 Acer File Extensions |
Identifying Unknown Hardware
When you get a piece of hardware that you cannot identify, then there are several different ways of working out what it is.
General
Firstly you should look for an FCC ID number, for example DZL210365 is the number for a Logitech mouse. Then go to the search page on the FCC's website (https://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid) and do a search on the number.
Another valuable resource is the Plasma Online website, which provides a variety of online tools to help you identify different types of hardware.
Graphics Cards
It is possible to use the DOS program DEBUG to identify which graphics card is in your computer.
Firstly access the MS-DOS prompt by clicking on Start, Run, and typing "CMD" (minus the quotes) in the run box, then press enter. This should bring up a black window with a flashing cursor. Type in debug and press the enter key.
At the dash prompt type d C000:0010 and press the enter key.
In the text output you will see the name, though possibly broken up, of your video card.
Here is an example of the debug procedure done on a 9FX Motion 771 with the S3-968 chipset and the 2.05.15 bios revision:
C000:0010 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00-10 02 00 00 00 00 49 42 ..............IB
C000:0020 4D 20 56 47 41 20 43 6F-6D 70 61 74 69 62 6C 65 M VGA Compatible
C000:0030 20 42 49 4F 53 2E 20 00-BB 66 F0 01 A3 01 F0 09 BIOS. ..f......
C000:0040 09 FF 00 02 4E 75 6D 62-65 72 20 4E 69 6E 65 20 ....Number Nine
C000:0050 56 69 73 75 61 6C 20 54-65 63 68 6E 6F 6C 6F 67 Visual Technolog
C000:0060 79 20 20 20 20 20 20 20-20 20 20 39 46 58 20 4D y 9FX M
C000:0070 6F 74 69 6F 6E 20 37 37-31 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 otion 771
C000:0080 20 20 20 0E 20 4C 65 74-20 69 74 20 62 65 20 36 . Let it be 6
By hitting the d key and then the enter key again at the dash prompt, you will see a continuation of the above output which will identify the chipset (in this case 968) and bios version (shown here as 2.05.15).
C000:0090 38 2E 2E 2E 00 28 63 29-31 39 39 35 20 4E 75 6D 8....(c)1995 Num
C000:00A0 62 65 72 20 4E 69 6E 65-20 56 69 73 75 61 6C 20 ber Nine Visual
C000:00B0 54 65 63 68 6E 6F 6C 6F-67 79 20 43 6F 72 70 2E Technology Corp.
C000:00C0 0D 0A 41 6C 6C 20 52 69-67 68 74 73 20 52 65 73 ..All Rights Res
C000:00D0 65 72 76 65 64 0D 0A 00-23 39 2D 39 36 38 20 42 erved...#9-968 B
C000:00E0 49 4F 53 20 56 65 72 73-69 6F 6E 20 32 2E 30 35 IOS Version 2.05
C000:00F0 2E 31 35 0D 0A 00 28 63-29 31 39 39 35 20 53 33 .15...(c)1995 S3
C000:0100 20 49 6E 63 20 56 65 72-73 69 6F 6E 20 32 2E 30 Inc Version 2.0
By pressing the q key and then enter you will exit the debug session and return to the "C:\>" command prompt. Finally type in EXIT and press enter to return to Windows.