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 <ENTER>.
3. Use the up and down direction keys on the keyboard to select the desired
   video mode from the VGAMODE.EXE menu. Then, press <ENTER>. To exit,
   choose Exit to Dos and press <ENTER>.

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 <CTRL>+<ALT>+<DEL>. 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.