Does this sound lke a driver issue or conflict issue?

[Ed from AZ]

I have the free version of PC Tools antivirus on my Dell Latitude 600
(XP Pro). It started acting up and throwing errors, so I uninstalled
it, downloaded it fresh from the web site, and reinstalled. For one
application, I need to rotate the screen 90 degrees. This function is
built into the monitor control panel.

After the PC Tools reinstall, though, the screen will not rotate.
Whether I hit the hot key combo or go directly into the control panel
and click the button, the screen flashes like it's turning, then
flashes again and isn't rotated. I got a message saying that funtion
wasn't supported at the current resolutino settings, so I tried to
change the resolution - it won't keep my settings. I tried exiting PC
Tools AV, but there was no change in behavior.

I'm wondering if the uninstall of PCT AV may have also removed
something this function depends on? Or if it sounds more like the new
PCT AV has flagged this behavior as virus activity and won't let the
function run?

Ed

 

[SC Tom]

I have the free version of PC Tools antivirus on my Dell Latitude 600
(XP Pro). It started acting up and throwing errors, so I uninstalled
it, downloaded it fresh from the web site, and reinstalled. For one
application, I need to rotate the screen 90 degrees. This function is
built into the monitor control panel.

After the PC Tools reinstall, though, the screen will not rotate.
Whether I hit the hot key combo or go directly into the control panel
and click the button, the screen flashes like it's turning, then
flashes again and isn't rotated. I got a message saying that funtion
wasn't supported at the current resolutino settings, so I tried to
change the resolution - it won't keep my settings. I tried exiting PC
Tools AV, but there was no change in behavior.

I'm wondering if the uninstall of PCT AV may have also removed
something this function depends on? Or if it sounds more like the new
PCT AV has flagged this behavior as virus activity and won't let the
function run?

Ed

Have you tried reinstalling your video drivers? By 'monitor control panel',
do you mean on the monitor panel, or a software monitor control panel? If a
software app, have you tried reinstalling it? If you look at your system
properties, is your monitor list as the one you have, or is it listed as a
'generic' LCD/CRT?

SC Tom

 

[Ed from AZ]

Thanks for the reply, Tom. I'll try to respond intelligently!

By 'monitor control panel',
do you mean on the monitor panel, or
a software monitor control panel?

Right-click on the desktop, Properties, Settings

Have you tried reinstalling your video drivers?

No, that was tonight's job, if that sounds like what I need. I bought
the laptop used, so I don't have separate system disks. I'll have to
go to Dell and retrieve the drivers.

If you look at your system
properties, is your monitor list as the one you
have, or is it listed as a
'generic' LCD/CRT?

It's just the laptop screen - no external monitor, no docking station.
In the Advanced tab info:
Multiple monitors on mobility RADEON 9000
Default monitor (option for Plug and Play monitor is available in the
drop-down, but is not selected)

I don't know where to find anything else. If you need more info,
you'll have to tell me where to look for it.

Ed

 

[SC Tom]

I'm sorry, I missed that it was a notebook.
Try picking the PNP monitor and see if that helps (that's the default on my
Gateway notebook). Since it says 'multiple monitors,' it probably was
connected to an external tube at one time or another.
I'd go ahead and download/reinstall the video drivers. My guess is that's
where the problem lies.
Try looking through your programs in the start menu and see if there may be
a program that does the rotation if it's not corrected by the video drivers.
Before it broke, did you rotate the screen before or after you opened the
application that needed the rotation? Was it a keystroke like Fn-F12,
Ctrl-Alt-F2, etc., that did it, or did you do it within that app?

SC Tom

Thanks for the reply, Tom. I'll try to respond intelligently!

By 'monitor control panel',
do you mean on the monitor panel, or
a software monitor control panel?

Right-click on the desktop, Properties, Settings

Have you tried reinstalling your video drivers?

No, that was tonight's job, if that sounds like what I need. I bought
the laptop used, so I don't have separate system disks. I'll have to
go to Dell and retrieve the drivers.

If you look at your system
properties, is your monitor list as the one you
have, or is it listed as a
'generic' LCD/CRT?

It's just the laptop screen - no external monitor, no docking station.
In the Advanced tab info:
Multiple monitors on mobility RADEON 9000
Default monitor (option for Plug and Play monitor is available in the
drop-down, but is not selected)

I don't know where to find anything else. If you need more info,
you'll have to tell me where to look for it.

Ed

 

[Ed from AZ]

Try picking the PNP monitor and see if that helps (that's the default on my
Gateway notebook). Since it says 'multiple monitors,' it probably was
connected to an external tube at one time or another.

I'll give that my first shot, since it's the easiest and quickest!
8>)

I'd go ahead and download/reinstall the video drivers. My guess is that's
where the problem lies.

That'll have to be a bit later on tonight when I've got a bigger block
of time. I'll let you know if it starts sending up smoke signals!

Try looking through your programs in the start menu and see if there may be
a program that does the rotation if it's not corrected by the video drivers.
Before it broke, did you rotate the screen before or after you opened the
application that needed the rotation? Was it a keystroke like Fn-F12,
Ctrl-Alt-F2, etc., that did it, or did you do it within that app?

