Black backgrounds

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris
  • Start date Start date
C

Chris

Hi there Jimmy and Chris H, I'm wondering if you can help me out with a
problem that I'm experiencing with my XP boxes. I work as a IT Network
Technician at two schools and I'm having problems with older Sherston
Software that requires being run in compatibility mode at 256 colours. The
problem is that, despite the games running fine, but when I return to the
desktop I get a black backgrounds, i.e. I'm now typing into the message and
all the boxes have a black background with white lines around them although
the windows border is correct. I
wondered if it might be a video driver issue, but then it happens to all of
my XP PC's that are supplied by different companies. I'm at a loss at what
I can do so I'm hoping you guys have had some kinda experience in this
before.
Many Thanks
Chris C
 
Hi Chris,

What happens if you lock the desktop and then log back in?

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Assisted Support: http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| Hi there Jimmy and Chris H, I'm wondering if you can help me out with a
| problem that I'm experiencing with my XP boxes. I work as a IT Network
| Technician at two schools and I'm having problems with older Sherston
| Software that requires being run in compatibility mode at 256 colours. The
| problem is that, despite the games running fine, but when I return to the
| desktop I get a black backgrounds, i.e. I'm now typing into the message and
| all the boxes have a black background with white lines around them although
| the windows border is correct. I
| wondered if it might be a video driver issue, but then it happens to all of
| my XP PC's that are supplied by different companies. I'm at a loss at what
| I can do so I'm hoping you guys have had some kinda experience in this
| before.
| Many Thanks
| Chris C
|
|
|
 
Perhaps Jimmy has an idea, Chris, but I would suspect the program isn't
properly releasing the drivers. Have you checked to see if it remains
running in the background, even though it has been exited?

Are you also using Compatibility Mode to run it for perhaps Windows 98, in
addition to the 256 color display? Have you checked with the Sherston folks
to see if perhaps they've got an update which fixes the issue?
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
 
Hi and thx you both for your replies. At the moment I'm at home and won't be
back at work until Friday, but when I get there I will try out your
suggestions. However, I have tried to run the games in win95 compatibility
mode but it made no difference. Sherston support, at least on their website
is poor, all they give is a telephone number and an e-mail address, for a
company that supplies many schools in our country I'd consider it not good
enough really, I'll let you both know how I get on friday.
Thanks again,
Chris C
 
Hi, sorry about the delay, it's gets kinda busy here sometimes. No login off
doesn't cure it at all, the only way to bring it back to normal is too
reboot. I've also tried using different accounts and that has the same. It
is quite annoying as when you go into word after running these games you
also get the black background. If it was confined to one PC then I could
understand a little more but it is all the XP PC's we have.
Many thanks,
Chris C
 
Hi Chris,

Is there a process left over in Task Manager that you can find?
If not, what happens when if you start another 3D application
and then close it? Does it bring the background back to normal?

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Assisted Support: http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| Hi, sorry about the delay, it's gets kinda busy here sometimes. No login off
| doesn't cure it at all, the only way to bring it back to normal is too
| reboot. I've also tried using different accounts and that has the same. It
| is quite annoying as when you go into word after running these games you
| also get the black background. If it was confined to one PC then I could
| understand a little more but it is all the XP PC's we have.
| Many thanks,
| Chris C
| "Jimmy S." <Private> wrote in message | > Hi Chris,
| >
| > What happens if you lock the desktop and then log back in?
| >
| > --
| > Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
| > Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >
| > Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
| > Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
| > MS Assisted Support:
| > http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=assistance
| > My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
| > rights.
| > _________________________________________________________
| >
| > | > | Hi there Jimmy and Chris H, I'm wondering if you can help me out with a
| > | problem that I'm experiencing with my XP boxes. I work as a IT Network
| > | Technician at two schools and I'm having problems with older Sherston
| > | Software that requires being run in compatibility mode at 256 colours.
| > The
| > | problem is that, despite the games running fine, but when I return to
| > the
| > | desktop I get a black backgrounds, i.e. I'm now typing into the message
| > and
| > | all the boxes have a black background with white lines around them
| > although
| > | the windows border is correct. I
| > | wondered if it might be a video driver issue, but then it happens to all
| > of
| > | my XP PC's that are supplied by different companies. I'm at a loss at
| > what
| > | I can do so I'm hoping you guys have had some kinda experience in this
| > | before.
| > | Many Thanks
| > | Chris C
| > |
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
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