window xp startup problem

To reduce the size of the icons (and also the size of fonts, window areas, etc) you will need to increase the resolution...a little! If you increase the resolution too far, the monitor will black out again and you will be back to where you were at the beginning of this thread.

If there is an ATI symbol (icon) in the System Tray (next to the time), right-click on that, you will find resolution settings there. Also check in Start -> All Programs for an ATI "control panel ". Only if there is no ATI controller, go to Control Panel -> Display and set the resolution to say, 800 X 600 pixels, that should give you a reasonable display and have a safety margin for the limits of the graphics card and monitor. If you set a resolution of much higher than 800 X 600, you risk the monitor blacking out again.

When you have a resolution setting that is acceptable, adjust the black boarder by using the controls on the monitor itself. There will be controls to center the screen and then increase it's height and width. You should be able to find a manual/User Guide for the monitor to download at the manufacturer's website (Dell?). You will need to look at the back of the monitor to find the model number.

If you can set a colour of 32bit (true colour) that should mean the drivers are working. "This device is working correctly" only means that Windows can run the drivers, they may or may not be running as the manufacturer intended. Try a setting of 16bit (high colour), that will reduce the load on the graphics card and your system might run a little more smoothly.

Matt

 

Hello again....

Ok, I just I set the resolution to 800 X 600 pixels and a setting of 16bit, the monitor turn off for 8 seconds or so and when it comes back I see it's still the same because it looks the same to me and when I go to the display settings at control panel I notice there has been not changes, it stay with 640 x 840 pixels in 16bit, it seems the computer is mad at me and doesn't want to change those settings......What a problem I have...right?

Felix

 

When you right click on your screen, on that list, do you have nview properties or a ? properties before the bottom properties?

 

Well, when I right click on my screen, I have "new" before properties

 

I hope I can explain it well enough for you.

When you change the resolution the screen should go black for 1-2 seconds, then a dialogue box should appear in the top left-hand corner and ask if you want to keep those settings, with "Reverting in 10...9...8...7... seconds ". If your screen is going black for 10-15 seconds, that resolution setting cannot be run on your setup (probably because of graphics or monitor drivers).

All (most?) of the possible Win XP drivers for the Dell 4500 are listed here:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...&s=gen&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_4500&os=WW1&osl=EN
All the different monitor drivers are listed under Display. Look at the information panel on the back of the monitor for which model you have.

All (most?) of the possible drivers for the graphics adapter are listed under Video Adapter. You say you have installed drivers for a 32MB ATI Rage Pro 128. (I only see a 16MB ATI Rage Pro, but it should not make a difference). You will probably find that Dell expects you to have the original paperwork that came with the computer that identifies all the hardware installed.

You said that you were able to overcome the original problems by using your old monitor. Connect your old monitor again and see if it will run at a resolution of 800 X 600, if it runs I think the problem will be that the Dell monitor needs specific drivers installed.

Matt

 

Matt
Tsurfer

Maybe you already know but if you look on the back of the computer and write down either the service tag # or the serial number and plug either one in at Dell's website, it will give one the original configuration and links to drivers for same along with updated driver links. (just in case you can't find your original paperwork )

 

On my wifes dell when you - right click on desktop - properties--settings -- "advanced "--adapter--list all modes-- is another list that goes from 640 by 480 to 1280 by 768 in 16 or 32 bit. on the top of the same page is intel graphics media accererator. graphics properties. check there too.

 

Good point about the service tag . I've only used it once or twice. Amoungst OEM brands the service tag system is a very good way of finding information on your machine. I am a little wary of the service tag in case there have been modifications, but it would be the best place to start the search.

Matt

 

UPDATE:


Problem resolved....Eureka!!!...

I enabled the 32MB ATI Rage Pro 128 video card with its drivers and installed an old monitor as Mattman told me....this one is a Dell Ultrascan Es17, I was searching for drivers for this old monitor and found none but its ok because I think it doesn't need it...it does work as "default monitor "....Now I can change the resolutions to 800 x 600 32bit....

Wow,...at the begining, I erased the hard disk thinking it was a virus or a windows xp problem 'couse I could not log in to windows unless it was in safe mode and now I ended up finding all I have to do is to change the monitor,..hehe...but it's okey it was good to erase a lot of garbage I had, now I have a very empty hardisk, seems like new!...and at least I learned a lot in the process of finding a solution....

So I guess I will buy one of those Flat Panel Monitor....

Thanks guys for all your help, specially to you Mattman

Felix

 

Felix, great that you got it working.

"Default Monitor" drivers are a basic set of drivers that will run any type of monitor. To run the monitor you are using correctly, you will need to find the drivers for it. See if you can use the methods I mentioned to locate the drivers for that model (it was apparently using the drivers for a different model...Ultrascan es17...before, which were the wrong ones).

The monitor is working better now. Take your time. Do some searching. Match the drivers to the model number. If you happen to install another set that are wrong, go to Safe Mode and change back to the Default Monitor.

Getting a new monitor will, of course, solve your problems, it will probably use a standard Plug and Play set of drivers and no special drivers will need to be installed. If you want to run older equipment, you will most likely need to search around to find drivers for it (and drivers may or may not have been made for Windows XP).

Anyway, you are in a better position now by the sound of it

Matt