Compiling in Microsoft Visual C++ Switches Screen to Text Mode

Last reviewed: August 22, 1995
Article ID: Q132838

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you build or compile a program in the IDE of Microsoft Visual C++, the screen switches to text mode. After the program is built or compiled, the screen switches back to graphics.

CAUSE

An old _Default.pif file is located on the path that is marked as "full screen." The reason this affects compiling is because Microsoft Visual C++ spawns hidden console programs to compile. Because Microsoft Visual C++ version 2.x itself is marked as a Windows version 3.x program, for compatibility, Windows 95 searches for a Default.pif file when it runs console or MS-DOS programs.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, do one of the following:

Remove the old _Default.pif file from the current path
Set the _Default.pif file as windowed using PIFEDIT
Delete the _Default.pif file.

KBCategory: kbinterop kbprg
KBSubcategory: posfest win95
Additional reference words: 95

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Last reviewed: August 22, 1995
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