MS Dos Compatibility Mode

Hi Everyone,

I have been having intermittent problems with my computer start-up. I
posted on a bulletin board on the Microsoft website and got some
helpful responses. Today I've been following the advised steps.

In device manager (in safe mode), I removed the following duplicate
devices:

5 instances of "ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering" - removed 4
2 instances of "motherboard resources" - removed 1
2 instances of my digital camera driver - removed 1
and...some other junk that was outdated
Under USB Controllers, there was an "unknown device" with a red x,
which I also removed.

When I checked Performance, it said I was in MS Dos Compatibility mode
and that my system was not working at it's best. (Can't remember exact
wording.)

The directions I was given said to search under "MS Dos compatibility
mode" in google groups to find out what to do. So I rebooted into
regular mode, my pc "detected new hardware" and installed a bunch of
drivers.

Before I went to Google groups, I checked the device mgr again. All 5
"ACPI IRQ (etc.)" were back. Two "motherboard resources" were back,
but everything else was gone. Also, I had a yellow exclamation point
next to "Scanport Parallel Port Host Adapter." I thought, well, I'll
have to get back into safe mode to take care of that. Then I checked
under performance and system configured for optimal performance. Cool!

So I went back into safe mode and checked again. Now the "Scanport
etc." was not highlighted, and performance said I was in MS Dos
Compatibility mode. Sheesh! So, I restarted into regular mode so I
could post here. Checking dm and perf., the scanport is highlighted
again and I'm in optimal performance. Huh?


I'm at a loss what to do now. Admittedly, I am playing on the outer
fringes of my computer skills. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help.

Diane

PS. Another quick question. If I don't use AOL, can I remove "AOL
Adaptor" and "AOL Dial up Adapter" from my Network Adapters in device
mgr?

"Diane" wrote in message
om...
Hi Everyone,

I have been having intermittent problems with my computer start-up. I
posted on a bulletin board on the Microsoft website and got some
helpful responses. Today I've been following the advised steps.

In device manager (in safe mode), I removed the following duplicate
devices:

5 instances of "ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering" - removed 4
2 instances of "motherboard resources" - removed 1
2 instances of my digital camera driver - removed 1

The above is not proper procedure. When duplicates are removed in Safe Mode, you
should remove *all* of the duplicated items. Don't leave any. You don't know
which one is the right one. Remove them all and let Windows reinstall the
device(s). Also, when you remove a "parent" device (such as a USB controller),
you should also remove any "child" devices (such as USB hub and USB devices
attached to hub.) There are several examples of this relationship in Device
Manager (IDE controllers and drives is another prime example.) The idea is that
when you remove the parent device, and its attendant settings, and then Windows
reinstalls it, the child device is likely to no longer be configured correctly.
Another type of issue would be a modem or other device that is actually several
devices--if removing a modem device, you might also need to remove an HFC
enumerator and/or wave device (sound) that is part of the modem.

and...some other junk that was outdated
Under USB Controllers, there was an "unknown device" with a red x,
which I also removed.

When I checked Performance, it said I was in MS Dos Compatibility mode
and that my system was not working at it's best. (Can't remember exact
wording.)

The Performance tab *always* says this in Safe Mode.

The directions I was given said to search under "MS Dos compatibility
mode" in google groups to find out what to do. So I rebooted into
regular mode, my pc "detected new hardware" and installed a bunch of
drivers.

Before I went to Google groups, I checked the device mgr again. All 5
"ACPI IRQ (etc.)" were back. Two "motherboard resources" were back,
but everything else was gone.

It is not unusual to have duplicates of "Motherboard Resources" and/or other
System devices. Multiple IRQ Holders are also normal. However, you should repeat
the process and this time remove them *all*, as noted above, just to be sure.

Also, I had a yellow exclamation point
next to "Scanport Parallel Port Host Adapter." I thought, well, I'll
have to get back into safe mode to take care of that. Then I checked
under performance and system configured for optimal performance. Cool!

So I went back into safe mode and checked again. Now the "Scanport
etc." was not highlighted, and performance said I was in MS Dos
Compatibility mode. Sheesh! So, I restarted into regular mode so I
could post here. Checking dm and perf., the scanport is highlighted
again and I'm in optimal performance. Huh?

What you are seeing is normal. When you boot to Safe Mode, no Virtual drivers
are loaded. All you see in Device Manager is the list of devices from the
Registry, devices which Windows has at some time in the past installed. When you
boot in Normal Mode, all you see in DM are devices that actually loaded (or
tried to load, or those which are disabled, etc.) You also do *not* see some
"hidden" devices that for various reasons aren't listed but which are real and
necessary (IRQ Holders, for instance.)

Safe Mode is *always* in Real-Mode Compatibility. When you boot to Normal Mode,
if all is reasonably well, you are not in Real-Mode Compatibility. Even if you
have problems with one or more devices.

Other than the suggestion I made, above, to repeat the removal process for the
devices you removed all but one of (those which still exist, anyway), I suggest
you also (in Safe Mode) remove the LPT port(s), the Scanport Parallel Port Host
Adapter", and anything else connected with the scanner/multi-function
printer/whatever (I don't know what you have.)

I'm at a loss what to do now. Admittedly, I am playing on the outer
fringes of my computer skills. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help.

Diane

PS. Another quick question. If I don't use AOL, can I remove "AOL
Adaptor" and "AOL Dial up Adapter" from my Network Adapters in device
mgr?

Yes!

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Win9x