Video Blaster FS200 Common Questions and Answers ================================================ This file contains some common problems faced and the solutions to those problems. Please read the sections below when you encounter a problem, and call our Technical Support when you cannot find an answer in this file. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : Error in opening MCI Driver. Causes : 1. VIDEOBLST_FS200 environment string was not set up properly. 2. The applications were not set up properly. Solutions : 1. Check that the AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains the statement SET VIDEOBLST_FS200=C:\VBFS200 A:6D4 I:10 M:14 T:3. If any of the entries are missing, you need to run FS200ENV ( see Chapter 3 of User Manual). 2. Run WINSETUP (see Appendix B of User Manual, or refer to the README.TXT file). --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : No video image. Causes : 1. VGA cable is not connected to the video card. 2. Wrong input source selected. 3. Video image is not aligned with the VGA monitor. Solutions : 1. The connection may be wrong, refer to Figure 2-7 of the User Manual on the correct connection. 2. Run Video Blaster FS200 Setup (in Windows) or FS200SET (in DOS). Use the Video Source drop-down list to select the appropriate video source (see Chapter 5 or 7 of User Manual). 3. See below (under "The live image has a magenta border"). --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : The live image has a magenta border. Cause : Video image is not aligned with the VGA monitor. Solution : Run Video Blaster FS200 Setup (in Windows) or FS200SET (in DOS). Click for the System Settings dialog box, under Video Alignment, drag the X Offset slider for horizontal alignment. Then drag the Y Offset slider for vertical alignment. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : The video image has no color. Cause : 1. The broadcast standard is not selected correctly. 2. Saturation is set to 0. Solution : 1. Run Video Blaster FS200 Setup (in Windows) or FS200SET (in DOS). Click for the System Settings dialog box to appear. Use the Signal Type drop-down list to select the appropriate broadcast standard. 2. Run Video Blaster FS200 Setup (in Windows) or FS200SET (in DOS). Click for the Color Settings dialog box to appear. Adjust the Saturation control until color re-appears. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : Cannot load a JPEG file. Cause : Some JPEG file formats are not suppported like the YUV 4:2:0. Solution : Use a file conversion utility to convert the file to another format. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : Flickering of VGA screen. Cause : 1. Some connections are not secure. Solution : 1. Ensure that the feature connector and video interface cables are firmly secured. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : Flickering of live video. Cause : 1. Some connections are not secured. 2. Video source may not be functioning. Solution : 1. Ensure that the feature connector and video interface cables are firmly secured. 2. Ensure that your video source is in reasonable condition e.g., having a clean VCR head. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : VGA blanks out when running Video Blaster FS200 software. Cause : Screen resolution may be too high. Solution : The Video Blaster FS200 will work with the following common screen resolutions: a) Standard VGA resolutions, up to 640x480x16 colors. b) 640x480x256 colors c) 640x480x32K colors d) 800x600x16 colors e) 800x600x256 colors f) 640x480x64K colors } g) 800x600x32K colors } --> On certain VGA cards only h) 800x600x64K colors } At higher resolutions than these, the VGA screen may blank out. Use a lower video screen resolution, e.g. 800x600x256 colors. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : VGA screen gets brighter while running Video Blaster FS200 software. Solution : This is not a problem. The Video Blaster FS200 enhances the video image when active, including the VGA screen. As a result the screen may get a little brighter while the Video Blaster FS200 software is active. A very soft click will be heard when the Video Blaster FS200 is activated or deactivated. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : FS200DOS runs out of memory while loading or saving images. Cause : There is insufficient conventional memory in your system. Solution : FS200DOS requires about 500+ KBytes of system conventional memory to run. Release any unneeded TSR's in order to free up more memory. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : The live video is OK, but the image cannot be saved to file or clipboard. Cause : 1. The framebuffer is mapped to extended memory, and there is 16MB (or more) memory in your system. 2. The framebuffer is mapped to expanded memory, and there is a conflict with your memory manager. Solution : 1. If you have 16 MB (or more) of memory in your system, you need to use expanded memory for the Video Blaster FS200 framebuffer. Run FS200ENV to set up the Video Blaster FS200 for expanded memory usage. 2. If you are using expanded memory for the framebuffer, and you are using an expanded memory manager (e.g. EMM386 or QEMM386), ensure that your memory manager does not allocate the Video Blaster's framebuffer area for its own use. FS200ENV may be able to detect this condition and warn you of it. If this happens, either choose another region for the Video Blaster FS200, or run your memory management utilities to mark the region as "RAM" to allow the Video Blaster FS200 to use it. For Windows 3.x users, also check that there is a statement "EMMExclude=" in your SYSTEM.INI to inform Windows that the Video Blaster FS200 will be using that region for its framebuffer. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : The mouse cursor disappears when moved into the video area. Cause : Colorkey is disabled. Solution : Re-enable colorkey by pressing CTRL-K. (This will work only within the Video Blaster FS200 Windows and DOS programs.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Problem : FS200DOS says "This program requires a VGA card that supports VESA". Cause : No VESA driver is installed in the system. Solution : FS200DOS will only work on systems that support the VESA VGA modes. Check that your VGA card is supplied with VESA. Some VGA vendors supply VESA drivers in their installation disks. Load that driver before loading FS200DRV and running FS200DOS. ====================== End of FS200CQA.TXT ========================