VGARAM v1.0
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LICENSE

VGARAM is copyrighted software. This trial version of VGARAM may be freely
distributed on CompuServe and other bulletin board systems, as long as this
documentation file accompanies the executable program VGARAM.EXE.

If you use VGARAM for more than 21 days, you are required to register it with
its author/owner. Registration for single system use is $20, with quantity
discounts available (see below). Software companies interested in bundling
VGARAM with their application should refer to the additional information
below.


QUICK OVERVIEW

VGARAM is a utility that allows you to convert up to 96KB of RAM on your
VGA (and many EGAs) video adapter into usable DOS RAM.

When VGARAM is "active", DOS memory is expanded from 640KB to 736KB, and all
EGA and VGA graphics modes are disabled. When you need to access EGA/VGA
graphics modes, you can temporarily place VGARAM into an "inactive" state,
returning the 96KB of memory to your VGA adapter. When you exit the graphics
application, you can then re-activate VGARAM and re-claim your memory.

Use VGARAM when you need that extra added memory for memory hungry programs
like Dbase.


DISCLAIMER

VGARAM has been tested on a number of different types of systems, with
a variety of applications. However, by the very nature of what VGARAM does,
chances are that conflicts will arise between VGARAM and some system
configurations and/or applications. While, the author has made every
attempt to ensure compatibility, this software is provided AS IS, with
no warranty written or implied. Further, the author assumes no liability
for any undesired results that occur because of use of VGARAM.

Try VGARAM with your applications for 21 days, and if after that time
you wish to continue to use VGARAM, follow the instructions below for
registering VGARAM with its author/owner.


HOW DOES IT WORK?

When VGARAM is active, it disables EGA/VGA graphics, and adds an additional
64-96KB of memory to the DOS memory allocation chain.

VGARAM consumes between 0 and 2-1/2KB of resident memory, depending on your
system configuration. In zero-byte mode, VGARAM automatically detects 80386
based memory managers like 386-to-the-MAX and QEMM to "load high". Without
such a memory manager, VGARAM will consume just over 1KB, unless your system
has an "extended BIOS (XBIOS) data area" (like the IBM PS/2s and newer Compaq
systems), in which case VGARAM will consume just over 2KB of resident memory,
yet reclaim an additional 1KB for DOS, by relocating the XBIOS area to low
memory.

If you wish to disable VGARAM from automatically loading into "high" memory,
load VGARAM with a /NU (no upper memory) command line parameter.

Subsequent to being loaded, VGARAM can be unloaded with a /U parameter.

Or, typing VGARAM OFF will place VGARAM in an "inactive" state, allowing
you to use EGA/VGA graphics applications. VGARAM ON can then be used
to re-activate VGARAM and re-claim the video memory.

It is recommended that VGARAM always be loaded into memory, and loaded
as one of the first TSRs in AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you wish to de-activate
VGARAM immediately upon loading, issue the VGARAM command with the
OFF parameter (e.g., VGARAM OFF).

VGARAM should be loaded before other TSRs, because many of them play
games with swapping interrupt vectors when they are loaded, which can
cause unpredictable results. If this happens, make sure VGARAM is loaded
first.


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

To run VGARAM, you need a full 640KB of DOS memory, and an EGA or VGA
video adapter with at least 256KB of memory.
Because the VGA has readable video registers, VGARAM is more reliable
on VGA systems than EGAs.

The best way to find out whether or not VGARAM will work with your EGA
or VGA is to try it.


ERROR MESSAGES

VGARAM Version x.x -- (C) Copyright 1990 by Brett Warthen

- Just an initialization message.

Extended BIOS (XBIOS) Data Area Has Been Relocated.

- Just what it says.

VGARAM is already resident.
PARAMETERS:
/U = Un-install
ON = Turn VGARAM into Active (ON) State
OFF = Turn VGARAM into Inactive (OFF) State

- VGARAM has already been loaded into memory, and the command-line
parameter specified was invalid.

VGARAM is ON.

- VGARAM is in its "active" state. EGA/VGA graphics modes are disabled,
and an additional 96KB is available for DOS.

VGARAM is OFF.

- VGARAM is loaded into memory, but is "inactive". EGA/VGA graphics
modes are available.

VGARAM cannot be un-installed, it is not resident.

- VGARAM was executed with a /U parameter, but cannot be un-installed
because it was never loaded into resident memory.

VGARAM has been un-installed.

- VGARAM was executed with a /U parameter, and has been un-installed
(removed) from memory.

VGARAM cannot be un-installed.
One of the following interrupt vectors has been hooked
by another memory resident program:
8, 10h, 16h

- VGARAM was executed with a /U parameter, but cannot be un-installed
because other memory resident programs have been loaded following it.

VGARAM Requires DOS Version 3.0 or greater.

- VGARAM will not work with DOS 1.x or 2.x.

SORRY...VGARAM requires an EGA or better!

- VGARAM could not find an EGA or VGA adapter in the PC.

SORRY...VGARAM requires a video board with 256KB RAM!

- VGARAM found an EGA adapter, but it did not have sufficient memory
to continue.

Memory Allocation Chain Error!

- VGARAM detected an error in the DOS memory allocation chain. This is
not good...and hopefully should not happen. If it does, it is most
likely not a problem with VGARAM...but you probably won't believe me on
that one.

Installed Memory Does not Reach 640KB!

- VGARAM requires that the PC have 640KB of memory.

Extended BIOS (XBIOS) Data Area Size Error!

- This error should not happen...but if it does, I want to hear about
it.

RAM Already Exists at segment A000h!

- The video memory area is already being used as RAM, therefore VGARAM
cannot do its thing.

WARNING: RAM Already Exists at segment B000h.

- Part of the video memory area is already being used as RAM. This
particluar segment of memory is the monochrome video buffer, and
many users of 80386 memory managers reclaim this memory as "high DOS"
memory. All this means is that VGARAM will only add 64KB (instead of
96KB) of memory to the system.


REGISTRATION
------------

If you use VGARAM for more than 21 days, you are required to register your
copy of VGARAM with its author/owner.

Registration for single system use is $20, with the following quantity
discounts available:

QUANTITY REGISTRATION FEE

1-5 $20 ea.
6-10 $17 ea.
11-20 $15 ea.
21-50 $12 ea.
51-100 $10 ea.
101-200 $9 ea.
201-500 $7 ea.
501+ $5 ea.


Make check or money order payable to:

Brett Warthen
P.O. Box 825
Reisterstown, MD 21136

Within 2-4 weeks of receipt of the registration fee, you will recieve a
5-1/4" diskette containing a registered version of VGARAM, licensed for use
on the number of systems requested.


Software companies *ONLY* interested in distributing VGARAM with their
software can contact the author/owner via CompuServe Mail at 73270,405,
or by voice at (301)-833-5073.