monitor problem - can't change color depth

I can't change the size of my screen and the color choices are only 16 and 2 bit colors. I don't know what monitor type I have and I'm stuck....hellllpppp please

 

That's not a monitor problem, it's a video card driver problem - as in either the correct video card (display adapter) is not installed or the driver is corrupted.

If you open Device Manager (Start - Settings - Control Panel - System), what is shown for the Display Adapter?

 

standard pci graphics adapter (vga), but when I go to driver files details it shows a vmm32.vxd (vdd vxd) but says its not available. How do I reformat the hard drive?

 

Which system (make & model) do you have?

Do you know the make and model of the video card that's installed?

Did you get any disks with the system?

What happened just before the color problem started - software installed/uninstalled, hardware changes, system crashes etc?

How long has this problem been around? If you're running Win98 and it's been less than 5 days (5 restarts), you might be able to restore a copy of a previous registry. Restart the system in MS-DOS mode and type the following command:

SCANREG /RESTORE and press Enter.

Choose to restore a registry from a day prior to the problem. You'll have to reinstall any programs and remake any changes made since the date of the registry that's been restored.

Which operating system is installed?

Formating the hard drive and reinstalling Windows is not likely to fix this problem. For that to fix the problem, Windows would have to have the drivers for the video card, and if Windows had the video card drivers it would have already installed them. So, formating the drive might be a waste of your time right now, unless you're experiencing a lot of other problems too.

If you could post back with the answers to the above questions and any other details you can think of, it would be a big help

 

I have a Dell Latitude. I don't know the make and model of the video card installed. It came with no operating system. I had windows ME installed and didn't like it so I reformatted the hard drive and installed windows 98. The system worked when ME was installed. There was no previous operating system loaded so I was told the only way to install 98 was to reformat the hard drive then install 98.

 

Perhaps you should take the cover off the back of your pooter, rip out the video card, and have a look for a "FCC" I.D. number.

Once you've found it, go to this site:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/
type it into the serach engine, and they should tell you what manufacturer made it, and what model it is, then you can go to the manufacturers website and download the correct drivers.

If you find that there is no "card" just a ribbon of wires coming from the VGA out socket, giong straight into the mobo, then you need the VGA drivers from the motherboard manuf's website.

Jyst gwna 'i!

 

Here's one way to identify the video card (someone else had posted this on a board, sorry I can't remember who it was):

VIDEOCARD DETECT

You can run the following without opening the case to get an idea of the manufacturer and make:

1. From a DOS prompt, Win 3.x, Win9x, WinNT, or Win2K command prompt type debug and press Enter.

2. A single dash will appear at which point type DC000:35 and then press Enter (DC000:50 may also work for newer cards).

3. You may need to type D at the second dash and press Enter for more of the information to appear.

I just looked into this D at the second dash thing. When I kept hitting D I saw things like chip revision and such appear.

Q to exit

Another thing to try would be to visit www.dell.com and look in their support and/or download area for the Win98 drivers for your model of computer.

 

Another solution is I could send you a program I had off the Crucial website (the memory people). After installation, it scans you pooter, then lists all the results as a HTML file, you can save it to your pooter or print it, it will detail exactly what hardware and software you have on your computer, liscence numbers are listed too on some software.

I find this progam handy for any kind of identification problems, if you want me to send it to you, send me your e-mail address, eithere here or in an instant message.
I'll send it to you, you could put it on a floppy, keep it safe, handy tool.

 

Digitalis, You are probably referring to the old trusty Belarc Advisor aren't you? The latest version is at that link. You're certainly correct, it's a handy tool to have in the box and will prove itself in this situation I'm sure.

 

FYI RcdTaz , Here's what Belarc Advisor can deliver up for your benefit when troubleshooting your rig. This is an old dog I'm currently repairing. As you will notice, the display adapter is a standard Cirrus Logic and perhaps you should also try that.

If everybody would use this tool and display their system setup when inquiring for help here, things would move along much faster I'm sure.