I roated the screen to accomodate a Visual Basic app I wrote myself.
In the desktop >> Properties >> Advanced Settings, there is a place to
rotate the view and assign your own hotkey combo to do the rotate. I
always used CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+T. Most of the time I waited until
everything booted then hit the hotkey - but sometimes I got impatient
and tried to rotate it before everything was loaded. The rotate is a
function of the system or the video driver, not anything I did. And
even though it won't rotate now, the function panel is still
available, and the screen blanks and flashes like it's trying to
comply.

Ed

 

[SC Tom]

Did you ever install the ATI tool Hydravision? That may be what was used in
conjunction with the Catalyst Control Center.

SC Tom

Try picking the PNP monitor and see if that helps (that's the default on
my
Gateway notebook). Since it says 'multiple monitors,' it probably was
connected to an external tube at one time or another.

I'll give that my first shot, since it's the easiest and quickest!
8>)

I'd go ahead and download/reinstall the video drivers. My guess is that's
where the problem lies.

That'll have to be a bit later on tonight when I've got a bigger block
of time. I'll let you know if it starts sending up smoke signals!

Try looking through your programs in the start menu and see if there may
be
a program that does the rotation if it's not corrected by the video
drivers.
Before it broke, did you rotate the screen before or after you opened the
application that needed the rotation? Was it a keystroke like Fn-F12,
Ctrl-Alt-F2, etc., that did it, or did you do it within that app?

I roated the screen to accomodate a Visual Basic app I wrote myself.
In the desktop >> Properties >> Advanced Settings, there is a place to
rotate the view and assign your own hotkey combo to do the rotate. I
always used CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+T. Most of the time I waited until
everything booted then hit the hotkey - but sometimes I got impatient
and tried to rotate it before everything was loaded. The rotate is a
function of the system or the video driver, not anything I did. And
even though it won't rotate now, the function panel is still
available, and the screen blanks and flashes like it's trying to
comply.

Ed

 

[Ed from AZ]

Did you ever install the ATI tool Hydravision? That may be what was used in
conjunction with the Catalyst Control Center.

No, never downloaded it. Just used what was already on the system.

Downloaded and installed the ATI driver R113575.EXE from the Dell
site. I get the whole control panel with all the ATI options - but I
can't change resolution off 1024 x 768, and I can't rotate. I can
select a higher resolution, but it won't take when I click Apply.
Ditto for rotation.

I looked up the ATI Hydravision - didn't say anything about view
rotation?

Ed

 

[SC Tom]

I wasn't sure if Hydravision did that or not. I saw that it had a lot of
customizing features and thought maybe that's what did it.

Is the Catalyst Control Center installed with the Dell driver? Everything I
looked at on ati.amd.com seems to point to it being needed for any of the
'extra' features.

Try uninstalling all the ATI drivers, both the Dell one and whatever came
from ATI, and doing a clean install of the Dell package. What resolution
were you running prior to all this? I saw articles stating that 1024x768 was
what came with it, but a 1400x1050 was available (this according to CNET's
review). For a 14" screen, though, I would think 800x600 would be better.
But then again, I'm old and wear glasses

SC Tom

Did you ever install the ATI tool Hydravision? That may be what was used
in
conjunction with the Catalyst Control Center.

No, never downloaded it. Just used what was already on the system.

Downloaded and installed the ATI driver R113575.EXE from the Dell
site. I get the whole control panel with all the ATI options - but I
can't change resolution off 1024 x 768, and I can't rotate. I can
select a higher resolution, but it won't take when I click Apply.
Ditto for rotation.

I looked up the ATI Hydravision - didn't say anything about view
rotation?

Ed

 

[Ed from AZ]

Did a little more research. The only other thing that happened was
Windows (XP Pro) downloaded and installed some updates. I'm finding
out that Service Pack 3 for XP adversely affect several things -
including the ATI Catalyst Control Center's ability to rotate the
sceen display (MS KB article 947309).

So my next step is to go back into my updates panel and roll back to
before this happened. Hopefully!! Wish me luck!

Ed

 

[SC Tom]

If you have System Restore points from before the SP3 installation, you
could try that. It worked on my Vista machine.

SC Tom

 

[Ed from AZ]

If you have System Restore points from before the SP3 installation, you
could try that. It worked on my Vista machine.

SC Tom

Does the system automatically create restore points? Or do you have
to manually create them? I know I haven't done any such thing, and I
don't remember making a setting to do it in any program. Guess I need
to start looking that up!

Ed

 

[SC Tom]

They are created automatically, if SR is on. A point is created each time
you do a MS update or install a program, and usually on a daily basis. How
far back they go depends on how much space is allocated for it. If it is
turned off at any time, all restore points are lost.

Here are a couple of pretty good articles about it:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405

SC Tom

If you have System Restore points from before the SP3 installation, you
could try that. It worked on my Vista machine.

SC Tom

Does the system automatically create restore points? Or do you have
to manually create them? I know I haven't done any such thing, and I
don't remember making a setting to do it in any program. Guess I need
to start looking that up!

Ed

 

[Ed from AZ]

Okay, here's what I tried:

-- System restore: no restore points would take.
-- Checked XP: I'm still running SP2, not SP3
-- Uninstalled the last few Windows updates: no joy
-- Googled the Internet dry!! No joy.

So unless there's a separate app that will rotate my screen, I'm going
to have to look at rotating my VB app and Word, or getting an external
monitor that I can do *something* with!!

Thanks for all your help, Tom. If I ever find an answer, I'll be sure
and post it.

Ed