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3D Studio in the Background on Win95 Update: 3D Studio runs well in the background if set up properly and certain small rituals are followed. The following setup has been tested with up to two instances of 3DS rendering in the background while working on a third project. The steps are as follows: 1- Create a shortcut from the 3DS.exe file by dragging the file with the right mouse button to the desired area of your desktop and release, then select "create shortcut". 2- Click on the shortcut icon and select "Properties". 3- Select the "Program" tab. 4- In the command line box add "vibcfg" after the 3DS.exe (i.e. 3ds.exe vibcfg) 5- Check the box "close on exit". 6- Select the "advanced" button. 7- Check the box "prevent ms-dos based programs from detecting Windows" The others should be cleared. 8- You can select the change icon button and go to your 3ds directory and pick the 3ds.ico file, then "ok". 9- Now select the "screen" tab, and make sure that "full screen" is selected, and that "fast rom emulation" and "dynamic memory allocation" are also selected. 10- Now select the "misc" tab and CLEAR "allow screen saver" and "Always suspend" check boxes. Slide the "Idle sensitivity" to low. The other boxes are fine as is. Pick "OK" to end the configuration. 11- Now double click the 3DS shortcut to launch the program. 12- In the "VIBCFG" menu, all sections will use the "Vibrant" "Display" selection. For the "Graphics Board" selection, use the "VESA Comestibles" on all except the "Render-Display" "Graphics Board" section, where a "Null" mode should be selected. ***IMPORTANT*** When selecting the resolution under the "Graphics Board" area of the "Render-Display", make SURE to pick the same resolution AND no. of colors as your Win95 display. Otherwise troubles arise with curser control when the window is minimized. 13- Select "OK" and enter 3D Studio. Work normally. To render in the BACKGROUND, start your render, and press the spacebar. The screen should go black. Now hold down the "alt" key and press "enter". Your 3D Studio session should now be a window on your desktop that you can minimize. To restore the window, ALWAYS "alt-enter" first, then hit the space bar. If this is not done in this order unpredictable results will occur. 14- Now double click the 3DS shortcut and work normally while the other file renders in the background! NOTES: -The file being rendered may now exceed the ram available. Win95 will apparently not allow 3DS to page to the hard drive and an "out of memory" message will occur. -If a render job finishes in the "minimized" state, Win95 will give an error similar to "This MS DOS Application cannot be run in Window mode" and usually proceed to hang Win95. DISCLAIMER: This is an unsupported procedures. Any questions should directed to "internet:mhuppert@rt66.com". Any lost work or other discomfort is the responsibility of the parties attempting this procedures and not the author or the Yost group. Coming soon (Lord willing) "Background rendering under NT3.51" Mark Huppertz mhuppert@rt66.com 74554,1665 Mark_Huppertz@msn.com