[altair9]

Hello!
I just changed hard disk (the older got broken) and re-installed windows + apps.
But this time I installed SP3 too!

This is the configuration:

Athlon XP 2000+
SVGA NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX 440 AGP
1 GB RAM
Monitor 15" LCD Waitec Shining 15t
Windows XP Pro 32 bit
SP3

Unfortunately, I'm unable to change the auto-setted resolution:
800 x 600 - 16 bit color - 60 Hz.

With the last Windows (the same XP PRO but with SP2), I was able to use any resolution, up to 1024x768 and over 70 Hz (max. Hz of this screen is 75).

But now, I can't go neither down (640x480) nor up (1024x768 or 960x??? I don't remember).

The strange thing is that the PC believes that he changed the resolution:
It let appear the small window with the countdown of about 15 seconds: it tells me that the resolution has been changed, asking to accept it... but visually it always is the same: 800x600.

And the settings remain the same in the panel!
I tried all:

1) Proprieties - settings - resolution
2) Proprieties - settings - advanced - card - modes
3) I upgraded to the latest drivers taken from nvidia site, installed NVIDIA control panel and clicked on:
a) Proprieties - settings - advanced - the proprietary NVIDIA "GeForce4 MX 440" board
b) NVIDIA Control Panel....

NOTHING!

It always accepts the resolution change, but visually... nothing happens!

Just sometimes happens that it doesn't let the small count-down window appear, nor asks me nothing, but as I click on "apply" or on "OK" it simply comes immediately back to 800x600.

How can I do? Never happened me something so strange and unsolvable!

Thank you very much!!!

bye.

[Gunner]

WOW, a real tech Q!!!
Unfortunately I can't tell you what's wrong.
New OS install? You mean a real Windows XP install and not a Recovery Disk?
I would try and reinstall video drivers first as that's easier than my second
choice of installing OS again.
It worked before the install so something did not install correctly or was
not installed at all. If all worked prior new install I also rule out hardware.
Best I can do right now.
Good luck.

[Blackmirror]

Have you checked the monitor settings ??
in the display tab

[altair9]

Thank you friends!

Yes: I installed Windows XP from the original installation CD! After HD format...
Not only it worked before, but also after Windows installation, BEFORE the SP2 and SP3 installation...

Black... what is "tab"? Are you talking about the OSD?
I checked on the display menu - informations: 800x600 60 HZ.

I'm unable to change every thing: resolution, colors, Hz!!!

[Blackmirror]

Right click on desktop
Properties

im googling at the minute to see if i can find anything
You have checked for viruses?

[altair9]

Oh yes, before and after HD format. I never attached the wi-fi antenna before installing these software:

Antivir
Spyware Doctor
Comodo Internet Security

Just downloaded before formatting...

Yes, I tried right-clicking on desktop...

What if I totally remove the video card drivers and re-install them?
Without the drivers the system will be forced to go down to 640x480!!! And I could escape from this 800x600 zone...

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by altair9

Not only it worked before, but also after Windows
installation, BEFORE the SP2 and SP3 installation...

Well, if it worked correctly before installing Sp2 and/or Sp3 then I would strongly
suspect a glitch in one of those two patches. Impossible to say which.
You might try Add or Remove Programs and remove Sp3 just to see if that fixes it.
If not then you may have to do a complete reinstall of Windows and the patches
and check it along the way to keep things in working order.
Good luck.

Originally Posted by altair9

What if I totally remove the video card drivers and re-install them?

You could try that but from your previous info it looks as a bad patch install.

[Blackmirror]

People have had some funny experiences with Sp3
I would try uninstalling the video drivers and using the update button in device manager to locate the new ones

If you get a pop up box asking to connect to the net say yes

[altair9]

OK I'll try... I'll let you know...

I have too less time and I'll try to avoid the windows re-installation!

Thank you all!

[Daveskater]

I believe when people have had things go wrong after installing SP3, the answer is to uninstall the program (in this case the graphics drivers - the default Windows one should still let you use 800x600), then reinstall SP3 and then install the graphics drivers again.

