Mystery resolution change . . .

[putzfactor]

I'm pretty sure I'm not going crazy, but this morning when I got to work and woke up my computer, the resolution had changed to 640x480 and my Viewsonic VA1703wb 17" widescreen monitor was displaying a popup boxrecommending that I change my resolution to 1440x900.

First off, can something like this really happen by itself? Second, I'm almost positive that my resolution had been set at 1440x900 since I got it back on October 1. I've never had to adjust the resolution at all. The picture was crystal clear and I was happy. Now the 1440x900 setting isn't available and my monitor's image sucks no matter what I set it on because it is not it's "native setting," a term I just learned today. I updated the drivers to no avail.

My computer is currently running an Intel Q965/Q963 Express Chipset Family Accelerator set up, but I can't find any evidence that 1440x900 is even possible on it. But what happened to my image? How could it change and how can I get a quality image back? It really looks rotten.

I really am at a loss and I'm hoping someone can get me back on track. My IT people think I've lost my marbles!

Thanks in advance...

[Aaron_B_Intel]

I have seen the 14.32 drivers default back to some basic resolution (800x600 in my case) when the machine is rebooted or comes out of standby. But if you haven't yet upgraded to those drivers I am not sure what magically changed for you.

The Intel graphics should detect your monitor's capabilities and permit 1440x900 accordingly, and apparently that is no longer happening. There are several remedies:

1) a new VGA cable has worked in some instances

2) there is a registry setting called "BitBashingSupport" which can be changed from "0" to "3" in order to improve detection of monitor capabilities

3) you can attempt to set a custom resolution. This works best when you have access to the native timings from the monitor. Getting access to the raw EDID from Intel Graphics Tray, Information button, Save to Disk will help, but if all else fails try Googling for your monitor's name and "Modeline". You should be able to find the timing parameters for someone using your monitor out there. Heck, you might even search this forum to find out if someone else had this problem before... your monitor name appears vaguely familiar to me.

[putzfactor]

archibael:

Thank you for the informative reply. If you would just confirm for me implicitly that the graphics set up I have in my computer (mentioned in my original inquiry) will indeed run my monitor's native setting of 1440x900, I would greatly appreciate it. I intend to forward your reponse directly to my IT Director.

My IT people here at work do not believe that it is physically impossible that my monitor ever ran at 1440x900 and I am (almost) 100% certain that it did, before the mysery resolution reset that is.

I will look at step #3 of your recommended fixes when I get to work. I hope I can make sense of it and get my monitor back in order.

Thank you again.

[Aaron_B_Intel]

The x965 family should be able to run 1440x900 if your monitor will accept it. Note, however, that sometimes monitors have automatic scalers in the datapath and won't accept their own native resolutions. Usually this happens over DVI or HDMI, but I have heard of it occuring over VGA in rare occasions.

[putzfactor]

RESOLVED:

First, delete Viewsonic monitor driver from devices. Reboot. Install old driver from set up CD that came with monitor (VA1703wb). Download newest unsigned driver from Viewsonic. Upgrade old driver with new one. Reboot. Problem solved, 1440x900 resolution available again in settings.

Important note: This fix did not work if the new monitor driver is installed directly. The only thing that worked for me was to install the old one, then upgrade to the new one.

Hope this helps someone.