DK0885: Application Hangs When Works Alarm/Calendar Displays
PSS ID Number: Q102341
Article last modified on 08-06-1993
PSS database name: D_WorKs

3.00

MS-DOS


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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Works for MS-DOS, version 3.0
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SUMMARY
=======

MS-DOS-based applications such as WordPerfect® may stop responding
(hang) at the exact time a Works alarm or calendar reminder is
scheduled to sound or display. This problem can occur even when you
have quit Works and it is no longer running. This problem occurs
because Works does not reset the alarm interrupt when you quit the
program.

This Application Note corrects this problem. The following is the
complete text of this Application Note.

To obtain this Application Note (DK0885), call Microsoft Product
Support Services at (206) 454-2030. 

This Application Note can also be found in the Software/Data Library 
by searching on the word DK0885, the Q number of this article, or
S14204. DK0885 was archived using the PKware file-compression utility. 

MORE INFORMATION
================

======================================================================
  Microsoft® Product Support Services Application Note (Text File)
DK0855: APPLICATION HANGS WHEN WORKS ALARM OR CALENDAR REMINDER IS DUE
                          TO SOUND OR DISPLAY
======================================================================
                                                   Revision Date: 7/93
                                                       1 Disk Included

The following information applies to Microsoft Works version 3.0 for
MS-DOS®.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
| 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)  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) 1993 Microsoft Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.     |
| Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks and Windows is a     |
| trademark of Microsoft Corporation.                                 |
| WordPerfect is a registered trademark of WordPerfect Corporation.   |
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction
=============

MS-DOS-based applications such as WordPerfect® may stop responding
(hang) at the exact time a Works alarm or calendar reminder is
scheduled to sound or display. This problem can occur even when you
have quit Works and it is no longer running. This problem occurs
because Works does not reset the alarm interrupt when you quit the
program.

The files included with this Application Note, FIXALARM.COM and
WORKS3.BAT, correct this problem. FIXALARM.COM is a utility that
resets the alarm interrupt for Works. WORKS3.BAT is a batch file that
runs both Works and FIXALARM.COM.

To correct the problem
----------------------

1. Install WORKS3.BAT and FIXALARM.COM (see the installation
   instructions).

2. Each time you want to start Works, change to the Works directory
   and type WORKS3 at the MS-DOS command prompt. This will cause Works
   to automatically reset the alarm interrupt when you quit the
   program.

    - or -

   If you do not start Works using the WORKS3.BAT file, run
   FIXALARM.COM by changing to the Works directory and typing FIXALARM
   at the MS-DOS command prompt. Do this immediately after quitting
   Works and before running any other application.

This resets the alarm interrupt.

    NOTE: If you do not run either WORKS3.BAT or FIXALARM.COM, you
    will continue to experience the problem. You must either start
    Works using WORKS3.BAT or run FIXALARM.COM after exiting Works
    every time you run Works.

    FIXALARM.COM only temporarily disables the set alarms. When you
    restart Works, the alarms and reminders you set previously will be
    reactivated.

Installation Instructions
==========================

1. Insert the enclosed DK0855 disk in the appropriate floppy disk
   drive.

2. At the MS-DOS command prompt, type the following and press ENTER

      copy <drive>:\*.* <destination>

   where <drive> is the floppy disk drive containing the DK0855 disk
   and <destination> is the drive and directory where your Works
   program resides. For example, if Works is located in the WORKS
   directory on drive C and the DK0855 disk is in drive A, type the
   following command:

      copy a:\*.* c:\works

Additional reference words: 3.00

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.