Resolution settings not saving after reboot

[Krusher]

I am not sure whether a video technical support question should go in video or here, so I posted in both. If you read both categories, sorry about the duplication.

Recently I decided to upgrade the video drivers on my Radeon 9500.

Windows XP added a brown circle with a yellow "X" in my system tray near the clock, and when I clicked on it the text said something like "Your monitor is not set to the ideal resolution, shoud I do it for you?" I said No, and don't ask me again (so I could set it myself). I think I made a mistake on my answer when it was in 640 x 480 resolution (32 bit color). Now every time I reboot the computer, the login screen and desktop defaults to 640 x 480, 32 bit color even though I've been setting it to 1024 x 768, 75Hz after every boot. In effect, my resolution settings do not save.

It does not appear to be the Radeon drivers; I completely removed them, rebooted, and still get the 640 x 480 login screen. But at least it's in 32 bit color!

Does anyone know how I can re-enable the computer to ask me the question again so I can answer "yes", or edit the registry setting to yes? If I just install the Radeon drivers and don't touch a thing I'll boot up in 1024 x 768, but as soon as I change one thing and reboot, back to the gigantic icons. Arrgh.

Thanks.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

try un-installing the radeon drivers and the ati control panel, reboot, and re-install them.

 

[Krusher]

Thanks; that's what I tried up above and everything was kosher until I changed a setting.

I'm fairly convinced it's the automatic setting in XP, but don't know how to change it to "yes".

 

[vietofmars]

I've seen that message before too, once after installing new video drivers. Can't help u there.

Try going to display properties, Settings tab. Advanced button.
Then Adapter tab.

There should be a List All Modes button. Select the desired settings. apply, ok close.

reboot.

Does it work?

 

[Krusher]

Well I tried that and no luck. (Still booted in 640 x 480). But it was worth a shot since I had not tried setting the resolution that way before.

 

[vietofmars]

Lots of things to try, don't know if it'll work.

1. In display properties, settings tab, advanced. There is the compatiablity box. Try checking Restart the computer before applying settings. Then change your resolution.

2. There is driver rollback. Same as instuctions as my previous post but don't go to list all modes. Click the properties button. Driver tab and roll back driver button.

3. If all this fails, uninstall the Ati drivers, and also uninstall the display adapter from the Device manager and reboot. This will force windows to redetect your video card and hopefully it'll let you answer that question again.

Device manager can be opened with windows key + break key, then Hardware tab, device manager button in the middle box.

See if the default drivers gives you this problem.

I'm on AIM: viet777 message me if you want.

 

[Krusher]

I tried your first suggestion, and strangely after a reboot it 'undid' my selection and went back to the usual 640 x 480.

#2 and #3 I tried already. I also tried a post I found in the video forum about using "driver cleaner 2.0" to remove all of the ATI drivers and do a fresh install. That didn't work either but was worth a shot.

I still think that somehow the key is for me to answer "yes" to the automatic optimal setting, which forces the login screen to 1024x768. The answer is still out there somewhere.

 

[vietofmars]

Try system restore yet? That should roll back your registry and drivers to a previous versions.

I got that message box to appear when I set my resolution to 640x480 256 colors. using the list all modes button. Logged off, logged back in and up popped the message box.

I never checked the box saying don't ask again and I think u did, so you might not see that box again.

 

[Krusher]

Yep, now that I checked that "don't ask me again" I don't think that it will fix itself anymore. The system restore idea seems like a good one, I'll try that one tomorrow after I figure out what day I did the driver change.

 

[Krusher]

Ok I tried a reboot this time and used the F8 key to select "Use last know good configuration". And, this fixed it. I'm not sure how that differs than the system restore function.

I did lose a lot of information in the Zone Alarm program, (program firewall settings), but those needed a housecleaning anyway.

I am still sure that there was a way to fix it manually and I don't normally like automatic restores to be done for you, but it seemed to work good this time.

Thanks everyone.