Q83297: Using a CGA Display Adapter with Windows

Article: Q83297
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 02-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

If you have a CGA or MCGA graphics card, Microsoft Windows appears in black and
white.

To have Windows display in color, an EGA card (with 64K or 256K memory), VGA,
Super VGA, or XGA is required.

Under Microsoft Windows version 3.1, CGA monitors cannot accommodate the size of
specific dialog boxes. Two examples are the About dialog box from the Help menu,
and the Desktop dialog box from Control Panel. There is no workaround for this
problem. Full CGA support has not been included in Windows 3.1.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Windows requires a minimum screen resolution of 640 x 200 (640 pixels wide by
200 pixels high). In that resolution, the CGA card provides only one color on a
black background (which in Windows is white on black).

The MCGA card can provide a resolution of 640 x 480 but still provides only white
on black.


The original Logitech Windows 3.1 (OEM version) box states that CGA is a
supported video mode. This is incorrect. Logitech is changing the wording on the
box to state more accurately the limited support for CGA.

KBCategory: kbenv kbdisplay
KBSubcategory: win30 win31 windrvr

Additional query words: 3.1 3.10 3.11 CGA.EXE board adapter

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.