got an i8600 w/ 15.4 wsxga+. out of the box it's resolution was at 1680x1050. it was a beautiful thing. now i have gone and installed SP2 and the highest resolution i can get is 1280x1024.

things i've done since problem:
-install latest nVidia drivers
-call Dell tech support
-uninstall SP2 (didn't uninstall)
-system restore to day before SP2 (this seemed to fix it until
the icons loaded, then the screen blanked out and went back to
1280x1024)
-call MS support
-reinstall SP2
-reinstall nVidia drivers

so for a time there, not really sure when exactly, i would get a pop up at start up saying that the optimum resolution was 1680x1050 but would not have any links from that window to change the display settings. so next obvious thing to do was to open display properties myself and low and behold in the settings tab 1280x1024 is not the highest resolution, there is one higher and yes it is 1680x1050. move the slider and hit apply.... 2 errors-> 1st. display settings can not be changed, check admin settings 2nd. display setting are not possible and will not be saved.

only thoughts i still have...
i did some snooping around and in the hardware manager there are 3 default monitors, i removed them all and restarted and i am back to 3 default monitors. in XP help there is something about windows not looking at the right monitor and this could effect settings, so i check out the 3 default monitors and they all are the default MS drivers. it looks like (from the Dell page) that the LCD is from Samsung but it does not give a model number and Dell dowsn't seem to have drivers for it. Samsung doesn't seem to either, or they are using another numbering system and i don't know which is which.

anyone having this problem? had it fixed? or have any bright ideas otherwise?