sergio@ingres.com (Sergio L. Aponte) (01/04/91)
Just got a PC for home, so I am going thru the ussual install and
configure rutine. I've done this before, but now I want to ask.
Environment : 386/33 clone with 4Mb RAM, and "Super VGA"
card and video, capable of 1024x768... DOS 4.01
I know must software come with drivers. The video card also came
with a flopy with drivers for Lotus, Windows, Gem, etc.. But...
1) My VGA card is almost (never) listed as an available driver since
I have a TCI brand card. If the software I buy does not have driver
for it (and most dont), and the flopy does not include one, what are
my options? Can Joe "home" programer put this things toghether?
2) Why are this drivers "unique". If I write a driver for device X, how
come different software need different drivers? Am I wrong to think
drivers should go with a particular piece of hardware, not with
a particular piece of software?
3) Same case with the printer. If my printer is not listed, I go thru
some of the similar capability ones to see if one works. Being a very
simple, 9 pin Citizen MSP-10, I get it working 98% of the time.
I guess I know the answer to some of this. Different software has
different drivers because they read different formats in the file,
right? Is there a software out there that can examine my device,
or ask me about it, and generate drivers for DOS? And would it be
too much to ask to have DOS manage the drivers, standard drivers,
and have software packages ask DOS to manage the hardware?
Tired of installs and configures...
--
=============================================================== _|||_
Sergio L. Aponte, MTS @ ASK Computer, Ingres Product Division <*,*>
Internet : sergio@puffin.ingres.com [`-'] Keko
UUCP : {sun,mtxinu,pyramid,pacbell}!ingres!puffin!sergio _"_"_ Jonessystem@infopls.chi.il.us (SYSOP) (01/07/91)
sergio@ingres.com (Sergio L. Aponte) writes: > 1) My VGA card is almost (never) listed as an available driver since > I have a TCI brand card. If the software I buy does not have driver > for it (and most dont), and the flopy does not include one, what are > my options? Can Joe "home" programer put this things toghether? Many video cards typically only use a few chipsets. (Just like only a few companies make VCR's, despite the number of 'brand names.') My Infoplus program (available on Simtel20 as PD1:<MSDOS.INFO>INFOP141.ZIP) will identify many chipsets. You might then be able to find a 'name brand' board that your board is closely compatible to. Many programs use the chipset name instead of the name brand because of this. > 2) Why are this drivers "unique". If I write a driver for device X, how > come different software need different drivers? Am I wrong to think > drivers should go with a particular piece of hardware, not with > a particular piece of software? Unfortunately, outside of the 'standards' set by IBM, every chipset (and sometimes boards) works differently. Most programs have no standardized format for adding device drivers (I mean between different programs.) To some extend, the new VESA standards will help alot. A program written for this can use a special call to determine the video modes available, and, better yet, HOW to use those modes! Many newer boards have it built in, and older boards can be used with small TSR's. > 3) Same case with the printer. If my printer is not listed, I go thru > some of the similar capability ones to see if one works. Being a very > simple, 9 pin Citizen MSP-10, I get it working 98% of the time. Printers are a real problem. What you are doing is about the only way to do it. So far, Windows is the only program that lets many programs use a standardized driver (provided the program is a Windows program!) --------------- Andrew Rossmann | Sysop of Infoplus BBS, +1 708 537 0247 andyross@infopls.chi.il.us | Infoplus Support, latest version available ..!uunet!ddsw1!infopls!system| by logging in as infoplus.