Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!sunee!gpsteffl
From: gpsteffl@sunee.waterloo.edu (Glenn Patrick Steffler)
Subject: Re: How do I write my own Windows graphics driver?
Message-ID: <1990Jun14.183457.26509@sunee.waterloo.edu>
Organization: Gerbils On Speed Inc.
References: <11450@sdcc6.ucsd.edu>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 90 18:34:57 GMT
Lines: 47

In article <11450@sdcc6.ucsd.edu> hartung@amos.ucsd.edu (Jeff Hartung) writes:
>OK, this may be a near impossible task, but if possible, I would
>like to write my own driver for MS Windows 3.0 so I can put my ATI
>Graphics Solution card into its non-standard 640x200 16 color mode.

Writing a Windows 3.0 video driver is very complicated.  First you
need the DDK (device driver kit), and then you need to know how
to write to the video adapter very quickly in the mode you selected.
The Windows drivers are written to be as fast as is possible with the
slow 20 wait state video bus configurations.  I know people who write
the drivers, and they find the task exhausting to say the least.

>I have spoken to ATI and they said they do not have such a driver
>available (though drivers for Lotus 1-2-3, and a couple of other
>programs come on a disk with the card).  I have written a couple
>of programs in C which properly set the mode, write a pixel of a
>certain color to an x,y coordinate, read a pixel value from an x,y,
>coordinate, and return to text mode.  I have a little 8086 Assembler
>experience, too.

You had better have a LOT of assembler experience, and understand the
specifics of Windows 3 and the enhanced mode peculiarities.
(like flat addresses if the card allows it...etc)

>Where do I start?  I would like any pointers to the information I'll need,
>exapmle code of other drivers, etc.  I'm really at a loss as to where I should
>start.  I know there are other Graphics Solution cards out there, and I'll
>gladly share the driver with the world when it's written
>

Start with a new video adapter.

>Thanks for any help in advance,
>
>--
> --Jeff Hartung--  	
> Disclaimer: My opinions only, etc., etc., BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!...
> InterNet - hartung@amos.ucsd.edu           UUCP - ucsd!amos.ucsd.edu!hartung
> BITNET - Hartung@UMass

Sorry to bum you out dude, but life isn't always fair.

-- 
Co-Op    _____           "Bo doesn't know software" - George Brett
Scum   _/|__Q_\___ 
U of   | ww--+----#\    "Catch the mystery catch the spit!" - Tom Saywer (Rush)
Loo'91 ~~()~~~~~()~~                                     Glenn Patrick Steffler
