Monitor at 16 colors

[Jo_G12]

Hi,
I upgraded a computer that a friend gave me to practice on with the full version of WIN.98 SE (did a dos install just to see if I could lol.. Prior to upgading the monitor although not a good or newer model did have 16 bit access to it now however all I can get is 16 colors. You can't do anythiung with it. I cannot go back to where I was before because she cannot find her win98 CD. It is a Packard bell monitor. I know it is the monitor because the color stinks and I'm pretty sure the resolutions have something to do with how the computer runs although I'm not sure how. Please help me.
Thanks, Jo

[RJ]

Hello and welcome to PC Mech.

You need to upgrade the video card driver to be able to set over 640x480 @ 16 colors.

RJ

[Jo_G12]

How do I do that? Do I have to buy a new one?
Is there a way to check what type of card you have?
Jo

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Jo_G12 How do I do that? Do I have to buy a new one? Is there a way to check what type of card you have? Jo

Go to Start> Programs> Accessories> System Tools and click on System Information. Click on the "+" next to Components and click on Display. The video card will be listed in the right side window.

Cricket

[Jo_G12]

Okay this is what I found:
Standard PCI Graphic Adapted VGA
Packard bell Monitor
Alloc resources-none

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Jo_G12 Okay this is what I found: Standard PCI Graphic Adapted VGA Packard bell Monitor Alloc resources-none

Oops...that's not the video card, it's the generic display adapter in use.

Go here and download Belarc Advisor and run it on the system. Might get better information.

Cricket

[Jo_G12]

Okay here we go again. I downloaded the Belarc and I am copying it.
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller Gameport Joystick (no joystick connected) YAMAHA OPL3-SAx WDM Driver

[Jo_G12]

Is the YAMAHA OPL3-SAx WDM Driver
the video driver do you think? is there any software out there that could help me.
Jo

[RJ]

No that's the audio driver.
You can't find the video driver coz it's not installed. You need to download the video driver for your video card and install it.

RJ

[Jo_G12]

How do I tell what kind of video card I have. I got this machine from a friend to learn how to work on them so I am really just learning. Is it written on the card?
Jo

[RJ]

Maybe not the full model number, but at least the name of the graphic chip should be written on it.
You need to take out the card and look, or ask the friend if he knows it.

RJ

[mike breck]

Go to Start Menu>Run and type in MSINFO32 and OK it. This will open System Information.

In the left-hand pane click on "Components" and then click on "Display" from the expanded tree. That should give you the card and the monitor details.

Or click on "Hardware Resources" and then IRQs. That will give you a full list of what devices are in the PC. Hopefully it will identify the video card.

Your other option is to watch when the PC is booting up. Usually the first thing you see on modern systems on the DOS screen is the name and make of the video card.

This may give you more info about the card or onboard graphics.

[Jo_G12]

Here is whaat I found on the card itself, maybe one of you can tell something.SIS 6215
SIS'97
PID 3636
9815EE.
I KNOW IT HAS AWARD BIOS
CHIPSET INTEL 440OLXIEX rev 3
Super I/O chip Alim5133 found at port 3Foh
Bios oem Signon v.7XBB01 08-24-1998
bios 2A69JJIBC-OO
Hopefully with this information one of you will be able to help me.
Jo

[LawyerRon]

Go to this site for the video driver: http://www.tyler.net/etpcs/drvsvideo.htm

The driver for WIN95 should work for you.

[Jo_G12]

Hi Ron,
Thank you for this Link but I cannot get it to open the driver download page. After I click on the link it opens then I click on the driver and I get the message that My explorer cannot find the server. Were you able to open the driver page? I have been trying since before 8:00. Sorry that I am being such a pain.
Thanks, Jo

[GaryRouth]

Hi Jo_G12, LawyerRon, mikebreck, RJ, et al:

There are also some drivers over on the Sis.com site: but they ask for which version of the 6215 chip you have: A0, B0, or C.

http://www.sis.com/support/driver/vga.htm

See if pressing Pause/Break at the first screen you see as your computer starts freezes that screen. It should have a banner along the top with info about your video: see if it tells which 6215 you have. (or, of course, you can check on the card again)

Win95 is the most recent driver on the SiS site also, but should work for Win98 (as Ron mentioned)
. . . Gary

[Colonel Sanders]

I'd trying going to updates.com, and seeing if there something there that looks like a VGA driver.

Logan

[GaryRouth]

Hi Jo_G12

Is your screen a colorful delight yet? Just wondered if everything worked out OK. Post again if you need more help.

