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Thread ID: 26912	2002-11-08 01:40:00	DOS printing and Invalid Page Exceptions	Billy T (70)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
97118	2002-11-08 01:40:00	Hi Team I have an instrument with software that does not support Windows . I therefore run it in a DOS window opened from a desktop shortcut to the relevant exe file and this has worked successfully for years . The program prints to a Canon inkjet on LPT1 and all of this normally works just fine . In recent times however, every now and then when I click print in the DOS window my computer exits the program and throws up an Invalid Page Exception error message with the fault location 0028:01E5 . The only reference to Page Exceptions that I could find on Google pointed to a problem with NAV Corporate (and an almost identical fault location) but since I don't run NAV Corporate, that is not very helpful . Just in case I disabled NAV in the Start Up menu, rebooted and tried again but got the same result . My guess is that it is a memory problem but the DOS properties for my shortcut are all set to auto . Which memory parameter would be best to start with to resolve this problem? The first option offered is EMS (expanded) which I assume is obsolete but if it is, why does Windows still refer to it? The others are XMS (extended) which I presume is normal RAM, and MS DOS protected Mode (DPMI) memory (whatver the heck that is) ?:| This is only an occasional problem, but that is no consolation when I need to print in a hurry and can't access the printer X-( Win 98 original, P166, 192MB, everything else is running sweet . Any suggestions would be welcome . Cheers Billy 8-{) :(	Billy T (70)
97119	2002-11-08 02:55:00	I suppose the real question is why is it happening now, at this time? Is there a shortage of conventional memory? Windows should make about 612K available normally. Is there a real mode driver associated with the dos program that is causing a wobbly? The get out could be to make a shortcut on the desktop to real mode dos and create "private" autoexec.bat and config.sys files that will be used when the shortcut reboots the computer into dos. That way you could control the memory via conventional dos lines in those files, like dos=umb,high, and emm386.exe noems, etc, and run the program from pure dos. Dos doesnt know about Invalid Page Exceptions :) (hopefully)	Terry Porritt (14)
97120	2002-11-08 03:07:00	Billy T, I guess you've already seen both of these articles then: IPE_1 (www.faqchest.com), IPE_2 (www.faqchest.com) and you've probably been here also Windows Error Messages (www.aumha.org), and here for some good tips on (among others MS-DOS under Win9x) Axcel1216 (members.aol.com) The only other time I have this problem under Win98 or Win98SE or WinME was when the PC had more than 512MB of RAM (not your issue though). Sorry I couldn't help Billy T, will watch this space with interest. Cheers, Babe.	Babe Ruth (416)
97121	2002-11-10 01:27:00	Hi Guys Unfortunately I haven't found a solution yet. Terry: I have run this program in Windows for years without problems and would rather not boot to DOS. I'm not sure about real mode drivers, are you referring to drivers associated with this program? It is a pure DOS program and if I have to run it in DOS I will have to load DOS printer drivers I suppose though I think it comes with an Epson printer driver that is compatible with the Canon printer. Babe Ruth: I checked all of the sites you listed but couldn't find anything relevant to the error message I have. Couldn't find anything in Windows Help either. If it is of any assistance, after it pops the error message I reboot as instructed but Windows won't close down and I have to do a hard reboot then allow scan disk to run. This is an occasional problem only and I'm wondering if it is a problem with specific data files. I'm going to post this then try to print a file I printed successfully a few days ago and see what happens. Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
97122	2002-11-10 02:05:00	I did a search for "invalid page fault dos" in Google. It found one Microsoft note (referring to W98 and DOS printing to LPT) with the address 0028:01c5, not the "01e5" you quoted. It blames it on a "SYMEvent" signal belonging to Nortons System Works.	Graham L (2)
97123	2002-11-10 03:44:00	Hi Graham Yes, that's the one I mentioned in my initial post but I don't use NAV Corporate (and shutting down NAV didn't help either). The problem is, I can't find anything to tell me what an invalid page exception actually is so I can't begin to look for solutions. I can't even find anything useful about setting up DOS options for the Shortcut so they are all set on auto. Cheers Billy 8-{) :(	Billy T (70)
97124	2002-11-10 04:06:00	Symevent will not be disabled because you disable your virus scanner. It is loaded as a static vxd. To solve the problem load up msconfig and goto the static Vxd's you will see symevent in there. Now if you disable this you will get error messages saying that NAV can no longer start. So there is a bit of a trade off. An invalid page fault from my understanding, is when a programme loads something into memmory, now either that memmory address is taken, or doesn't exist. Commonly happens when you've used up your RAM and are now using virtual memmory. See if you can allocate more memmory to it through the properties, But as you say they are set to auto.	roofus (483)
97125	2002-11-10 04:14:00	These intermittent problems in software are just as hard to track down as electronic intermittent faults. I mentioned real mode dos drivers just in case there was a driver in autoexec.bat for the dos program that had decided to start conflicting with windows in some way. Tricky :(	Terry Porritt (14)
97126	2002-11-10 10:02:00	Hi Roofus Are you suggesting that use of the Auto function for DOS memory will dynamically assign memory to the dos program called by the shortcut? If so, could that not accidentally overide memory that is already in use, thus giving the page exception error? Maybe if I try setting some of those settings to fixed values it could help. Problem is, which ones do I need to set? The version of NAV I use is not the one referred to in the MS article. I followed the article instructions to disable NAV but it didn't help. There was nommention of staic vxds that I can recall. Actually, this has been such an intermittent effect that I doubt NAV to be the cause. More ideas welcome :D Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
97127	2002-11-10 20:20:00	Hi Billy, Regardless of what you have read regarding this message i can tell you for a fact that you will have symevent loaded up as a static vxd. Let me explain what this vxd is. Its basically a task scheduler etc that sets times to do Norton stuff, in your case this could be to run the virus scanner. Now usually this isn't causing a problem, but then when symevent activates to tell one of its norton products the time then there is an invalid page fault as symevent goes to use the memmory space that your dos programme is using. Yes i am saying that dos memmory will be allocated dynamically when you have it on the auto function. If you have a look in the properties of the shortcut you have made to activate this dos programme you will see that there are many buttons you can tick. I would recommend ticking these under programme tab --> prevent Dos prgramme from detecting windows set this to yes. Misc--> Disable screensaver Under Memmory --> set the conventional memmory to protected. THis is one that you should toggle if you get the error again, as it could either stop the conflict or make it occur again Screen --> untick dynamically assign memory. All this i have mentioned is under WinME. I can't remeber what version you are running, but im sure it would be the same in 98	roofus (483)
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