1. excap9x.zip Driver
2. Readme.txt File Contents

Readme.txt Driver File Contents (excap9x.zip)

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      README for AVerMedia EZCapture Software Version 2.5 (Windows 95/98)
                                 Jan. 2001
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for purchasing AVerMedia EZCapture! This README file contains
additional notes on using the AVerMedia EZCapture in specific situations.
For more information on this product or its usage, you can also
refer to the AVerMedia EZCapture User's Manual or visit our Web site
(http://www.aver.com.tw).

For best results, make sure set your display properties to at least
16bit Hi-Color mode.  Please do not change the display mode while the
application is running.

It is recommended that users should not play DirectX games while 
viewing TV program, some games cause EZCapture application to fail.
Please close up EZCapture application now. You can re-open EZCapture
application after you finish playing DirectX games.

Due to a problem in Microsoft NetMeeting under Win95, you need 
to have TCP/IP networking installed. If TCP/IP networking is not 
installed properly, you will not be able to preview the video.
This problem does not exist on Windows 98.

This new version(V2.2) contains a SDK for your application development,
it is compatible with AVerMedia PCImager application in Windows 95/98.
This new version is used with AVerMedia new EZCapture product, however,
it can not be used with AVerMedia old EZCapture product(latest s/w 
version 2.1), please advise! 


========
CONTENTS
========
1. PCI Configuration
   1.1 Checking AVerMedia EZCapture Configuration
   1.2 Contention with Interrupts
2. Graphic Drivers
   2.1 Error Message "No suitable DirectDraw provider"
   2.2 Forcing Primary Surface Mode
   2.3 VGA Compatibility
3. Initial Video System
4. Closed-Caption Issue
5. Video Capture Issue
6. VIA Chipset Issue
7. System lockup Issue
8. Video Compression
9. Visit Our Web Site


====================
1. PCI Configuration
====================
The AVerMedia EZCapture card requires two system resources: one interrupt
and a memory segment.

AVerMedia EZCapture is a Plug-and-Play device. But since Windows 9x is not
able to detect interrupt conflicts in all PCs, checking AVerMedia EZCapture's
Plug-and-Play configuration is strongly recommended.


1.1 Checking AVerMedia EZCapture Configuration
==============================================
After you have properly installed the AVerMedia EZCapture card into your
computer, do the following to check its Plug-and-Play configuration:

1. Start Windows 9x.

2. Click "Start", then "Settings", then "Control Panel".

3. Double-click on the "System" icon. Then, click the "Device Manager"
   tab.

4. Double-click on "Sound, video and game controllers". You will then see
   the "AVerMedia EZCapture Device".

   If Windows 9x finds a conflict between your AVerMedia EZCapture card
   and another device in your PC, a little yellow circle with an
   exclamation point or an "X" inside will appear beside
   "AVerMedia EZCapture Device". But as mentioned earlier, Windows 9x
   may not at all times be able to find all interrupt conflicts.

6. Double-click on "AVerMedia EZCapture Device" to call up its
   Properties window. Then, click the "Resources" tab.

7. Look for the Interrupt setting. If there is no interrupt showing,
   that means Windows 9x was unable to find an available interrupt
   for your AVerMedia EZCapture card.

8. If an interrupt appears in the Properties window, check and make sure
   that this interrupt is not already being used by a non-Plug-and-Play
   device.


1.2 Contention with Interrupts
==============================
If your computer is installed with many devices, there might be no
more free interrupts which your AVerMedia EZCapture card can use.

In this case, check and see if there is any unused device which
already has an interrupt reserved for it. For example, some computers
may have two interrupts reserved for their two IDE channels, even if
only one IDE channel is used in the systems.

To free up an interrupt, follow the steps given below.

1. Go into the BIOS while the system is booting.

2. Disable the Peripheral that is not being used (for example:
   the secondary IDE channel)

3. Start Windows 9x. Click "Start", then "Settings", then "Control Panel".
   Double-click on the "System" icon, and then click the "Device Manager"
   tab.

4. Highlight the device that is not being used. Then, click "Remove".

5. Reboot Windows 9x.

Check the AVerMedia EZCapture's Plug-and-Play configuration again.


