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- /*+
- Name: READ.ME
- Date: 08-Nov-1988
- Author: Kent J. Quirk and Ed McNierney
- Copyright: Copyright 1988 Ziff Communications Co.
- Abstract: This file describes VGATEST and its messages.
- -*/
-
- VGATEST is a program designed to rigorously test the compatibility of a
- VGA controller with the one on the system board of a Micro Channel equipped
- IBM PS/2. This program is described in detail in "The VGA Compatibility
- Test," Ed McNierney and Kent Quirk, PC Tech Journal, November 1988, p. 48.
-
- To run it, simply type VGATEST followed by a filename, which is the
- destination of all error messages. Messages may be sent directly to the
- printer by typing VGATEST PRN. There is NO default filename (this helps
- prevent accidental destruction of data). If you do not specify a filename,
- you will be reminded.
-
- VGATEST normally runs through 18 major tests in sequence, with frequent
- pauses for the user to see the action. It also takes some option switches
- which can be used to control this behavior:
-
- -? or -h provide brief help, in the form of a list of the tests by name
- and their number in sequence.
- -tN runs test N only
- -f runs selected test or tests without pausing. It's possible to
- miss some failures this way, but the tests take much less time.
-
- The eighteen tests are as follows:
-
- 1) BIOS: Mode Support
- Checks all the standard supported video modes to see if they use the
- correct resolution.
- 2) BIOS: Cursor Operation
- Checks the cursor positioning and size, in both emulation (CGA-compatible)
- and non-emulation modes.
- 3) BIOS: Light Pen Support
- Checks to see that the VGA does not claim to support a light pen.
- 4) BIOS: Multiple Pages
- Draws on each page available to a mode and switches between them.
- 5) BIOS: Screen Scrolling
- Scrolls a portion of the screen up, then down, and checks to make sure
- it was done properly.
- 6) BIOS: Text Input/Output
- Writes characters in various attributes in all modes, then attempts
- to read them back.
- 7) BIOS: Graphics Input/Output
- Checks every pixel on the screen, using all possible colors for that mode,
- then reads them back.
- 8) BIOS: Palette/DAC
- Checks palette setting in a wide variety of ways, including gray scaling.
- 9) BIOS: Save/Restore Video State
- Checks this function of the bios for every video mode.
- 10) BIOS: Character Generator
- Tests all the fonts available, including the ability to display two fonts
- simultaneously.
- 11) BIOS: Alternate Select
- Tests the various subfunctions of this function, including setting the
- number of scan lines in a font.
- 12) BIOS: Data Area Compatibility
- Checks the BIOS data areas for compatibility with the ones used by IBM.
- 13) Hardware: General Registers
- Checks the VGA General Register set for compatibility with the values
- used by IBM. Checks the vertical retrace interrupt and status bit.
- 14) Hardware: DAC Registers
- Checks the DAC registers for compatibility with IBM; checks to see that
- they can be set correctly.
- 15) Hardware: Sequencer Registers
- This checks the various sequencer register functions.
- 16) Hardware: CRTC Registers
- Compares CRTC registers with IBM values.
- 17) Hardware: Graphics Registers
- Tests the Graphics Registers by drawing on the screen and reading it back
- in various modes.
- 18) Hardware: Attribute Registers
- Tests various attribute register values, including panning and scrolling
- (which also test the CRTC registers involved in this function).
-