[comp.unix.i386] VGA under vpix 1.2 RE: the video bios

chandler@beagle.UUCP (Jim Chandler) (07/11/90)

I am running vpix 1.2.0 with no problems under ESIX Rev C.  I have a Dell 310
with 8 Megs and an ATI VGAWonder with 512K.  I would like to use the extended
modes of the ATI card but the 'fake' BIOS of vpix wont allow me to access them.
Can I get around the vpix bios to use the extended modes?  Ideas from the
net would be greatly appreciated.  I will summerize the answers here.

Also, is anyone using a bus mouse under the above conditions?  I would like
to here how you did it.  I have the ATI mouse driver by Jim Hoover with the
hooks for vpix that was posted to one of the sources groups recently.  Has
anyone successfully gotten that to work?  I want to here from you.  
Thanks
-- 
Jim Chandler
asuvax!xroads!beagle!chandler
chandler@beagle.UUCP

wsinpdb@lso.win.tue.nl (Paul de Bra) (07/13/90)

In article <387@beagle.UUCP> chandler@beagle.UUCP (Jim Chandler) writes:
>I am running vpix 1.2.0 with no problems under ESIX Rev C.  I have a Dell 310
>with 8 Megs and an ATI VGAWonder with 512K.  I would like to use the extended
>modes of the ATI card but the 'fake' BIOS of vpix wont allow me to access them.
>Can I get around the vpix bios to use the extended modes?  Ideas from the
>net would be greatly appreciated.  I will summerize the answers here.

The trick for Simultask (also vpix but for AT&T unix) is to uncomment the
lines with EGAROM and VGAROM in the vpix.cnf file (in /usr/vpix/defaults).

Vpix will then use the real VGA-bios routines on the card.

This does work when using a Paradise VGA+16 (without kernel patch)
in 800x600 mode with fractint for instance. Won't work with EGAROM and
VGAROM in the vpix.cnf file, and works fine with the lines commented out.

Paul.
(debra@research.att.com)

tpf@jdyx.UUCP (Tom Friedel) (07/14/90)

wsinpdb@lso.win.tue.nl (Paul de Bra) writes:

>Vpix will then use the real VGA-bios routines on the card.

Is it documented anywhere how to do this yourself ?  Is this
something that only VP/ix can do because it uses virtual 8086
mode ?  Would it be possible to write a driver to execute video
BIOS routines ?

It seems unfortunate that people have to buy X or run DOS to
use their super VGA cards.

tom

john@jwt.UUCP (John Temples) (07/15/90)

In article <1290@tuewsd.win.tue.nl> wsinpdb@lso.win.tue.nl (Paul de Bra) writes:
>The trick for Simultask (also vpix but for AT&T unix) is to uncomment the
>lines with EGAROM and VGAROM in the vpix.cnf file (in /usr/vpix/defaults).

I tried a different trick which also worked.  I booted DOS from a
floppy, went into DEBUG, dumped the VGA BIOS at C000:0000 (32 KB worth)
to a file which I then placed in the UNIX file system.  Making VGAROM
point to that file, instead of the default file, worked fine.  This was
on a clone VGA unsupported by 386/ix 1.0.6, VP/ix 1.1.0.
-- 
John W. Temples -- john@jwt.UUCP (uunet!jwt!john)

chandler@beagle.UUCP (Jim Chandler) (07/15/90)

In article <1290@tuewsd.win.tue.nl>, wsinpdb@lso.win.tue.nl (Paul de Bra) writes:
> In article <387@beagle.UUCP> chandler@beagle.UUCP (Jim Chandler) writes:
>  lines deleted
> The trick for Simultask (also vpix but for AT&T unix) is to uncomment the
> lines with EGAROM and VGAROM in the vpix.cnf file (in /usr/vpix/defaults).
> 
> Vpix will then use the real VGA-bios routines on the card.
> 
>  lines deleted
> Paul.
> (debra@research.att.com)

I tried commenting out the lines in the vpix.cnf file.  When I run vpix
I just get a blank screen and vpix then dies.  It throw me back to unix
but the screen is still black and the console response to keystrokes.
I know that it is dying because and use ps to check to see if it is 
running.  I have to go back to the terminal and uncomment it, then rerun
vpix to get the screen back.  This may be due to the ATI card.  Any ideas?


-- 
Jim Chandler
asuvax!xroads!beagle!chandler
chandler@beagle.UUCP

campbell@Thalatta.COM (Bill Campbell) (07/16/90)

In article <1941@jwt.UUCP> john@jwt.UUCP (John Temples) writes:
:In article <1290@tuewsd.win.tue.nl> wsinpdb@lso.win.tue.nl (Paul de Bra) writes:
:>The trick for Simultask (also vpix but for AT&T unix) is to uncomment the
:>lines with EGAROM and VGAROM in the vpix.cnf file (in /usr/vpix/defaults).
:
:I tried a different trick which also worked.  I booted DOS from a
:floppy, went into DEBUG, dumped the VGA BIOS at C000:0000 (32 KB worth)
:to a file which I then placed in the UNIX file system.  Making VGAROM
:point to that file, instead of the default file, worked fine.  This was
:on a clone VGA unsupported by 386/ix 1.0.6, VP/ix 1.1.0.
:-- 
:John W. Temples -- john@jwt.UUCP (uunet!jwt!john)

There is a MUCH easier way to do this.  Comment out the ?gabio
lines in $HOME/vpix/vpix.cnv (put a ';' in the first character
position).  VP/IX will then use the on-board bios.

-- 
....microsoft--\                    Bill Campbell; Celestial Software
...uw-entropy----!thebes!camco!bill 6641 East Mercer Way
....fluke------/                    Mercer Island, Wa 98040
....hplsla----/                     (206) 232-4164

tron1@tronsbox.xei.com (HIM) (07/19/90)

If I comment out the ?GAROM lines in my $HOME/vpix/vpix.cnf file so that it
will load the ROM image off of my VRAM-VGA  card .. I get an error that says
that I >MUST< have an EGAROM image.

Does someone have the image for a 512K VRAM-VGA ??

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