Microsoft Windows 3.x
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the Operating System field, then the only possible choices are for 16 or 256 colors. Generally, 256
color mode will be the fastest choice. If you need more colors then there will be some slowdown in
graphics performance.
Font Size: Small fonts are intended for lower resolution modes. Large fonts are intended for higher
resolution modes.
Monitor Refresh Rates: The drop down list boxes let you select the monitor refresh rates for each
resolution. If you select Unavailable for any screen resolution, any higher resolutions will also be
unavailable. This will also turn off the corresponding choices in the Resolution box.
In general, the higher the refresh rate, the better the display quality and the lower the performance.
This is because the graphics system can only do a fixed number of operations per second. The more
time it spends redrawing the screen, the less time it has available to perform other operations.
Font Cache Size: The Font Cache Size lets you set the amount of system memory that will be
available for font caching.
Next to the font cache size there is an up arrow and a down arrow. Click on the up arrow to increase
the cache size. Click on the down arrow to decrease the cache size.
Font caching can increase the performance of Windows by saving the bitmaps of frequently used
characters. Normally, when a character is displayed on the screen it first is created from the truetype
outline and then copied to the screen. A cached character has already been created and stored and
can be copied as needed.
WinMode has tried to determine the correct setting for this field for you, but you may change it. Just
remember that memory set aside for font caching will not be available for Windows program and
system usage.
Operating System: The Operating System buttons let you specify the operating system under
which you are running Windows.
This is very important because the configuration and capabilities of the drivers are very different in
OS/2 2.1 and DOS. The most obvious difference is that the drivers only work in 16 and 256 color
modes in OS/2. There are a number of other differences in the configuration of the drivers.
Prior to installing OS/2 For Windows, you need to run WinMode and select the OS/2 2.1 option.
OK: The OK button closes the dialog box and accepts the choices that you have made.
After clicking OK, your computer will be reconfigured to use the choices that you have made. These
changes may need to be added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file for them to be permanent. If this is
necessary, you will be prompted by the program.
If WinMode detects that you changed your Windows 3.x configuration, you will be asked if Windows
should be restarted. If you answer yes, Windows is restarted immediately. Otherwise, you have to
exit Windows and restart it manually for the changes to take effect.
Cancel: The Cancel button closes the dialog box and exits the program without making any
changes. Selecting Close from the control menu or double clicking on the control menu box will have
the same effect.
About: The About button will display a dialog box with the version number of WinMode and a
copyright notice.
Help: For help on WinMode, select the Help button. The main help screen contains an image of the
WinMode screen. Place the cursor over the field(s) that you need help with. When the mouse pointer
changes to a hand, click to display the help text for that field. Click again to make the pop-up text
disappear.
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