Certain Phoenix BIOS Versions Hang System with CTRL+ALT+DEL

 Last reviewed: November 9, 1995
Article ID: Q84589
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

The following information has been reported by Phoenix Technologies. Microsoft has not tested this and makes no warranty implied or otherwise as to the validity of the following problem and/or workaround.

INFORMATION FROM PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES

A problem has been reported when using certain versions of Phoenix BIOS and loading the MS-DOS or Windows 3.1 version of EMM386.EXE.

Problem Description

When pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL when using MS-DOS Prompt with the Windows 3.1 version of EMM386.EXE loaded, the system hangs. This problem also occurs when using the MS-DOS 5.0 version of EMM386.EXE with the RAM option, or if KEYB.COM is loaded with MS-DOS 5.0 EMM386.EXE.

Workaround

This workaround should be used ONLY if the system displays the symptom described above. In those instances tested, the following workaround has been verified to resolve the problem. Edit the EMM386.EXE line in your CONFIG.SYS file to include the following parameter: 

   X=ffff-ffff
For example: 

   Original: device=c:\windows\emm386.exe
   Modified: device=c:\windows\emm386.exe x=ffff-ffff

Side Effects

When the modified EMM386.EXE statement is executed, the following message is returned: 

   WARNING: User specified range overlaps. Press any key to
   continue....
Aside from the inconvenience of the pause, which times out, allowing the computer to continue executing the CONFIG.SYS file, no other side effects have been observed.

KBCategory: kbhw kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: winboot
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11 3rdparty boot reboot re-boot

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Last reviewed: November 9, 1995
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