MS-DOS Window Remains on Screen After Application Is Finished

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you are running an MS-DOS-based application from an icon in Windows 95, the MS-DOS window remains open with the text "Finished - <Application Name>" appearing on the title bar after the application has finished executing.

CAUSE

The MS-DOS window remains open so that you can see any messages, such as errors, that may be generated by the MS-DOS-based application. This window appears for any MS-DOS-based application that generates output.

RESOLUTION

You can change the program properties for the MS-DOS-based application so that it closes on exit. To do this:

1. Use the right (secondary) mouse button to click the icon for the MS-DOS-based application.

2. Click Properties.

3. Click the Program tab.

4. Click Close On Exit to select that option.

5. Click OK to accept the settings.

Note, however, that you can set this option globally for all MS-DOS-based programs that do not already have their own PIF (program information file). To do this, create a default PIF with the setting listed above. For information about creating a default PIF, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q131877
   TITLE     : How to Create Default PIF for MS-DOS-Based Programs

MORE INFORMATION

If you are running a batch file, you can close the MS-DOS window by adding the following lines to the end of the batch file:

   echo off
   cls