Odd monitor resolution problem..Vista strikes again

[HLS]

After the computer was recently updated online, an unusual problem surfaced.
The screen resolution was reset to a much lower value, and I find the
appearance of the
large icons and type (despite my age) disagreeable.

I went into resolution setup and returned the resolution to a previous
value...It held for
a few minutes and reset itself once again to the lower value.

Finally, I realized that the resolution would not hold and returned to a
previous configuration.

Now, the resolution is okay when in normal mode, but when the computer has
been hibernating, it comes back on at the garish low resolution value. As
soon as it reestablishes
itself after the hibernation, the resolution becomes okay again.

Anyone heard of this? It is very annoying. I have not downloaded SP1, and
am afraid to
take anymore online upgrades. Vista still sucks.

 

[Malke]

After the computer was recently updated online, an unusual problem
surfaced. The screen resolution was reset to a much lower value, and I
find the appearance of the
large icons and type (despite my age) disagreeable.

I went into resolution setup and returned the resolution to a previous
value...It held for
a few minutes and reset itself once again to the lower value.

Finally, I realized that the resolution would not hold and returned to a
previous configuration.

Now, the resolution is okay when in normal mode, but when the computer has
been hibernating, it comes back on at the garish low resolution value. As
soon as it reestablishes
itself after the hibernation, the resolution becomes okay again.

Anyone heard of this? It is very annoying. I have not downloaded SP1,
and am afraid to
take anymore online upgrades. Vista still sucks.

Although I'm not particularly fond of Vista, I don't think this is
necessarily Vista's fault. I think you blindly installed Windows updates
(set to Automatic instead of "download and let me know when they're ready"
and instead of looking to see what was going to be installed) and I think
you installed a video card driver. Either roll back this driver to the one
that worked or reinstall the correct driver (see below for general
information about drivers). If uninstalling/reinstalling with the correct
video driver doesn't work, then your video hardware may be failing. FWIW,
doing this would have had the same result on XP, too.

The First Law of Driver Updates is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Normally if everything is working you want to leave things as they are. The
exception is that heavy-duty gamers will usually want to update their video
and sound drivers to squeeze every last bit of performance out of the
hardware to get the fastest frame rates. If you're not one of those people,
you don't need to update your drivers if there are no problems you are
trying to solve.

Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM computer
(HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the drivers.

To find out what hardware is in your computer:

1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific model
machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor or System Information for Windows.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.gtopala.com/ - System Information for Windows

If you have installed drivers from Windows Update, you can roll them back:

How to Roll Back a Device Driver in Windows XP - http://tinyurl.com/86yb6
Roll Back Troublesome Device Drivers in Windows Vista from the How-To Geek -
http://tinyurl.com/346lox


Malke

 

[Charles W Davis]

After the computer was recently updated online, an unusual problem
surfaced.
The screen resolution was reset to a much lower value, and I find the
appearance of the
large icons and type (despite my age) disagreeable.

I went into resolution setup and returned the resolution to a previous
value...It held for
a few minutes and reset itself once again to the lower value.

Finally, I realized that the resolution would not hold and returned to a
previous configuration.

Now, the resolution is okay when in normal mode, but when the computer has
been hibernating, it comes back on at the garish low resolution value. As
soon as it reestablishes
itself after the hibernation, the resolution becomes okay again.

Anyone heard of this? It is very annoying. I have not downloaded SP1,
and am afraid to
take anymore online upgrades. Vista still sucks.

A new computer with older monitor might cause this. Start is Safe mode and
choose "Enable Low Resolution Video (640x480)" and go from there.
Make sure your screen refresh rate is set to 96 DPI.

 

[solon fox]

Hi Malke,

Very good advice to the OP. I am however shifting my opinions about
driver updates from never update unless there is a problem, to check
for new drivers from the manufacturer from time-to-time (and keep
current on the Bios too).

Keeping current with drivers seems to be the new way to go because
there are so many possible configurations, OS and AV updates and
current drivers appear to be critical to keeping everything working
(rather than waiting for something to break).

Also, it seems to be more important to use signed drivers - see
http://www.tweakvista.com/article39181.aspx

Opinions? Are you ready to consider shifting your stance on updated
drivers?

