README MATROX GRAPHICS INC. December 22, 1995
MGA Win95 Millennium Display Driver
Revision 2.20.031
Table of Contents
-----------------
- Description of This Release
- Floppy Contents
- Installation
- Registry Settings
- Notes, Problems, and Limitations
Description of This Release
---------------------------
This is the MGA Millennium Windows 95 PowerDesk software, version 2.20.
This product includes a Millennium Windows 95 driver AND the Matrox
PowerDesk for Windows 95, which allows: virtual desktop, hardware
pan and zoom, Quick Access panel, DirectDraw driver and more...
Floppy contents
---------------
Basic Driver files (installed in \Windows\System):
MGAPDX64.INF Installation support file
MGAPDX64.DRV MGA Millennium Win95 Driver
MGAPDX64.VXD MGA Millennium miniVDD
MGAPDX64.DLL MGA Millennium initialization dll
MGAXDD.DRV MGA Millennium DirectDraw driver
PowerDesk files installed in \Windows\System:
MGASHEET.DLL MGA Display Property Sheet (replaces regular sheet)
MGASHEET.HLP Help file for Property Sheet
MGACTRL.EXE MGA Control Center (for PowerDesk)
MGACTRL.DLL MGA Keyboard hooker (for PowerDesk hotkeys)
M_SHEET.DLL Text strings for MGAEXT.DLL
M_CTRL.DLL Text strings for MGACTRL.EXE
MGAPREV.BMP MGA Pixel Depth Preview Bitmaps
SXCIX64.DLL Matrox 3D library
PowerDesk files installed in \Matrox\Millen:
README This file
ONLINE.DOC Documentation
\MON
MGASET.EXE MGA Win95 Monitor Program
M_SET.DLL Text strings for MGASET.EXE
MGASET.HLP Help file for Monitor Program
MGA.MON MGA Millennium Monitor File
\QA
MGAQUICK.EXE MGA Win95 QuickAccess program
M_QUICK.DLL Text strings for MGAQUICK.EXE
Installation
------------
The installation is covered in the "online.doc" file.
You can view this file with WordPad.
The installation process can be customized by modifying the "mga.ini"
file on the diskette. Examples of customization options include:
default installation path, default driver performance switches,
default schemes, etc. The file is self-documented. This type of
customization should be carried out by advanced users only.
Registry Settings
-----------------
PowerDesk settings are kept in the Windows 95 registry, under the keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MATROX\MILLENNIUM and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MATROX\QUICKACCESS
Notes, Problems, and Limitations
--------------------------------
- Another MGA Millennium driver
Another MGA Millennium driver is included in the Windows Driver
Library (WDL). The WDL Millennium driver does not have, or support, the
PowerDesk enhancements. In the "Adapter Type" list, the WDL Millennium
driver is called the "Matrox MGA Millennium", while the PowerDesk one is
called "Matrox MGA Millennium PowerDesk".
If you have the CD-ROM version of Windows 95, this library is included in
the \Drivers\Display directory. WDL is also accessible from CompuServe
and other means. See the Windows 95 "display.txt" file for more details.
- Windows 95 "display.txt" file
Windows 95 comes with a readme file called "display.txt" containing
valuable information related to display adapters.
Note that the remarks about the Matrox MGA adapters refer to the Microsoft
MGA Ultima/Impression driver, not to your MGA Millennium adapter.
- Adobe Type Manager limitation
When Adobe Type Manager is installed, you cannot run the driver if the
"Advanced Graphics Acceleration Settings" is set to none. Note that ATM
is installed as part of Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is an Adobe problem
documented in the Windows 95 "display.txt" file.
- Windows 95 SuperVGA monitors not supported
Windows 95 provides "Standard monitor types". This includes various
SuperVGA monitors supporting resolutions from 800 X 600 to 1600 X 1200.
These monitor types do not specify refresh rate ranges, which causes
our driver to reject them and work as if there is no monitor selected.
In this case, the driver will output resolutions up to 1600 X 1200,
which might not be supported by your actual monitor. Therefore the
SuperVGA monitor types SHOULD NOT BE USED WITH THE MILLENNIUM
DRIVER. Instead, try to find your specific monitor name (or type) in
the Windows 95 list, or use one of the generic monitors from the
MGA Monitor Program.
