INVDOS Crashes AutoCAD Mouse/Tablet Driver

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.0 and 1.1

SYMPTOMS

While using Systems Management Server to inventory MS-DOS or Windows (16-bit) systems that have AutoDesk's AutoCAD versions 10, 11, or 12 installed, INVDOS will disable the CCMOUSE driver. CCMOUSE is used to emulate a mouse while using a graphics tablet. The tablet becomes unusable. INVDOS will complete normally and not report any errors.

CAUSE

When INVDOS is run on systems using CCMOUSE, the mouse detection and identification tests disable the tablet; the tablet/mouse cursor cannot be used. The only recovery is to cold boot (power down) the computer and tablet, and use AutoCAD setup to reconfigure the tablet.

NOTE: When INVDOS completes normally, any SMSSAFE.TMP file is deleted. Since this file doesn't show that a hardware failure has occurred, the next time INVDOS is run the same problem will occur.

WORKAROUND

Create an SMSSAFE.TMP file that contains a "MouseInfo=CRASHED" line. The next time INVDOS is run, it will find the MouseInfo line, and will not run the mouse test. It will modify the SMS.INI file, "FailedHardwareCheck" to include the mouse test. This will prevent INVDOS from attempting to run the mouse test on that client from then on.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server versions 1.0 and 1.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.