In a message dated 10/24/2002 12:59:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, tgparker@worldnet.att.net writes:

Here's a possible "tweak" that might help Fractint in WXP.

There's a very interesting setting that I found on my Win95/98 Fractint Dos Box "Properties" window. Right click your Fractint Dos Box, click Properties >Program (tab) >Advanced (radial button). Check out all the different Dos Modes and configurations that you can set your Dos box to. I partuclarily like the "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows". There are also other specific custom DOS configurations that can also be set.

Hmmmm methinks this is the area to really look into......

All the best,

Tony

Tony,

Thanks for the tip. There is no exact equivalent for that selection in XP though. I also found an article in PC Magazine that explains how every application can have its own autoexec and config.sys files. I haven't yet found what to put in them to solve the problem, but I'm still playing. In the meantime, I can continue to boot to DOS.

I also want to say that I completely agree with your clear statement of the open-source program issues. I'm one of the folks who'd be willing to pay for Fractint. I fully understand and respect Tim's position on this, though. And, as Tim points out, a 13year life-cycle (and still counting!) is an incredible run in any case.

Bill