can't set proper monitor resolution

[farmkid]

So I have a problem I hope someone here can help me with. This is odd for me because I'm usually the one people come to to fix this kind of thing.

My father-in-law's monitor was dying, so I got him a 19 inch LCD. It works fine, but the computer will not run at the right resolution for it. It should be 1440X900, but that is not an option in the settings. He was using an old GeForce2 MX card, so thinking the card just couldn't handle the resolution, I traded him for another old GeForce2 GTS I had sitting around. Not much better, but still, better. And yes, it is an old computer. It still doesn't list 1440X900 as an option. It lists higher resolutions, up to 1600X1200, and the monitor will accept the signal, but again, those higher resolutions don't look good. It seems all the resolutions, widescreen and 4:3, around the right resolution are there, but not the right one. It seems that there is something funky with his Windows installation, but I think reinstallation on Windows is too extreme for this problem. Does anyone know if there is some way I can manually set the resolution? I've hear of doing it directly in the registry, but I've never tried it myself.

I won't be at his house for a while, so I won't be able to try anyone's suggestions right away. Just post your ideas and I'll try them when I have access to the computer again. Thanks.

 

[GodThingFormerly]

Is your GeForce card running the latest drivers from Nvidia.com? Also, did the monitor come with its own driver files on CD/DVD?

TGT

 

[farmkid]

The drivers are no longer available from Nvidia. I did find some recent drivers, but it has been long enough since then that I can't remember where. As for the monitor, yes, it did come with a CD with drivers. I installed them, but it didn't seem to work. The monitor type in system properties is still listed as standard monitor types. That's why I think the problem is in Windows itself.

 

[USS KG5]

The drivers are no longer available from Nvidia. I did find some recent drivers, but it has been long enough since then that I can't remember where. As for the monitor, yes, it did come with a CD with drivers. I installed them, but it didn't seem to work. The monitor type in system properties is still listed as standard monitor types. That's why I think the problem is in Windows itself.

I'm willing to bet you can still get drivers from nVidia - you might need to look under "Legacy Drivers" but they should be available.

Monitor drivers will be on a CD that came with the monitor probably but it is possible, if not highly likely, that the widescreen resolution you desire simply is not supported by your old graphics card, or at least any drivers written for it.

 

[I Grok Spock]

^What he said. Go to: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

Under "Product Type" select "Legacy" then use "Product Series" and "Product" to select the appropriate one. Looks like there is a GeForce2 GTS/Pro option. Also you can specify operating system version, etc.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

...also get the drivers (actually more of a definition file than a "real" driver) for the monitor. Often the "default monitor" that windows will valiantly try to use has limited but very common VGA ans SVGA settings as opposed to what the monitor is actually capable of doing.

AG

 

[farmkid]

^What he said. Go to: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

Under "Product Type" select "Legacy" then use "Product Series" and "Product" to select the appropriate one. Looks like there is a GeForce2 GTS/Pro option. Also you can specify operating system version, etc.

I have those ones, but they are hardly new. The date is something like April 2005.

...also get the drivers (actually more of a definition file than a "real" driver) for the monitor. Often the "default monitor" that windows will valiantly try to use has limited but very common VGA ans SVGA settings as opposed to what the monitor is actually capable of doing.

AG

I've tried to install them several times, but Windows still shows the default. The proper resolution is the normal 1440X900 for 19" widescreen monitors. The options available (as near as I can remember, I'm probably missing a few) are 800X600, 1024X768, 1280X800, 1280X960, 1152X864, 1280X1024, 1366X768, 1440X960, 1600X1200, and 1680X1050. Some of them look okay, things are still blurry. I know the monitor works well and should be at 1440X900 because I used it several months before giving it to him. The computer just won't list the one resolution there should be. Does anyone know how to set it manually in the registry, and if there is any danger of damaging anything?

 

[MadMan1701A]

^What he said. Go to: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

Under "Product Type" select "Legacy" then use "Product Series" and "Product" to select the appropriate one. Looks like there is a GeForce2 GTS/Pro option. Also you can specify operating system version, etc.

I have those ones, but they are hardly new. The date is something like April 2005.

...also get the drivers (actually more of a definition file than a "real" driver) for the monitor. Often the "default monitor" that windows will valiantly try to use has limited but very common VGA ans SVGA settings as opposed to what the monitor is actually capable of doing.

AG

I've tried to install them several times, but Windows still shows the default. The proper resolution is the normal 1440X900 for 19" widescreen monitors. The options available (as near as I can remember, I'm probably missing a few) are 800X600, 1024X768, 1280X800, 1280X960, 1152X864, 1280X1024, 1366X768, 1440X960, 1600X1200, and 1680X1050. Some of them look okay, things are still blurry. I know the monitor works well and should be at 1440X900 because I used it several months before giving it to him. The computer just won't list the one resolution there should be. Does anyone know how to set it manually in the registry, and if there is any danger of damaging anything?

Even if you set it manually, it will not work. That old series of cards simply does not support widescreen resolutions. I think you have to get at least up to a GeForce 4 TI series before they do. I think the GeForce MX's might do it as well.

Good Luck...

 

[farmkid]

Even if you set it manually, it will not work. That old series of cards simply does not support widescreen resolutions. I think you have to get at least up to a GeForce 4 TI series before they do. I think the GeForce MX's might do it as well.

Good Luck...

Acutally, it does support widescreen. It lists several widescreen resolutions, both above and below the desired 1440X900, that all work fine. It just doesn't offer the proper one.

 

[Noname Given]

Even if you set it manually, it will not work. That old series of cards simply does not support widescreen resolutions. I think you have to get at least up to a GeForce 4 TI series before they do. I think the GeForce MX's might do it as well.

Good Luck...

Acutally, it does support widescreen. It lists several widescreen resolutions, both above and below the desired 1440X900, that all work fine. It just doesn't offer the proper one.

It's because the video card in question doesn't have enough on board ram (it's probably only 8 or 16 MB max) to run the monitor at that high of a resolution. The only modes that won't be greyed out are the ones it can run. That is an ancient card by today's standards.

 

[farmkid]

Even if you set it manually, it will not work. That old series of cards simply does not support widescreen resolutions. I think you have to get at least up to a GeForce 4 TI series before they do. I think the GeForce MX's might do it as well.

Good Luck...

Acutally, it does support widescreen. It lists several widescreen resolutions, both above and below the desired 1440X900, that all work fine. It just doesn't offer the proper one.

It's because the video card in question doesn't have enough on board ram (it's probably only 8 or 16 MB max) to run the monitor at that high of a resolution. The only modes that won't be greyed out are the ones it can run. That is an ancient card by today's standards.

I don't think it's a RAM issue. I think it has 64 MB, but it might be only 32 MB. It will run 1600X1200 and 1680X1050 just fine, it just looks like crap. (Frankly, I'm surprised the monitor will even accept those higher resolutions without complaining.)