Force a Custom Resolution With Windows XP?

[loren_bachman]

Hey Guys...
I recently upgraded my D600 from Win2K to XP. I have a Radeon Mobility
9000 card and I run dual monitors. When I was running Win2K, both
monitors were set at 1280x1024, after the upgrade XP will only allow me
to set the primary monitor to 1024x768.

I contacted Dell and they stated that Windows XP limits the resolution
in order to dedicate resources to the OS.

Bearing in mind that the hardware is EXACTLY the same, nothing has
changed but the OS, so I know the machine CAN run 2 monitors at
1280x1024, is there any way to force the resolution?

I installed Powerstrip and generated a custom driver, but the card
won't accept it and I still can't change the resolution, I also changed
the defaults in registry to reflect a higher resolution but that didn't
work either. Another thing worth noting is that even when the second
monitor is not attached I still can't increase the resolution. I'm
running out of ideas.

Anyone have a suggestion?

 

[Og]

My reply at end:

Hey Guys...
I recently upgraded my D600 from Win2K to XP. I have a Radeon Mobility
9000 card and I run dual monitors. When I was running Win2K, both
monitors were set at 1280x1024, after the upgrade XP will only allow me
to set the primary monitor to 1024x768.

I contacted Dell and they stated that Windows XP limits the resolution
in order to dedicate resources to the OS.

Bearing in mind that the hardware is EXACTLY the same, nothing has
changed but the OS, so I know the machine CAN run 2 monitors at
1280x1024, is there any way to force the resolution?

I installed Powerstrip and generated a custom driver, but the card
won't accept it and I still can't change the resolution, I also changed
the defaults in registry to reflect a higher resolution but that didn't
work either. Another thing worth noting is that even when the second
monitor is not attached I still can't increase the resolution. I'm
running out of ideas.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Actually, TWO things changed:
1.) The Operating System
2.) The hardware DRIVERS
Apparently, when DELL wrote the Win XP driver for your video card, they
chose to not support higher resolutions. Perhaps because the video card is
built-in and uses System memory?
Anyhoo, you essentially have two options:
1.) Write your own video card driver.
2.) Purchase a video card that supports two-monitor resolutions that suit
you. Install that video card and disable the Dell built-in video card.
Steve

 

[lorenbachman]

Hi Steve,
Changing the video cards probably isn't going to happen, unless I can
find an external one that is reasonably priced.

How would you suggest going about creating a cusom driver? I used the
driver that I made with Powerstrip, but the card doesn't seem to take
it. It looks like it updates, but there is no choice to raise the
resolution. Can you suggest an alternative?

Thanks!

 

[Og]

Hi Steve,
Changing the video cards probably isn't going to happen, unless I can
find an external one that is reasonably priced.

How would you suggest going about creating a cusom driver? I used the
driver that I made with Powerstrip, but the card doesn't seem to take
it. It looks like it updates, but there is no choice to raise the
resolution. Can you suggest an alternative?

Thanks!

I gather that you have a laptop and it is sharing memory with the System.
You MIGHT be able to obtain higher resolution by increasing your System
Memory. [Check with DELL]
When I suggested writing your own driver, I was being a smart-a**.
Sorry about that...
In order to write a driver for a piece of hardware, you must:
Be a Software Engineer who knows the Windows Operating System as well as
you know your home address;
Be an Electrical Engineer who knows the Computer Archtecture as well as
you know your phone number;
Be an Electrical Engineer who knows the piece of hardware that you are
writing the driver for better than you know your own last name..
Steve