Int 10 Fn 12 - Video - Alternate Function Select (ps, Ega, Vga, Mcga) - [V]
AH = 12h
BL = 10h
Return: BH = video state
00h color mode in effect (I/O port 3Dxh)
01h mono mode in effect (I/O port 3Bxh)
BL = installed memory (00h = 64K, 01h = 128K, 02h = 192K, 03h = 256K)
CH = feature connector bits (see #0021)
CL = switch settings (see #0022,#0023)
AH destroyed (at least by Tseng ET4000 BIOS v8.00n)
Note: one possible check for the presence of an EGA or later display card
is to call this function with BH=FFh; if not present, BH will be
unchanged on return
another installation check is used by Athena Digital's HGCIBM, which
sets CX to FFFFh on calling and checks whether it has been changed
on return
Index: installation check;EGA
Bitfields for feature connector bits:
Bit(s) Description (Table 0021)
0 FEAT 1 line, state 2
1 FEAT 0 line, state 2
2 FEAT 1 line, state 1
3 FEAT 0 line, state 1
4-7 unused (0)
Bitfields for switch settings:
Bit(s) Description (Table 0022)
0 switch 1 OFF
1 switch 2 OFF
2 switch 3 OFF
3 switch 4 OFF
4-7 unused
(Table 0023)
Values for switch settings on original EGA/VGA:
00h primary MDA/HGC, secondary EGA+ 40x25
01h-03h primary MDA/HGC, secondary EGA+ 80x25
04h primary CGA 40x25, secondary EGA+ 80x25 mono
05h primary CGA 80x25, secondary EGA+ 80x25 mono
06h primary EGA+ 40x25, secondary MDA/HGC (optional)
07h-09h primary EGA+ 80x25, secondary MDA/HGC (optional)
0Ah primary EGA+ 80x25 mono,secondary CGA 40x25 (optional)
0Bh primary EGA+ 80x25 mono,secondary CGA 80x25 (optional)