This sounds like it could be a Power Option setting that changes the resolution on battery power. Quick Set has settings that should be checked, too. Are you using a tv as a monitor? Notebooks automatically change resolution when connected to an external tv monitor. Maybe yours thinks it is connected to a tv. Look at your video display settings and utilities, your Quick Set settings, as well as advanced Power Options. Try using Hibernation instead of Sleep, Sleep still has problems in Vista. Change the "close lid" setting to Hibernate and see if that is any better. Note you must press the power button to resume from Hibernation or Hybrid Sleep.

 

Bottom Line--Ask for a replacement computer before it's too late. You should not be having these problems with a brand new computer.

I have had the exact same problem and have also been looking for a solution.  Coming out of sleep the screen resolution changes as if it is trying to adjust.  Although it eventially returns to normal, the google sidebar disappears and doesn't come back until the computer is restarted.  I'm also on an E1505 (with Vista) and hope you will post here if you find a solution.  I will try the hibernation reccommendation, but this is an issue that needs to be fixed as I didn't pay for a computer that I cannot put in sleep mode without problems.

Thanks for the help...I tried the hibernation thing and that ended up having a worse problem than the sleep issue, although similar, but I think I finally got it fixed.

 

 

I ended up using the tech support chat and a remote connection with a service rep (I don't know about you, but when I've used this in the past it has always bothered me to have someone else in control of my computer, I just didn't have any other options).

 

The support rep downloaded a few things from Dell for my ATI graphics card (these may be the same downloads you were told to try).  This took about half an hour, and I had to change a few settings back after restarting my computer, but it seems to have worked.  Since then (this was only about thirty minutes ago) I have closed the lid a few times and haven't found a problem while returning from sleep....yet.

 

I know you've already gone through a lot with the support people (I've been through all that myself and it can be quite frustrating), but if you haven't tried this I think it may be the answer.

 

Here's hoping new problems don't arise with this solution and I hope something finally works for you.

 I am not a computer expert but do know my way around a computer. I have tried changing all the settings combinations as mentioned above. Everything Dell Tech support has suggested didn't work  and cost me allot of time. The last e-mail from Tech support was to send the computer back for a video card replacement. I feel they are wrong with this diagnosis and it will just expose this thing to more abuse. I have no other issues with the computer except the sleep problem. The video card does everything it is supposed to, except come out of sleep without changing resolution and this problem is intermittent. I have checked other forums and many have similar problems with their Dell laptops and have different models with different video cards. All these cards can't be bad. I have also tried several different card drivers, same problem. A guy on another forum suggested this work around and so far it has worked for me. Instead of closing the lid to enter sleep mode, set it up in power management so you can go to sleep mode by clicking on the sleep icon button that you see in the start menu, right after the start search window. It's the round icon with a line through the top. After the computer goes to sleep,(lights above key pad stop blinking, about 11 seconds) then you can close the lid if you want. Bring it out of sleep by opening the lid and pressing the normal on/off button. You can go to power management settings and set it to the "do nothing" when the lid is closed and opened. So far today this has worked. Don't know about long term. IMO this is a Dell/Vista problem that needs a patch from Microsoft.

 

Paul 

I, too, experience similar problems and found the solution on the Dell web site. Based on my experience, I suggest  just check the Support tab at Dell to see if there might be a solution to whatever problem you are facing.  Go to Dell, Support, Drivers and Downloads and check to see if an appropriate "fix" is available.  Once I installed the updated driver for my video card, the problems disappeared.

 

Good Luck

I have already done all that you suggest and at times thought I had also fixed the problem. After a few re-boots the problem came back. What video card are you using?. I have the latest Dell drivers installed for mine (Intel Mobil 645GM) and it made no difference. I hope you really fixed yours but give it some time before deciding. When booting up this morning, the resolution changed again so it's not just from the sleep mode. The problem is intermittent. If it did it every time it might be easier to find where the problem is originating. It's like taking your car in for repairs because it stalls and when you get to the repair shop it wont do it

 

Paul.

Sorry, should have included the equipment info.  I updated the driver about a week ago and have not had problems since.   I have also had problems with dropped connections which may be related to the router I'm using, but I am still testing that.   

