How do I Locate Information About My Video BIOS? - Search Again

 

SUMMARY

LapLink's Technical Support has asked me to provide information about my video BIOS using the Debug command? How do I do this?

 

SOLUTION

We can use this information in situations where LapLink is having problems with the Remote Control service and we believe that Windows may not be using the correct video card drivers. Debug is a small DOS program that provides low level information about your computer. In this case, you'll locate information about your video card/display adapter. Here are the steps:

  1. From the Windows Start menu, click Run.

  2. Type Command.com and click OK.

  3. At the C:\> prompt, type Debug and press Enter.

  4. The C:\ prompt changes to a dash.

  5. Type dc000:0010 and press Enter.

  6. The display shows 10 lines of hexadecimal information about your system. Look on the far right side of these lines. You will see something like this:


    7. . . . . . . . . . . #N'NIB
    M VGA COMPATIBLE
    BIOS. f....1.
    . . . . . Number Nine
    Visual Technolog
    y 9FX Re
    ality 332
    ... is all you

    This example explains that you have a Number Nine Visual Technology video adapter installed on your computer. Additionally, it explains that the chip set is Reality 332.


Now that you've found this information, you are ready to send it to technical support. The easiest way is to use Windows' Paint program to create a bitmap of the DOS window. Here's the steps:

  1. With the DOS window still open, press Alt and Print Screen together. You will not see anything happen, but now your Windows clipboard has a copy of the DOS window.

  2. From the Windows Start menu, point to Programs, then Accessories and click Paint.

  3. Click Edit, then Paste. Now you will see the screen image of the DOS window.

  4. Click File, then Save As. Give the file a name.

  5. Send the file as an email attachment to the email address given by your technician. Be sure to include your name in the email.

    6. Note: In some situations, you may be able to click File, then Send.

 

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Last updated: Thursday, May 31, 2001

Article #64

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