[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Node:<a name="Graphics%20and%20Windows">Graphics and Windows</a>,
Next:<a rel=next href="faq10_4.html">OpenGL</a>,
Previous:<a rel=previous href="faq10_2.html">Direct access</a>,
Up:<a rel=up href="faq10.html">Graphics</a>
<br>

<h2>10.3 Graphics screen restoring under Windows</h2>

<p><em><strong>Q</strong>: When I switch away from my DJGPP program under Windows 3.X, then
switch back to it, graphics mode is down, or my screen is all messed
up.  Why?</em>

<br><p>
<p><em><strong>Q</strong>: I cannot run my program which uses Allegro: Windows 9X says the
program would work better in DOS Mode<small>...</small>.</em>

<br><p>
<p><em><strong>Q</strong>: When running a program that uses Allegro under Windows, I cannot
switch away from it with <kbd>Alt-&lt;TAB&gt;</kbd>: instead of switching, the
PC beeps at me.</em>

<br><p>
<p><strong>A</strong>:  Windows 3.X only saves the VGA screen in standard VGA modes
(1..13h) when you task-switch away from a DOS application.  In any other
mode it only saves/restores the video mode <em>number</em>, but not the
actual screen contents.  Your application is most likely still in the
proper video mode (if not, it's probably the fault of the Windows driver
for your SVGA card), but the video memory is messed up.  The beauty of
all this is that your program has no way of knowing that the screen has
been taken away and then returned to it.

<p>The only reasonable thing to do is to dedicate a "hotkey" in your
application (e.g., <kbd>Alt-R</kbd>) whose action is to redraw the entire
screen.  If you do that, it's best to start all the way from the
beginning, e.g. with a call to <code>GrSetMode</code> (if you use GRX), as
there are a few bad Windows video drivers which do not restore SVGA
graphics modes properly upon the switch back.

<p>Windows 9X <em>does</em> save and restore the SVGA state, but only if you
task-switch with the <kbd>Alt-&lt;TAB&gt;</kbd> key.  If the switch happens
because of anything else, like a window popping up, or you pressing the
<code>Start</code> button, there's nothing your application can do to ensure
it restores correctly, because it just never gets moved back into
focus.  As soon as the user tries to restore it, Windows 9X comes up
with this message:

<pre> This application cannot be restored and will be terminated.
</pre>

<p>If you cannot switch from a graphics program by pressing
<kbd>Alt-&lt;TAB&gt;</kbd>, it usually means that some of the Windows drivers,
most likely the graphics one, is faulty.  Some SVGA drivers simply don't
bother to implement the save- and restore-state functions which Windows
needs to switch from a DOS program that uses SVGA graphics modes.  The
solution is to upgrade your driver, or replace the SVGA with one that is
better supported.

<p>To prevent Windows 9X from getting in your way when running graphics
programs, like popping up messages that suggest to run the program in
DOS Mode, just disable one or more of the relevant properties for that
program.  Here's a detailed procedure to disable them all:

<ul>
<li>Right-click on the program's <code>.exe</code> file in the <code>Explorer</code> or
in <code>My Computer</code>, then click on <code>Properties</code>.

<li>Click on the <code>Program</code> tab, then press the <code>Advanced</code> button,
and change the advanced properties as follows:

<ul>
<li>uncheck the <code>Suggest DOS Mode as necessary</code> option;
<li>check the <code>DOS Mode</code> option;
<li>uncheck the <code>Warn before entering DOS Mode</code> option;
<li>check the <code>Prevent MS DOS programs from detecting Windows</code> option;
<li>uncheck the <code>DOS Mode</code> option. 
</ul>

<li>Finally, click the <code>OK</code> button twice. 
</ul>

<p>Programs which use latest versions of Allegro should not usually trigger
warning messages from Windows, so upgrade to the latest Allegro version
if you keep getting such warnings.

<p><hr>
[an error occurred while processing this directive]