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Don't bother reading this if you're not running OS/2.
I've always had some annoying problems with my video drivers under OS/2.
Part of the problem is that the install procedures are wrong and the fix is a
blecherous hack.
The problems manifest only in OS/2 DOS boxes and
Win-OS2 (via OS/2 for windows). I'm
asking if others are having no problems because they've got the config right, OR
if
others are having the same problem and I should lighten up until new drivers
are available. I also want to get my facts straight before chatting with IBM
(again)
about this. I am able to run 1024x768 in both OS/2 and DOS/win with automatic
detection of external monitor and selection of highest resolution. Very nice!
Problem: in OS/2 DOS window, errors occur when scrolling (characters persist
from other lines) for example, with Norton Commander.
These are not present in full-screen (FS) mode. They also occur
with other screen-form programs and editors in a window and not FS.
I've tried every concievable SETTINGS combination relating
to video. Also, these problems do not occur on my other computers
using other drivers with the same programs.
Problem 2: in Windows, going to WinOS2 full screen, then OS/2 desktop, then
back to WinOS2 full screen, the video rendition has remenants
of the OS/2 desktop. (ok, I've seen this with other drivers). But,
sometimes WinOS2 full screen is unusable because the font
is gone, or, the video is completely unsynched.
WinOS2 seamless works for many applications (like filer, clock,
program manager) but some Visual Basic code is too much for it.
And there's that darn issue of windows stealing colors from the
palatte, so I'm happy just running windows full screen, if only I could
get the video driver stable when switching back and forth to the
OS/2desktop. (This problem sneaks up because if you launch
a DOS program from Windows over OS/2, OS/2 gives you a DOS
box on the OS/2 desktop, not the WIN-OS2 desktop. So, you have
to go back to windows desktop which doesn't come back reliably.)
Problem 3: when running WIN 3.1on DOS, after OS/2 for windows has been
installed:
The video driver set up precludes runing a DOS box, giving
the INVALID VERSION message. This one I've got a work around
for, shown in the SYSTEM.INI excerpts below. (But, you have
to do this edit everytime you switch operating systems).
My Configuration: SYSTEM.INI - This info comes from IBM's readme:
in [boot] section ...
display.drv=vgac24.drv
sdisplay.drv=wspdssf.drv
in [boot.description] section .(ONE of the following sdisplay.drv= stmts)
sdisplay.drv=640x480x256 Small fonts 512K Paradise
sdisplay.drv=800x600x256 Small fonts 512K Paradise
sdisplay.drv=1024x768x256 Small fonts 512K Paradise
in [386Enh] section ...
display=*vddvga <----- (my experience) incompatible with running DOS in
WIN31
---------------------------------------------------
My Config: SYSTEM.INI -- This is not in IBM's read me. What is the required
here for:
in [boot] section ...
fdisplay.drv=vgac24.drv
in [boot.description]
fdisplay.drv=VGA
in [386Enh]
display=VDDC24.386 (this is different from IBM's rec
above, but it fixes Incorrect
system error in WIN31 over DOS. Win-OS/2 doesn't
work
right though. )
My video driver files (partial list) dates are shown below:
monsvga9 vdp 3084 9-16-93 1:00a
vesa exe 11119 11-27-93 1:07a
vinstall doc 6618 9-16-93 1:00a
Any comments are welcome. BTW, anybody tried the IBM/OS-2's other
Western Digital video drivers, like the wd90c1X or wd90c3x which are shipped
with OS/2. Thanks.
Joe