On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 19:47:33 -0700 (PDT) 
 Paul Goyette <paul@whooppee.com> wrote:

 > As I recall, the display works because NetBSD uses the BIOS routines to
 > manipulate the display.

No, NetBSD talks to the hardware directly.  It uses the ISA addresses
that exist for "compatibility mode" ... well, if you're using the pccons
or pcvt drivers; the "vga" and wscons drivers will use the native PCI
registers, too.

 > On my x86 box, it also claims that my video adapter is not configured,
 > but things work just fine in text mode, and then X takes over....

...right, but then it attaches a "pc" or "vt" and works, because it's
using the compatibility registers.

Jason R. Thorpe                                       thorpej@nas.nasa.gov
NASA Ames Research Center                            Home: +1 408 866 1912
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