VGA Adapter    (250-4043)     Software Utility        Faxback Doc. # 2163

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 the LOCK command to make your particular configuration
the new default mode (instead of VGA mode).  When you use the LOCK
command, the configuration you lock acts as the default video mode until
you press the RESET button or turn off the computer power.

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.   <ENTER>

    A simple menu appears, listing some of the options available.

4.  Use the up and down direction keys on your keyboard to select the
    desired otion, 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 either at the
MS-DOS prompt or in a batch file:

┌────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  COMMAND   │                      FUNCTION                          │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ VGA        │ Displays the VGA.EXE menu                              │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ VGA VGA    │ Sets the video circuitry to VGA mode (default)         │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 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        │ Sets the video circuitry to emulate the Hercules       │
│ HERC0      │ 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        │ Sets the video circuitry to emulate the Hercules       │
│ HERC1      │ Graphics Card with two pages of graphics memory        │
│            │ allocated.  This configuration is equivalent to using  │
│            │ the Hercules HGC FULL command.  Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to  │
│            │ return to VGA mode.                                    │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ VGA        │ Changes the video circuitry to color mapping as        │
│ COLOR      │ needed.  This setting supports video modes that        │
│            │ require color mapping.                                 │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ VGA        │ Changes the video circuitry to monochrome mapping as   │
│ MONO       │ needed.  This setting supports video modes that use    │
│            │ monochrome mapping (such as monochrome text mode).     │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ VGA        │ Switches the VGA adapter to 132 column, 25-line color  │
│ 13225      │ text mode.  This mode is only for applications that    │
│            │ are designed to use 132-column text.                   │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ VGA        │ Switches the VGA adapter to 132-column, 43-line color  │
│ 13243      │ text mode.  This mode is only for application          │
│            │ programs that are designed to take advantage of the    │
│            │ 132-column text capabilities.                MORE      │
├────────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ VGA        │ Locks in the current video configuration as the new    │
│ LOCK       │ default configuration.  this command can 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  │
│            │ soft reboot (pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL) 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.         │
│            │ The Lock command does not work with the VGA 13225      │
│            │ and VGA 13234 commands.                                │
└────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Any specific video mode command such as VGA CGA unlocks your VGA adapter
card unless you include LOCK in your particular command.  If you enter an
incorrect VGA command, the program will display a prompt and give you the
option of using the VGA.EXE menu or returning to DOS.