Video Card ID

[Buffalo]

Quite awhile back, I remember reading (and I tried it) that you could identify your video adapter by going into DOS and typing something like 'debug' with switches or something. Does anyone know what that command could be.
Programs, like Belarc Advisor, (I believe) just put out the info based on the installed drivers,etc and therefore don't always have the info you need.
Thanks.

[kallikru]

You can open a DOS window and enter debug mode by typing (c:\>) debug [enter] - you will then see a "-" indicating that you are in debug mode.
If you type (-)d c000:0040 [enter] this tells the system to dump the memory content of the area stated - in this case where information regarding the vid card resides.

To get a list of available options type (-)? [enter] and to leave debug mode simply type (-)q [enter].

[jtdoom]

hi

VIDEOCARD DETECT
If you cannot identify your video card, you can run the following without opening the case to get an idea of the manufacturer and make:
1. From a DOS prompt, Win 3.x, Win9x, WinNT, or Win2K command prompt type DEBUG and press Enter.
2. A single dash will appear at which point type DC000:35 and then press Enter (DC000:50 may also work for newer cards).
3. You may need to type D at the second dash and press Enter for all of the information to appear.
You can type D more than once to see more info appear.
4. Q to exit

[Buffalo]

Thanks Kallikru and JtDoom.

[jtdoom]

when one boots, or reboots, or hit reset after booting off floppy
(better to boot into DOS so as not to hurt windows files)
well, at cold boot or reboot, the very first thing that briefly flashes by is vidcard info

too bad that hitting PAUZE at that stage don't work yet...

also, these days, monitors don't always "wake up" or "initiate" in time for it to show...

so, the debug method is kinda handy.

and yes
dc000:0040
or
d c000:0040

both work

hey, come to think of it, I forgot the starting point for cga and ega...

[kallikru]

Here's a good piece on debug: Debug routines

[Buffalo]

Great.
Thanks a lot.

[jtdoom]

I just bookmarked that site...

its amazingly COOL

[stev-rey]

Wow....

Never knew you could clear CMOS using Debug.

Cool indeed.