Display resetting

"Monitor menu"?

Do you mean the Display item in the Control Panel? Or the Device driver?

In neither case is there any reference to "native mode".

The menu on the monitor itself.
It kind of sounds like it (the flatpanel) is overriding the videocard settings.

That's a thought... so I checked, and it was set to display at 1024x768.

I'm all for wild ideas... *laughing*... It's within the realm of possibility that I'm just going to have to use the other card.

The computer was on. I didn't check to see what the setting was when it first booted... but what the heck...

Rebooted, and as expected, it went back to 1280x1024... and the monitor settings showed that. But also as expected, it was at 1024x768 when the desktop first appeared, then went black, then reappeared at 1280x1024. That's when I looked at the monitor's settings.

{scratching head}   ...very strange...

It's after 2am here. I'm going to bed, and hope somebody had a brighter idea by the time I get back tomorrow night.   ; )

did it ever work ok?   if so, a system restore can help you

nobus,

This is a new system; doing a restore will give me exactly what I currently have. There has been only one monitor connected to it.

ChiefIT,

Interesting. There are two listings for Intel 4 Chipset. The one I am currently using has settings for 800x600 (I'm not that old), 1024x768 and 1200x1024 (which is the setting the system keeps resetting to). I played around by clicking Advanced, and changed the setting from 96 dpi to 120 dpi (no effect) and even to 150% of normal (about 144 dpi) -- but in terms of how type is displayed, it made no difference.

The other version of the Intel 4 Chipset has any number of other choices, but it will only "apply" the lowest level (640x480 with Low 8-bit color), and even that doesn't take; I'm not even given the chance to answer the question about whether or not I want to save my new settings.

Where this is really annoying is visiting most websites, because even with the manually set 1024x768 resolution, I'm having to do a Ctr+ to increase the type size.

ep

OK, so you are adjusting the wrong port.

Some cards have two ports. One could be a DVI and the other a VGA, or you could have two VGA ports, or you could have two on board video.  Your computer is on port 2 and you are adjusting port 1. Even with that port NOT attached, it will still clone port 1. So, right click monitor two and select attach. Now, change the video display settings to what you desire.

This is why it was important to identify the monitor when you bring up the settings for them. That little identify button will save you some confusion.

Interesting...

ChiefIT,

I think we had a breakdown in communication.

I'm currently using "port 2"; it has three choices (abbreviated here using the horizontal measurement): 800, 1024 and 1280. The default is 1280, and I have to reset it every time I boot to 1024 -- the "Apply" doesn't stick.

"Port 1" APPEARS to have about a dozen settings, ranging from 640x480 with essentially eight colors, to who knows what. However, the ONLY choice that is ever applied is 640x480. I don't consider it an alternative under those circumstances.

So... I'm back to my original question. How to make this stick at 1024?

ep

Don't know if it will help, but the next things I would try:
- update OR go back to an earlier version, of the Intel 4 Series video drivers (if possible).
- delete the ViewSonic from Device Manager, reboot, and let Windows reinstall.
- if the Monitor is listed correctly as a ViewSonic (PnP?), see if there is a Generic Flat Panel or even a Generic Monitor inf that will work, instead.

Coral47:

Have you seen the viewsonics die too? It appears like you go through POST and everything else goes blank. I had four of them do this on me.

coral47,

I'll try to roll back drivers, but I'm not holding out much hope, since it's done this since the day I turned on the box.

Interestingly, there were four monitors listed -- three PnP ones and the "default" one. I removed all four and rebooted... and all four came back. I changed the properties on one to find the ViewSonic, which was successful, but in Display, there doesn't seem to be anyway to select it.

coral47 / ChiefIT,

I've had several ViewSonics over the years, and have never had a problem with them. Actually, I really like the monitor -- except for this business of having to reset it every morning. I might just put the old video card in the box and be done with the hassle.

ep

>> Have you seen the viewsonics die too?

Sort of.  Mine went all streaky and jittery. I made the mistake of setting it on the floor until I could get some time to 'pop the cover', at which point a cat used it for a springboard, pushing the screen into the corner of something near it, while I was at work.   : /

>>  might just put the old video card in

Worth a shot.   ; )

I assume you have a two port video card that was split into four ports. I use these types to disply multibeam data for three-dimensional redering.

You see four ports. one is cloned to the other.

If you right click on the desktop and go to properties and then select the settings tab. You right click on the greyed out ones and make sure they are ATTACHED.

Now if you select identify, you can see what number monitor it is.

There are two options to these monitors. One is extended desktop, the other is a clone. A clone will have the same settings as the master it is cloned from.

After you identify the monitor, you can unclone it, or you should be able to manipulate the settings.

ChiefIT,

You assume incorrectly. What I have is a single video connection on the motherboard, and I did put the video card from my old machine in the box -- but apparently I'm going to have to play with that configuration, because while the Dell splash screen came up (which has never happened using the Dell video connection) nothing else did -- just a black screen. But that's getting off the topic a bit...

So... only one video connection -- that which comes on the mother board.

ep

The black screen is the result of having the wrong Default screen set. Log into safe mode with VGA support. That will load the generic Microsoft VGA driver. Then, select your MB port as the deafault port.

Once done, you can install a card. Leave the VGA port on the MB as the default port so you can go back to it.

Your card will come with options to adjust all ports for video. You can either clone the desktop or make an extended desktop. Cloning will hold the data of the other. In other words, you will see the same video settings (i.e 1024X768), If you clone those settings.

The Identify button IS a GOD SEND. Make sure you make use of it to identify what port you are in. Then, you can adjust the settings for that particular port, (unless it is a clone of another).

It took me a little bit of getting use to this as well.

Safemod is a God Send as well. With Safemode, you can go into the default configuration, meaning the MB video and start over. So, make use of that as well.

"...The black screen is the result of having the wrong Default screen set..."

I figured it was something like that.  At this point, I have only one monitor, so I'm not terribly concerned about the extended desktop -- I just want to stop having to reset the damn screen every morning... *laughing*

I'll play some more this evening -- assuming I get caught up on the day's work -- and will let everyone know the results.

ep

let us know if anything else we can do.

It's getting annoying, to be honest. I happened to look at the Premium skin tonight, and even after resetting the monitor to 1024x768, I had to click Ctrl+ three times to make it legible. I'm about ready to just turn off the onboard video and use the card....

That might be a good bet to turn off on board video and use the card. I believe you have to do this in BIOS.

Guys,

I'm buried and not getting around to take care of this, but I'm reasonably certain I have a solution, and I have no need to keep this open (if I need to, I'll just open another one).

Thanks for all your help!