Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ncis.llnl.gov!ncis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!decwrl!labrea!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!osu-cis!killer!chasm
From: chasm@killer.DALLAS.TX.US (Charles Marslett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Monochrome VGA Graphics Card for PC
Summary: use Mode co80 (DOS 3.3, et al.) or STB Setmode utility
Keywords: Mono VGA Adapter PC
Message-ID: <6840@killer.DALLAS.TX.US>
Date: 19 Jan 89 04:54:09 GMT
References: <145@icarus.kulcs.uucp>
Organization: The Unix(R) Connection, Dallas, Texas
Lines: 48

In article <145@icarus.kulcs.uucp>, lucb@kulcs.uucp (Luc Bomans) writes:
> Hey,
> 
> My brother in law has bought an IBM XT/286 (probably one of the
> last IBM PC's sold in Belgium). The PC was delivered with an 
> VGA adapter and a monochrome IBM 8503 display (I am not completely
> sure of that number, but it is the standard PS/2 monochrome screen).
> 
> Running MS-Word we discovered that it is impossible to use the
> graphics mode of Word. This is now agreed by the IBM dealer. The
> card placed in the computer is not able to use the 8503 screen in
> graphics mode !


Should have bought an STB video card for it (;^)...

> My question is if this is really possible (I don't know the brand
> name of the adapter) and if there exist other VGA adapters that can
> use the 8503 screen in graphics mode (Please clearly specify the
> brand name, so that we can push the dealer to provide us with a
> working VGA adapter).

Actually, I think any VGA should switch back and forth between color
and monochrome modes with the right utility programs.  You can use
IBM DOS 3.3 or 4.0 and the "mode" command can switch from the normal
boot up monochrome state to a "color" state and back -- just like you
were using two different monitors.  If he balks at that, send me a note
and I will mail you a copy of STB's "setmode" utility that will do the
same thing.  Just be aware it also does some STB-unique stuff, and if
you select the wrong function you may lock up the machine (.BAT files
solve that problem marvelously though...).

> Thank you for all the answers (if any :-)).

You're very welcome (I though the question was a very valid one).

> Luc Bomans		   	mail: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven 
> E-mail: lucb@kulcs.UUCP  	      Dept. Computer Science
>         ... mcvax!prlb2!kulcs!lucb    Celestijnenlaan 200 A
>         lucb@BLEKUL60.BITNET          B-3030 Leuven - Belgium    
> 	lucb@cs.kuleuven.ac.be
> Tel: +32 16 200656 x 3546	Fax: +32 16 205308

===========================================================================
Charles Marslett
STB Systems, Inc.  <== Apply all standard disclaimers
Wordmark Systems   <== No disclaimers required -- that's just me
chasm@killer.dallas.tx.us