How can you extract what text is onscreen???

I actually have a few problems..

I use C++, bloodshed (www.bloodshed.net), free stuff.

I used to use Borland turbo C, but it is so outdated now.

1)
I would like to know how to (when your program runs) make the screen maximise instead of just going to a window???

2) I need to know how to specify the text screen resolution. for example, I want to set it to 80x25 but when I run my program it defaults to some other font style and size etc.

3) I want to input x/y coordinates and get information about what is onscreen at that point. ie char, textcolour, background colour etc.

anyone know?? :(

look up the AllocConsole and related APIs for win32 (check at http://msdn.microsoft.com)