Discussion:
EGA libraries or info needed!
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Harry Potter
2020-05-15 17:45:12 UTC
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Hi! I want to create a DOS-based screensaver with NASM and have two issues: 1. I need info on programming the EGA graphics adapter; and 2. I need a EGA graphics library for NASM. I think the PCGPE has the former, and I'm willing to create the latter. I'm looking for EGA-specific info though.
T. Ment
2020-05-15 18:34:16 UTC
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Post by Harry Potter
Hi! I want to create a DOS-based screensaver with NASM
and have two issues: 1. I need info on programming the EGA
graphics adapter; and 2. I need a EGA graphics library for
NASM. I think the PCGPE has the former, and I'm willing to
create the latter. I'm looking for EGA-specific info though.
Ebay $5 shipping included.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Programmers-Guide-to-the-EGA-and-VGA-Cards-by-Richard-F-Ferraro-/143105581878?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c4



And a different title on archive.org

https://archive.org/details/egavgaprogrammer0000klie

Free to borrow for two weeks. You must create an account on archive.org
(easy) and download Adobe Digital Editions. Some hard heads refuse, but
grow up people it's free.
Harry Potter
2020-05-15 19:51:00 UTC
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T. Ment, I thank you for the information. I put it on my mother's eBay watch list to purchase when her computer starts working. :(
r***@gmail.com
2020-05-20 18:00:02 UTC
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Hi,
Post by Harry Potter
T. Ment, I thank you for the information. I put it on my mother's
eBay watch list to purchase when her computer starts working. :(
Ferraro's book (which I've never read) is indeed considered a classic.

Also, what is your hardware setup issue? I'm no hardware fiend myself,
so my machines are old. But I did buy a (relatively cheap) Samsumg
Android tablet and Dell Chromebook in recent years.

If your needs aren't too specific, those at least let you use the web,
email, so you can at least purchase books and videos games and whatnot
without further hassles.

There are, of course, fuller laptops with more advanced features,
so while I've looked in recent months, I haven't bought one yet.
(My old Dell/Windows laptop is getting old, but it served me well
for many years. Again, I still get some use out of it via Linux
USB jump drive. FreeDOS on a separate jump drive is also fun.)
Harry Potter
2020-05-20 18:21:11 UTC
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My plans are to create a DOS screen saver using NASM on EGA and stuff it in EMS with a stub in Upper memory.
Harry Potter
2020-05-20 18:22:45 UTC
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Post by Harry Potter
My plans are to create a DOS screen saver using NASM on EGA and stuff it in EMS with a stub in Upper memory.
BTW, I found the information for which I was looking on Faqsys. :)
T. Ment
2020-05-20 18:52:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by Harry Potter
My plans are to create a DOS screen saver using NASM on EGA
and stuff it in EMS with a stub in Upper memory.
Some users omit EMM386.EXE altogether, or use its NOEMS parameter.

Why not use XMS instead. HIMEM.SYS provides that.

The only reason to use EMS is for 8086 EMS hardware board, where no XMS
is available. They're rare now, worth some money in working condition.
Harry Potter
2020-05-20 20:34:21 UTC
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Post by T. Ment
Why not use XMS instead. HIMEM.SYS provides that.
The only reason to use EMS is for 8086 EMS hardware board, where no XMS
is available. They're rare now, worth some money in working condition.
I want to put code in EMS. I can save the current EMS settings, bank in 64k of my screen saver, call the code, reset the EMS settings then return. I can't put code in XMS. That's why. :)
r***@gmail.com
2020-05-20 23:42:45 UTC
Permalink
Hi,
Post by Harry Potter
I want to put code in EMS. I can save the current EMS settings,
bank in 64k of my screen saver, call the code, reset the EMS
settings then return. I can't put code in XMS. That's why. :)
This reminds me of other DOS screensavers. (I think the first
screen saver was invented for Norton Commander by John Socha.)

DOS Navigator (freeware w/ srcs) had some external screensavers
(non-TSR). How big do you want it? Are you trying to do "demo"
graphics effects?
* https://www.ritlabs.com/en/products/dn/

FreeDOS FDAPM also has IDLEDPMS (TSR) for newer monitors:
* http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-stuff/freedos/files/distributions/1.2/repos/pkg-html/fdapm.html

Although bloated (20 kb footprint), there was also Starry Night
TSR (w/ .ASM source):
* http://sta.c64.org/dosprg.html

Wolfware/WASM assembler had various examples, including Sleeper
TSR (VGA; also EGA and MDA variants):
* http://www.shoelesscomputers.com/software/

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