CompuServe Thread

#Flicker with AMAX II

11 messages in this thread
#32709From: Allan BelyeaAug 22, 1991 11:17 PM
Hi all, I just picked up my AMAX II today and got it running. I am very impressed! Except for one thing. The dreaded flicker when running in interlace mode on a 1084 monitor. I've been experimenting with colour combinations but I haven't found anything that really minimizes it yet. So do any of you experienced AMAX II owners have a favourite colour combination to minimize the flicker or did you all run out and get flicker fixers? Allan
#32795From: Christopher TolmieAug 23, 1991 6:22 PM
Allan, I don't use a flickerfixer (although I have one, but no extra$$$ for the multi-sync monitor, sob], so I have set my color to a neutral gray and installed an INIT I found in the MAC libraries that replaces the single pixel ruled lines at the top of each window with a solid background color. I can't remember the name off the top of my head of this Init, but when I get a chance I'll look for its name. Something like Nevit but I'm not sure. It does help eliminate the flicker from those drag bars. I think a keyword for it may be WDEF. I'll look around for you. Chris ACCU-TYPE & GRAPHICS
#32836From: Allan BelyeaAug 24, 1991 8:05 AM
Chris, thx for the reply – Yes I found 2 shades of gray (1 dark & 1 light) to be the best combo. And thx for the tip about the init. The drag bars on the windows certainly are very bad for flicker with all those thin lines.I found it from your description – its called NEVR.INI in Lib #3 of the MACSYS forum. I'll try it out after I log off. Allan
#32849From: Christopher TolmieAug 24, 1991 11:00 AM
Allan One thing about the NEVR.INI INIT. If your using Disinfectant also found in the macsys libraries for virus detection, I remember that NEVR had interferred with Disinfectant's own INIT and prevented the detection of a virus called WDEF or CDEF I forget which, I do have a copy of the virus on an infected floppy that I used to use to check our MAC CX's viral infection program. But haven't tried it since install= ing the latest version of Disinfectant INIT. It is a good viral detection program and well worth the download time. Chris AT&G
#32948From: Allan BelyeaAug 25, 1991 7:44 PM
Chris, Actually I ended up with WindChanger (which is basically NEVR INIT with more options) and I found that it prevents HyperCard 2.1 from running properly. Works fine with HyperCard 1.2.5 though. Thanks for the tip about Disinfectant. Probably the solution would be to have a standalone floppy boot with Disinfectatnt on it, without the NEVR init. Allan
#32950From: Christopher TolmieAug 25, 1991 7:55 PM
Allan, Disifectant will install a INIT of its own into your system folder. This INIT will check each disk inserted into the floppy drive. I imagine the sysquest drive and any other device. I like it because it doesn't bother you like the SAM disinfectant program. SAM brings up a window and does a scan while you wait for it to finish. Disinfectant INIT checks too, but it doesn't bother telling you the disk is OK, only when it finds a virus will it announce its presence. I like that 'cause of a lot of my own disk swapping, I know the disk is OK so leave me alone to work, don't bother me telling me again and again that this disk is OK. I recommend getting the latest version of Disinfectant and trying it out. I used to have a virus infected disk, but it got killed. Now I haven't anyway to check and see if the new version fixed the problem with BTW Nevr and the other one replace the WDEF file which is where one type of virus hides out. So if it inserts itself into the system instead of the regular WDEF file the virus checker doesn't appear to find it. Later, Chris Tolmie AT&G
#33029From: Allan BelyeaAug 26, 1991 10:40 PM
Thanks for the info. I'll check out Disinfectant. Allan
#32798From: Software EtcAug 23, 1991 6:31 PM
Try using a four color grey scale screen color scheme and then make sure you edit the Mac background pattern. It defaults (I think) to a kind of checkerboard type background fill. The only thing this fill does is Flicker like crazy! Once you loose the fill, or make one that is less flickery you should notice some marked improvements. Craig Glaser (Software Etc Milwaukee) – via Whap!
#32837From: Allan BelyeaAug 24, 1991 8:05 AM
Craig, Yup I have settled on grays. But what a great idea to change the desktop pattern – I had forgotten about that. Setting it to a solid colour should improve things tremendously. I'll try it out after I log off. Thanks. Allan
#32815From: Mike RothAug 23, 1991 11:40 PM
My favorite color combination is the black screen and off-white case of a multisync monitor. :^) More seriously, your blood pressure will drop 20 points when you get rid of that overtly or subliminally annoying flicker. Go for the hardware solution — it's the Amiga way of life. — Mike
#32920From: Allan BelyeaAug 25, 1991 9:44 AM
Micheal, Thanks for the input. After laying out the $ for the ROMs and the emulator and the 800K drive, I have to curtail my expenses for awhile. I can see how the h/w solution is the ultimate way to go, but for now I've taken the suggestions from the other posters and settled on: shades of gray for colours; WindChanger INIT/CDEV for shaded drag bars; a solid gray desktop pattern. Its liveable for now. Much better than the default setup. Allan