Re: [ot answer] looking for code to read screen parameters from command prompt
"richk" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:EAt_h.4301$H_.4241@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net...
I am looking for a way to determine the screen type when I am checking out
a laptop that has no HDD installed. I am looking for something I can
compile to run under a DOS or windows 98 command prompt when I boot from a
CD to dfetermine if a screen is 800X600, XGA, SXGA+, UXGA, etc. I can
compile C++ under visual studio 6.
If you just want to know what the video display is you don't need anything
other than debug which will fit on a bootable floppy. It has come with all
MS-DOS since 2.0 or so.
debug
to run it at a command prompt
then
dc000:0
This will display the memory starting at memory address 0xC000 (or 0x0C00 or
0xC0000 I can never remember which). Anyway, this is where the video
driver/buffer starts.
The first page (8 lines) yous should see some garbage to the right but
somewhere it'll say IBM VGA Compatible. Then press
d
and press enter to see the second page. For mine I see the text in there:
GeForce 7600 GS VGA BIOSV0719
And, hey, I'm using a GeForce 7600 GS
I guess you can write something in C or C++ to query the display to ask it
to enumerate it's display modes if you wanted, but if you have the
information there just look it up on the web.
Myself, I would just google the laptop model and read the specs.