Article: Q126031
Product(s): Microsoft C Compiler
Version(s):
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kbsetup kbide kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC220 kbVC400 kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbGrpDSTo
Last Modified: 02-MAY-2002
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions
- Microsoft Visual C++.NET (2002)
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SYMPTOMS
========
When you build from the development environment in Visual C++, the screen
repeatedly flashes to a blank text-mode screen with no text on it. A text cursor
may show up if you move the mouse while the blank screen is showing. The screen
returns to Visual C++ and then blanks out again. The blanking occurs at least
twice but possibly more times during the entire build process.
CAUSE
=====
The default settings for the Command Prompt on Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft
Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98
or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) are set to full screen.
RESOLUTION
==========
Depending on whether you are on Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows
95, Windows 98, or Windows Me, the resolution process is different:
- For Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP, you must set the options for
one of the following to "Windowed":
- The environment settings of all Windows NT Command Prompts.
- The program Vcspawn.exe, which Visual C++ runs as a background process.
- For Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me, you must reset the options for
one or all of the following:
- _Default.pif
- Conagent.exe
Follow the instructions given in the "More Information" section.
MORE INFORMATION
================
On Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP, Visual C++ repeatedly invokes a
background process called Vcspawn.exe for each command-line tool executed by the
development environment. Tools such as Cl.exe, Link.exe, and Bscmake.exe run in
the Vcspawn.exe environment, which is a 32-bit console application.
Usually Vcspawn.exe is invoked as a hidden window and you never see it. However,
if the setting for Vcspawn.exe is in "full screen" mode, the screen switches to
text mode each time Vcspawn.exe is invoked. No text is actually sent to the
Vcspawn screen, so the screen appears blank.
On Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me, Vcspawn.exe is affected by the
presence of the _Default.pif and the settings of the Conagent.exe file. If a
_Default.pif is in the path, its properties will be used for all invoked console
applications. Often, a _Default.pif is left over from a previous Windows 3.1 or
3.11 installation. Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me do not create one
during installation. If _Default.pif is not present, Windows 95, Windows 98, and
Windows Me use the properties of Conagent.exe.
On Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP:
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Use one of the following two procedures to correct the problem:
Steps to Reset Default Configuration of ALL Command Prompts
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On Windows NT:
1. Go to the Windows NT Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Console icon.
3. Click the General Settings or Options tab.
4. Select Window under the Display Options group.
5. Click OK.
On Windows 2000 and Windows XP:
1. Run Regedt32, which is located in the \System32 subfolder of the Windows NT
root folder.
2. Open the \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console branch of the registry tree.
3. Set the FullScreen value to 0.
4. Exit the registry editor.
Steps to Reset Configuration for Just Vcspawn.exe by Using Regedt32
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Use the following process to add a registry entry so only Vcspawn's settings are
not "full screen."
1. Run Regedt32, which is located in the \System32 subdirectory of the Windows
NT root directory.
2. Open the \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console branch of the registry tree.
3. Choose Add Key on the Edit menu to add a node called:
C:_MSVC20_BIN_vcspawn.exe
If Visual C++ is installed in a different directory or on a different drive,
use the following form for the Key Name:
<drive>:_DIR1_DIR2_DIR3..._vcspawn.exe
Leave the Class field empty.
4. With "C:_MSVC20_BIN_vcspawn.exe" highlighted, click Add Value on the Edit
menu. In Value Name, type "FullScreen" (without the quotation marks). In Data
Type, select REG_DWORD. Click OK, and then add a value of 0 (zero).
5. Exit the registry editor, and restart Visual C++.
Steps to Reset Configuration for Just Vcspawn.exe Without Using Regedt32
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If you are unfamiliar with the system registry and do not want to reset the
default configurations for the Command Prompt, use the following procedure to
reset the settings for Vcspawn. This procedure adds the same registry entry.
NOTE: if you have a fast machine, you may have trouble performing some of the
following steps and you need a larger project. Therefore, if you have a fast
machine, use one of the previous methods to work around the problem.
If you are compiling a large project, you can switch tasks and see the minimized
Vcspawn.exe icon. Resetting the attributes of this icon will reset the
attributes of Vcspawn.
1. Open a large project, such as the sample project CTRLBARS or SUPERPAD
supplied with Visual C++.
2. Choose to Rebuild All.
3. Press ALT+TAB to see the minimized Vcspawn icon in the corner of the screen.
4. Quickly open the system menu, and follow the steps shown in the "Steps to
Reset Default Configuration of ALL Command Prompts" section of this article.
NOTE: You must save the configuration before the development environment finishes
the build process. If you do not, the Vcspawn.exe window will be terminated, the
icon will disappear and any changes you made will not be saved.
On Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me:
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Use one of the following procedures to correct the problem.
Steps to Reset Configuration of _Default.pif
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1. In the Explorer, right-click the _DEFAULT file with the MS-DOS icon next to
it in your Windows directory.
2. Choose Properties.
3. Click the Screen tab.
4. Choose the Window option and click Apply, then OK.
Steps to Reset Configuration of Conagent.exe
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1. Make sure there is no _Default.pif file in your path; specifically check your
Windows directory.
2. Follow the instructions for steps 2, 3, and 4 above given for resetting
_Default.pif on the file Conagent.exe in your Windows or Windows System
directory.
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Keywords : kbsetup kbide kbVC200 kbVC210 kbVC220 kbVC400 kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC500 kbVC600 kbGrpDSTools
Technology : kbVCsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVC32bitSearch kbVCNET
Version : :
Issue type : kbprb
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