This ReadMe file contains information on the files found in this 3D Blaster PCI BIOS Upgrade package. There are 2 main sections to this ReadMe file: 1. Information on the usage of the 3D Blaster PCI BIOS Upgrade utilities 2. Information on the usage of the 3D Blaster PCI Control Panel for DOS (VTOOL.EXE) 1. Information on the 3D Blaster PCI Control Panel BIOS Upgrade utilities ====================================================================== The 3D Blaster PCI BIOS Upgrade utilities consist of the following files: * RESET.COM * AUTOEXEC.BAT * 3DB073P1.EXE How to use 3DB073P1.EXE ======================= (A) This program is executable in native DOS (MS-DOS 6.2x) or Windows 95 DOS box. However, it is *highly recommended* to run the program in native DOS. (B) IMPORTANT: For safety reasons, it is recommended that you prepare a Recovery Disk before flashing your BIOS. You can do this by copying the following 3 files to a *bootable* floppy disk: AUTOEXEC.BAT 3DB073P1.EXE RESET.COM (C) Before flashing, make sure you set the CMOS settings of your system to allow booting from a floppy disk. (D) Simply run the program 3DB073P1.EXE in DOS prompt. You will be asked to "press any key to continue". (E) The programming process takes about 20 seconds (including verification time) to complete. This process should NOT be interrupted. Failing to observe this may result in unexpected (and undesirable) consequences. (F) When asked to restart computer, reset the system using your PC's Reset button. (G) The system should now boot up with the updated 3D Blaster PCI BIOS. Troubleshooting BIOS Upgrade Utility Issues: =========================================== IMPORTANT NOTE: If you own an AST Advantage or Bravo machine, specifically if the motherboard utilises a set of 4 SIS chipsets, the 3D Blaster PCI might not be correctly reflashed when executed on this machine. If you find that your PC system hangs during the reflashing process, follow the Trouble-Shooting tips mentioned below. If you are still unable to complete the reflashing task, try to borrow/obtain a non-AST machine and follow the steps listed above to flash the 3D Blaster PCI BIOS on that machine. Once this has been successfully completed, replace the newly flashed 3D Blaster PCI card into your AST system, and it should now work without any problems. * If you do not see any display upon reboot of PC system: In such a case, place the Recovery Disk in your drive. Reset your PC system. You will hear two beeps, and after a while you should see the floppy disk drive light turn on. The Recovery Disk will attempt to reprogram your 3D Blaster PCI BIOS at this stage. On success, a cold reboot will automatically be done. At this point, you should remove the diskette from the drive. Your system should now work properly. * In the case when the 3D Blaster PCI BIOS is still not programmed properly for whatever reason: You may try to reprogram it with the use of another PCI-based VGA card. Insert a second PCI VGA card into the 1st PCI slot and the 3D Blaster PCI into the second PCI slot. Connect the VGA card output to a monitor, boot up and check if the monitor displays anything. If it doesn't, swap the slot positions of the VGA card and 3D Blaster PCI, or move the 2 cards among the different PCI slots, and try booting up again. When the systems boots up successfully with the VGA card, you can then program the 3D Blaster PCI BIOS as described above, beginning from Step (A). 2. Information on the 3D Blaster PCI Control Panel for DOS (VTOOL.EXE) =================================================================== VTOOL is a DOS utility for the 3D Blaster PCI that allows you to * check the BIOS version of your 3D Blaster PCI * toggle various settings of VGA Mode 13 on the 3D Blaster PCI * toggle various monitor refresh rates supported by the 3D Blaster PCI VTOOL can be executed from the MS-DOS prompt using the following syntax: usage: VTOOL [/B] [/I:] [/M:] [/S:] [/V] where [] indicates optional switches. Any number of switches can be specified at one time, and they can be in any order. However, VTOOL must be run either in native DOS or in a *full-screen* DOS Box. It will not work properly when run under windowed DOS Box. All VTOOL settings are only valid for the current session and will be reset upon the next reboot. Any number of switches can be specified at one time, and they can be in any order. VTOOL Switches -------------- (A) Diagnostics (option '/V') This switch performs some simple diagnostics on your 3D Blaster PCI card. It reports the following information: a. the version of your 3D Blaster PCI's Video BIOS. b. the current VESA horizontal refresh rate. c. the current VGA Mode 13 toggle state. d. the IRQ currently assigned to the card. e. whether bus-mastering is disabled on the card. (B) VGA Mode 13 (320x200x256 colors) toggle (option '/S') usage: VTOOL /S:<0, 1 or 2> e.g. "VTOOL /S:1" for selecting normal VGA mode 13 /S:0 gives the most compatible VGA mode 13. It gives the slowest 320x200x256 color speed, but is compatible with all applications. /S:1 is the power-up default. It gives faster 320x200x256 color speed, and is compatible with most applications, including those using 320x240x256 or other variants. /S:2 maps VGA mode 13 (320x200x256 colors) to its VESA equivalent. This gives the fastest mode 13 speed, but is not compatible with all applications. Applications using 320x240x256 or other variants or using special VGA features will not work. (C) Assign IRQ (option '/I') usage: VTOOL /I: e.g. "VTOOL /I:0C" will force IRQ 0Ch to be assigned to the 3D Blaster PCI card This option should not be used unless your system does not allocate an IRQ to the 3D Blaster PCI card. It forces the 3D Blaster PCI to use the specified IRQ. Make sure that the IRQ you select is not in use by any other card in your PC system. (D) Enable bus-mastering (option '/B') usage: VTOOL /B This option should be used with care. On most systems, the system BIOS enables the bus-mastering feature on the 3D Blaster PCI by default, so you do not need to use this command. On a few systems however, the system BIOS may disable the bus-mastering feature. If you are sure your system is capable of supporting PCI bus- mastering, you can use this option to force it to be used. (E) VESA Refresh Rates (option '/M') On power-up, the 3D Blaster PCI defaults to a class 1 monitor's (14" SVGA) refresh rates. This can be changed by using the control panel. usage: VTOOL /M: e.g. "VTOOL /M:57" for class 9 57KHz monitor The refresh rates supported for each class of monitor at different resolution is listed below: ** Refresh support table ** Class # Max Horizontal Vertical refresh rate (Hz) at resolution frequency 640x480 800x600 1024x768 1280x1024 (KHz) 0 31.5 (VGA monitors) 60 - - - *1 35.1 (14" SVGA monitors) 60 56 - - 2 37.5 75 56 - - 3 37.8 75 60 - - 4 43.2 85 60 - - 5 46.8 85 75 - - 6 48.1 85 75 - - 7 48.3 85 75 60 - 8 49.1 85 75 60 - 9 53.6 (15" Multisyncs) 85 85 60 - 10 60.0 85 85 75 - 11 61.8 85 85 75 - 12 63.9 (17" Multisyncs) 120 85 75 60 13 67.5 120 85 75 60 14 68.6 120 85 85 60 15 77.1 120 85 85 60 16 80.0 120 85 85 75 17 91.1 120 85 85 75 (* Power-up default in 3D Blaster PCI) *** End of Readme ***