DOCUMENT:Q138658 10-FEB-2000 [foxpro] TITLE :PRB:Screen Turns Black & Returns as Start Visual FoxPro or Exe PRODUCT :Microsoft FoxPro PROD/VER:WINDOWS:3.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you start Visual FoxPro or a Visual FoxPro application executable (.exe) file on a 16-bit operating system, the screen flashes black, as if going to an MS-DOS session, and then it returns to Windows without starting Visual FoxPro or the application. Or you receive this error message: This program cannot be run in DOS mode. CAUSE ===== The Win32s subsystem is missing or is not properly installed. On 16-bit Windows platforms, such as Windows 3.1 or Windows for WorkGroups 3.11, the Win32s subsystem in necessary for Visual FoxPro and Visual FoxPro application .exe files to run. RESOLUTION ========== If Visual FoxPro won't start, you need to reinstall the Win32s subsystem. For more information about how to reinstall the Win32s subsystem, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Q129979 How to Reinstall Win32s with Visual FoxPro If a Visual FoxPro application .exe file won't start, use one of the following two possible resolutions: - If the Setup Wizard was not used to create distribution floppy disks for your executable, run the Setup Wizard to create a set of distribution disks disks or a netsetup directory for workstation installations. Then in "Step 2 - Optional Components" of the Setup Wizard, select Win32s as one of the optional components. -or- - If the Setup Wizard was used to create distribution diskettes, rerun the Setup Wizard to rebuild the floppy disk images. Be sure to select Win32s as one of the optional components on "Step 2 - Optional Components." NOTE: Windows 95 and Windows NT are 32-bit operating systems and do not require the Win32s subsystem. STATUS ====== This behavior is by design. MORE INFORMATION ================ Steps to Reproduce Behavior --------------------------- 1. Build a Visual FoxPro executable (.exe) file. 2. Place the .exe file and Vfp300.esl files onto a computer running a 16-bit version of Windows that does not have a version of Win32s installed. 3. Attempt to run the executable. Additional query words: VFoxWin ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300 Version : WINDOWS:3.0 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.