Good luck.
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Operating System System Model
Windows 98 World's Slowest Computer Parts Courtesy of Goodwill
Processor a Main Circuit Board
67 megahertz Intel 486DX BIOS: Award Software 03/18/94
Drives Memory Modules
11.67 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
6.75 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

LITE-ON LTN126A CD-ROM
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5 ")

Generic IDE hard disk drive (3.22 GB) -- drive 1
Generic IDE hard disk drive (8.45 GB) -- drive 0 32 Megabytes Installed Memory
Local Drive Volumes

c: (on drive 0) 2.11 GB 1.25 GB free
d: (on drive 1) 1.61 GB 649 MB free
e: (on drive 0) 2.11 GB 2.11 GB free
f: (on drive 0) 2.11 GB 121 MB free
g: (on drive 0) 2.11 GB 1.25 GB free
h: (on drive 1) 1.61 GB 1.37 GB free

Network Drives


Controllers Printers
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Standard IDE/ESDI Hard Disk Controller
Standard IDE/ESDI Hard Disk Controller Canon BJC-2000 on LPT1:
PaperCom on AVPORT:
Quick Link II Fax on FAX/MODEM

Display
Cirrus Logic [Display adapter]
ASTVision 5L [Monitor]
Bus Adapters Multimedia
None detected Gameport Joystick (no joystick connected)
OPL3-SA Legacy Board
YAMAHA OPL3-SA Sound Controller
YAMAHA OPL3-SAx WDM Driver
Communications Other Devices
Standard Modem
Intel EtherExpress(TM) PRO/10+ (PnP Enabled)
Network Card MAC Address: 00:A0:C9:99:B5:B4 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Standard PS/2 Port Mouse
Software Licenses

Microsoft - Internet Explorer xxxxx-586-9755457-04633
Microsoft - MS Office 97 Professional xxxxx-419-1170685-02067
Microsoft - Windows 98 xxxxx-HJ64G-XTCX2-TWT82-V7CQ2

Software Versions
2nd Story Software - TaxACT 2001 Version 1, 1, 0, 0*
Adaptec, Inc. - GoBack Version 2.2*
Banner Blue Software Incorporated - Microsoft Organization Chart Version 2,0,0,1016*
Belarc Advisor and BelLive - Belarc's Content Personalization with Privacy Version 5.0m*
Borland International - Database Desktop Version 5.00*
Borland International - IDAPI Configuration Utility Version 3.59*
Borland International - Object Exchange Version 3.65**
Borland International - Workgroup Desktop Version 1.5*
Cendant Software Inc. - Sierra Utilities Version 2.00.0039*
ComTest *
Data Modeling Desktop *
Easy Family Tree *
Fax Manager *
Fidelity On-line Xpress+ Version 1.00.000*
Fidelity On-line Xpress+ Version 1.9.1*
Fred's Software - PrintKey Version 5*
GRISOFT(c) SOFTWARE - AVG Anti-Virus System Version 6, 0, 0, 0*
GRISOFT(c) SOFTWARE s.r.o - AVG6 Version 6.0.1.4*
GRISOFT(c) SOFTWARE s.r.o. - AVG Anti-Virus System Version 6, 0, 0, 0*
Instant Access OCR *
Intuit - Quicken for Windows Version 6.00*
IrfanView Version 3.61*
Juan M. Aguirregabiria - Sinfo Version 2.12.003*
LavaSoft - Ad-aware, multi spyware removal utility Version 5.7*
Lavasoft Refupdate Version 1.3.0.2*
MGI Software Corp. - PhotoSuite Starter Edition Version 1.05*
Microsoft (r) Windows Script Host Version 5.1.0.4615*
Microsoft Corporation - Clip Gallery 3.0 for Windows Version 3.0*
Microsoft Corporation - DirectShow Version 6.4.07.1112*
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 5.51.4807.2300*
Microsoft Excel Version 8.0a* Microsoft Office Binder Version 8.0.3501*
Microsoft Office Version 8.0*
Microsoft Outlook Version 8.0*
Microsoft Outlook Version 8.02*
Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows Version 8.0*
Microsoft Works for Windows Version 3.00.06.275*
Microsoft® Access Version 8.0.4122*
Microsoft® FrontPage(TM) Version 2.0.2.1118*
Microsoft® Schedule+ for Windows 95(TM) Version 7.5*
Microsoft® Word for Windows® 97 Version 8.0*
Novell International - Quattro Pro Version 6.0*
PanicWare - Don't Panic! Version 1, 0, 0, 1*
PaperCom *
Progressive Networks, Inc. - RealPlayer (32-bit) Version 4.01 Version 4.0.20.155*
Push The Freakin' Button Version 1.06.3*
QL2FAXW *
RegCleaner The same as the FileVersion*
Scanner Utilities *
Seagate Software, Inc. - Backup *
SmartBoard 32Bit *
SmartBoard 32Bit Upgrade Utility *
SoftByte Labs - Comparator Version 1.0.0.0*
Solitaire *
Thinking Man Software - Dimension 4 Version 4.2.1005*
View Fax *
WinZip Version 8.1 (4331)*
Xerox Imaging Systems - TextBridge Professional Edition 3.0 Internal Alpha Build: 30D*
Yankee Clipper III Version 0.99.6*
Ziff Davis Media, Inc. - InCtrl5 Version 1.0.0.0*
Ziff-Davis, Inc. - Startup Cop Version 1.0.1.0*

