looking for code to read screen parameters from command prompt

[richk]

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.

Thanks

 

[=?iso-8859-1?q?Erik_Wikstr=F6m?=]

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.

First of, there is no way of doing that in C++, you'll need some
platform-dependent solution. Second, for C++ you really should
upgrade, either to a newer version of VS or get the VC2005 Express,
VC6 is way too old and non-conformant.

To give you a solution, get a Linux live CD with X and see what
resolution it comes up with.

 

[Jim Langston]

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.

 

[Ian Collins]

Myself, I would just google the laptop model and read the specs.

Many vendors offer a range of display options and or GPU for the same
model number.