NU105451@NDSUVM1.BITNET (Walter Reed) (09/20/87)
I have a zenith 150 and a Genoa EGA card. The genoa EGA card refuses to work
in the Zenith (It works in other brands of compatibles however.) The old
CGA card cannot be completely taken out because zenith dicided to be real cool
and add an extra 16K of ram to the CGA card and use it for some bios funtions.
So, Zenith came out with a video card disable kit. Well, I installed the kit
(a very simple task) and true enough, the card was disabled. No video. But,
the new EGA card won't work in it. In the May issue of computer shopper (1987)
there is an article about this problem. It doesn't discribe MY problem, but
the zenith design mess up. They tell about a guy (Dante Bencivengo) who makes
a different sort of modification that puts the needed ram onto the CPU board.
I have been told that he no longer makes this thing. He only has a PO Box, and
no phone number. Dante's modification allows complete removal of the video
card. So, Is there anyone out there that knows if Dante really still makes
this kit or has had a similar problem with their video card?
The turnaround time between when I send him a letter and find out all the
info I need to know from Dante and order the thing would be over a month.
(USnail you know...) I have a Genoa Super EGA by the way, and not the
standard EGA board. Oh yeah, The reason I can't use my old monitor/card is
because something in the monitor broke, and sent somefeedback to the card
and messed it up a little. The card still works in monocrome on the composite
port.
Thanks for any help you can give!
Walter Reedbfag@ur-tut.UUCP (Meneldur) (09/23/87)
[] In regards to your Z150/EGA problems, I think you'll find the answer in rather antiquated BIOS chips. With our own H150, we followed the same route as you did, disabling the CGA card with Zenith's rather pitiful quick fix (the thought of all that electrical power being wasted to support a bit of RAM is pretty disgusting!). We found, as you obviously did, that the EGA board went unrecognized. You need to order the newest version of the BIOS chip set from Heath's Parts Department. The two chip set will cost you about $20 plus postage. Sorry... you'll have to wait for the U.S. mail to get it to you, but you can speed it up a bit by requesting 1st class delivery. Install the new chips and you should be up and running. Just be CERTAIN that video select DIP switches are properly set on the Z150. As I recall, one of the articles appearing in Computer Shopper on installing the EGA in older units had the switches wrong. Sorry, I don't have the manuals handy to verify your switch settings. Well, at least there are only four possible combinations you have to deal with :-) Good luck! Bill Faggart Dept. of Geological Sciences University of Rochester Rochester, New York []
parker@epiwrl.EPI.COM (Alan Parker) (09/24/87)
The most recent issue of "Remark" (Heath User's Group) shows an ad for Dante Bencivengo that lists the video card eliminator (for $45). I've bought something from him, so I know he is for real, but I haven't bought particular device. There isn't a phone number given, just the PO box.