A data processing system having shared, distributed personality neutral resources managed by a microkernel based operating system. The microkernel supports multiple personalities and manages common resources accessible to all personalities. The microkernel has a logical video buffer service that manages the creation, deletion, and maintenance of logical video buffers. Each personality uses the logical video buffers to store its character mode screen displays. The server maintains a handle to each logical video buffer that is accessible by all personalities. The microkernel also has an event window server that creates input queues and provides them to the personalities. The event window server receives all system input and places it into the appropriate personality's queue. The event window server provides APIs allowing personalities to read input queues, remove events from the queues, inject input events into the event window server, and register hot keys.