. . . Gary

[Jo_G12]

Hi,
No it's not colorful yet. I got the driver from drivers.com but when I went to set it up I got a message that the location didn't have information for it. While at the show yesterday I bought another pci driver this time a Trident, I put it in turned on the computer, windows found it and I got a message that it was setting up the hardware for it. Now there is only color when I first turn it on then none. I thought maybe it was the refresh rate so I installed the first one back in and went to settings to try and adjust the rate but have no place to do it. No refresh rate at all. I'm just stuck and I hate to be that way, but it is part of my personality to not give up lol. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Jo

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

Try this:
1) Right-click on My Computer
2) Select Properties
3) Select Device Manager
4) Select Display Adapters (click the little plus sign)
5) Click on the video card listed to select it
6) Click on Properties
7) Click on Driver
8) Click on Update Driver
9) Click on Next
10) Click on "Display a list of all ...." and click Next
11) Click on "Show All Hardware"
12) Click on "Standard Display Type" at the top of the list
13) From the box on the right, select "Standard Display Adapter (VGA)"
14) Click Next

You've just set your display to a minimum standard so you can uninstall the SiS drivers and re-install the Trident.

From Add/Remove Programs in your Control Panel (Start/Settings/Control Panel), uninstall anything relating to SiS video drivers or Trident video drivers.

Power off your computer. Take the SiS card out, put the Trident in
(if you'd like to use the SiS, you'll need to try the drivers from the SiS.com site that I posted earlier.... the Trident probably has a builtin driver in Windows). Power on.

If the New Hardware Found screen comes on, let it detect the Trident and install drivers as it wishes. If the New Hardware Found screen doesn't display, repeat the steps to Device Manager to Update Driver... Let windows search for better drivers,
rather than selecting from a list (unless you happen to know the exact model of your Trident, in which case you can select if from the list)

After this, you should be able to change settings. There is a handy little program built into Windows that makes it easy: go to the Control Panel again. This time, double-click on the "Display" icon. Then click on Settings. Then click on Advanced. Then click in the box "Show settings icon on taskbar". This will allow you to change screen sizes and resolutions with just a click.

See if that works.

[GaryRouth]

Hi Jo

Just wondering: any luck yet?

. . . Gary
(hope everything worked out OK)

[Jo_G12]

No no luck yet. Someone told me that it might not be the card but the monitor so now I m trying o find the driver for that. I have been to all the free driver sights looking for this driver. I have downloaded some that people said were for all the Packard Bell Monitors but no one worked. I need the one for
Packard Bell
Model# 1401S ( the one for my model number because the one that clumps mine into the It is all models doesn't work.
FCC ID# BEJCP400

Listed 5aBa
It's probably on the pay first sites.
Jo

[GaryRouth]

It's probably not the monitor. In fact, it might have the drivers already there. Most monitors actually need only a file that tells Windows what it can do: an .inf file (.inf=information). If you:
1) Right click on My Computer
2) Click on Properties
3) Click on Device Manager
4) Click on the plus sign next to Monitors
See if it lists Packard Bell 1401S, or Unknown Monitor, or Plug n Play monitor. - If you see your make/model, then the correct .inf is already there.

If you don't see your Packard Bell, you can download this file from drivers guide:

http://www.driverguide.com/uploads/uploads4/2983.html

It's an .exe file. I'm guessing it unzips an .inf file for you. If it doesn't work, search for a file pbmon.inf with Windows Explorer/Tools/Find/Files or Folders - (search your C: drive) - make a note of the file's location. Then return to Device Manager (same steps 1-4 above), click on the monitor listed to select it, then click on the Properties tab, then click on Driver, then click on Update Driver, Next, Search (you can point the search to the location you made a note of for pbmon.inf, or see if it can find it by itself). That should do it. If there are several monitors in that file (likely) you'll want to scroll through the list until you see your 1401s listed and click on it to select it).

While you're in Device Manager sometime, see what Display Adapter is listed. Did you take the SiS out and try the Trident again? The only reason I recommended trying the Trident again is that I'm pretty sure it has a driver builtin to Windows.

If you followed the steps in my last post (removing the Sis and trying the Trident again), what happened? Any error messages?

If you decide to go with your SiS card, you can try to locate a marking on the chip that indicates which model it is A0, B0, or C0 ...and those drivers on the Sis.com site that I posted earlier should work. (I've used those drivers many times, no problem).

Give it another try: it's good practice. This is the kind of thing that will be second nature to you after a little practice.

Good luck
. . . Gary

[Briab Guy]

Jo_G12
I probably shouldn't be jumping in here, but,
I have played around with a couple packard bells. And they are pretty good machines. But your friend can't find the 98 CD because she never had one I am guessing. PB's came with a restore type disk with all the drivers on it. See if you have the Packard Bell Disk. All that you need to get will be on the disk.

[Jo_G12]

I have the computer up and running smoothly. I broke down and went out and bought a new video card for $19.99 at Comp USA and everything works now. Actually the darn thing is running really good. I thank all of you guys who went out of their to help me. I'm now going to add a CD-RW to it then give it away. I just wanted to make sure it was as good as it could be before I gave it away.
I learned an a great deal from you guys and I really appreciate it.
Jo

[Jo_G12]

Briab Guy,
Jump in anytime I need help! lol. I can use all I can get.
Jo