MS-DOS-Based Program Does Not Detect VESA Graphics

 Last reviewed: October 31, 1995
Article ID: Q135176
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you are running an MS-DOS-based program in a windowed MS-DOS session, the program may report one of the following errors:

  • High-resolution graphics are not available
  • VESA graphics are not available
  • SVGA graphics are not available

CAUSE

These programs perform a VESA service call to query the device capabilities. In order to satisfy the request, the MS-DOS session must be converted to full-screen so that the BIOS can inspect the video hardware and obtain the correct information about the device capabilities.

Under certain circumstances, Windows 95 may fail to do this conversion automatically, resulting in the program not detecting the availability of high-resolution graphics.

RESOLUTION

Configure the program to run in a full-screen MS-DOS session. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. In Windows Explorer or My Computer, use the right mouse button to click the program's icon, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

  2. Click the Screen tab.

  3. Click the Full-Screen option button.

  4. Click OK.

Run the program by double-clicking the program icon instead of typing its name at an MS-DOS prompt, so that the appropriate configuration is applied to the program.

MORE INFORMATION

Some programs query VESA device capabilities without immediately using the information returned. Such programs are converted to full-screen at the time the query is made, even though the program does not appear to be using graphics.

The Epsilon editor from Lugaru (version 7.0) exhibits this behavior.

KBCategory: kbenv kbgraphic
KBSubcategory: posfest win95
Additional reference words: 95

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Last reviewed: October 31, 1995
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