- Monitor Refresh rates with a virtual desktop
When working with a virtual desktop, the refresh rate used for the
Windows 95 monitor will be derived from the virtual desktop resolution
("Desktop area") rather than from the display resolution ("Display
area"). This typically will result in an inferior refresh rate, and if
the virtual desktop resolution is not supported by your monitor
(e.g. 1600 X 1200), the default refresh rate of only 60 Hz will be used.
This limitation does not occur when using the Matrox MGA Monitor Program,
where the refresh rates are taken from the display resolution.
- Matrox Monitor Program and 1152 X 864
Take note that an old MGA.INF file created by the Windows 3.1 Monitor
Program will not contain any data for the 1152 X 864 resolution, forcing
the Windows 95 driver to work at the default 60 Hz refresh. Refresh rates
equal or close to the earlier 1152 X 882 resolution are available in the
new MGA.MON file. You can "refresh" your MGA.INF file by simply reselecting
the same monitor you had and save it.
In 1152 X 864, the Monitor Program will not immediately perform its Test
Pattern with the proper timings. Please first save the "new" MGA.INF file
and reboot your system before relying on the Test Pattern in 1152 X 864.
- Monitors in interlaced mode
Some old monitors such as the IBM 8514 and the NEC 3D do not support non-
interlaced mode in all resolutions. The Millennium driver does not properly
handle interlaced mode under the Windows 95 monitor mechanism, so if you
own one of these monitors, please use the MGA Monitor Program.
- PowerDesk and localized versions of Windows 95
When PowerDesk installs its special settings page in the Windows 95
Display Properties panel, it should grey-out most of the normal Microsoft
"Settings" page. This works correctly if you install the proper PowerDesk
language on your localized Windows 95. If you mix PowerDesk language and
Windows 95 language, the "Settings" page will NOT be greyed-out. This will
necessarily be the case if you have Windows 95 in a language that we
do not support in PowerDesk.
If you are in that situation, DO NOT USE THE MICROSOFT SETTINGS PAGE.
Otherwise, you will confuse the Millennium display driver, which uses
the Windows 95 "Desktop area" as its VIRTUAL desktop area; rather
than changing your resolution, you will actually change your virtual
desktop.
- Replacing DDC timings by MGA Monitor Program timings
If you elect to use the MGA Monitor Program to override your DDC-compliant
monitor, please take note of the following limitation: DO NOT USE THE "TEST"
FACILITY UNTIL YOU REBOOT WINDOWS 95 WITH A SELECTED MONITOR.
This means that you should be careful in selecting your monitor; if your monitor
is not directly supported in the list, take no chance and pick "Multi-freq up to
1280 X 1024 @60Hz". After rebooting, you will be in safe position to pick a better
match and test the various resolutions with our "Test" facility before confirming
a new selection for good.
- MultiMedia Superpack CD-ROM
Some applications provided with your Matrox CD-ROM may not work properly
(or not as fast) under Windows 95. Check on our BBS and CompuServe for
updates.
- Repaint problems with PanLOCK
We have noted erratic window repainting problems with the PanLOCK feature.
The problem is related to Windows main message queue, and happens more
easily with the "window dragging" feature of the Win95 Plus Pack. It has
been seen so far in Lotus 4, Access and AMIPro. There is no workaround
other than to avoid using PanLOCK.
- VESA modes:
Your MGA Millennium Video BIOS supports DOS VESA SuperVGA applications and
games in the following modes:
Graphics Modes
Mode Resolution Colors
100h 640x400 256
101h 640x480 256
110h 640x480 32K
111h 640x480 64K
112h 640x480 16.8M
102h 800x600 16
103h 800x600 256
113h 800x600 32K
114h 800x600 64K
115h 800x600 16.8M
105h 1024x768 256
116h 1024x768 32K
117h 1024x768 64K
118h 1024x768 16.8M(*)
107h 1280x1024 256
119h 1280X1024 32K(*)
11Ah 1280X1024 64K(*)
(*) requires 4Mb memory
Text Modes
Mode Columns Rows
108h 80 60
109h 132 25
10Bh 132 50
10Ch 132 60
- DirectDraw and Automatic Power Management
As stated in "Microsoft DirectX release Notes" dated September 30, 1995, A
DirectDraw game might be unable to restore properly if it is suspended
by Automatic Power Management utilities.
- More Information
More information is available in the WordPad file "online.doc". This
file is included on your Matrox floppy disk, and installed in your
\Matrox\Millen folder.
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.