SunPCi User's Guide

Selecting and Installing the Video Drivers

After you connect the VGA monitor to SunPCi, you need to install the correct video drivers for your configuration. When you installed the SunPCi software as described in Chapter 3, Starting SunPCi Software for the First Time, you installed the SunPCi drivers by default using the setup utility (Windows 95) or automatically (Windows NT). If you always plan to use SunPCi on your workstation's desktop, you do not need to install another driver.

In order to configure the video correctly, you need to install the proper drivers for your hardware setup and operating system. There are two types of drivers available for Windows 95: the SunPCi drivers for the on-board (workstation) video, and SMI for the external VGA video. After you install the drivers, you choose the video you want to use with the VGA command switch.

To install the external video driver after you have installed the SunPCi drivers, run the setup utility again. When the utility asks you which monitor you would like to use to display your video, choose External Monitor. For instructions on how to run the utility, refer to Installing the SunPCi Drivers.

For the workstation video, SMI mode refers to the way that SunPCi runs DOS, Windows installation programs, Windows Safe Mode, and full-screen DOS in Windows. This is the video display you see before you install the SunPCi drivers. SMI also controls VGA mode for the external video.

To set up external video for Windows NT, refer to Configuring an External Monitor With Windows NT.

Using the Windows Driver Switches With SunPCi

To use external VGA with SunPCi, type the following command at the system prompt:

% sunpci -vga

To use SunPCi with the on-board (workstation) video, just type the standard sunpci command at the system prompt. Table 4–1 describes the type of video output that occurs for the operating system you want to use, the video driver you have installed, and whether or not you typed sunpci -vga at the prompt.

Table 4–1 Video Options Matrix


PC Operating System	VGA Monitor Connected	VGA Monitor Not Connected
DOS (`-vga` switch used)	Video is routed to VGA monitor	Video discarded; SunPCi window displays “Video routed” message
DOS (`-vga` switch not used)	Video is routed to SunPCi window on workstation screen	Video is routed to SunPCi window on workstation screen
Windows 95 VGA driver used	Video is routed to VGA monitor	Video discarded
Windows 95 SunPCi drivers installed	Video is routed to SunPCi window on workstation screen	Video is routed to SunPCi window on workstation screen
Windows NT (SunPCi drivers installed automatically)	Video is routed to SunPCi window on workstation screen; to use external monitor, install the `sis5598` driver.	Video is routed to SunPCi window on workstation screen

Note –

If you have the VGA driver installed but do not have an external VGA monitor attached, and you want to install the SunPCi drivers for Windows 95, you can follow the instructions in Chapter 3, Starting SunPCi Software for the First Time for installing the SunPCi drivers.

Configuring an External Monitor With Windows NT

Note –

Do not use the OS Loader screen at Windows NT Startup to boot to your VGA display; follow the procedure in this section to set up your external VGA driver

If you want to use an external monitor with Windows NT, follow this procedure:

From the Start button, choose Settings, and then choose Control Panel.

The Control Panel window is displayed.

Double-click on the Display icon.

The Display Properties window is displayed.

Click on the Settings Tab, and then click on Display Type.

The Display Type window is displayed.

Caution –
Do not click on the Detect button in the Display Type window. Clicking on Detect causes SunPCi to reboot.

Click Change.

The Change Display setup is displayed.

Click Have Disk.

The Install From Disk dialog box is displayed.

Type in c:\sis5598 and then click OK, then click OK again.

Follow the instructions on the screen. When you have finished, restart SunPCi with the -vga switch as follows:
```
% /opt/SUNWspci/bin/sunpci -vga
```
Windows NT will now display on your external monitor. You may find that a resolution of 1024x768 with 8-bit depth at 75Hz works best. For more information on monitor resolution and color depth, refer to Video Display Problems.

Note –
Every time you change the display mode (from workstation display to external or back), you need to shut down Windows NT and reset SunPCi. Restarting SunPCi loads the correct display driver for your monitor.

Restoring Your Workstation Monitor

If you have been using your external monitor for Windows NT and want to change the display back to your workstation monitor, follow the same procedure as described for selecting the external monitor. At Step 1, instead of typing in c:\sis5598, type in c:\sunvideo. After you finish the procedure and restart Windows NT, the SunPCi window on your workstation monitor will display Windows NT.

Note –

Before you change the resolution or display depth of your monitor, be sure to shut down all running applications and save your work. You do not need to test a new setting before applying it.