Category : Pascal Source Code
Archive   : INFOS155.ZIP
Filename : PAGE_01.INF

On this page, INFOPLUS will attempt to identify the type of computer you
have, and the ROM (Read Only Memory) that it contains.

NOTE!!: If you are using QEMM 6, and are using the Stealth option, some
ROMs may not be identified.

Machine Type: This uses a byte in the BIOS ROM, and, on some machines,
some extra information to determine the computer type, and
in some cases, the exact model. If your computer is an AT
or a 386/486, you get some extra information telling you
about other hardware aspects of the computer. If you have
a PC/XT type computer, and you see information about DMA
channel 3 being used or not, you can probably disregard the
information, as some clones don't properly support the
function call used.

BIOS source: INFOPLUS scans the computers main ROM BIOS, looking for a
copyright message, which it displays.

BIOS version: If you have a Phoenix BIOS in an AT or better, you'll
find out the version.

BIOS date: INFOPLUS displays what should be the date at a specific
location in the ROM BIOS.

BIOS extensions:Some add-in cards have ROM BIOS's of their own to handle
special functions, and to extend the features of the
computer. The most common are for the video and hard disk
controller boards.

Video BIOS's are found in all video cards except those that
only support CGA or Monochrome graphics. It typcially
starts at C000. (NOTE: I've noticed that some VGA cards lie
about their size. If your VGA card supports extended modes
such as 800x600, but the size shown is only 24K, then you
might have problems with programs like QEMM and Windows 3.
The BIOS's on these cards are really 32K. For QEMM, add the
line X=C000-C7FF or ROM=C000-C7FF.)

Unless you have an AT with an MFM or IDE controller, you'll
probably have a hard disk BIOS at C800. Other common
addresses are D800, and DC00. Some hard disk controllers
have what seems like two BIOSs. One part is only needed at
boot-up and for formatting the disk. The other is used to
hold the 'real' parameters of the disk, and translate
cylinder, head and sector counts into something else.