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January 28th, 2006 04:00
Display / Monitor setting problem - Latitude C600
I have a Latitude C600. I use the LCD screen, not an external monitor.
Something has happened to my display or monitor settings in Win98SE.
Windows will not complete loading unless I first start in Safe mode, shut down, and restart Normal mode. When Windows completes loading, it tells me that there is a problem with my display settings - Adaptor type incorrect or current settings do not work with hardware. I click OK and the Display settings panel comes up. The resolution is set up to 640x480pixels, 16colors! If I increase
these settings, I am prompted to restart and I wind up exactly where I started.
If I do not try to change the display settings, other than the extremely large text / icons, I see no problems.
In the Display settings, I see the adaptor type is set to Mobility M3 (ATI). Under the monitor tab, I see Default Monitor. If I select change..., I see other standard monitor types such as Laptop Display Panel (1024x768), etc.
Can anyone tell me what the monitor setting should be? If Default monitor is OK, any ideas about what else the problem might be? I can't live with 640x480.
Thanks,
17Bink
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AussieChris
4.2K Posts
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January 28th, 2006 18:00
H,
Reload the video drivers, and if that doesnt fix it, the video card may be faulty. ( you could also run Diag's on it )
Regards Chris
17Bink
2 Posts
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January 29th, 2006 10:00
Thanks, Chris.
I'm traveling right now, so I don't have any CDs with drivers. However, I did find drivers Mobility M3 on the net. Installed, but still no luck. I also ran diagnostics on the video - all OK. The device profile does not show any conflicts.
This is a dual boot laptop. My whole problem seems to have been precipitated by an error due to battery running down while I was booted into OS/2 (I fell asleep!). When I started it up the next day, I booted to Win98, and had this problem. No apparent issues in OS/2.
Any other last-ditch ideas?
Thanks,
17Bink.
Art
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1.5K Posts
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January 29th, 2006 11:00
Click here for; Latitude C600 / Microsoft Windows 98 / English
Check the above list and you will see that it will have some more up-to-date Drivers than your CD.
Your Video Drivers ATI Mobility 3 / Mobility 4 are at the bottom of the list. (Display is for external).
ATI Mobility 3 / Mobility 4
Hard-Drive
M3W9XA8B.EXE
Description: This file contains a compressed (or zipped) set of files.
Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, and then run (double-click) it to unzip the set of files.
Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Rel-Notes-Text
NoteA08.exe
Description: This format consists of an archive of text files used
to provide help and procedural information to the customer.
_____________________________________________________________
Dell's Video Drivers will have a difference from the generic 'ATI Mobility 3' Drivers on the net.
You will find your "Diagnostics" that Chris mentioned, on that same Dell Download site.
With the possibility of an OS damage due to the 'Hard Shut-off', you may need a Win98 CD to repair
that and Dell does not supply any 'OS' files for Download.
Message Edited by Art on 01-29-2006 08:09 AM
Norm W.
21 Posts
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February 9th, 2006 22:00
Hey 17Bink,
Myself and 5 other guys have the same issue. I also had a battery shutdown, and the video problem seemed to start after that.
Did you find any fixes? I'm about to call the Dell vp's in support. too many people are having the same darn issue. as you said it takes 3 boots to get your system working in vga mode.
Please let me know what you found, and I will do the same.
thanks a bunch, Norm
Norm W.
21 Posts
0
February 11th, 2006 19:00
Tons of people have this problem. It is all over the dell forum site and google.
I think I found my problem. After 3 calls to dell tech hardware suppport, and no solutions from them.
I found a guy on google who suggested checking the reed switch on the keyboard. Mine is about 1 inch from my power button. It is about the size of a paper clip width. Uusally grey plastic and it sticks up about 1/4" above the keyboard. When you close the lid, the reed is depressed and the pc knows to go into standby/suspend mode. My reed is crooked and jammed in the hole. So, the pc thinks it should be in standby mode all the time. The driver is not loaded when you safe boot. So, the screen works.
Dell is coming to repair it, with my hardware warranty. I believe you can repair/unjam it yourself checkout the dell servicemanual if you want.
Apparently, this is happening to a lot of Dell laptops all models. I'm surprised Dell didn't have it in their troubleshooting sequence. I'm hoping this is will fix my problem. I'll know next week. I'm pretty sure.
Norm