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Does Belarc retrieve the info directly from the hardware or does is just report which drivers Windows is using?

 

Cliffh the drivers reported are merely what you have selected or what Windows defaulted to, whichever may be the case. Any hardware information comes from a combination of polling the system and the hardware itself. The report doesn't take but a couple minutes to generate and is best done when in a relaxed mode (no tsr's or apps running). Then just EDIT > SELECT ALL > COPY > and paste it here, even I can do that.

I wish it were more widely used, it would cut down on the questions necessary to get to the heart of some probs and would help the beginners who have no idea what equip. they're running or software they have installed.

 

I'd thought that was the case. While it does report a lot of good info, it seems as if it would be of limited help in trying to determine what the installed hardware is if the correct drivers aren't installed.

I agree that using the Belarc report before posting (and posting most of the info from it) would be helpful in a lot of situations. It would also be a good idea to print it out and keep in in the box/folder that contains all of the driver disks and paperwork for the system, and of course, updating it ocassionally.

 

OOOOPS! I think I've sent this thread off on a tangent.

You are spot on Zephyr, it was the Belarc I was referring to, and you are right, everyone should have it, and print it off, just for safe keeping.

 

I followed Cliffh's videocard detect and it show MagicGraph 128XDSVG NeoMagic Corp. I changed the display adapter to one of NeoMagics adapters as there was no 128XD adapter listed available. This gave me the option of changing my screen size which i did not have before, but when restarted i get...Problem with display settings. The adapter type is incorrect or the current settings do not work with your hardware error.
Digitalis...email address is RcdTaz@aol.com. Thanks for all the help everyone, hopefully i can get this problem fixed soon.

 

Based on your error message:

I think it's trying to tell you something.

Try this. Assuming that the vmm32.vxd has lost its ability to produce that file (vdd.vxd), extract another copy from your cabs and place it in the Windows\system\vmm32 folder. Windows will look there first for it and if found use it instead of the original which is coded into the vmm32.vxd file. Incidentally, that file (vmm32.vxd) can be rebuilt but you really don't want to go there, it's tough. Then of course you get a new one when you slick the OS and reinstall. Not however when doing an over-install.

Try it with your original setting when you get that driver in place.

Z

 

The symptoms could be caused by not installing the correct driver - one that's close may almost work, but not 100%.

Just took a look at Neomagic's web site: http://www.neomagic.com/product/enduser.asp

and found this:

You might try the system manufacturer's web site to see if they have the exact driver available. If they don't have the driver available, try http://www.driverguide.com They require you to sign up, but, it's free and I've never gotten any spam that I can attribute to them.

 

monitor problem

Gentlemen......Problem solved!!!! Went to Dell.com and downloaded the appropriate display adapter. I can seeeee!!!!! Thanks for all the help. Just a note if anybody is interested there is a site called Kazaa.com and you can download the latest software for free. It's great!

 

That's great!

And thank you for posting back with the fix. It may help someone else in the future.

 

I have sent you the Belarc, I also found the drivers for your video card, I sent them in an e-mail to the address you supplied, both files are in an attached zip file, if you haven't got an unzipping tool, go here: http://www.winzip.com/download.htm and download winzip for free.

I think that driver will solve your problem, according to the metro website, your card is capable of High Colour(16bit) at a resolution of 1024x768, if the driver I sent you doesn't work for any reason, reply to the e-mail I sent, as I have a few other possible drivers for you.

Let us know here how you get on anyway.

Cheers!
Dig.

Oooops, just noticed your reply, nevermind.