==================
2. Graphic Drivers
==================
The AVerMedia EZCapture card requires the use of a VGA card which has
Windows 9x DirectDraw support. If your VGA card is not using this
driver software, you will need to upgrade your VGA driver. Contact
your local dealer to get an update to your VGA driver software.
You may also download driver software updates from the Web sites
of VGA card and chip manufacturers.


2.1 Error Message "No suitable DirectDraw provider"
===================================================
Error message "No suitable DirectDraw provider" will appear if AVerMedia
EZCapture can not find a DirectDraw driver. In this case, you will
need to upgrage your VGA driver. Many VGA chip manufacturers have
updated their drivers which have DirectDraw support. You can download
driver software updates from their technical support Web sites.


2.2 Forcing Primary Surface Mode
================================
Many new graphic controllers have the ability to accept video data
and display it using a separate path called an "overlay surface".
By default, the AVerMedia EZCapture card will take advantage of "overlay surface"
support if the graphic controller driver supplies a DirectX 5 interface.
Under this mode, you will be able to view closed caption with video and
live TV broadcasts on your computer screen.

Sometimes, the user may need to force the AVerMedia EZCapture card to use
the mode of operation of the VGA card, which is known as "primary
surface" mode. Forcing the card to operate in this mode can be helpful
in eliminating VGA card compatibility problems. You will not be able
to view closed caption when the "primary surface" mode is being used,
but you can still save the closed caption data to a file.

If you need to change the mode of operation of your AVerMedia EZCapture card,
run the "Surface Configuration" program. To run this program, click
the "Start" button, choose "AVerMedia EZCapture" from the Programs menu,
and then click "Surface Configuration". The Surface Configuration
program window will then appear on your computer screen.

To force AVerMedia EZCapture to use Primary Surface mode, click on the
"Force Primary Surface" radio button, then click "OK".

You can change back to Overlay mode anytime. Simply run the program
again and choose "Attempt Overlay Surface".


2.3 VGA Compatibility
=====================
AVerMedia EZCapture is compatible with the following VGA cards:

* S3 Trio 64V2, Trio 64V+, Trio 64, ViRGE, ViRGE DX, ViRGE GX, ViRGE GX2,
  Savage4 Xtreme, Savage4 Pro+, and Vision 968(Note)
* ATI Mach 64(Note), 3D RAGE, 3D RAGE II, 3D RAGE Pro, RAGE 128 Pro
* Matrox Millennium(Note), Mystique(Note), G-100(Note), G-200(Note), G-400
* nVIDIA RIVA 128, RIVA TNT, RIVA TNT2
* 3dfx Voodoo2, Voodoo3
* 3Dlabs Permedia3
* Intel i740
* Cirrus Logic 5446
* Tseng ET6000(Note)
* Chips and Technologies 65550(Note)

Note: Compatible with "primary surface" mode only.


=======================
3. Initial Video System
=======================
At the first-time execution of AVerMedia EZCapture application, the
video system will be set to PAL-BG. Users have to use the function in
application to set it to correct video system. Please advise.


=======================
4. Closed-Caption Issue
=======================
The Closed-Caption can only be used in "Attemp Overlay Surface" mode for
NTSC system. If you can not use use the overlay mode, please upgrade your
VGA driver from the VGA card manufacturer's Web Site.


=======================
5. Video Capture Issue
=======================
Not every compression format is usable. If you find your compression format
is not working properly, try a different method or select 
"Full frames (Uncompressed)" from the pop up menu.

Please switch to preview mode while capturing the video size at 640x480.


====================
6. VIA Chipset Issue
====================
Certain motherboards that are based on VIA Chipsets(for example, VIA Pro 133)
may have the following problem:
When the video size is near to full screen size(at live preview or cpature),
there are some horzontial lines on the video screen.


======================
7. System lockup Issue
======================
At a computer(CPU: AMD K7-500, VGA:3dfx Voodoo3000), system may lockup while 
capturing video. Under this situation, please check for a BIOS update or 
contact your system dealer. 


====================
8. Video Compression
====================
AVer EZCapture does not provide compression functionality. However, users can
use certain s/w video compression codec supplied by system. When using this
machanism, some problems may happen, e.g., lost .indeo5.hlp file, drop too
many frames, under such situation, please contact system provider or Microsoft.


=====================
9. Visit Our Web Site
=====================
Please visit our web site at http://www.aver.com.tw to find more product 
information and download the latest updated software.