Display issues

[Tom]

My work laptop is a Dell Latitude D630 and it is about a year old. It
runs Windows XP Professional (service pack 2, I think). The native
resolution on this computer is 1440x900.

When I first got the laptop, I used to use it with dual monitors
almost all the time. As I recall, while using dual monitors, the
laptop had a maximum resolution of 1280x800, but while using the
laptop itself, I got the full 1440x900.

When I moved to an assignment where I did not have an external
monitor, I began encountering display problems.

This is what I am experiencing now:
- When I turn on the computer, and it gets past the Dell logo and the
Windows logo, it looks like the resolution is 1280x800. Instead of
the 1280x800 taking up the entire screen, it leaves a black border
around the edges.
- If I log on to my normal ID which is attached to an active
directory domain, the screen remains at 1280x800 with a black border.
When I go to my display settings, the highest setting is 1280x800. If
I play with my nVidia settings, I can see the whole screen, but that
just stretches the 1280x800, it doesn't increase me to 1440x900.
- If I log on as a local user, after the logon process is complete,
the display switches from 1280x800 to 1440x900.
- If someone else logs on to my computer as a domain user, the
display switches from 1280x800 to 1440x900.
- I can do the following to get the full resolution on my normal
domain ID.
o Log on as a local user and get my full 1440x900 resolution.
o Log off
o Log on my with normal domain ID.
o Press Windows-L to lock the screen.
o Wait about 1.5 to 2 minutes and unlock the screen when the login
process is finishes.

This is quite a pain in the neck. I am looking for a solution.
Since, I can eventually get my full resolution, I figure the problem
is in my user configuration somewhere, and not related to hardware.
One thing that might fix the problem is to delete the user profile for
my domain ID from the computer. The next time I logged on as that ID,
the profile would be rebuilt. That seems like it would work in
theory, but I'm afraid of unexpected consequences. Any ideas of
anything else I can try? There's probably a registry setting
somewhere doing this to me, but I wouldn't even know where to look.
Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Michael Jennings]

There is a nifty way to protect yourself from blunders, such as by
yourself clowning around with regedit, or WU disaster updates.
Fully restoring your computer to known good shouldn't consume
more than 30 minutes, if you image the drive from time to time.

Once you've looked into this, and gotten yourself covered,
try the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console key. Look for the
Value name "WindowSize". There will be a difference in the
Hexadecimal Value data between the 1280x800 and 1440x900
screens. Try plugging the hex for 1440 into the stubborn 1280.

Imaging is able to obliterate worms, viruses and root kits also:
http://www.google.com/search?q=imaging+software

 

[Tom]

Hmmmm.......

WindowSize SOUNDS like the right answer, but...

The value I have is 0x00190050. I compared that to someone with the
same machine whose laptop works fine and it is the same value. I'll
keep investigating this registry key.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Michael Jennings]

Not the right answer - at 1200x1600 I also have 190050. Instead,
compare HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Hardware Profiles\Current\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\VIDEO.
Under one of the long hyphenated numbers there will be a 0000 with
a few Mon12345678's. Maybe you're missing the one for 1440x900?

I had hoped that someone who knew the right answer would jump
in to show me up. I guess that's still possible. I wouldn't plug the key
in, if I were you, until I knew I could restore the drive - be cautious.

Hmmmm.......

WindowSize SOUNDS like the right answer, but...

The value I have is 0x00190050. I compared that to someone with the
same machine whose laptop works fine and it is the same value. I'll
keep investigating this registry key.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Tom]

I'm a bit skeptical of this key as well. The problem I am having
depends on how I log in. So it makes me think is related to a user,
not to the machine. Maybe I'll back it up and try it, so I can
restore if I have to. Luckily there are lots of people around with
identical machines for comparison purposes. Thanks for the help.

 

[Michael Jennings]

I'm not sure you heard me when I suggested imaging software.
http://www.google.com/search?q=imaging+software
I will repeat myself - first back up the whole shebang.

I'm a bit skeptical of this key as well. The problem I am having
depends on how I log in. So it makes me think is related to a user,
not to the machine. Maybe I'll back it up and try it, so I can
restore if I have to. Luckily there are lots of people around with
identical machines for comparison purposes. Thanks for the help.

 

[Tom]

I hear you loud and clear. I'll make a complete backup first.

 

[Tom]

I tried this and that didn't work either. In that tree in the
registry, I found a key where DefaultSettings.XResolution was 1280 and
DefaultSettings.YResolution was 800. I changed those values to 1440
and 900. When I rebooted they were changed back to 1280 and 800. On
another note, I downloaded Acronis 2009 and made a full image backup
on an external hard drive.

 

[Michael Jennings]

Do the Acronis restore - you want to know that you're free from fear.
Until you see it work, you'll have the jitters about depending upon it.

What you're looking for in the registry is a difference between when
you boot normally, and when you do the procedure to get 1440x900.
I was guessing it might be an additional monitor - just add in the key
that isn't there when you get 1280x800, but is there for 1440x900.

Obviously you're picking up confidence - you're ready to try stuff.
Aside from my advice regarding how to get that, I haven't helped.
I hope my guess about an extra Mon12345678 under a 0000 is
right, and putting it in will stick and clear up your problem, but it's
likely I'm wrong again. All I can do now is to be willing to listen.

I tried this and that didn't work either. In that tree in the
registry, I found a key where DefaultSettings.XResolution was 1280 and
DefaultSettings.YResolution was 800. I changed those values to 1440
and 900. When I rebooted they were changed back to 1280 and 800. On
another note, I downloaded Acronis 2009 and made a full image backup
on an external hard drive.