Required BIOS Revisions for STB Video Adapters

ID: Q92504

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

STB (Simply The Best) Systems video adapter required BIOS revisions and general notes are listed below for:

Windows 3.0 and 3.0a

Windows 3.1

MORE INFORMATION

WINDOWS 3.1

Simply The Best (STB) video cards operating with BIOS dates earlier than those listed below may cause Windows 3.1 to stop responding (hang) when running in enhanced mode. General protection (GP) faults may occur in some applications. Standard mode works normally.


STB Video Card         BIOS Version
--------------         ------------
<BR/><BR/>
Powergraph             2.2
Powergraph Ergo VGA    1.6
Powergraph Combo VGA   1.6
QuickVGA               1.0
VGA Extra-EM           1.73
VGA EM-16              1.33
Powerview Rev A.       1.4
Powerview Rev B.       1.5
VGA 800/16             1.81
AutoVGA                2.23

The Video section of the MSD (Microsoft Diagnostics) utility can be used to determine the video BIOS version. If this information is incomplete, use the Memory Browser under the Utilities menu and select Video ROM BIOS.

The following are notes on various types of STB cards.

Powergraph Series

The entire Powergraph series is based on the ET4000 video chip set and will work with the TSENG drivers.

QuickVGA

The STB QuickVGA does not have a current driver for Windows 3.1.

VGA Extra-EM and Extra-EM16

The STB Extra-EM and EM-16 both require the EM-TRANS version 2.2. In addition, STB has Windows 3.1 drivers available on its BBS. (See below for BBS information.)

Powerview Series

The video BIOS on the STB Powerview cards are not interchangeable. They are based on the ET4000 chip set, and will use the TSENG drivers.

VGA 800/16 and AutoVGA

The STB 800/16 and AutoVGA do not have a Windows 3.1 video driver available, and none are currently planned. The 800/16 is based upon the Chips & Technologies chip set, while the AutoVGA uses the Cirrus chip set.

STB EGA

If your STB EGA card has a BIOS revision of 1.0, your system may stop responding when you try to run a full-screen MS-DOS-based application from enhanced mode Windows. This does not occur with an MS-DOS-based application running in a window. STB EGA BIOS revision 1.13 does not cause this behavior. Other STB EGA cards may have similar problems and may require BIOS upgrades.

WINDOWS 3.0 and 3.0a

The following STB cards run with Windows 3.0:


Card                   Notes
----                   -----

Powergraph VGA         Has a driver to support 1024 x 768 with 256
                       colors; this card needs at least 1 MB of
                       memory to support this video mode

Auto VGA               Uses a Microsoft driver for standard VGA

VGA Extra Em           Uses a Microsoft driver for standard VGA

VGA Em 16              Uses a Microsoft driver for standard VGA

640 VGA and VGA 80/16  May require a BIOS upgrade from STB if the
                       BIOS version is 1.78 or earlier

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: gpf 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3rdparty

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :