EGA adapters can display all CGA modes and _TEXTMONO.The _setvideomode function turns on one of the 25 available video modes. Pass it a single integer that tells it which mode to display. The constants in Table 9.1 are defined in the GRAPH.H file. The dimensions are listed in pixels for video graphics mode and in columns for video text mode.
Table 9.1 Constants That Represent Video Modes
| Constant (Name) | Description | Mode/Hardware |
| _MAXCOLORMODE | Graphics mode with the most colors | Graphics/All† | |
| _MAXRESMODE | Graphics mode with the highest resolution | Graphics/All† | |
| _DEFAULTMODE | Restores the original mode | All/All | |
| _TEXTBW40 | 40 column text, 16 gray | Text/CGA | |
| _TEXTC40 | 40 column text, 16/8 color | Text/CGA | |
| _TEXTBW80 | 80 column text, 16 gray | Text/CGA | |
| _TEXTC80 | 80 column text, 16/8 color | Text/CGA | |
| _MRES4COLOR | 320 ´ 200, 4 color | Graphics/CGA | |
| _MRESNOCOLOR | 320 ´ 200, 4 gray | Graphics/CGA | |
| _HRESBW | 640 ´ 200, BW | Graphics/CGA | |
| _TEXTMONO | 80 column text, monochrome | Text/MDPA | |
| _HERCMONO* | 720 ´ 348, monochrome | Graphics/HGC | |
| _MRES16COLOR | 320 ´ 200, 16 color | Graphics/EGA | |
| _HRES16COLOR | 640 ´ 200, 16 color | Graphics/EGA | |
| _ERESNOCOLOR | 640 ´ 350, 4 monochrome | Graphics/EGA | |
| _ERESCOLOR | 640 ´ 350, 4 or 16 color | Graphics/EGA | |
| _VRES2COLOR | 640 ´ 480, BW | Graphics/VGA | |
| _VRES16COLOR | 640 ´ 480, 16 color | Graphics/VGA | |
| _MRES256COLOR | 320 ´ 200, 256 color | Graphics/VGA | |
| _ORESCOLOR | 640 ´ 400, 1 of 16 colors | Graphics/Olivetti | |
| _ORES256COLOR | 640 ´ 400, 256 colors | Graphics/SVGA | |
| _VRES256COLOR | 640 ´ 480, 256 colors | Graphics/SVGA | |
| _SRES16COLOR1 | 800 ´ 600, 16 colors , Graphics/SVGA | ||
| _SRES256COLOR1 | 800 ´ 600, 256 colors | Graphics/SVGA | |
| _XRES16COLOR2 | 1024 ´ 768, 16 colors , Graphics/SVGA | ||
| _XRES256COLOR2 | 1024 ´ 768, 256 colors | Graphics/SVGA | |
| _ZRES16COLOR3 | 1280 ´ 1024, 16 colors | Graphics/SVGA | |
| _ZRES256COLOR3 | 1280 ´ 1024, 256 colors | Graphics/SVGA | |
* Before attempting to enter _HERCMONO mode, you must install the terminate-and-stay-resident program MSHERC.COM, which comes in the Microsoft C/C++ package. If you have both a Hercules adapter and an additional graphics adapter in the same computer, use the /H option to put the Hercules into HALF mode to avoid unpredictable and undesirable results.
† _MAXRESMODE and _MAXCOLORMODE support all adapters except the MDPA. These constants never select _SRES, _XRES, or _ZRES modes. See “Maximizing Resolution or Color,” for definitions of these two modes.
1 Requires NEC MultiSync 3D, equivalent, or better.
2 Requires NEC MultiSync 4D, equivalent, or better.
3 Requires NEC MultiSync 5D, equivalent, or better.
If the hardware does not support the selected mode, _setvideomode returns 0.
Warning:
Do not attempt to use any of the _SRES, _XRES, or _ZRES modes unless your display monitor supports them. Otherwise, you risk damaging your display monitor. Micrososft assumes no responsibility for damage to video monitors resulting from use of this software. Consult your owner's manual for details.
Some graphics adapters are able to enter additional video modes:
EGA adapters can display all CGA modes and _TEXTMONO.
HGC adapters can enter _TEXTMONO mode.
MCGA adapters can display all CGA modes, plus _VRES2COLOR and _MRES256COLOR.
VGA adapters can display all EGA modes.
SVGA adapters can display all VGA modes. SVGA adapters may also support nonstandard modes that conform to the limitations listed in “Limitations of VESA Support”.