Can I turn off Display Modes context menu when right-clicking desk

[Guest]

My daughter accidentally right-clicked and picked an invalid resolution on
Display Modes when right-clicking on the desktop. At that point, I couldn't
even see the logon screen anymore.
I tried changing display settings in Safe Mode, but that setting only
updated the safe mode. I finally resolved the issue by doing an "Enable VGA
Mode" on the "mode selection screen" where you normally pick Safe Mode. But
that was a pain. I'd like to turn off the Display Modes context menu, since
I can at least set the change settings when using the "properties" dialog for
the desktop to ask before changing the resolution. But the Display Modes
setting does not ask before changing and it shows many resolutions that my
monitor does not accept.

Is there anyway to either disable the Display Modes context menu or at least
limit the resolutions available?

TIA for any help

 

[Curt Christianson]

Hi Greg,

Try bringing up the Diplay Properties, select the "Settings" tab. Once
there click on the "Advanced" button, and then select the "Monitor" tab.
There should be a check-box below "Screen refresh rate" about half-way down
.. *Check* this box to "Hide modes thst this monitor cannot display".
Let us know if that helps.

 

[Alan Edwards]

I don't have a Display Modes context menu but I do have the option on
Display-Settings tab-Advanced to:
1. On the General tab, "Ask me before applying the new display
settings"
2. On the Monitor tab "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display"

....Alan

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, that option is disabled on that screen.
I think because the only monitor displayed on my Monitor dialog is default
monitor, so it doesn't quite know what the monitor is.

 

[Guest]

Thank you as well. I did set "ask me before aplying, but for some reason if
you use the context menu, it bypasses that. and ALSO bypasses the thing
thsat changes it back if you don't hit OK for 15 seconds. That, along with
it displaying invalid values makes it dangerous. On my monitor tab, my "Hide
Modes..." box is disabled. What is strange (but an MS support person told me
this was "normal" for a desktop), is that the ONLY monitor on that tab is
"default", so I don't think Windows knows which modes are valid.

It's an IBM OEM load, so maybe they did something strange, I'll have to keep
looking.

Thanks Again, Greg

 

[Malke]

Thank you as well. I did set "ask me before aplying, but for some reason
if
you use the context menu, it bypasses that. and ALSO bypasses the thing
thsat changes it back if you don't hit OK for 15 seconds. That, along
with
it displaying invalid values makes it dangerous. On my monitor tab, my
"Hide
Modes..." box is disabled. What is strange (but an MS support person told
me this was "normal" for a desktop), is that the ONLY monitor on that tab
is "default", so I don't think Windows knows which modes are valid.

It's an IBM OEM load, so maybe they did something strange, I'll have to
keep looking.

Thanks Again, Greg

Greg, I've read through this thread a couple of times. There normally is no
right-click context menu for display modes built into XP. That is usually
added by the video card software - Nvidia has something like this. Here's a
couple of things you can try and you can try them in Safe Mode so you can
work easily.

1. Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

This will start the System Configuration Utility. Look on the Startup tab
for some sort of video control panel or extra video programs. Since I don't
know what video card you have, I can't tell you exactly what to look for
but you can post back. If you have an ATI card, you'll see entries for ATI
stuff. If you have Nvidia, you'll see stuff for Nvidia. If the entry is
clearly a control panel of sorts, disable it. If you're not sure just post
back with the entries. You can look them up on Google but if you're feeling
upset you might be more comfortable just asking here.

After you've made your changes, you don't need to restart immediately, but
the next time you do you'll get a dialog saying you've used the Utility.
Just tick the box that says in effect, "don't bother me about this again".

2. Use the free ShellExView program to disable non-Microsoft context menu
entries. Again, you're going to be looking for ones connected with the
video card. Here's the link for the program:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html

See where that gets you and post back with results. Make sure you let us
know what video card is installed. If you don't know, go to Control
Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager and look under the Display category.

3. Alternatively, see if doing a System Restore to before your daughter
mis-clicked and see if that solves things. You can do the System Restore in
Safe Mode, but I would try #1 and #2 first.

Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore
"Restore my computer to an earlier time"

Malke