[Gunner]

Note to Dave: Please use the multi-quote button instead of making multiple quote posts.
I replied to one post and then another that got in before my reply, hence,
the two separate posts and quotes. But it's cool to combine them. Makes you work.

[altair9]

Here it's a disaster!
I made this:

Reboot
F8
Run Windows in "rescue" mode (I don't know the right definition, in Italy it is "modalità provvisoria"
Once in Windows, I uninstalled the vga from system - hardware - etc...
It asked me to reboot - I rebooted...
It run in normal mode: the VGA card was recognized as a generic VGA, so the driver NVIDIA was not there anymore.
Resolution: 800 x 600.... but.... 32 bit, it changed!!! I thought: "now it is free to be modified"... nothing! I was again unable to change any setting! It was freezed, locked to that resolution....
So I re-installed the NVIDIA drivers, and it asked me to reboot: I rebooted it.

Now: 640 x 480 !!!! As windows finished starting, a small windows near the tray wrote me that the resolution and color depth were very low, and that I had to click on the yellow message to change it...
I made this... and a window asked me about this:
"do you want that windows auto-recognize the optimal resolution?"

At this point I had a flash: I remember that the same thing happened when I installed windows, and I made "yes", so, this time, I made "no"!!!! Thinking that it could lock on its auto-setting....

I'm trying to change this 640x480.... NOTHING!!!! As before... but now 640x480 instead of 800x600.....

...imagine how I'm writing here....

A small clue: after removing the drivers in the win resc. mode, it has been able to modify the resolution: from 800x600 to 640x480.

So, this means an important thing: that it is possible to modify the "super-locked" resolution, in any way, also in the worst of the case: a SP3 permanent bug!

So, if we could understand **where** Windows has the default-display-resolution setting (640x480), and modify it to 1024x768, if I'll re-make the driver-removal procedure, it will automatically pass to 1024x768... right?

[Gunner]

You may be speaking of XP repair install.
We have given our best advice how to proceed but it's up to you.
I would remove Sp3 from Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs.
Then reinstall your video drivers and then check if resolution can be changed.
Good luck.

[altair9]

OK thank you for your advices... I'd never wanted this to be needed: uninstall and reinstall... due to the Windows unstability that this practice cause... I had a new, flaming and "clean" Windows installation.... I'll have to start with the deleterious uninstall and reinstall procedure already! And of a very "big" app: the SP3!!!!

[Gunner]

Sorry a quick fix is not an option readily available to you. It is a bear but
you need to start fresh or go back to when XP did seem to function properly.
A fresh Windows install is usually a good thing as everything is new and fast.
Good luck and keep checking system to see how things are responding as you
proceed.

[Blackmirror]

Right click 'My Computer.
Click Properties
Hardware
Device Manager.

Click the + sign next to "Display Adapters".
any yellow symbols there
Is your video card listed ?

also run this scan please
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/

[Daveskater]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Note to Dave: Please use the multi-quote button instead of making multiple quote posts.
I replied to one post and then another that got in before my reply, hence,
the two separate posts and quotes. But it's cool to combine them. Makes you work.

Ah, but you can quote the second post that you want and type out your reply, and then copy it, go back, edit your existing post and paste it in

More work for you? Maybe. Less work for me? Certainly

Originally Posted by altair9

deleterious

Word of the day imo What an awesome word. Deleterious

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by Daveskater

Ah, but you can quote the second post that you want and type out your reply, and then copy it, go back, edit your existing post and paste it in
More work for you? Maybe. Less work for me? Certainly
Word of the day imo What an awesome word. Deleterious

I know you're kidding. WORK is a four letter word that I hate but don't mind
observing someone else doing it.


Deleterious is a great word. I'll have to say it a few times today just to learn how
to pronounce it. I'll also have to use it at least three times to remember it.
Smoking and drinking was Deleterious to my health so I quit.
That's one.

[Daveskater]

If I'm honest mate (which I am ) I'm editing my posts on here and elsewhere all the time to add an extra quote. But it's obviously in my job description to merge stuff so don't worry about it too much, it's just that being a mod myself I try to create as little work as possible for the mods on other forums

Plus I was super tired earlier so a bit more easily irritated and much more frank

[Gunner]

It's cool.