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18915
March 25th, 2004 02:00
Dell 5150 Video : Resolution Problems
Please find all the files referred to in this post in the zip file which can be downloaded at the bottom of my similar post here: http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=523
I posted here because I can upload files....
Computer Stats:
Dell Inspiron 5150 CPU: 3.06GHz Ram: 512 DDR333 Display: SXGA Video: GeForce FX Go5200
I've searched the forums and cannot find another case of my problem. The recommended resolution for my laptop (5150) is 1400x1050. The only time I can get this to work is when I install fresh drivers, and it only works for a couple minutes. When I go into a game or change resolutions Windows XP pops up with the error found in Error1.JPG. This message is telling me that the resolution I am/was at was not the proper and that 1400x1050 IS the proper. This is true. After I get this message my Windows changes the resolution to 1280x1024 for no reason. When I go into Display Settings to change it back I receive Error2.JPG telling me that my display settings being saved are invalid. When I click ok I then recieve immediatly the Error3.JPG message saying that it cannot change to that resolution and that I may not have appropriate administrative rights. Now the Admin thing is bogus, there is only one account and it is admin that I use, there is no question about that.
Also, when I update my display drivers using the newest Dell, or the Video/Bios drives off this website the version and date of the drive DO NOT CHANGE. When I look at my driver information for my video card it still says i'm using Driver Version: 4.5.8.5. See Image Driver.JPG
It almost seems as if the drivers that were installed before are LOCKED in and when I try to override them it just reverts back to the old ones.
So right now, I'm sitting here with 1280x1024 resolution which blurs everything. I am boggled why it wont let my use my recommended resolution when it tells me that I should use it.
Aswell, the option to change to 1400x1024 is taked away when I try changing to it (followed by recieving those errors). But when I reboot the option is availible again but can't change it still.
Please someone help, it is really being a pain.
Thanks!
Message Edited by Vidarious on 03-24-2004 10:06 PM
joe jacobs
3 Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 06:00
Hi, I have inspiron 5150, with same nvidia graphics card, and I have similar problem; I don't play games, so I didn't know about that bit, but at some point in the two weeks I've had the computer, it started producing crudely rendered graphics. Particularly noticeable in photos, icons, and some fonts. It does not matter what values you put in 'display/settings'; although the resolution changes, the sharpness has gone. Dell told me to re-install windows! But if you have same problem, it will obviously return.
My current fix is to uninstall the graphics card every time I turn off or restart (in System/Hardware/Device Manager/Display Adapters - click on graphics card and click on uninstall button at top). When you start up next time, windows loads the driver again. At this point the display settings will all be wrong, but you can adjust them (display/settings) and sharp rendering has been restored - until next time. For some reason it makes no difference loading the driver during a session, only on start-up, when windows does it itself.
This is really unsatisfactory. For a start, all the icons on desktop get re-arranged.
If you find a real fix, please email me:
jeffyen
168 Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 07:00
sakor1
2.2K Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 08:00
Windows only installs the drivers automatically upon reboot if you do not delete the source files. Delete the video source files, then use add/ remove programs and reboot.
Windows will try to install but can't find the files (you deleted them). Cancel out of the windows that pops up (which asks you to driect it specifically to them), and run the new driver exe.
stu
joe jacobs
3 Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 08:00
jeffyen
168 Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 11:00
Message Edited by jeffyen on 03-25-2004 10:22 PM
Vidarious
6 Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 14:00
I've tried everything you guys have suggested with no luck.
My next step is to reinstall XP, but I doubt this will do anything.
Any other suggestions? Where are the Dell techs when you need them ... *sigh*
joe jacobs
3 Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 16:00
Thanks for your help; I hadn't understood about how windows works with drivers on startup.
However, I'm not sure the problem is that way round! It's only when I force XP to load a driver of it's own choice on startup (by uninstalling the current one and shutting down) that the graphics work. The problem is that unless I uninstall that same driver (before shutting down again) which was working well, and was presumably installed by windows, when I restart a second time the graphics have reverted. The sequence is:
bad graphics -> I uninstall driver & shut down -> I startup, xp loads driver (I adjust pixels & color) -> good graphics ->
I shut down -> I start up -> bad graphics
Can I ask a naive question? When I look in properties having clicked on driver details, a large number of files are listed; most of them are .hlp files. If I want to delete the windows driver as you suggested before, am I intending to substitute all these files, or is it just the driver file such as C:\Windows\System32\DRIVERS\nv4_mini.sys?
Thanks again.
PeteNbama
32 Posts
0
March 25th, 2004 17:00
Your problem may involve something more complicated than the problem I had, but here in a nutshell was my video problem and the quick fix a Dell rep gave me: When I first got my new 5150 a few weeks ago I noticed that although text/fonts were crisp and sharp on IE and all websites, all the graphic icons/photos were fuzzy looking. The fix was simply to do this: First, make sure your screen resolution is set at its highest setting, then go to Control Panel, Display, Settings, Advanced, DPI setting at 96. It worked for me, good luck.
Inspiron 5150
P4, 3.06 ghz (no HT, hype IMO, what software can use it, lol). I may regret it later:(
15" UXGA screen @ 1600x1200
7200rpm 60gig HD
768 MB RAM
64 MB NVIDIA video card
4x CD/DVD burner (DVD+RW/+R)
USB 64 mb memory key (my favorite little goody).
Message Edited by PeteNbama on 03-25-2004 01:19 PM
alexqc
3 Posts
0
March 31st, 2004 18:00
Hi,
I have the same problem, but I made some discoveries around it :
-it happens mostly when I try to do something "special with my video card". special being : entering a game, trying to have multiple screen an extend my desktop...
-when I was pressing Fn+F8 (CRT/LCD) it used to make my computer reboot but this seems to be fixed
-it still change my resolution whe n I do (CRT/LCT)
-with the latest driver, I no longer need to reinstall my drivers after rebooting. But I have removed (uninstalled) all the games involved in the problem
-Sometimes when I go in Display/setting/advanced, the GEForce Fx5200 tab is not present anymore
Anyway, I'm also thinking of reinstalling XP, but if there is any other solution, I'd like to know before I reinstall it
thanks
alexqc
3 Posts
0
March 31st, 2004 19:00
Vidarious
6 Posts
0
March 31st, 2004 19:00
Yeah I found a solution too. Uninstall Dell's cr4ppy XP Home edition and install XP Professional. It solves every problem I had.
XP Home 5ucks.
alexqc
3 Posts
0
March 31st, 2004 19:00
Found a solution!!!!
1- Uninstall the drivers in control panel/add-remove programs
2- Once it is installed, make sure no files are left
3-Reboot
4-Reinstall the last drivers (1-8-2004), DO IT THE NORMAL WAY (WITH THE WIZARD). DO NOT USE THE SETUP PROGRAM
like that it should work. Seems that the problem comes from the setup of the drivers.
At least for me it works
regards