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How can I keep window setting at 24 bit?

When rebooting system, desktop will bounce back to 8 bit when I have changed it on the previous boot to 24 bit. I took my laptop into a computer store and without research he was unable to locate where I change it, he thought somewhere in the registry. I changed it and didn't write it down, nor can I find where I changed it. Can you help?

Is your card compatible with Windows XP? Do you have correct drivers for your Video card?

Hopefully this will help you until we know more:
Cannot Change Display Setting to 640 X 480 or 256 Color (Q286906)
http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q286906

Asta

What happens when you right-click on a blank spot on your desktop, choose properties, display settings, settings and change to the color depth and resolution settings that you want and reboot?

What is your laptop type and manufacturer?

Asta

ASKER

Windows XP was installed on my laptop when purchased, so all cards and drivers are up to date with XP.

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q302763

Are you the only user of this laptop? If multiple users and logins, this may help you.
http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q281565

ASKER

I right click on every boot up and change the setting to 24 bit, but when shutting down and rebooting it bounces back to 8 bit...I start all over again. My Laptop is a Sony Viao Pentium III.

ASKER

I am the only user.

I've seen this problem before on this laptop, and required updated driver from Sony, more here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q298349

Sony Corp. of America
Support Telephone Number: (800) 326-9551, (408) 894-0555, (888) 476-6972
General Information: (800) 222-7669
World Wide Web: http://www.sony.com/
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/

You'll see a number of other problems with the Sony Vaio reported here in this Microsoft Knowledge Base query for Windows XP and your laptop brand.
http://search.support.microsoft.com/search/nlsearch.aspx?Catalog=LCID%3d1033%26CDID%3dEN-US-KB%26PRODLISTSRC%3dON&Product=winxp&Query=sony%2520vaio&Queryc=sony+vaio&REF=false&srchstep=0&KeywordType=ALL&Titles=false&numDays=&maxResults=100

I am unclear about your exact model, but hopefully this will be of additional help to you.
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcgvx88vx88p/softupdates/
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcgvx88vx88p/softupdates/

ASKER

Astaec, I attempted to contact Sony online support and must have the product # to do so for winxp professional. This is added for me by a software specialist(cousins son) therefore, I don't have the product code #. How this happened, I was watching techtv....tweaked my system and now it boots in 8bit every time. Honesty, I don't remember what I did or where I did it. I was told it is probably in the registry.

The Product Code for the XP disk should be on the box of the CD, if needed.

Does this work?
Control Panel, and then double-click Display. On the Settings tab under Color Quality, click the setting of your choice.

Perhaps this

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q298/3/49.ASP

When you hot or warm dock a laptop computer into a docking station, the screen resolution or the frame rate may not change to the settings that you previously chose. For example, if you set up the laptop to have a 800x600 resolution when it is undocked and 1024x768 when it is docked, the resolution remains at 800x600 when you hot dock the laptop in a docking station.

More here
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q305174

Since I don't know enough about your situation or what all you may be running, will include these possibilities for you to explore

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q303589
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q298650
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q286906
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q301911

Hope this helps, if more is needed, let me know.

Off to work,
":0) Asta

ASKER

Asta:

I tried some updates, this is the error msg I am getting now: your computer contains wrong model information. When rebooting I am getting a couple of errors: SXBIOS open error; POWER PANEL-Cannot establish a connection to get battery data. BSNTSBS.DLL or SXBIOS.DLL may be missing; ERROR-loading synevent.DLL
What the heck happened?

Which updates did you try? What is the exact model information on your system? Have you tried sfc /scannow?

I've only seen your specific error messages, which are:
BatteryScope alerts that it "can't establish communication with the battery. BSNTSBS.DLL or SXBIOS.DLL may be missing". You can solve this by installing the last one and there are two equally complicated ways to solve this .... once, and here's the link for that.
http://www.hollants.com/vaio/f807k.html

It is specific to W2000 and W98, and apparently sourced from your Sony installation CD. More to explore.

Again, we need to know your exact model information.

Re. Sony Vaio and battery
http://www.google.com/search?q=sony+vaio+power+panel+battery+data&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

I've also sent this link to another Expert to see if he can add some insight, but the more detail you can provide about your exact setup and model is most important.
Thanks,
Asta

Sony Vaio Pentium III results from google for further reference when I can return; to see what other troubleshooting advice can be found.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=sony+vaio+pentium+iii+windows+xp

I just can't help thinking that there are more than a few problems in terms of the system's BIOS as well as possibly the Motherboard and/or battery, but more later when I return.

http://sonystyle.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/sonystyle.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
A friend with a Sony Vaio, had battery problems, and sent an Email note to the above link and they provided links to help; perhaps a recourse until we can figure out more.

http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/
Again, the exact model will be needed.

