[English]
README.TXT MATROX GRAPHICS INC. 2007.27.08
Matrox Graphics BIOS Software
(for Matrox Parhelia and later graphics cards)
Version: 1.11.0.7
Note: This document and the associated software are currently
available in English only. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Contents
========
- Overview
- Backing up your graphics BIOS
- Updating your graphics BIOS
- Matrox BIN files
- VESA (Super VGA) display mode support
- TV-output support (Matrox QID)
- Matrox VBE setup
- Troubleshooting
Overview
========
Included with this document is software to update or backup the
BIOS ("Basic Input/Output System") of your Matrox graphics
hardware. The BIOS of your graphics hardware controls basic
(low-level) graphics functions.
For a list of specific hardware models supported by this software,
see "Matrox BIN files".
This document assumes you're familiar with the basics of the
operating system you're using. For more information on how to use
your operating system, see its documentation or your system manual.
Backing up your graphics BIOS
=============================
Before updating the BIOS of your Matrox graphics hardware, we
recommend you back up the current BIOS of your Matrox graphics
hardware.
Windows 2000/XP or Vista
-------------------------
(1) Run "PBIOSWin", then click "Create a Matrox BIOS backup file".
(2) Select a file to save to (or keep the default file name
selected), then click "Save".
DOS (not under Windows)
-----------------------
(1) Copy the files included with this software to a directory on
your hard disk. For example, you can copy files to the root
directory on your "C:" drive.
(2) At a command prompt or DOS prompt, change to the directory
where you copied the files. For example, type "cd c:\" if you
copied the files to the root folder of your "C:" drive.
(3) Type:
pbiosdos /o mtxbios.bin
("mtxbios.bin" is the name of the file that your graphics BIOS
information is saved to. Back up this file.)
Updating your graphics BIOS
===========================
Before updating the BIOS of your Matrox graphics hardware, we
recommend you back up your graphics BIOS (see "Backing up your
graphics BIOS"). To update your graphics BIOS:
Windows 2000/XP or Vista
-------------------------
(1) Run "PBIOSWin", then click "Update your Matrox BIOS".
(2) Select the BIN file appropriate for the BIOS of your Matrox
graphics hardware, then click "Open". For information on
available BIN files, see "Matrox BIN files".
DOS (not under Windows)
-----------------------
(1) Copy the files included with this software to a directory on
your hard disk. For example, you can copy files to the root
director on your "C:" drive.
(2) At a command prompt or DOS prompt, change to the directory
where you copied the files. For example, type "cd c:\" if you
copied the files to the root folder of your "C:" drive.
(3) Type:
pbiosdos /i xxx-xx.bin
In the previous command, replace "xxx-xx.bin" with the file
name of a BIN file included with this software (for example,
"971-20.bin") or a BIN file you previously created with
"PBIOSWin" or "PBIOSDOS". For information on available BIN
files, see "Matrox BIN files".
Matrox BIN files
================
One or more BIN (*.bin) files for your Matrox BIOS are included
with this software. These BIN files are a copy or backup of the
information in the BIOS of your Matrox graphics hardware. These
files are used or created by "PBIOSWin" or "PBIOSDOS" (see
"Backing up your graphics BIOS" and "Updating your graphics BIOS").