 

Inspiron E1505

duo core T2250

2 GB

Ge Force 7300 graphics card

Next Gen wireless N card

Well I give up. After a week, Dell tech support has finally broke me. It's like the movie Groundhog Day, we just keep going around and around. Each one assures me he will fix the problem to my satisfaction and each fails to fix it. If you could only get the same person back every time but each time it's a different tech guy and we start over again. By what they say, I know they don't read the complete history report of the problem.  I'm convinced my problem is software/driver related but Dell techs want me to send a 4 week old computer in for repair, to get a most likely, refurbished video card. This problem can't be hardware related because different model Dell laptops, with different video cards are having the same problem. I have sent the tech people 5 links to forum threads where people are having the same display resolution problem.  I have asked what they think and Tech support won't even admit to looking at them. All I want to hear them say is, yes we are aware of the problem and we are working on a solution. I guess they can't admit to it being a wide spread problem because that might be grounds for a recall. Protect Dell first, then the customer. I think I'll just keep the computer as is and hope others will complain enough to get a fix down the road. As Ricky Nelson would say. "Stood up, broken hearted, again".

 

Paul

Sorry to hear that you haven't found a solution, maybe some day.....   Happily, for me, the screeen resolution problem seems to be solved and the dropped connections issue seems to have been resolved.  I haven't a clue how that happened, surely it wasn't anything I did.  Now I'm wrestling with Photoshop issues, but that is for an Adobe forum.

 

Best wishes.

Update:

I have since joined Microsoft's tech forums and found the the following very interesting threads. I checked the screen resolution on the wall paper picture I was using as suggested below. Sure enough, It was the lower resolution that the screen kept reverting to. Also updated all the drivers. Shows you how much Dell's oversea tech support knows. Don't know yet if this will fix the problem, since as of yet there is no official fix but it can't hurt.

 

Paul

 

 Have a new Dell 640M laptop w/vista HP and when close the top while running
> and then reopen later the resolution has changed and must open display to
> reset.  Have been talking many too many times with dell, but no help.
>
> Any suggestions??

Just chiming in to let you know it's not a Dell problem. I have a new
Gateway laptop running Vista Ultimate and have the same frustrating problem.
Not always, but sometimes, when waking the machine up from sleep the
resolution has been reset at the lowest levels, moving all the icons around
my desktop. Acka...

mark

 

 

Where do you check the graphics/wallpaper res at?  My Intel 945GM card settings are 1280x800

 

Thanks  Jerry

Count me as having the same problem.  It does not have anything to do with the battery level as my E1505 will do it while the power plug is in.  Most of the time it will fix itself, but not always.  Now come on Dell Techs.... lets figure out what is going on here and suggest a fix.  I to am not about to do a reintall. Before I do that Dell can send me another compter.  By the way when my 1505 will not fix itself, I either re-boot or change the icons from small to large and then to small again and that will usually reset it.

 

Jerry

I was using one of the sample pictures that came with the computer, located in the pictures folder. If you are too, click on the picture in the folder and the resolution will be displayed. By the way, the sample picture I was using had the same screen resolution that my computer would revert back to,1024x768. Here is a site where you can pick what resolution you want to download. If you can't find the exact resolution picture, I would suggest using one just above your screen resolution setting, rather than one just below.

 

Paul

http://macdesktops.com/

Jerry,

 

Dell sending you a new computer probably won't fix the problem. See my post at the top of the page. Gateway and others running Vista are having the same glitch. It's likely a software compatability issue. The oversea techs go from a script. I wonder how many of these will go in for repair that don't really need it. From what I understand, the tech will make the call that it needs repair. The the repair shop will install a new/refurbished video card if that's what the tech put on the work order. He will test is a couple of times and send it back as fixed. The problem is that mine does it one time in ten so if the repair man don't see it happen, is it really fixed?. NOT!. I have decided to let this run its course. If there is a fix down the road, it will probably be a joint Dell/Microsoft solution. It could be something you will download from widows update one day and that will be that.

 

Paul

Thanks Paul.  The problem is not that great at this time for me to ever send this computer back to Dell..... hopefully if Bill Gates ever gets a fix for this problem, it will be posted on this thread.  I suspect they have much greater problems with Vista than this minor issue and therefore the priority of this problem is way down the line.