Conference noted::ibmpc-95

The title of this topic fits (but the issue is different).

In a Deskpro 486/M system, I put a Trident-based SVGA card in last night and
installed the drivers from W95.

The display is a Compac 420C - I have not documentation on this (which is the 
problem).

I rebooted, set the display - something - I forget what, but it was a lower
res settings with 256 colors) and then restarted windows.  The restart 
showed a "compressed up" and very dark look (useless).  I say "damn" and
start playing with the jumpers on the card.  

I switched to "no-interlace display" - (jumper) and I get a flickering 
"window" effect (about 12 "main screens" across the entire screen).  Still 
useless.

My question is - HOW DO I RESET THE DISPLAY SETTINGS? 

This is W3.1 (so it does not say "I'm going to try those now and if you don't
like what you see, they will reset themselves"). 

I tried running the setup procedure from DOS mode but any images in the
c:\trident say "must be run under windows" or some such message.

What I think I'm going to do is borrow a "much better monitor" that should 
handle what ever the card dumps out and then reconfigure it, plug in the 
existing monitor and see if it works, if not, go back to the "borrowed one", 
reconfigure and try again.  If I try all settings and it does display correctly
then its time to upgrade the monitor.

What do other people do in cases where they, by accident, set their display to 
something un-viewable?

Brian J.

    re: .4 by hndymn.zko.dec.com::MCCARTHY
    
    If your Compaq 420C has digital controls, all you have to do is adjust
    the monitor to fit the display properly.  If it does not have controls,
    then you're stuck choosing a different resolution and/or refresh rate,
    one that has been preprogrammed into the monitor.  I don't believe this
    is a video card problem.
    
    Have you tried to find specs on the Compaq web site?  I haven't looked
    so I don't know what you'll find.
    
    /Bill

>>     If your Compaq 420C has digital controls, all you have to do is adjust

Nope -  To be more specific its a 420SC.  I'll keep playing (using the
        borrowed monitor) and see what works.

>>    Have you tried to find specs on the Compaq web site?  I haven't looked
>>    so I don't know what you'll find.

That was one of the first places I tried.  I just downloaded the new 
config/setup disks (since it now bitches because it does not have "its own"
graphics card in slot 5).

Thanks

bjm

>>>My question is - HOW DO I RESET THE DISPLAY SETTINGS? 
>>>This is W3.1 (so it does not say "I'm going to try those now and if you don't
>>>like what you see, they will reset themselves"). 

If you have Win3.1, then boot up to DOS prompt and go to the WINDOWS directory
where Win3.1 is installed. Type SETUP and change the video driver to the vanilla
Windows VGA driver and then exit. Type WIN and with a little luck your video
card should work with this driver. Once you get into Windows, you should be
able to install the trident video drivers.

If you are running Win95, try booting up using safe-mode. This will cause Win95
to use a low resolution video driver. Once into Win95, you can try installing
the trident drivers again. 

-Craig

Thanks Craig that did the trick.  A few reboots of tests after 
changing the setting via the c:\windows\setup program got it back.
It appears that the monitor won't support anything greater than
640x280.  Anyway its got the 256 colors and the few games work OK (slow, real 
slow for one).

Now the inlaws are saying "how much to speed it up?" - ARGGGGG  hmmm, I'll
have to go back to the Compaq web site and see if a faster chip will 
work in this system (its a 486sx/25).

bjm