SVGA Windows Accelerator Adapter (25-4055) VGAMODE Faxback Doc. # 2180 To install the VGAMODE.EXE utility on your hard disk, run the INSTALL program as described in the instructions for installing an MS-DOS application driver. At the INSTALL main menu, select Utilities. Then select VGAMODE.EXE. Follow the instructions on the screen. Using VGAMODE.EXE: The VGAMODE.EXE utility enables you to select one of the standards supported by the adapter. You can choose a standard either from a menu or directly from the operating system prompt line. CAUTION: Some video standards enable you to change frequencies or switch to higher resolutions. To avoid damaging your monitor or causing it to malfunction, be sure that it supports the frequency of the selected standard. Selecting Options from the VGAMODE Menu: To access the VGAMODE.EXE menu: 1. Start the computer. 2. Type: c:\path\vgamode where path is the directory containing VGAMODE.EXE. Then press . 3. Use the up and down direction keys on the keyboard to select the desired video mode from the VGAMODE.EXE menu. Then, press . To exit, choose Exit to Dos and press . Note: Some VGAMODE options will take you to a submenu. Others will be executed immediately and return you to the MS-DOS prompt without your having to select Exit to Dos. If the vga standard is selected, two menus are available: Set Board Option and Set Extended Modes. Look at the Set Board Option Menu to verify that your monitor will support the extended mode you want to select from the Set Extended Modes Menu. This is particularly important for higher resolutions, which use higher frequencies. Your monitor can malfunction or be damaged if it does not support the higher frequency. Specifying VGAMODE Options without the Menu: To bypass the VGAMODE.EXE menu, include the desired video option(s) when accessing VGAMODE.EXE. At the MS-DOS prompt or in a batch file, type the command in the form: drive:\path\vgamode [options] Where options is one or more of the following video options: * vga--Sets the adapter to VGA mode (the default configuration for the adapter). * cga--Sets the adapter to CGA mode. This mode emulates the video capabilities of the Color/Graphics Adapter. * mda--Sets the adapter to emulate the Hercules Graphics Card with no graphics memory allocated. In this configuration, the adapter is equivalent to a text-only Monochrome Display Adapter. * herc0--Sets the adapter to emulate the Hercules Graphics Card with one page of graphics memory allocated. In this configuration, the adapter is equivalent to the Hercules Graphics Card in HALF mode. * herc1--Sets the adapter to emulate the Hercules Graphics Card with two pages of graphics memory allocated. In this configuration, the adapter is equivalent to the Hercules Graphics Card in FULL mode. * color--Sets the adapter to color mapping as needed. This setting supports video modes that require color mapping. These include the 132-column color text modes and any other modes that you select by specifying the resolution (for example, 256-color, 640 x 400 graphics). * mono--Sets the adapter to monochrome mapping. This setting supports video modes that require color mapping (such as monochrome text mode). * 56--Sets the adapter to 800 x 600 resolution for 56 Hz operation. Be sure your monitor supports this frequency. * 60--Sets the adapter to 800 x 600 modes for 60 Hz operation. Be sure your monitor supports this frequency. * 72--Sets the adapter to 800 x 600 modes for 72 Hz operation. Be sure you monitor supports this frequency. * 200--Sets the number of lines used for VGA text mode to 200. * 350--Sets the number of lines used for VGA text mode to 350. * 400--Sets the number of lines used for VGA text mode (Modes 0-3) to 400 (the standard VGA setting). * 400256--Sets the adapter to 640 x 400 resolution in 256 colors. * 480256--Sets the adapter to 640 x 480 resolution in 256 colors. * 600--Sets the adapter to 800 x 600 resolution in 16 colors if you are currently in color mode. * 768--Sets the adapter to 1024 x 768 resolution in 16 colors. * 600256--Sets the adapter to 800 x 600 resolution in 256 colors. * 132xx--Sets the adapter to 132-column color text mode. XX specifies the number of lines (25,28,44, or 50) to be displayed. The resolutions provided by the 132-column modes are not available with monochrome mapping. Therefore, if you have a monochrome monitor, switch the adapter to color before using these modes. For example, use the command vgamode color 13244 to specify 132-column, 44-line text mode. Use 132-column color text modes only with application programs that have been designed to take advantage of Super VGA text capabilities. * interlace--Sets 1024 x 768 modes as non-interlaced, 60 Hz. Be sure your monitor supports this frequency. * 60non-interlace--Sets 1024 x 768 modes as non-interlaced, 60 Hz. Be sure your monitor supports this frequency. * 70non-interlace--Sets 1024 x 768 modes an non-interlaced, 70 Hz. Be sure your monitor supports this frequency. * restart--Same as reboot. * lock--Locks in the current video configuration as the new default configuration. This option can be used in conjunction with another parameter to lock that particular mode. For example, vgamode cga lock enables the adapter to remain configured as a color/graphics adapter even after you press ++. Any specific video mode command such as vgamode cga unlocks the adapter unless you include lock in the command. * reboot--Locks and reboots the currently selected video mode so that the system re-initializes in the current video mode. Can also be used with any parameter to lock that particular mode. * modexx--Switches the adapter to the specified mode. XX is the two-digit hexadecimal mode number.