OS/2 FAQ List: User's Edition (4 Apr 94)

(5.3) Recovering from Crashed Sessions

Sometimes OS/2 2.1 will freeze when I run an application.  What do I do?

Before rebooting with CTRL-ALT-DEL, try CTRL-ESC.  Do not hit additional 
keys, do not move the mouse.  Wait up to a minute.  Either the Window List 
or an error message should pop up.  You may close the offending 
application at that point; allow some time for it to close.  (Try ALT-ESC 
if you have disabled CTRL-ESC in that application's DOS Settings.  If you 
do not get any response, press CTRL-ESC or ALT-ESC repeatedly until the 
dialog appears.)  Note that the Workplace Shell can recycle, independent 
of running applications, if it crashes.

If the system is badly disabled, sometimes pressing CTRL-ALT-NUMLOCK twice 
will result in a prompt to create a dump diskette.  You may do so (the 
online Command Reference describes dump diskettes), or at that point you 
may reboot with CTRL-ALT-DEL.

To prevent applications from automatically restarting see (5.10) Clever 
Tricks.  To restore the desktop to "factory defaults," use ALT-F1 when 
OS/2 2.1 starts.  See Appendix C of the OS/2 2.1 Using the Operating 
System manual for details.  Note that if you have installed an OS/2 
Service Pak [See (4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes] the ALT-F1 sequence 
will restore your desktop to the state it was found in just before 
installation of the Service Pak.

Related information:

(4.6)  Corrective Service Diskettes 
(5.10) Clever Tricks

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