CompuServe Messages

"can run under Windows only using the "VGA" option" 3D Studio Rel3 updated the Phar Lap version to 5.1 and is now able to operate in the memory provided by Windows (DPMI). Development for the video drivers was carried out by Vibrant Graphics, and their testing was done in the DOS environment, since 3D Studio is a DOS product. In our readme.doc (excerpted below) we suggest you run the Vibrant drivers when using 3DS under Windows. Vibrant has asked us to change this because they didn't test under Windows. Whoops! When we received reports that 3D Studio users were having trouble configuring their 3DS video drivers under Windows, Vibrant ran some tests and discovered that the Windows environment inhibits the queries, etc., needed for their drivers to set 3D Studio into the proper modes – in most cases, in fact. Unfortunately, it would be a major undertaking to rewrite their drivers to work under Windows. ——————————- III.2. USING 3D STUDIO UNDER WINDOWS A. If you want to run 3D Studio under Windows, we highly recommend that you use the built-in Vibrant drivers. Avoid using VGA or ADI drivers. B. Note also that Vista cards do not function properly when using 3D Studio under Windows. You can model, but you can't render to the Vista display. C. Do not attempt to run 3D Studio as a slave system from the DOS shell under Windows. You cannot exit slave mode in this situation, because the Alt+Esc key combination required to exit slave mode is intercepted by Windows, and causes Windows to switch to another application. D. In order to run 3D Studio under Windows 3.1, you must edit the 3ds.pif file to conform to your installation. Edit the Start-up Directory field to match the drive and path where 3D Studio is installed. See page 96 in the Installation Guide for more information on the PIF file. E. Before starting 3D Studio under Windows, be sure your current Windows/3D Studio configuration is functioning properly before starting work in 3D Studio. If your configuration is not operating properly, you may lose your work if you switch from 3D Studio to another application, and for some reason cannot return to 3D Studio. F. You may have problems running 3D Studio under Windows if the display board you are using does not have enough onboard memory. If you are experiencing unsatisfactory results that may be due to display board memory, try reconfiguring for a smaller resolution. Remember that 3DS requires at least a 640x480x256 display resolution. G. Do not use 3D Studio under Windows with real mode display, digitizer, or VTR controller drivers. For example, some VESA BIOS extension TSRs are not compatible with Windows, thus preventing 3D Studio from using a VESA display configuration.