PRB: SETUP.APP Hangs While Running Compression Utility

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5 and 2.5a

SYMPTOMS

SETUP.APP (the FoxPro for Windows Distribution Kit SetupWizard) appears to hang while compressing files.

CAUSE

The compression utility may not actually be hung; it may be taking a long time to compress a very large file. It is common for the compression utility to take 15 minutes or more to compress 1 megabyte. If the computer has a hard disk drive light, watch it for activity. If it flickers frequently, the compression is probably still taking place.

RESOLUTION

If the compression has actually stopped, the problem may be related to starting SETUP.APP's MS-DOS compression utility in a window. To determine if this is the problem, do the following:

1. Verify that Windows can successfully start an MS-DOS session in a window. To do this, open the Main group in Program Manager and choose (double-click) the MS-DOS Prompt icon.

   NOTE: If the MS-DOS Prompt icon is not available, choose Run from the File menu in Program Manager. Type "command" (without the quotation marks) in the Command Line box, then choose OK.

2. If the MS-DOS session starts in full-screen mode instead of in a window, modify the appropriate .PIF file (DOSPRMPT.PIF if you double-clicked the MS-DOS Prompt icon or _DEFAULT.PIF if you typed "command" in the Command Line box) with the Windows PIF Editor. Select the Windowed check box in PIF Editor's Display Usage area. For more information on PIF files, see your Windows documentation.

NOTE: Third-party high-resolution video drivers are a common cause of difficulties with running an MS-DOS prompt session in a window. Try using one of the standard video drivers shipped with Windows, such as the VGA or Super VGA (800 x 600, 16 colors) driver. If one of these standard video drivers works, contact your video card vendor for an updated video driver.