Much of what I've read about the Sony Vaio, says that there are only 2 hours of battery operation for it's power management.
http://www.google.com/search?q=sony+vaio+power+management&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=10&sa=N

ASKER

I never use the battery unless I am at the airport, therefore it is plugged in. Here is my model info: PCG-FX300/310/340/350/370/390 (K) (P). I am not sure if this is the info you need but let me know

ASKER

I went into the compatibility wizard(didn't change anything there), but when I started getting the error msgs I tried to update Sony Notebook LCD driver - got the msg your computer contains wrong model info; I tried to update SonySony Card Bus ATA PC Card Driver-got the msg your computer contains wrong model info. To be honest Asta, I don't know that much about all these updates and such but it does seem that the more I try what you tell me to try, the worse my machine gets.

I've asked for additional insights from other experts. The first thing posted should have been the key in terms of a compatible and current video driver. This is very frustrating, I know.

More when I return.

Asta

Another expert responded to me this:
Could be the battery that powers the CMOS chip... if that's weak, settings can revert (which may have been the original problem in terms of the settings not holding at reboot). More if/when I find it.

Asta

The Model you posted for your system as PCG-FX300/310/340/350/370/390 (K) (P) can't be found here... the confusion continues.

Here are the choices:
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/Link_FX.htm

If it is the 310, here's the link for XP Drivers
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcgfx310/

If it is the 310K, only see Windows 2000 drivers here:
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcgfx310k/

If it is any of these...
PCG-FX340/FX340P/FX370
PCG-FX370P/FX390/FX390P
XP drivers here:
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcgfx340-fx390p/

If it is any of these ....
PCG-FX340K/FX370K/FX390K
XP drivers here:
http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/pc/pcgfx340k-fx390k/

Sony's FAQ on video resolution
http://ciscweb.sel.sony.com/scripts/web_access.cgi?FUNC=SOLUTION_DETAIL&SOL_ID=1670008643

How to restart in SAFE MODE
http://ciscweb.sel.sony.com/scripts/web_access.cgi?FUNC=SOLUTION_DETAIL&SOL_ID=1670008367

On Sony Laptop, Power Management and Battery conservation link
http://ciscweb.sel.sony.com/scripts/web_access.cgi?FUNC=SOLUTION_DETAIL&SOL_ID=1670007282

Power up problems with...
Solution:
To diagnose this issue for a PCG FX340K, FX370K, or FX390K computer, please follow each of these troubleshooting steps in turn.
More here (again, need the specific model you have)
http://ciscweb.sel.sony.com/scripts/web_access.cgi?FUNC=SOLUTION_DETAIL&SOL_ID=1670003663

Error messages
http://ciscweb.sel.sony.com/scripts/web_access.cgi?FUNC=DIAGNOSE&DIAGNOSTIC_TYPE=4&PARENT_ID=5434

Have you tried contacting Sony at the Support Telephone Number: 1 (888) 476-6972 ? Perhaps they can help determine cause and/or how to identify your exact model to isolate the problems.

http://ciscweb.sel.sony.com/tpm/diag_aspcnb.htm
This is where I began to attempt to find the solution when the original didn't resolve it; but as you'll see here, a specific model is also needed here.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

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ASKER

Thank you very much being helpful dog.....I didn't have a clue where to find it.....so here it is: PCG-992L.

Thanks for your help, -dog* ;)

Unfortunately, I don't find any help for that specific model anywhere within the Sony web site (nor Google search); but since this has been accepted, assume that tshirtdi has been helped.

":0) Asta

Interesting, though, I did find 2 in the inventory for Ulta Labs in Southern California, but that's it.
http://ultra.usc.edu/New_Site/Infrastructure.html

dogztar, please comment in the question I posted to get help here so I can give you points.
https://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qManageQuestion.jsp?ta=hardgen&qid=20327983
Thanks for stepping in here to help; I'm swamped the next couple of weeks with absolutely no time.
":0) Asta

Sure...not sure what I did other than identify the model, but I guess it worked! You really did a whole lot more legwork though asta...I know we're just trying to help, but you should get some points too...Look for a "Points for astaec" in this TA.

-dog*

No, -dog*, I'm just fine. Please save your points for when you need them; I appreciate you totally and your help.

Back to work..... please ask a Moderator to delete that. You're very sweet, and thanks.

":0) Asta

ASKER

I gave the model # and still have the problems. HELP

If you're still having problems, why did you accept my comment as the answer??

I do not believe that is the correct model number, I can't find it mentioned on Sony's website anywhere.

Check for another label, either on the top or above the keyboard of the laptop, or look again on the bottom of the system for something labeled M/T or Part Number, etc. What "series" is the Vaio? Picturebook? VX? etc?

-dog*

ASKER

I am going to call it quits in here....I have a four year warranty on my laptop and will take it to them for hands on repair.....too many things messed it up in here. Thank you anyway.

Good luck, hopefully when you're there, they'll provide you with some of this key information about your system so that you can get help in the future without this level of work and frustration. Ideally they'll jot down some information for you for future reference and/or include a manual with notes that are specific to your setup.

Asta