The following is a list of available BIN files and the Matrox
hardware models they support:
File Models
---- ------
971-22.bin - Matrox Parhelia 128MB*
- Matrox Parhelia 256MB*
- Matrox MED2mp-DVI*
- P-256 Edge Overlap Controller
975-40.bin - Matrox Parhelia 128MB**
- Matrox Parhelia 256MB**
- Matrox MED2mp-DVI
- Matrox Sono S20
- Matrox PJ-3OL
- Matrox PJ-4OL
- Matrox MED5mp
- Matrox MED3mp-DVI
- Matrox MED5mp-DVI
- Matrox MED2mp-DVI**
- Matrox MED3mp-DVI
- Matrox MED5mp-DVI
- Matrox Parhelia PCI
- Matrox Parhelia Precision SGT
- Matrox ATC-4MP
- Matrox ATC-4MP
- Matrox TheatreVUE T30
- Matrox TheatreVUE T20
- Matrox MED2mp-DVI
- Matrox MED3mp-DVI
- Matrox MED5mp-DVI
- Matrox Parhelia DL256 PCI
- Matrox Parhelia Precision SDT
- Matrox MED4mp-DVI
- Matrox Parhelia HR256
- Matrox QID Pro
- Matrox PJ-4OLP
- Matrox EWS Quad
- Matrox PPX-OUT8
- Matrox VPX-OUT8
- Matrox PPX-OUT4
- Matrox VPX-OUT4
- Matrox LPX-OUT4
976-37.bin - Matrox Millennium P750
- Matrox Millennium P650
- Matrox RAD2mp
- Matrox RAD3mp
- Matrox Sono S10
- Matrox QID
- Matrox Millennium P650 Low-profile PCI
- Matrox RAD PCI
- Matrox Spectrum PCI
- Matrox EpicA TC2
- Matrox QID LP PCI
- Matrox QID LP PCI LW
- Matrox EpicA TC4
- Matrox Extio F1400
- Matrox Extio F1220
- Matrox RG-400SL
- Matrox Extio F1420
979-30.bin - Matrox RAD PCIe
- Matrox Millennium P650 PCIe 128
- Matrox Parhelia APVe
- Matrox ATC PCIe 4MP
- Matrox Millennium P650 LP PCIe 128
- Matrox Millennium P650 LP PCIe 64
- Matrox Millennium P650 PCIe x1
- Matrox QID LP PCIe
- Matrox Aurora VX3mp
- Matrox QID LP PCIe
981-10.bin - Matrox Millennium P690 PCIe x16
- Matrox ONYX
- Matrox SPECTRA
- Matrox Millennium P690 Plus LP PCIe x16
- Matrox Millennium P690 LP PCIe x16
- Matrox Millennium P690 Plus LP PCI
- Matrox Millennium P690 PCI 64
- Matrox Millennium P690 LP PCIe x1
* Versions designed for AGP 2x and 4x systems
** Versions designed for PCI or AGP 2x, 4x, AND 8x systems
VESA (Super VGA) display mode support
=====================================
Some DOS-based programs (for example, games and older CAD
programs) use VESA (Super VGA) display modes.
The following VESA display modes are supported:
Graphics modes
--------------
| Display | Simultaneous display colors |
| resolution | 16 | 256 | 32 K | 64 K | 16 M |
+---------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+-------+
| 640 x 400 | --- | 100 | --- | --- | --- |
| 640 x 480 | (VGA) | 101 | 110 | 111 | 112 |
| 800 x 600 | 102 | 103 | 113 | 114 | 115 |
| 1024 x 768 | --- | 105 | 116 | 117 | 118 |
| 1280 x 1024 | --- | 107 | 119 | 11A | 11B |
| 1600 x 1200 | --- | 11C | 11D | 11E | 11F |
Text modes
----------
| | Rows |
| Columns | 25 | 43 | 50 | 60 |
+--------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| 80 | --- | --- | --- | 108 |
| 132 | 109 | 10A | 10B | 10C |
TV-output support (Matrox QID)
==============================
The BIOS ("Basic Input/Output System") for Matrox QID product
supports TV-output in DOS and VGA display modes. To match the TV
standard used by your video devices, you may need to change the TV
standard used by your Matrox product. To change the TV standard of
your Matrox product:
Windows 2000/XP or Vista
------------------------
(1) Run "PBIOSWin", then click "Change your TV output standard".
(2) Select your TV standard: "NTSC"(used in North America and
Japan, among other places) or "PAL"(used in most of Western
Europe and in China, among other places)
(3) You may need to restart your system for the changes to take
effect.
DOS
---
(1) Copy the files included with this software to a directory on
your hard disk. For example, you can copy files to the root
directory on your "C:" drive.
(2) At a command prompt or DOS prompt, change to the directory
where you copied the files. For example, type "cd c:\" if you
copied the files to the root folder of your "C:" drive.
