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1993-07-02
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VGASAVE - a video mode helper by Scott A. Krotz version 1.00
What is VGASAVE?
----------------
Do you have game programs that dont redraw correctly after switching
away from them? Do you have game programs that leave the soundblaster
blaring at you after you switch away from them?
Then VGASAVE is for you.
VGASAVE.EXE is a TSR that takes over the video mode switching for
os/2 on dos sessions that it is installed in. It does the saving and
restoring of dos session VGA screens, and is especially taylored for
DOS games. Tricky games like wolf-3d and ultima underworld I and II
should redraw correctly using VGASAVE.EXE. Under normal os/2 they
often would have corrupted screens, wrong video modes, and sometimes
would even crash upon switching back.
Also, VGASAVE has an adlib mode, and a soundblaster pro mode that will
silence the output of an adlib, soundblaster, or soundblaster pro card
upon switching away from a game program. This stops the annoying "hum"
caused by game programs using sound cards that are switched into the
background.
How to use VGASAVE
------------------
To use VGASAVE in a dos session, first you must set "Video_switch_notification"
to ON in the session you will be using VGASAVE.
second, set "Video_ondemand_memory" to ON. OS/2 no longer needs to allocate
a VGA save buffer -- VGASAVE will be doing the VGA saving and restoring for
OS/2.
Third, make sure to give the dos session at least 256k of XMS memory. VGASAVE
uses XMS memory to save the VGA screen memory while you are switched away from
the session. If the program you will be running in the dos session needs
XMS memory, be sure to give additional XMS memory.
Fourth, simply run VGASAVE in the dos session by typing "VGASAVE" in the
dos session, or add it to your OS/2-DOS autoexec.bat file. Also, you
could create a special autoexec.bat file for games, perhaps called
autogames.bat, by copying your autoexec.bat file to "autogames.bat" and
adding a line in the autogames.bat file to start VGASAVE. Then change
the "Dos_autoexec" setting to "autogames.bat" in the dos session you want
to use VGASAVE.
VGASAVE can be loaded into high memory.
Also, "Dos_background_execution" should be set to off.
If you have an adlib or soundblaster (or compatible) card, and you want
VGASAVE to turn off the sound from that session when you switch away, start
up VGASAVE with the parameter "adlib". Ie. VGASAVE adlib
If you have a soundblaster pro card, and you want VGASAVE to turn off
sound from that session when you switch away, start up VGASAVE with the
parameter "sbpro". Ie. VGASAVE sbpro
The sound will be switched back on when you return to the dos session
automatically.
Notes on running VGASAVE
------------------------
VGASAVE will only save the first 256k of VGA memory, so superVGA games will
probably not be saved and restored correctly. VGASAVE should, however, work
on any program that uses non-superVGA video modes.
Make sure that VGASAVE is running and installed correctly before you switch
away from a dos session with "Video_switch_notification" set to ON, or strange
things could happen with the video mode of your display adaptor.
VGASAVE requires your session to have at least 256k of XMS memory or it will
not be able to install. VGASAVE uses 256k of XMS memory to buffer the VGA
screen when switching away from the dos session.
VGASAVE should work on OS/2 2.0 or OS/2 2.1. I have only tested it on
OS/2 2.1 but I see no reason why it shouldnt run on 2.0. In fact, it
may be very useful on OS/2 2.0 because it doesnt handle video mode
switching as well as OS/2 2.1.
VGASAVE can be loaded into high memory, just like any other TSR or dos
device driver. In fact, this is recommended to preserve conventional memory.
How VGASAVE works
-----------------
VGASAVE works by handling the interrupts raised by OS/2 when you turn
"Video_switch_notification" to ON. When this setting is on, OS/2 calls
an interrupt every time the dos session is switched to the foreground or
background. VGASAVE catches this interrupt, and does the saving and
restoring of the VGA screen memory in place of OS/2.
VGASAVE disables adlib or soundblaster/soundblaster pro sound by simply
turning the voices off when switching away. They are re-enabled when
you switch back to the dos session.
Comments, problems, and etc.
----------------------------
If you have problems, comments or suggestions for VGASAVE, feel free to
send e-mail to me at krotz@rtsg.mot.com
VGASAVE is basically untested on any other system than mine. I bear no
responsibility for any problems caused by this program. It works for me,
and thats about all I can say. If it doesnt work for you, please send
me e-mail detailing your system setup and Ill try and figure out whats
wrong. If it works great for you, and you like it, I'd also be happy to
hear that too.
VGASAVE is a freely-distributable program. However, the program must
be distributed along with this documentation file.
VGASAVE is copyright (C) 1993 of Scott A. Krotz
Scott A. Krotz
krotz@rtsg.mot.com