-solon fox

 

[Malke]

Hi Malke,

Very good advice to the OP. I am however shifting my opinions about
driver updates from never update unless there is a problem, to check
for new drivers from the manufacturer from time-to-time (and keep
current on the Bios too).

Keeping current with drivers seems to be the new way to go because
there are so many possible configurations, OS and AV updates and
current drivers appear to be critical to keeping everything working
(rather than waiting for something to break).

Also, it seems to be more important to use signed drivers - see
http://www.tweakvista.com/article39181.aspx

Opinions? Are you ready to consider shifting your stance on updated
drivers?

Not really. I think if things aren't working correctly, especially with
Vista, checking for updated drivers is important. One of the main areas of
aggravation with Vista has been the lack of third-party drivers. Here we
are 1-1/2 yrs. later and this is still an issue. So if there is a problem,
definitely looking for drivers on either the OEM's website or the hardware
mftr.'s website is A Good Thing. But that's just what I have always said
and isn't anything new with Vista.

I haven't changed my stance on "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Unless you
are a gamer and/or a computer enthusiast trying to get the absolute most
out of your machine, I think it's better to leave well enough alone. You
should not take this as a criticism of the way you do things. You asked for
my opinion and so I gave it it you.

Malke

 

[solon fox]

Not really. I think if things aren't working correctly, especially with
Vista, checking for updated drivers is important. One of the main areas of
aggravation with Vista has been the lack of third-party drivers. Here we
are 1-1/2 yrs. later and this is still an issue. So if there is a problem,
definitely looking for drivers on either the OEM's website or the hardware
mftr.'s website is A Good Thing. But that's just what I have always said
and isn't anything new with Vista.

I haven't changed my stance on "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Unless you
are a gamer and/or a computer enthusiast trying to get the absolute most
out of your machine, I think it's better to leave well enough alone. You
should not take this as a criticism of the way you do things. You asked for
my opinion and so I gave it it you.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computerswww.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Nods. Thanks for your candor. I respect your opinion and will bear it
in mind whenever I give advice. I have noticed a lot of driver related
problems in this ng though. I'm not suggesting that everyone go en
masse for updating every driver.

Thanks,
-solon fox

 

[HLS]

A new computer with older monitor might cause this. Start is Safe mode and
choose "Enable Low Resolution Video (640x480)" and go from there.
Make sure your screen refresh rate is set to 96 DPI.

This is a new computer with a new monitor. Has been working fine until 4-5
days ago.

Some updates were required to make my online banking work, but I cant
honestly remember what was added. The problem showed up a few days after
this, but
essentially immediately after the Compaq online update service recommended
an
urgent update.

I found that by right clicking on the desktop, I can get into another menu,
graphics properties, and it appears I can reset the resolution there as well
as going through the
screen resolution window which appears at the Help and Support menu.

Nothing was wrong, and I really did not expect routine updates to cause this
sort
of problem.

Maybe I just found earlier versions of Windows to be more easily adjusted..
Vista seems
to just do what it likes, when it likes.

My laptop, an ASUS eee, is Linux based. It does what I want, when I want
it. My
future may lie with Linux, since I am not a gamer.

 

[Mick Murphy]

Another thing fox; don't be so BIOS update crazy! Bad advice for casual users!

Only update BIOS for something that you specificially need!

 

[solon fox]

:-D Point taken.

Mick,
Did I _recommend_ someone update their bios unnecessarily? I don't
remember. As I commented to Malke's post I _used_ to wholeheartedly
share the view that drivers (and bios) should only be updated when
there were problems with a particular device. Since you guys are
saying that I should retain that view, I certainly shall for the time
being.

I'll try not to be crazy (like a fox)!

hehe ;-)
-solon fox

 

[HLS]

The problem showed up a few days after this, but essentially immediately
after the Compaq online update service recommended an urgent update.

Compaq agrees that the update probably contained a driver which bolloxed my
system.
They have helped me download the "correct" (?) driver, and suspect that this
will cure
the problem... I have not implemented it yet, but will as soon as I find
some breathing room.