Display Resolution / ATI x200 Issue?

[Matt Fuerst]

Greetings,

My company just bought two Shuttle Mini-PC's from Egghead. We got two
of everything to make two identical machines. Two Shuttle Mini-PC Cases
/ Motherboards, matching Athlon processors, etc..

The motherboards have built in ATI x200 Video Cards. We loaded XP Media
Center Edition on both machines. Both are using the driver on the
supplied Shuttle Driver CD for drivers.

We have both connected to matching Plasma displays via a VGA connector.
On the one "good" machine, we are presented with two resolution
options: 800 X 600 and 1072 X 600 (this is true for both the Windows
Display control panel and the ATI selector - only two options
available). While I would normally be "distressed" at two relatively
lowly display options, the 1072 X 600 looks *perfect* on the display
(since it has a relatively low max resolution). On the "bad" machine,
we have all the standard display options, from 640 X 480 to 2040 X
"something huge", but NO 1072 X 600. Everything else ranges from awful
to really awful. So I am trying my darndest to get 1072 X 600 on the
"bad" machine, to no avail.

All the software is matching, from what I can tell. The Versions of the
Display Adaptor and Monitor (which shows up as a Default Plug n Play
monitor in Windows) are matching. Using the ATI Control Panel, I can
see the versions of the hardware, the hardware BIOS, the control panel,
2D DLL's, 3D DLL's, etc.. all are matching.

I've tried searching the registry and *.INF files for locations of 1072
X 600. I found some entries in the "good" machine, exported them,
restarted the "bad" machine in Safe Mode, imported the registry
settings, to no avail.

When I click on "List All Modes" on the "good machine" I see the mode
listed there, and, not surprisingly, when I click on "List All Modes"
on the "bad" machine, it's not there. I imagine this is being read from
an INF file or the registry, but I guess I haven't found the right
spot, in order to "force" it in there.

I updated the drivers on the "bad" machine to the latest ones from ATI,
to no avail (from 11/2004 era to 8/2006). The resolution was still not
available. I in turn uninstalled and rolled back the stock ones, since
that is what is working on the "good" machine.

Very frustrating. Been working on this far too long.

Any ideas?

Sorry if I am too sketchy on details...

 

[Jerry]

You didn't mention it but did you install the latest motherboard chipset
drivers after you installed Windows? That is one of the first
recommendations ATI makes when they mention installing/updating drivers.

Also, did the plasma displays come with their own drivers and, if so, are
newer ones posted at the web site for download?

 

[Matt Fuerst]

Hey Jerry,

I did not update the motherboard chipset. I will give that a shot
tomorrow.

The Plasmas did not come with drivers. They are both using "Default
Plug n Play" monitors as the drivers in the Device Manager. Both have
the exact same versions as well.

Here's hoping for the motherboard drivers. I know both are using the
same version currently.. so I have my doubts.. but I am hoping.

Its extremely odd.. the one machine that we consider the "good" machine
only has 2 resolutions, 800 X 600 and 1072 X 600.. neither of which I
would consider very good and I certainly would be PO'ed if I bought the
machine and it only had those resolutions, in spite of it working quite
well in this instance...

Matt

 

[Jerry]

I would check on drivers from the plasma manufacturer's web site.