Display Setting problems

I thought I had my display setting problem identified and asked to have the thread closed. I erred. Here is the problem.

1) I turn on my computer. In Display/Settings, the color quality is at 8-bit color, resolution is 800x600 - lowest setting. I change the color quality to 16 bit or 32 bit - resolution remains the same. Hit apply and all is well until I shut down the computer. Next time I open the computer, the setting reverts back to 8-bit and the screen blacks out two or three times before the loading is completed.

I am using PeoplePC ISP. I had changed the accelerated setting to 5 and then reversed it to 3. Could this be part of the problem or do I have corrupted Windows files affecting the display settings.

According to the MS knowledge base, I may have a stop fault that is not showing when the screen goes black.

I checked my installation package and I do have a Windows XP Home Edition including service pack 1a. I've been reading the posts about creating a slipstream XP reinstallation boot disk but think this is w-a -y beyond my capabilties. Should I consider calling a computer tech at $15 per hour or just change the color settings everytime I start my computer.

After reading some of these posts, I am changing my level of experience to "beginner "!

Any and all advice appreciated.
Georgi in UT

 

Why don't you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 = http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/how.mspx

 

Yes, I do have SP2. I downloaded the upgrade recently and have ordered the disk from MS but it has not arrived yet.

G in UT

 

Backing up here -- when I downloaded PeoplePC on 3/22 it worked fine for a day. After that, the computer crashed several times with the following STOP/ERROR message:

srescan.sys
PAGE_FAULT_IN-NON-PAGED_AREA
BCCODE: 0x00000050 (0xFFFF000, 0x00000000, 0x804DAB9E, 0x00000000)

I've done some research and learned that the 0x00000050 error code could be related to 1) display adapter driver or 2) RAM but there are other reasons as well so not sure which would be applicable.

I reinstalled PeoplePC a second time and that's when the color quality problem started. I could not access PeoplePC using their dialer. I created my own dialer connection and am having no problem connecting now.

I have MS instructions for finding the display driver adapter driver in Safe mode, renaming it, and then finding an updated driver on the web. Is this a reasonable option at this point?
G in UT

 

Thanks Pete. I found the srescan.sys thread and the instructions to disable it. Now back to the color quality problem, is this related or a separate issue?
G in UT

 

Thanks Pete. So far today, I followed all the directions for the srescan.sys problem with Zone Alarm. Reboot still left me with 4 attempts (toggling between 16bit and 8bit) to load so I uninstalled Zone Alarm to see if there was more than one problem with it. I'll download it again and fight with it later. Still left me with color quality setting not holding problem. However, I did start the computer in safe mode with no problem - no multi-starts and and the color quality setting held at 16 bit.

Before I reinstall the graphics driver I want to be sure I know how to do this.
1) Find the name of the graphics driver in the system hardware. Is there more than one? YES THERE ARE TWO IN DEVICE MANAGER. REINSTALL BOTH OF THEM? I CHECKED AND SCREEN SAYS THEY ARE BOTH WORKING PROPERLY.
2) Find the same graphics driver(s) on the Dell Drivers and Utilities Resource Disk?
3) Do I do the reinstallation of the driver in safe or normal mode?
4) Is this just like adding a new program, i.e. use run to open and install or are there reinstall directions on the resource disk?

Sorry to be such a pain but have never done anything like this before.
Georgi in UT

 

Pete, my problem is solved (cross our fingers) by simply uninstalling PeoplePC Online. When I rebooted after the uninstall, the color quality setting in Display held fast. PeoplePC has an accelerator that degrades the graphics the higher the setting. I've downloaded their software twice from the web and both times, certain aspects of the program have not worked - not the same each time. I've ordered a disk and will try for a clean install when it arrives.

In the meantime I've learned a lot - thank you for your time. The Dell Resource CD did not contain any of the drivers I needed to reinstall. I found one at Dell support, a newer version, downloaded and installed it. The other is no longer supported by Inte. The Video controller drive on the resource disk was an Intel Extreme Graphics 2 file which I installed. It appears to be for gaming which I don't do but has driver files I need. At Dell, I also found another Video Controller driver but need to check if my installed version needs updating.

In the meantime, I found that my 256MB DDR SDRAM is about all used up and I need to upgrade post haste. I know this is a hardware issue and if you would rather not reply, I'll try that forum. Here is what I have according to the specs in the owner's manual & systems summary:

Dell Dimension 2400
Total virtual memory 2.00 GB
Available virtual memory 1.96 GB
Total physical memory 256.00 MB
Available physical memory 133.72 MB
Free memory 70 MB
Max memory upgrade to 1 GB
Memory type: PC 2700 (333 MHz DDR SDRAM non-ECC)
Two memory connectors = slots?
Intel, Pentium 4, 2.66 GHz

I assume I need to match the PC 2700 memory type - yes or no?
Review of consumers posts at newegg.com says I need to get same CL and voltage?

Does CL = Cas Latency and how do I know what number I have?
How do I determine what voltage I have re memory modules?
Stick with name brand like Kingston or are other brands comparable?

Again, thanks for all your help.
Georgi in UT

 

Thanks again Pete. After I posted earlier, I started looking for memory upgrades and found Crucial and their memory scanner which told me more than other sites did with the same sort of scanner. I've told my email list of about 40 people about windowsbbs - keep up the good work.
Georgi in UT