Windows will not accept dislplay customization

Question

My brand new computer keeps reverting back to the Windows XP display style, even after I customize it to display the classic style. Is it supposed to do this? Sometimes, the classic style will be highlighted and it STILL displays the Windows XP style. I will then have to click on 2 or 3 other styles, and then go back to highlight the classic style once again before it will take. I have to do this evey time I turn n the computer. What's wrong?

crstacy · Answer

I had a very similar issue that has now been resolved by a clean install. After every boot I would have a strange xp defualt theme instead of the classic. but the wallpaper stayed as classic. The min/max/close buttons were also the same size as classic, but skinned as XP Luna. I would apply the classic style only to get Luna back up when I started the computer again. On my last go I think I may have found the issue. I updated Sonics Record now and such to the latest patches and disabled the DLA. It seemed to have worked for me, but I did a clean install for my own piece of mind.

If you have sonic burning software use the update manager to install all of the latest patches and try your theme again. I think this will fix your issue.

Oh and Sonic was so bad since I only got the LE version preinstalled I bought Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 for about $15.00. Great software to use. I highly recomend it.

Message Edited by crstacy on 02-16-2006 05:33 PM

Paula_D · Answer

Thaks so much ,  I wish I had posted to the forum before now, because the Sonic Updater was such a problem that  I uninstalled it. All of a sudden, everytime I turned on my comp, an error message would appear that said that I needed to intall a sonic disk so that the sonic updater could work. Sonic came preinstalled on  my machine; I di dnot have a disc.  So I just uninstalled the Sonic Updater. Was that a big mistake? How do you disble the DLA?

crstacy · Answer

I've tried so many resources to try and fix the issue your having.  I dont think the DLA is the issue.  Sonic I think is.  To disable DLA go to my computer and properties.  There should be a tab called DLA.  Untick the box that says use DLA or something like that.  Sorry I'm not on that computer right now so I hope this helps.  The clean install was the best thing I could have done.  Just keep the hidden partition intact incase you need to restore it.  Go to http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm and dowload DSRfix.  Follow the instructions and prepare for a clean install.  I think all od Dell's fancy programs mess with the systems.  Sonic recorder that I have is only V0.7.  Isnt that still a beta build?  Try going to http://www.sonic.com and see if you can manualy download the patches.    Let me know if yu want to do a clean install.  I have some great programs that will help out.  I failed to install about 3 or 4 times, both with a BSOD due to windows not accepting my Raid drivers (F6 method.)  Now its clean and faster than ever.

Paula_D · Answer

I think it is fixed ! I rebooted a few times after uninstalling the sonic update manager. The classic system is still displaying.

But I can't get the monitor screen resolution to stay the same. Does yours stay the same?

I agree that Dell's extra software causes problems. I did not count on getting all of this stuff. It is unfortunate, because when I tried to call to get help with it, they told me that I would have to pay for software help. It's weird because we should not have to pay for help with unwanted software that interferes with a brand new computer; my comp is less than 3 monhs old. I got an error messgae that said that something in that Sonic program was "making my system unstable." When I get new CD sofware, I will uninstall Sonic completley. What is DLA? I'ts part of Sonic, right?

Sorry for rambling. What is a clean install, and will I have to back up all my information before doing it? Is it re-installing the operating system?

crstacy · Answer

DLA is part of Sonic, yes. Its now owned by Roxio as well.

A clean install is when you ask Dell for the back up disks from There support. Just tell them the issues you have been having and that nothing they want you to try will fix it. They will send the disks out to you and then promise to call you to help install which they wont do.

You then need to do a clean install. If its like mine the RAID drivers do not install with windows using a floppy disk so you will need to create a slipstreamed disk. A good learning experiance for anyone believe me on this one. If your not very adept at computing you may be at Dells mercy as these Forums can only do so much to help you. I can give you a few good links to go to and you can take it from there. They all have some good information and step by steps to follow. I'm so glad I did it. If I have any troubles I can still revert back to the factory settings and try it again thanks to another program called dsrfix.

I use are nlite, unnatended windows, and dsrfix. It took me about 3 hours of prep for the disk and about 30 minutes for the clean install. nLite is a very powerful program I would recomend it to everyone. You can google for these and they come straight up for you. Very important that you get the disks from Dell first. Come to think of it on my 9150 it has a utility that lets you create a windows disk. Maybe you can try that. If you let me know what your system is I will try and help you find what you need to get back up and running.

VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU FORMAT YOUR DISK. ALSO DONT ERASE THE UTILITY PARTITION UNLESS YOUR 300% SURE THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR SYSTEM BACK UP.

I had your same issue from the first boot up. took me three months to figure out a solution. Now I just hope that more people can be helped by my ordeal. Dell phone support has a lot to be desired. I'm glad I didnt get the extended warranty on this machine.

Message Edited by crstacy on 02-17-2006 10:24 AM

Windows General

Windows will not accept dislplay customization

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