[comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d] NNANSI driver development help needed

toma@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM (Tom Almy) (10/03/89)

If you use or desire to use NNANSI.SYS with a "Paradise" based VGA (or maybe
EGA) display controller. Or if your controller doesn't work properly with
NNANSI.SYS, I need *your* help!

For those that do not know what NNANSI.SYS is, it is a high performance
EGA/VGA specific enhancement of NANSI.SYS which is in turn an enhancement of
Microsoft's ANSI.SYS display driver. Users of NNANSI get a large performance
improvement over users of NANSI or ANSI, or even not using an ANSI driver 
at all!  NANSI.SYS is distributed free for non-comercial use, and I place
no restrictions on my modifications (I will not accept any payments, though
I welcome, and have received, letters of gratitude!).

I am planning to release a revised version of NNANSI.SYS, which I want to
work on as many display cards as possible. I already have "hooks" that would
allow a hacker to get the driver to work in these cases, but I would rather
distribute NNANSI so that anyone's display can be easily accomdated.

HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM (in which case I need your help!):

Do either of these tests:


Test 1: Install NNANSI.SYS. Put your display in an extended alphanumeric
mode (such as 60 lines or 132 columns, NOT 80x43). Type a couple of DIR
commands. If the display works slow, with funny things displayed at the start
and end of each line, then you have an incompatible board, and I need your
help!

Test 2: Take the following vmode.com program. Put your display into an
extended alphanumeric mode (such as 60 lines or 132 columns, NOT 80x43). Run
vmode. If the value reported for CTR_MODE is larger than 3, then you have
an incompatible board, and I need your help!


(NOTE: use the software utility that came with your board to change modes)


HOW TO HELP:


Run the following vmode.com program, one time for every available extended
display mode (BOTH alphanumeric and graphic).  Record the values reported
by the program, along with the name of the mode.  Send me EMAIL of the
results.  Don't forget to tell me the make and model of your display card!

In return I'll send you a BETA copy of the next NNANSI.SYS for you to
try in advance. And any less sophisticated users of your display card that
want end up using NNANSI.SYS will thank you!


Examples of what your report should look like (this is for a TATUNG card with
VEGA chips, which doesn't have the problem):

Display			MODE	COLS	LEN	ROWS	POINTS
132x43 			1	132	12288	42	8
800x600 16 color	16	100	61440	74	8

(other lines not shown here, but I need all modes from you!)



INTENDED ADDITIONAL FEATURES OF NEW NNANSI:

1)	Keyboard mapping can be left out (preventing certain trojan horse
	programs from working).
2)	Bug fixed which caused crash when attempting to use 386-to-the-max.
3)	Works on more display cards (with your help!)
4)	Faster performance in graphic modes 10H, 12H, and possibly some
	enhanced modes.



THE TEST PROGRAM:


begin 666 vmode.com
MZ0@`V`(`````"@"\FO_'!@4!F/^]_O^)+@<!_.@%`+@`3,TAZ*,`Z(X`!$U/
M1$6Z0`".PB:@20`PY+L(`)/HFP#H9@'HC`#H;@`$0T],4[I``([")J%*`+L(
M`)/H?0#H2`'H4P`#3$5.ND``CL(FH4P`NPD`D^AC`.@N`>@Y``123U=3ND``
MCL(FH(0`,.2["`"3Z$8`Z!$!Z!P`!E!/24Y44[I``([")J"%`##DNP8`D^@G
M`.GR`%N*!S#D0U-0`<-86E.)T^D!`5['!@D!$`#_YE['!@D!"@#_YDU-B48`
M,<#HL@#H*@#HH0!3BUX`144IPU"3Z`4`6%OIS0`)P'X*B<%1Z`4`6>+YP\.X
M(`#II@#H"0!34`G#6%MU]<-3BQX)`5!3Z!X`6%M:4XG34+@)`%,YV'T%6`4'
M`%!8!3``Z#T`6%O#6$U-B48`6$U-B48`,<"+7@")PECW\XG34XM>`$5%34V)
M1@!:6/?SB=-3BUX`14504XM&`$5%_^```(,&?P+_BQY_`H@'PZ%_`E#H#P!;
M*=C#4U#H!@"C?P)86\.A`P$%9`##N`T`Z`D`N`H`Z0,``0``HK@"M$"Y`0"Z
6N`*+'K8"S2'#B<&)VHL>M@*T0,TAPPT`
`
end



Tom Almy
toma@tekgvs.labs.tek.com
Standard Disclaimers Apply