Changing shared video memory on a dell laptop

I have two Dell Dimension 1100 desktops, and was able to change the
shared video memory in the BIOS through "Integrated Devices
(LegacySelect Option)" but my Dell Inspiron 1150's BIOS is very basic,
it has 3 tabs and I can't change much except the boot order.

I have updated my FlashBIOS but it doens't help, is there another tool
to do this somehow? It's not about games or video cards, it's that OS
X86 needs for than 1MB of shared video memory to boot up in a colour
other than grayscale, and grayscale isn't really my colour.

Thanks (I am aware of numourus posting in others groups on the same
topic, so I posted here with a more specific computer).

 

First mjor problem: Dell = = proprietaty, not subject to changes or
replacement of internal items (HD and MB for starters).
"Shared memory video" almost always implies an onboard video and thus
*must* share memory to work; This is how they chintz to be able to offer
a lower price and/or increase profits.
There may be cases where the video board is a daughterboard and
*looks* physically like any other off-the-shelf video board, but the
hardware was severely limited to reduce costs and in a way that the
motherboard memory is required for operation.

In either case,you are stuck with the crap you bought.
Next time, go generic and DIY!

 

I had no idea what you just said, I don't care if Dell doens't want me
changing it's computers, I've long voided my laptops warranty. Second,
I'm not sure what DIY is, and what is a generic computer? No-name brand
laptops or Presidents-Choice laptops they sell at Supervalu and
wal-mart?

 

Your laptop uses proprietary onboard graphics. Basically, your stuck with
the Dell video chip (Intell 82855 GME Graphics Chipset, in your case)
that's built into the motherboard. Typically onboard video is allocated
16, 32 or 64Mb of memory for the graphics card. (Your Inspiron 1150 gets
64Mb.) The memory is sucking off of your RAM chips. So if you've got 256Mb
of RAM (which is what comes with the 1150) and 64Mb is allocated for your
video then your only left with 192Mb of RAM for the system. What I don't
understand is why you would only have 1Mb of memory allocated to your
video card. So I'm not sure what your trying to do.

 

My Dell Inspiron came with 512MB of RAM. I need to change the UMA
because when trying to install Mac OS X it always is black and white
and I need the extra for it to work.

 

You should still have 64Mb of memory allocated to the graphics card. I'm
not understanding why you say there is only 1Mb of memory available out of
that 512Mb.

 

Sorry, I just went into my BIOS on my desktop which is working on what
I need to do.

In my BIOS on my desktop, I enter "Integrated Devices (LegacySelect
Option)" and then change the "Onboard Video Buffer" from "1MB" to "8MB"
to get it working. But my laptop doesn't have the integrated devices"
option.

 

If the BIOS doesn't have the adjustment then you're stuck. However, if
there is a hack then post in the Dell group and you'll get better answers.
try alt.sys.pc-clone.dell

 

I posted in that group, if you don't understand what I mean by
grayscale colour and everything I uploaded some photos to my site
(HTML, small friendly web size)

http://zentec.110mb.com/macosx

 

When I looked at your web site it appeared to me that the biggest problem
you have is that the Apple boot resolution isn't set to the LCD screen's
native resolution, which is making it so difficult to read. Before OSX
loads all is well,but once OSX loads the resolution is changing to something
non optimum. I'm unsure why.

 

I am aware of that, it should be 1024x768 but it's the onboard video
buffer than is too low to allow a higher resolution or more than
Grayscale colouring.