(3) Depending on your TV standard, type:
pbiosdos /tvout ntsc
or
pbiosdos /tvout pal
(4) You need to restart your system for the changes to take effect.
Matrox VBE Setup
================
BIOS ("Basic Input/Output System") information is stored on your
Matrox graphics hardware. This information is for basic graphics
functions and includes support for VBE ("Video BIOS Extension")
display modes. The specifications for VBE modes are defined by
VESA ("Video Electronics Standards Association").
VBE modes may be used by some older DOS-based Super VGA programs
and by the BIOS of your computer. (The BIOS of your computer is
separate from, and not to be confused with, the BIOS of your
Matrox graphics hardware.) Your computer BIOS may use a VBE
display mode, for example, to display the logo of the computer
manufacturer immediately after you restart your computer.
The BIOS of some computers may not properly handle information
from the Matrox BIOS and, as a result, you may experience problems
with VBE display modes. If you experience problems with VBE
display modes, it's most likely to be with mode 101h (101
hexadecimal: 640 x 480, 256 colors). This mode is sometimes used
to display the logo of the computer manufacturer immediately after
the computer restarts. If this mode is improperly handled, the
image on the screen may be garbled. Problems with VBE display
modes don't affect any software that uses a Matrox display driver
(for example, Windows software).
If you experience problems with a garbled display immediately
after you restart your computer, contact the manufacturer of your
computer for a possible software update for your computer BIOS.
If an update isn't available for your computer BIOS, you may be
able to configure the BIOS of your computer to use a different
display mode or to display a blank screen when you restart your
computer. For example, on some computers, the "Boot Time
Diagnostic Screen" setting determines what (text or full-screen
logo) is displayed immediately after your computer restarts.
If an update isn't available for your computer BIOS and this BIOS
can't be configured to use a different display mode, you can use
the "Matrox VBE Setup" program to disable (or enable) mode 101h.
If this display mode is disabled and your computer normally uses
this mode immediately after restarting, your computer screen may
be blank until the operating system (for example, Windows XP)
starts. (A blank screen may be preferable to a garbled screen
image.)
Another option is to use the "Matrox System Logo Fix" program to
reconfigure mode 101h for this special case.
If your system logo is correct but displays the wrong colors, use
the "Matrox System Logo Color Fix" program to fix this problem.
VBE Setup usage
---------------
To use the "Matrox VBE Setup" program to enable or disable mode
101h, simply start the "ParVBE" program from Windows and follow
the on-screen instructions. This program will change the BIOS of
your Matrox graphics hardware.
System Logo Fix usage
---------------------
To use the "Matrox System Logo Fix" program to reconfigure mode
101h, simply start the "SystemLogoFix" program from Windows and
enable the "System logo fix" option. This program will change the
BIOS of your Matrox graphics hardware.
System Logo Color Fix usage
---------------------------
To fix the colors of your system logo, first make sure you update
your graphics BIOS. (For more information on updating your
graphics BIOS, see "Updating your graphics BIOS".)
After your graphics BIOS is updated, run the "Matrox System Logo
Color Fix" program. Simply start the "SystemLogoColorFix" program
from Windows and follow the on-screen instructions. This program
will change the BIOS of your Matrox graphics hardware.
Matrox BIOS backup
------------------
Before using any software to change your Matrox BIOS, we recommend
you back up your Matrox BIOS. To back up your Matrox BIOS, see
"Backing up your graphics BIOS".
WARNING: Don't restart or turn off your computer while the BIOS of
your Matrox graphics hardware is being updated. Otherwise, your
computer display or displays may become unusable.
Note: If the update of the Matrox BIOS is unexpectedly interrupted
and your computer display or displays become unusable (for
example, as a result of a power failure during the BIOS update),
you may be able to restore your graphics hardware with a backup of
your Matrox BIOS.
Troubleshooting
===============
If "emm386.exe" is used in your "config.sys" file, the
"X=C000-CFFF" option must be used. For example:
device=c:\windows\command\emm386.exe AUTO NOEMS X=C000-CFFF
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.