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Q51870: Dual-Monitor Setup Requires 8-Bit Data Paths for Both Monitors |
/pubs/pc/reference/microsoft/kb/Q51870/ |
Article: Q51870
Version(s): 1.00 2.00 2.10 2.20 2.30 | 2.20 2.30
Operating System: MS-DOS | OS/2
Flags: ENDUSER | s_c s_pascal h_fortran h_masm b_basiccom
Last Modified: 21-MAR-1990
When writing to a system that has a dual-monitor setup, you must make
sure that both the monochrome monitor and the color monitor are using
an 8-bit data path. In any dual-monitor write scheme, both display
cards must be configured to write to a common data path (either both
8-bit or both 16-bit mode). Today's monochrome adapters use 8-bit
paths exclusively.
Most display cards that use a 16-bit mode can autosense whether they
are being written to in a dual-monitor mode, but some cards, such as
the ATI VGA Wonder card, do not sense for this situation; therefore,
you must set the card to an 8-bit path manually.
If you are using dual monitors and you experience strange behavior
such as garbage or blinking characters on the monochrome screen, make
sure that your 16-bit video card is running in 8-bit mode.
The most common use for a dual-monitor setup is for debugging graphics
applications in CodeView.