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Screen resolution slider unavailable...NEED help!

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by Joe Locke, 2003/09/11.

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  1. 2003/09/11
    Joe Locke

    Joe Locke Inactive Thread Starter

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    Interesting problem...
    Windows 98 machine, an Aptiva machine - PIII 500MHz. Had 320mb memory - 2 128mb's 1 64mb. Voodoo3 video card 16mb had 256 color, 16bit 24bit and 32bit from 640x480 to 800x600 to 1024x768. Screen resolution was set to 800x600 32bit. All was working fine.
    Took out the 64mb memory and replaced with 128mb (all before were pc100 - the new 128mb is pc133 that clocks down to pc100)
    When I rebooted, the screen resolution changed to 640x480. I went to properties and the slider to change resolution was not moveable. I used the dropdown to set the resolution and all that was available was 256 color, 16bit 24bit and 32bit but the only resolution was 640x480!
    I removed the video driver from control panel in hopes of it reinstalling on the reboot. Just as soon as I clicked remove the resolution went BACK to 800x600 32bit and told me to reboot. Upon reboot it of course came to 640x480 16 (or 256) color until the video card was recognized and reinstalled. It asked for a reboot again. The next reboot the screen came up 800x600 32bit (the way I want it) but checking the available resolutions, all I had for options was 640x480!!!
    I thought, OK, I'll just leave everything alone and be fine with 800x600, but on the next reboot it went right back to 640x480!

    What is going on? Why did I lose all my resolution options by adding memory and how do I get the options back? 640x480 just doesn't cut it! (And PLEASE don't let this be everyone's answer, but when I popped out the new 128mb and stuck the 64mb back in all was fine!)

    PLEASE, PLEASE HELP!
     
    Last edited: 2003/09/11
    Joe Locke,
    #1
  2. 2003/09/11
    Miz

    Miz Inactive Alumni

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    It sounds like the drivers for the two cards are fighting it out when the new card is installed...and choking. ;)

    With the old card in place, uninstall the old card's drivers through Device Manager and instead of rebooting after the uninstall, shut it down. Then put the new card back in, boot up and install the drivers for the new card.

    If that doesn't do it, with the new card in place, go to Display Properties, Settings tab, Advanced button, Adapter tab and see if there's a "change" button. If so, use it to change over to the new card.
     
    Miz,
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  4. 2003/09/11
    Joe Locke

    Joe Locke Inactive Thread Starter

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    Not clear enoguh...

    Hey, Miz. I apparently wasn't clear enough...
    I'm not adding/switching video cards. I've added mainboard memory - same video card. (That's why I'm so confused as to what's going on!) Thanks for trying though!
     
    Joe Locke,
    #3
  5. 2003/09/11
    markp62

    markp62 Geek Member Alumni

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    I would say it is a bad or incompatable memory stick. When booting, some video code is shadowed from the BIOS, or copied into Ram, not the video card memory. With some systems this is in the 15 to 16 mb range.
     
    markp62,
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  6. 2003/09/11
    Miz

    Miz Inactive Alumni

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    Oops, sorry Joe...I'm going to learn to read soon, I promise! ;)
     
    Miz,
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  7. 2003/09/12
    Joe Locke

    Joe Locke Inactive Thread Starter

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    OK, here's where it gets REAL screwy!

    Markp62 - this may seem silly, but...
    If the 'bad' or 'incompatable' stick was the 1ST stick to receive this video bios shadowing, what would happen if I moved it to the 3RD slot?
    That's just a thougt...

    Here's where this problem gets REAL interesting...
    Everything from my first message was done with a monitor here at home. Mind you 800x600 and all below, 32bit on down WAS working with this monitor before the one stick went in and then all I could get was 640x480.
    I carry the same box WITH the new stick to work, put it on another monitor (while still in the configuration that would only allow 640x480 on the monitor at home) and now I get 1600x1200(something or another) on down, 32bit on down!!!

    What in the world is going on?!

    And, Markp62...so far NO memory errors.
     
    Joe Locke,
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  8. 2003/09/12
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hi Joe

    One thing I would check - the max allowable RAM on the board - after all reverting back to your original memory count solved the problem. Is Windows seeing all the installed memory under both situations?

    Are you in a position to temporarily substitute the video card for another?

    Seems like the video driver may not be loading or if loading is not seeing the video RAM.

    Doesn't explain why it's OK with another monitor, though. Points a finger at your existing monitor, but again this works fine with the original memory.


    Have you made the usual checks - with the extra memory installed?

    In Display Properties is your monitor recognised as generic or specific ?

    In Device Manager is the Video Card recognised and does it have a problem? Are the drivers those you would expect.

    Another thought - when you took the box home again did the problem persist - thinking of a dodgy video connection here, faulty cable. All seems unlikely in the light that removing the new memory stick solves the problem.

    Have you tried substituting an existing 128 Mb stick with the new one, leaving the memory count the same as was?

    Just a few random thoughts :)

    There would be a lot more to go on if it didn't work on another monitor. All very :confused: -ing
     
    PeteC,
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  9. 2003/09/14
    Joe Locke

    Joe Locke Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hey, PeteC...

    The max allowable RAM is exactly what I have installed...3 128mb (384mb)
    Windows is seeing the correct total in both situations...320mb and 384mb
    I was about to try another video card on the first boot with the different monitor! I was booting to remove it Device Manager so I could install the other video card. It was then I realized all was working fine with the different monitor.

    >Seems like the video driver may not be loading or if loading is not seeing the video RAM.
    >Doesn't explain why it's OK with another monitor, though. Points a finger at your existing monitor, but again this works fine with the original memory.

    That's why I'm confused!

    >In Display Properties is your monitor recognised as generic or specific ?

    In both situations it was shown as DEFAULT MONITOR

    >In Device Manager is the Video Card recognised and does it have a problem? Are the drivers those you would expect.

    Recognized, yes and no conflicts (no ! or ?)

    >Have you tried substituting an existing 128 Mb stick with the new one, leaving the memory count the same as was?

    This is the only thing I hadn't tried!
    I'm wondering if I should just leave well enough alone or try it just to see what happens!
     
    Joe Locke,
    #8
  10. 2003/09/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hi Joe,

    This is really weird - a few more thoughts after reading your post again ......

    This may be way off track, but one thing stands out - when you added more memory the monitor 'stuck' - when you changed it back it was OK. In the 'stuck' state you transported it elsewhere and it was OK on another monitor - and the problem remains now that it has been returned to base. I am wondering if in putting more memory in your hand brushed something - loose connection which sorted itself out in transport .... comes back to my point

    "Another thought - when you took the box home again did the problem persist - thinking of a dodgy video connection here, faulty cable. "

    I know it was working before, etc, etc ,but it may be worth downloading the drivers for your specific monitor. I guess your monitor is not specified by make in device manager?

    640 x 480 smacks of the bog standard VGA driver.

    If you have the opportunity to substitute the video card then do it - at the very least this will indicate if the problem is sourced in the card or elsewhere. In any case I would physically remove your existing card and re-seat it.

    And - yes, I would substitute one of the 128 Mb sticks with the new one to at least check out that stick videowise. As Windows sees it I can't imagine a problem, but leave no stone unturned!

    That's all I can come up with at the moment.
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2003/10/10
    Profgab101

    Profgab101 Inactive

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    Try this:

    Boot into Safe mode - Check in Device manager to see if there are any extra Ghost monitors listed. - If so remove all of them.

    On reboot the monitor will PnP - then if you don't have a specific driver for your monitor, goto the advanced settings and chance the monitor type from default or whatever to [standard display types - Plug and play]
     
    Profgab101,
    #10
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