MS-DOS Prompt Window shows no typed characters

[doinghardtime]

An IBM Thinkpad 600E running Windows 98SE shows no typed characters when opening an MS-DOS style window. Typing at the command prompt will fill the buffer eventually resulting in a system beep, however no typed characters appear on the DOS window. Running a MS-DOS prompt in MS-DOS only mode works normally, shows typed characters just fine.

 

[edfair]

Would suspect a blown command.com. Assume that any command initiated will operate correctly but might not display correctly.
Try copying the c:\command.com to c:\win98\command.com. But save the old one by renaming it so you have something to go back to. This for starters. Ed Fair
efair@atlnet.com

Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply.

Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[RickSpr]

Also, look at the properties of your MS-DOS Window shortcut. On the Program page, check for a batch file name. If so, test without it. You might be running a program in it that sets the text foreground color to black, or you might have a MODE command in it that sets an unsupported video mode. Rick Sprague

 

[rfeenie]

to check if you have a foreground color as black type dir at the dos prompt, on pressing the enter key you should see some hard drive activity on your base unit as its reading the disk. at least this proves its a colour setting issue

Rob If in doubt get the Ball Pein Hammer out

 

[timdodgson]

normally the only way to change color in dos is to send esc codes via ansi system which is loaded in config.sys press f8 for boot menu pick step by step and see if this device driver is being loaded

Tim Dodgson
t_dodgson@yahoo.com

http://www.totalitsolutions.co.uk