Microsoft KB Archive/109561

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Last reviewed: May 1, 1997

Article ID: Q109561 3.11 WINDOWS kbhw kbfile kbappnote kb3rdparty The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

Microsoft has an Application Note, "WG0974: VKDA.386 Corrects Keyboard Problems"

When you start Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 on certain computers, your system may stop responding (hang) at the password dialog box or in Program Manager (if you set your password to null during Setup). Application Note WG0974 contains a new virtual keyboard driver to correct this problem.

You can obtain this Application Note from the following sources:


 * Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet
 * The Internet (Microsoft anonymous ftp server)
 * Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
 * Microsoft FastTips Technical Library
 * Microsoft Product Support Services

For complete information, see the "To Obtain This Application Note" section at the end of this article.

THE TEXT OF WG0974
Microsoft(R) Product Support Services Application Note (Text File) WG0974: VKDA.386 CORRECTS KEYBOARD PROBLEMS Revision Date: 8/94 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.                                |
 * AST is a registered trademark of AST Research.                     |
 * COMPAQ is a registered trademark and Aero and LTE Elite are        |
 * trademarks 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.              |
 * 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) Acer America     | Pac 150, 1100LX Portable |  Advent            | Machines using Blue Lightning chip set Corporation      | |  Ambra Corporation | Machines using Blue Lightning chip set, | including B466DL, B466TL, D466DL, D466TL, and | D466BL |  AST(R)            | Ascentia 900N 486/75 laptop |  Compaq            | All Aero(TM) machines, LTE Elite(TM) 4/50 or 75CX |  Compudyne         | Specific models unknown |  Crystal Data      | 486 machines Systems          | |  DEC(TM)           | 316 SX, 320 SX                     | GRiD(R) Systems  | 320S with Tandy(R)/Phoenix BIOS V 1.10 |  GTSI              | 0783 486 SX/25 (SFA and desktop) |  IBM(R)            | Valuepoint PS/2(R) 450TX2/D machine types | 6382, 6384, and 0783 |  KLH               | computers |  Tandy             | 2500 SX/20, 2500 SX/25, 2500 SX/33, and 4020 |  Twinhead          | 486/33, Superset 590 386/25 |  Victor            | 300 SX/33 and 400 SX

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
 Insert the enclosed WG0974 disk in the appropriate floppy disk drive.  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   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

TO OBTAIN THIS APPLICATION NOTE
You can find WG0974.EXE (size: 27852 bytes) , a self-extracting file, on the following 

services:   Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon. Click Knowledge Base, and select the product. Enter kbfile #|WG0974.EXE (size: 27852 bytes), and click GO! Open the article, and click the button to download the file. </li>  Internet (anonymous FTP) ftp ftp.microsoft.com Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder. Get WG0974.EXE (size: 27852 bytes) </li>  Microsoft Download Service (MSDL) Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL Download WG0974.EXE (size: 27852 bytes) </li></ul>

For additional information about downloading, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: ARTICLE-ID: Q119591 TITLE    : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services You can have this Application Note mailed to you from the automated Microsoft FastTips Technical Library, which you can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (800) 936-4200. NOTE: The FastTips Technical Library is available only to customers within the U.S. and Canada. If you are unable to access the source(s) listed above, you can have this Application Note mailed to you by calling Microsoft Product Support Services Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Pacific time at (425) 637-7098. If you are outside the United States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area. The products included here are manufactured by vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.
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