My Computer Hangs When Using MS-DOS Shell Task Swapper

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This article was previously published under Q77819

SYMPTOMS

When you're using Task Swapper to switch between programs in MS-DOS Shell, your computer stops responding (hangs).

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When MS-DOS Setup upgrades your computer, it determines your monitor type and installs a file that saves information about the screen display when you switch from one program to another. If Setup incorrectly determines your monitor type, or you change your monitor after installing MS-DOS, your computer may hang when you switch between programs.

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RESOLUTION

If you are running two or more programs that use expanded memory, call Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain a new DOSSWAP.EXE file. The updated file corrects problems associated with switching between programs that use expanded memory.

If your computer hangs when you try to switch between programs that do not use expanded memory, do the following:

Make sure you are not running both MS-DOS Shell and Windows. Use either MS-DOS Shell or Windows to switch between programs.
Reinstall the DOSSHELL.GRB file in the directory that contains your MS-DOS files. To do so, carry out the procedure described in the following section.

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Reinstalling the DOSSHELL.GRB File

The MS-DOS 5 Upgrade disks and the MS-DOS 6.0 and 6.2 Supplemental disks include compressed files that are required for MS-DOS Shell to work with different kinds of monitors. To reinstall the DOSSHELL.GRB file, first determine which file is used with your monitor. Then expand and copy the file to the directory that contains your MS-DOS files.

The following list shows the compressed file needed for each of the monitors that MS-DOS Shell supports. Note that the name of the file on the Upgrade disk is not DOSSHELL.GRB. Setup renames the file when it copies the file to the directory that contains your MS-DOS files.

  If you have this type of monitor       Expand this file
  --------------------------------       ----------------
 
  MONO                                   MONO.GR_
  CGA                                    CGA.GR_
  EGA                                    EGA.GR_
  EGA MONO                               EGAMONO.GR_
  VGA, Super VGA. XGA, 8514, and other   VGA.GR_
    high-resolution monitors
  MONO (VGA, Super VGA. XGA, 8514, and   VGAMONO.GR_
    other high-resolution monitors
  Hercules                               HERC.GR_

To reinstall the DOSSHELL.GRB file:

Using the preceding list, determine which file you need to copy from the Upgrade disks.
If you are using MS-DOS 5.0, open the PACKING.LST file. This file lists the contents of each disk. The file is in the directory that contains your MS-DOS files. You can find PACKING.LST on Disk 3 (5.25-inch disks) or Disk 2 (3.5-inch disks).

If you are using MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2, the MS-DOS Shell files are on the Supplemental Disk. For more information on obtaining the Supplemental Disk, see the coupon in the back of your printed MS-DOS documentation.
Find the name of the file you need for your monitor, and write down the location of the file.
Use the following syntax to expand and copy the appropriate .GR_ file from the Upgrade disks to the directory that contains your MS-DOS files:
expand <drive1:><path1><filename> <drive2:><path2>dosshell.grb
The <drive1:><path1> parameter specifies the location of the compressed file you want to expand. The <filename> parameter specifies the name of the compressed file. The <drive2:><path2> parameter specifies the location of the expanded file.

NOTE: Make sure you name the file DOSSHELL.GRB.

For example, if the VGA.GR_ file is on a disk in drive A, and you want to expand the file to the \DOS directory on drive C, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt:
expand a:\vga.gr_ c:\dos\dosshell.grb

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APPLIES TO

Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition

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KB77819

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Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

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