How to force OS/2 (V-2.1, OS/2 Warp) to VGA-Mode

How to force OS/2 (V-2.1, OS/2 Warp) to VGA-Mode

Only if Blank / Illegible Display after OS/2 startup

There are a number of situations that will result in the inability to make sense of the pattern on the display unit. For example:
 * An incorrect driver utility has been used
 * A mode set for a processor may result in a scan frequ. that is not supported.
 * Configuration files have been copied from a machine using different hardware.

In case of OS/2 Warp, Reboot the system. At the moment that in the lefttop of the screen appear a small block with OS/2 written, push Alt+F1 button. A blue screen with RECOVERY CHOICES will appear. Select the option 'V'. Reset primary video display and Reboot. This option will autom. set OS/2 Warp to VGA mode.

In case of OS/2 V-2.x


 * 1) Boot from OS/2 Installation Diskette.
 * 2) Insert installation diskettes as promptet until the Welcome to OS/2 frame is displayed.
 * 3) Press ESCAPE (F3) key to exit to a command line.

(From the command line it is possible to issue the SETVGA or RSPDSPI commands.)

- or -
 * - Enter SETVGA (this command deletes the existing SVGADATA.PMI file and then calls RSPDSPI with VGA as the primary key to install the VGA display drivers and fonts.)
 * - Enter RSPDSPI /PK:VGA /SK:NONE /S:A: /T:C:

RSPDSPI parameter 

PK: the primary display type

SK: the secondary display type

S: the source drive containing the display driver

T: the target drive where the drivers should be installed L: the logfile name (default RSPIN'sTL.LOG)


 * Selective Install Video device drivers

The safest way to reconfigure the video mode is to use SELECTIVE INSTALL, which can be found in the System Setup folder. Selective install is a PM application called INSTALL.EXE, and is located in the \OS2\INSTALL subdirectory.

DSPIN'sTL is a faster way of reconfiguring the video mode (not useable for OS/2 Warp VGA/SVGA resolution) DSPIN'sTL decides what to do by reading a Display Configuration (DSC) file.


 * Display Configuration (DSC) Files in OS/2 2.1, OS/2 2.1.1 and OS/2 Warp

Table Notes 

1. The S3 86C805 display drivers are not shipped with OS/2 2.1, but are available from bulletin boards.

2. C30 mode only

3. Only OS/2 Warp has XGA2 option.