SOLUTION: WindowsNT thinkpad video drivers

[Todd Tannenbaum <tannenba@engr.wisc.edu>]

Hi folks,

The good news:
finally, IBM has video drivers for running Windows NT on the Thinkpad.
previously you could only do 640x480x256 (standard VGA) with NT.  now you
can run NT on a  Thinkpad with up to 1024x768x256 resolution (much nicer!).

The bad news:
the drivers really only work on thinkpads with _active matrix_ LCDs.
also, the drivers do not seem as intelligent about switching resolutions
automatically when going from LCD to external screen as the Windows 3.1 or
Windows 95 drivers. 

part of the readme file is below.  you can grab the NT video driver from the
web at ftp://ftp.pcco.ibm.com/pub/mobiles/vf75xwnt.exe.



><<  Western Digiatal ThinkPad Video Driver Release Information >>
>
>                                                               -- 10/24/95 --
>
>1.0 Install ThinkPad 750/755 family SVGA video device drivers
>--------------------------------------------------------
>  The standard video drivers included in the Windows NT only supports
>  up to 16 colors. When you need the color depth more than 16 colors,
>  it is required to install this Windows NT video drivers which supports
>  the following feature:
>
>     640x480  256 colors,(LCD mode, CRT mode and LCD/CRT both mode)
>
>     800x600  256 colors,(LCD mode and LCD/CRT both mode for 755CX,
>                          CRT mode only for the other 750/755 Family)
>
>     1024x768 256 colors (CRT mode only)
>
>  This video driver diskette supports the following ThinkPad:
>
>  - ThinkPad 750C/755C/755CE/755CD/755CDV/755CX which has Western Digital
>    video control chip.
>
>
>  Installation Instruction:
>
>  1. Boot Windows NT Workstation and logon to the system.
>  2. Click "Command Prompt" at Main menu
>  3. Type the following command at DOS session:
>
>     A:>install C:þWINNT35   (enter)
>
>     C:þWINNT35 is the drive and path where Windows NT is installed
>
>
>  4. When files are copied, go back to Program Manager - Main
>  5. Click "Control Panel"
>  6. Click "Display", click "Change Display Type..."
>  7. At Adapter Type, click "Change..." and Select the following adapter
>     at Select Device list
>
>     "Western Digital Graphics Adapter"
>
>  8. Click "Install" and follow the instruction on the screen
>  9. When installation completes, shutdown and restart Windows NT
> 10. Click "Display", select 16 colors or 256 colors in "Color Palette"
> 11. Click "Test" to make sure that the selected color depth is set
>     correctly.
> 12. Shutdown and Restart Windows NT. Now, you finish the setup for SVGA
>     setup.
>
>
>
>2.0 Known Issues:
>-----------------
>
>  - Dynamic resolution change between CRT and LCD and virtual screen function
>    are not suppotred. If you use with 1024x768 CRT only mode and switching
>    from CRT mode to LCD mode (640x480 resolution) for example, screen
image will
>    be forced to 640x480 resolution. Switching back to CRT only mode again
stays
>    with 640x480 resolution on CRT. To restore to 1024x768, go to Display
>    Settings menu on WindowsNT control panel, select "Test" button to display
>    with the previous resolution.
>
>  - When Western Digital SVGA driver is used on 750Cs/755Cs/755CSE which has
>    STN color panel, screen is not correctly setup. Abnormal screen image is
>    displayed. Current beta driver does not support STN color.
>    Use 16 color mode for STN type 750Cs/755Cs/755CSE ThinkPad.
>
>
>-------------- End of Release Note -------------------------------------------
>

---------
Todd Tannenbaum
CAE Model Advanced Facility
email: tannenba@engr.wisc.edu  ph: 608-262-3118