====================================================================== Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File) WG0974: VKDA.386 CORRECTS KEYBOARD PROBLEMS ====================================================================== Revision Date: 5/94 1 Disk Included The following information applies to Microsoft Windows(TM) for Workgroups, version 3.11. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT AND ANY SOFTWARE THAT MAY | | ACCOMPANY THIS DOCUMENT (collectively referred to as an Application | | Note) IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER | | EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED | | WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR | | PURPOSE. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and | | the use of this Application Note. This Application Note may be | | copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) All | | text must be copied without modification and all pages must be | | included; 2) If software is included, all files on the disk(s) | | must be copied without modification (the MS-DOS(R) utility | | diskcopy is appropriate for this purpose); 3) All components of | | this Application Note must be distributed together; and 4) This | | Application Note may not be distributed for profit. | | | | Copyright (C) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. | | Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows is a | | trademark of Microsoft Corporation. | | COMPAQ is a registered trademark of Compaq Computer Corporation. | | DEC is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation. | | GRiD is a registered trademark of GRiD Systems. | | IBM and PS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business | | Machines Corporation. | | Tandy is a registered trademark of Tandy Corporation. | |---------------------------------------------------------------------| SYMPTOMS ======== When you start Windows for Workgroups version 3.11, your system may stop responding (hang) at the password dialog box or in Program Manager if you set your password to null during Setup. The WG0974 disk included with this Application Note contains a new virtual keyboard driver that corrects this problem for the following computers: Manufacturer | Model(s) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ambra Blue Lightning | B466DL, B466TL, D466DL, D466TL, and D466BL Compaq | All Aero machines Crystal Data Systems | 486 machines DEC(TM) | 316 SX GRiD(R) Systems | 320S with Tandy(R)/Phoenix BIOS V 1.10 IBM(R) | Valuepoint PS/2(R) 450TX2/D machine types 6384 | and 6382 Tandy | 2500 SX/20, 2500 SX/25, 2500 SX/33, and 4020 Twinhead | 486/33 Victor | 300SX/33 and 400SX NOTE: Machines manufactured by Compaq after April 1, 1994, that ship with Windows 3.1 come preinstalled with a virtual keyboard driver (VKD) that corrects this problem. Upgrading to Windows for Workgroups 3.11 leaves this VKD in place and allows the keyboard to work properly. However, if you install Windows for Workgroups 3.11 to a new directory, the keyboard stops functioning. If you perform such an installation, you must manually install the new VKD. CAUSE ===== The keyboard controllers in these machines generate unnecessary interrupts each time a key is pressed and released. The keyboard stops responding because the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 VKD, unlike the Windows 3.1 VKD, does not ignore these extra interrupts. RESOLUTION ========== To correct this problem, use one of the following methods: - Install the new VKDA.386 file provided with this Application Note. -or- - Install the Microsoft Mouse version 9.x driver. The replacement VKD that comes with this software (MOUSEVKD.386) handles the extra interrupts generated by the keyboards. NOTE: You may also be able to download a new VKD from the your computer manufacturer's bulletin board service (BBS). For example, SP0738.ZIP, which is available on the COMPAQ(R) BBS, contains a new VKD that corrects this problem. Contact your computer manufacturer to see if an updated driver is available. To install the new VKDA.386 file -------------------------------- 1. Insert the enclosed WG0974 disk in the appropriate floppy disk drive. 2. To copy the file to the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER copy :\vkda.386 where is the floppy disk drive containing the WG0974 disk and is the drive and directory of your Windows SYSTEM subdirectory. For example, if the WG0974 disk is in drive A and your Windows directory is called WINDOWS and is on drive C, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER: copy a:\vkda.386 c:\windows\system 3. Use a text editor to edit the keyboard= entry in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. Change keyboard=*vkd to: keyboard=c:\windows\system\vkda.386