4016 SX (250-4901) Video Software Information Faxback Doc. # 1868
Normally, the default video standard for the video circuitry is VGA. If a
program requires mapping standards that are incompatible with VGA, you can
use the vga.exe utility on the Utilities Diskette to override the VGA
setting. Vga.exe enables you to choose from the VGA, CGA, and Hercules
standards.
You can also use a LOCK command to make your particular configuration the
new default mode (instead of VGA mode).
In addition, the vga.exe utility switches between color and monochrome VGA
mapping modes. When you change modes, be sure to set the video mode jumper.
To locate the jumper, refer to the main logic board layout illustrations in
the Installing Optional Hardware section. For a list of jumper settings,
refer to Configuration Settings in the Installing Optional Hardware section.
If you have a hard disk installed, you can copy the vga.exe utility to the
hard disk. We recommend making a backup copy of the VGA utilities.
To access VGA.EXE:
1. Start up your computer.
2. At the MS-DOS prompt, insert the Utilities Diskette into Drive A.
3. Type a:vga. Then press <ENTER>.
A simple menu appears, listing some of the options available.
4. Use the up and down direction keys on your keyboard to select your
desired feature, and then press <ENTER>.
Choose Exit or press ESC to exit and return to the operating system.
If you wish, you can bypass the vga.exe menu by including the desired option
when accessing vga.exe. Use one of the following commands either at the
MS-DOS prompt or in a batch file.
* VGA VGA - Sets the video circuitry to VGA mode (the default configuration).
* VGA CGA - Sets the video circuitry to CGA mode. This mode emulates the
video capabilities of the IBM Color/Graphics Adapter. Press <CTRL>+<ALT>
+<DEL> to return to VGA mode.
* VGA MDA - Sets the video circuitry to emulate the Hercules Graphics Card
with no graphics memory allocated. This configuration is equivalent to
IBM's text-only Monochrome Display Adapter. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to return
to VGA mode.
* VGA HERC - Sets the video circuitry to emulate the Hercules Graphics Card
with one page of graphics memory allocated. This configuration is
equivalent to using the Hercules HGC HALF command. Press <CTRL>+<ALT>+<DEL>
to return to VGA mode.
* VGA HERC1 - Sets the video circuitry to emulate the Hercules Graphics
Card with two pages of graphics memory allocated. This configuration is
equivalent to using the Hercules HGC FULL command. Press <CTRL>+<ALT>+<DEL>
* VGA COLOR - Changes the video circuitry to color mapping as needed. This
setting supports video modes that require color mapping.
* VGA MONO - Changes the video circuitry to monochrome mapping as needed.
This setting supports video modes that use monochrome mapping (such as
monochrome text mode).
* VGA LOCK Locks in the video configuration as the new default
configuration. This command can also be used in conjunction with another
parameter to lock in that particular mode. For example, the command VGA
CGA LOCK will enable the video circuitry to survive a reboot configured as
a color/graphics adapter. Any specific video mode command such as VGA CGA
unlocks the video circuitry unless you include LOCK in your particular
command. If you enter an incorrect VGA command, the program displays a
prompt and gives you the option of using the vga.exe menu or returning to
MS-DOS.
Mouse Users:
If you are installing your mouse driver using a program such as mouse.com,
or if you already have your mouse driver installed through the config.sys
file, use the following procedure to switch from VGA to CGA, MDA, or
Hercules mode when the mouse driver is installed.
1. At the vga.exe menu, select your desired option. (Set CGA, Hercules, or
MDA).
2. Choose the Reboot System in Current Mode option. The system restarts.
Reload any drivers or TSR utilities you want to run.
3. To return to VGA mode, run the vga.exe utility and select a VGA option.
Note: Refer to your mouse installation guide for more information and
instructions.
Notes:
* Using the Reboot System in Current Mode option is equivalent to activating
the vga.exe utility's Lock Current Mode option and then pressing
<CTRL>+<ALT>+<DEL>.
Note: Subsequent restarts cause the VGA adapter to come up in the selected
mode (Hercules, MDA, or CGA). Using the vga.exe utility to select any other
mode causes subsequent restarts to come up in the default VGA mode.
* The Reboot System in Current Mode option can be accessed from the MS-DOS
command line or through an MS-DOS batch file by using the REBOOT parameter.
For example, to switch from VGA mode to Hercules mode when the mouse
driver has been loaded, use the following command:
VGA HERC1 REBOOT
Installation Troubleshooting:
Here are some typical symptoms of installation problems, along with their
solutions:
No display:
* The monitor and/or power cable is not properly plugged in.
* The monitor is not turned on.
* The brightness and/or contrast control on the monitor is not turned up far
enough.
F1 SETUP error when you start up your system:
* The Setup program was not run.
Distorted images or a blank screen when you run your software:
* The software is either configured improperly or is incompatible with the
video controller's current configuration. Run vga.exe.
To run utilities from the MS-DOS diskette, insert the MS-DOS diskette into a
diskette drive. Then, at the MS-DOS operating system prompt (such as A>>),
type the program name that corresponds to the desired utility. To run
utilities from a hard disk, type the appropriate program name at the hard
disk prompt (such as C>). It is not necessary to enter the file extension,
such as .com, to run a utility.
Software Tips:
* The best-looking display can usually be achieved by selecting the highest
resolution mode available when you install your application software
packages.
* Some applications automatically detect the type of video and monitor
combination installed and configure themselves to take best advantage of
the available hardware.
* If your software specifies that it is for VGA, PS/2 video, or EGA, install
the appropriate software. This enables your software to run on your video
circuitry in the startup configuration.
* If your software does not specify a VGA, PS/2 video, or EGA option and you
are using an RGB color analog monitor, try installing the software for
color, if available. This usually works with your video circuitry default
color mode on color monitors.
* To enable the video circuitry to run software that will not run on VGA
hardware, you must configure the video circuitry to operate in another
mode (such as CGA or Hercules), using the vga.exe utility.
* Hercules-compatible software and some CGA-compatible games will require
using the vga.exe utility to set the video circuitry to the appropriate
video standard.
* Software that requires a certain video mapping may require you to use the
vga.exe utility to set the video circuitry to color or monochrome text
mode as needed. For example, if the video circuitry is set for color VGA
text mode and you want to run software that requires monochrome text, you can
use the vga.exe utility to switch modes.
* The video circuitry default mapping depends on the type of monitor being
used. If you are using the color monitor, the default mapping will be
color. If you are using the monochrome monitor, the default mapping will
be monochrome.
(jej-05/11/94)