Calling Protel AutoTrax users

[MR COFFEE]

HELP please!!

I've used Protel DOS AutoTrax and EasyTrax for years. It worked fine on my computer running XP in the past.

It's been a pretty good while since I worked on a pcb design, and when I went to run it this past weekend, I get to the startup screen with the "Press any key to begin" flashing prompt, and when I press any key, nothing happens! It just stays stuck there.

My path length isn't too long ( it's in C:\Autotrax) and I've included the directory in the path statement. I've unchecked various boxes on the .pif and properties screens, but nothing seems to get it to work again. Easyplot still runs OK, which makes it seem even stranger to me.

Did some Windows patch mess up AutoTrax? Is it working (still) on your XP system with up to date patches? I've checked for viruses, spyware, trojans, etc and the machine seems a-ok. Ran sfc and it completed OK.

Even if you haven't got a clue why it isn't running on my machine, please check and see if it still will get past the startup screen on yours and let me know.

Thanks for any and all help.

mr coffee

[George Giblet]

I haven't used Autotrax for years but I have spent many hours sorting out these types of problems (but mainly on Win95 and Win98)

>I've unchecked various boxes on the .pif and properties screens,

That's what I'd be doing but there so many options.  I vaguely remember some options regarding the screen and extended memory which often helped.

The other things I would try is opening up a command window and trying to run it there.  Also try setting you screen mode to VGA or something in XP (if you can).  Unfortunately you can boot to DOS as a sanity check in XP.

Have you tried installing a new Autotrax into another folder?

[R.G.]

Just offhand I'd say that one good possibility is that you had a disk error and the files are now corrupt. Reinstallation works.

However - if you're starting to get disk errors, run, do not walk to the store for a new disk. Who knows what else you'll lose before you get it onto a good disk.

[MR COFFEE]

Thanks for replies and suggestions.

I have tried reinstalling autotrax in a different folder - which didn't do the trick. I tired several of Airborn's newer VESA and the XP direct x driver, which doesn't seem to help. I've set XP at different screen resolutions before running AutoTrax, no dice. I've tried running it from the ms-dos prompt, but same thing happens. It starts, but it just hangs at the gray title screen with the flashing push any key to start at the bottom of the text. I don't know if this is a clue to anyone that knows more about the OS than I do, but even if I set the .pif to run in a window, it runs full screen, but pushing the windows key or alt-tab minimizes it and takes me back to the desktop. It's like the keyboard input isn't getting to the program, but keystokes get through to easyplot when I run it. Very perplexing. 

George if you remember anything about the extended memory settings, please share what you recall. I've got it set on "auto".

RG - So it DOES run on your XP machine OK with current XP patches?

It used to run fine on mine (until now).

I did have a funny error message on exiting Nero recently which running sfc a couple of days ago seems to have fixed, but I could have a system problem of some sort. I'll run scan disk and backup my HD pronto, run some memory diagnostics and I suppose run spinrite on the HD. If that doesn't do it I guess I should try a repair install of XP (ugh)? Haven't been any clear-cut evidence of of disk errors, but could well be the problem since obviously something was broke that sfc fixed.

Other stuff seems to be running a-ok since I ran sfc.

Thanks for any other feedback about recent experiences with AutoTrax (DOS) on your XP machines.

mr coffee

[MR COFFEE]

Just an update folks. I've gone over my system and it appears to be working a-ok.

I have tried to run Autotrax (Protel DOS freeware release 1.61) on TWO different Windows XP machines with current security patches... and it won't run on either one.

So unless my small sample here is the problem, it looks to me like some recent security patch to Windows XP has partly damaged the ms-dos emulator to the point that AutoTrax TRAXEDIT.exe will load the startup screen, but no more.

Anyone else who has XP and has AutoTrax on their machine - would you be so kind as to check and see if yours is similarly broken and post the results?

Thanks

[MR COFFEE]

NOBODY else uses Autotrax anymore???

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

The only people I know who rely on DOS software, keep an old computer to run it on!
But http://users.tpg.com.au/rcspcb/index2.htm is a place that really cares about Autotrax, maybe you can get some satisfaction through there.
Cracked Protel 98 seems to be the software of choice for DIYers in Australia...