Monitor stuck 640 x 480 resolution

Question

So my monitor is stuck in 640 x 480 resolution. I have no idea why it would revert to this. I have tried the Windows XP (Pro) troubleshooting by finding my monitor and updating the driver but obviously it hasn't worked. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

BigBrother · Answer

HappyPancake, Right click in an empty part of your desktop and select 'Properties'  Click the 'Settings' tab.  Can you change the screen resolution to something other than 640x480 (or 800x600)?  If not, then the video card driver will need to be reinstalled.    Your problem is not caused by the monitor driver, but is caused by a problem with your video card driver.  What model computer do you have?  What video card do you have with your computer?   Steve

HappyPancake · Answer

Steve, I have OptiPlex GX270T model. The video card is an NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X.

BigBrother · Answer

HappyPancake,

The driver file should be available on the Optiplex Resource CD that came with your system. If you are unable to locate it, you can download the video card driver from this link:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?releaseid=r70838&c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04

Unzip the file and run the Setup.exe. It will install the Nvidia video driver. If you prefer, you can download the most current version of the video driver from www.nvidia.com and install that one instead.

Steve

HappyPancake · Answer

Steve,

I was able to fix my resolution but now I find that my refresh rate is too slow and that my screen flickers a lot. I went to the properties --> monitor to fix it but it only has one (default) selection for me to pick from. Any advice?

Andrew

BigBrother · Answer

HappyPancake,   Restart your computer in Safe Mode.  Open Device Manager and remove all of the listed monitors (displays).  If Safe Mode Device Manager shows multiple display adapters, remove those as well.  Restart your computer.  If you removed display adapters in the previous step, you will most likely need to reinstall the video driver again.  You should now be able to adjust the monitor refresh rate.   Steve

HappyPancake · Answer

Steve,   I tried to restart my computer in safe mode but I haven't been able to get it to boot up in safe mode. I tried hitting F2, F8, and F12, all at the suggestion of my computer's troubleshooting but none of those have let me do it. I would appreciate any help you can give.

BigBrother · Answer

HappyPancake,   You can usually use the key to get to a startup menu with the option to start in Safe Mode.  You can also modify the boot.ini option in MSConfig to start the system in Safe Mode.  Click Start -> Run and type in 'msconfig'.  Choose the boot.ini tab and put a check mark in the choice for /safeboot.  Click Apply, OK and then restart your computer.  You should be able to get to Safe Mode from there.  Remember to take the checkmark out of /safeboot when you are all done.   Steve

HappyPancake · Answer

Steve,

I've tried several times what you suggested and I still can't adjust my refresh rate. Maybe I'm doing this wrong but I go into safe mode and select 'Display Adapters' and uninstall the GeForce card. Then I reboot in normal mode and my computer detects new software, the GeForce card. I reinstall the driver from your link and then no progress is able to be made on the refresh rate. I appreciate you taking the time to patiently help me out.

Andrew

BigBrother · Answer

HappyPancake,   Did you also remove the several monitors that are listed in Safe Mode Device Manager?  You can have problems with a video driver if Windows is unable to be clear on how many monitors it has to work with.   Steve

HappyPancake · Answer

Steve,

I've tried using safe mode several times but I just can't find my monitor in the device manager. All I can find is my video card but that, of course, has not worked. Any suggestions on what else I could do? Or perhaps what I'm doing wrong?

Andrew

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Monitor stuck 640 x 480 resolution

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