Screen definition at boot-up

[Stuart Falconer]

I am running XP Home on a double-core system with loads of memory and disc
space. With a 19 inch LCD monitor I have set my screen definition to
1280x1024 at 32 bit. It has been running happily like this for months.

Today it has taken it into both its minds to boot up in 640x480 at 8 bit.
Every time I start or restart I have to reset the screen, which is
irritating. I have checked the drivers and everything seems to be normal.
The fact that once it is reset to higher definition it will work like that
without a hitch till the next reboot, suggests that everything is in place
and functioning normally.

I have un-installed two items of software whose installation seemed to usher
in the change to low-def, and performed a system restore to a point last
week, but nothing has made any difference. I'm sure there will be a way of
locking the screen definition the way I want it, but so far I haven't been
able to find it. Any suggestions?

 

[peter]

You've mentioned everything but the video card and the drivers it
uses...that is the usual culprit in your situation.
peter

 

[Stuart Falconer]

Thanks for responding. The video card is an NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS, and the
driver, nv4_disp.dll version 6.14.10.9424, is present in C\WINDOWS\system32.

 

[peter]

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_163.75.html
peter

 

[Langer]

I had the same problem when i done support of Schools it ended up being a
rebuild of windows fixed it, even when i reinstalled the video driver or
updated it, it always came back to the same screen on boot up.

 

[Stuart Falconer]

Thanks for this link. I downloaded and installed the new driver, but I'm
afraid it made matters worse. Before, I had to manually re-set the screen
definition after booting up. With the new driver in place the setting was
locked at 640x480 at 8 bit. Having rolled back the driver to one that was
only a few months old, I am now able to re-set the screen definition, but no
nearer to getting my old high-def screen as a default.
I suspect that there is a switch somewhere in registry, which sets the
screen definition, that has been corruped. I know drivers are often blamed
for problems, and that messing with registry has been likened to
do-it-yourself brain surgery, so I'm stuck for the moment.
Stuart Falconer

 

[SG]

Stuart,

Have you tried uninstalling the software/drivers and shutting down the
machine?, Remove the card and wait a few minutes. Replace the card the fire
up XP and let it reinstall.

 

[Anteaus]

I take it you've reseated the dispaly card in its slot, and checked for bent
pins on the display connector?

 

[Stuart Falconer]

I have to admit that I haven't yet resorted to major surgery in order to
solve my problems with the video mode. I may do if I can't find the software
issues which instinct born of long experience tells me are at the root of
this problem.
I have been running this computer under its present configuration for six
months or more. The puzzle is that it has happened now, and that I can't
find a way out of it.
One further observation: On booting up, though the screen icons and taskbar
are in lowest possible definition - 640x480 @ 8 bits - the background
wallpaper is at the normal maximum of 1280x1024 @ 32 bits. How can the
monitor be running two different screen definitions simultaneously? Where
does the fault trully lie - in the screen drivers or the video card
software?
Stuart Falconer