QRes @ Sourceforge

QRes

QRes is a small freeware application that provides automation for the Microsoft QuickRes screen mode change in Windows 95 and 98. QuickRes allows you to change color depth and screen resolution without restarting the machine. QuickRes is built in in Windows 98, ME and newer versions of Windows 95 and can be downloaded as an add-on for the original version of Windows 95. QRes adds a front end to QuickRes so that you can automatically switch color mode or screen resolution when you start a Windows application. For instance, when you start a game that uses 640 x 480 pixels screen area and requires 256 color mode, you can make QRes automatically switch to this screen mode as long as you run the game and switch back to your regular screen mode when the game is over.

QRes uses the built-in capabilities of Microsoft QuickRes for the screen mode switch. The added benefit that QRes offers is automation: the game player does not have to remember to switch to the correct screen mode before starting the game, doesn’t even have to know or understand which mode to use. This is especially useful when the computer is used by small children or other computer illiterates.

The QRes software package offers two support components to simplify screen mode configuration:

The QRes configuration wizard allows you to modify Start Menu options or Desktop icons for use with QRes in an easy step-by-step approach.
A QRes property page is added to the standard property sheet for Windows shortcuts. This allows quick access to the QRes parameters of a shortcut for more experienced Windows users.

QRes also works on Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP. On these platforms QRes can switch resolution directly without relying on QuickRes, so that it also works if you do not enable the screen mode icon.

You can download QRes from the Software Cave web site.

New in 2005: QRes source code available as Open Source

After the Software Cave commercial operation ended, the QRes source code has been published as Open Source so that others may contribute to this freeware product of Software Cave. You now find the source code of QRes on the Download page of the Software Cave web site and in the qres project on SourceForge.net. The QRes source code is released under the BSD License as published by the Open Source Initiative and is free for private and commercial use.

Please make sure that you read the open source license in license.txt and the build instructions in readme-build.txt (both contained in the distribution zip file) before using the sources. Visit the QRes Open Source forum on the Software Cave site to discuss QRes sources with other developers.

History of QRes

A short history of QRes... the geeky way, with version numbers and in reverse chronological order :P

Version 1.0.9.7 (January 10, 2005) Exactly 8 years and 8 days after it was born, QRes goes Open Source :-)
Version 1.0.9.6 (August 23, 2001) Fixes following bugs in QRes Configuration wizard:
1. [Finish] button is always disabled on Windows 98 OSR1
2. Configuration wizard crashes on Windows 2000 if 'I want to create a new shortcut' is selected
Version 1.0.9.5 (July 23, 2000) QRes patch for Windows Millennium Edition (Me).
Without this patch, QRes will fail on windows Me with a dialog box displaying the text "4.90 1".
Version 1.0.9.0 (March 22, 1997) Fixed configuration problems with Internet Explorer 4 on Windows 95 OSR2 and Windows 98. Added support for screen savers on Windows 95.
Version 1.0.8.2 (BETA) Fixed property sheet problem with Internet Explorer 4.
Version 1.0.8.1 (BETA) Updated help file. Microsoft QuickRes configuration check and QuickRes autostart.
Version 1.0.8.0 (BETA September 8, 1997) This version adresses the problems most frequently reported by qres users. The graphical user interface does not yet support all new options.
Version 1.0.6.0 (March 16, 1997) Windows NT support. Fixes inability to disable 'Restore' option in config wizard and property sheet. Fixes spurious error message when running qres without specifying a program.
Version 1.0.0.0 (January 31, 1997) Windows help file. Bugfixes in property sheet and wizard.
Version 0.4.0.0 (January 25, 1997) Added restore of desktop icon positions after original screen resolution is restored. Added QRes property sheet. Bugfixes in configuration wizard.
Version 0.3.0.0 (January 17, 1997) Added QRes Configuration wizard. Added Setup program. Bugfixes for Windows 95 OSR2.
Version 0.2.0.0 (January 10, 1997) Added /R command line option.
Version 0.1.0.0 (January 2, 1997) Initial version.