE dialog box
The title of the window says that the window is closing, but the window does not close.

CAUSE

The TSR does not implement the clean shut-down functionality, new in Windows 95. As a result, Windows 95 waits forever for the TSR to shut down.

RESOLUTION

For a long-term resolution, contact the vendor to see if an updated version of the program is available.

To work around this behavior, click the MS-DOS prompt that is not shutting down, and then at the MS-DOS prompt, type exit to cause it to quit properly.

To avoid having to do shut down the MS-DOS prompt in this manner repeatedly, use one of the following two methods:

NOTE: By following these steps, any unsaved information in the MS-DOS prompt will be lost.
  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Taskbar on the menu that appears.
  2. In the Taskbar Properties dialog box, click the Start Menu Programs tab, and then click the Advanced button.
  3. In the Exploring - Start Menu dialog box, click the Programs folder.
  4. Under Contents of Programs, using the right mouse button, click the MS-DOS Prompt icon, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.
  5. In the MS-DOS Prompt Properties dialog box, click the Misc tab, and under Termination, make sure the "Warn if still active" box is not checked.
-or-

Remove the TSR from the Autoexec.bat file.

MORE INFORMATION

Keyboard enhancement TSRs that do not support the Windows 95 clean shut- down functionality as of this writing include the following: 
   CED
   PCED
   ANARKEY
The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/28/2001
Keywords:kbAppCompatibility KB134563
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.