Desktop Resolution +games=bad

Hi all..

I have a major problem here .
Today my computer started acting very wierd.. I fired up a game to play some and when i exited my desktop resolution was down to 640x400, even tho i cant choose that, minimum is 800x600..

And the tricky part is, when i try to set it back to 1280x1024 it tells me i may not have administration rights, so i cant change the resolution.
Well, i AM the administrator of this computer .

So i formated my C: station and hoped for the best, but still.. it is broken..

I got a Radeon x800 PRO.

I have installed a few programs that day that might have destroyed something, but after i formated the C: it should have been ok again, but its not..

The programs i installed:

eXlite
Tweak XP pro 4
Radlinker

 

Usually that sort of problem is caused by video drivers. Do you have the latest ati driers installed? If you just recently updated them you may also want to try going back one version and see if that stops it from occurring.

 

I just tried removing the newest catalyst driver and installing the Omega catalyst driver..

Still it gets borked when i exit a game..

Anyone got any clue?
Or where can i find older catalyst driver?
PS: I cant see why it would help with older drivers when it worked fine until one day it just said "naaah".

 

Really, you only had to go back if you had recently updated them. There is no point going back furthur if it was working previously.

I'm not really sure what else might be causing it though. You could always use the system restore feature in XP to rool back to a week ago when you weren't having this issue.

 

I did not install any new drivers prior to this incident...

And would that backup thing help even after a format? Because i formated and its still bugged..

 

Oops, sorry about that. No, the system restore thing would not be helpful.

I really don't know what to suggest then.

Only other thing i can see that even makes some sense is the video card is having some sort of cooling issue and it's turning down it's settings automaticly. Although I don't actually think they do that. You could double check the video cards temps just to be sure, but I don't really think that's the problem.

 

How do i check that without putting my finger on it ?

 

With all attempts gone wrong..

I was wondering if it is possible to "flash" the graphics card in some way? To get it back to its DEFAULT settings.. It may have been the tweakxp program that fugded it up..

Thanks in advance

 

Flashing a video card bios is possible. I can't really help you with it though. I just suggest using google to find the apps needed and the bios needed, as I'm pretty sure it changes quite a bit depending on the card. Although it's really not something I've done.

 

also, be VERY careful with Tweak XP. Sure it can do good things, but it can also cause very strange problems. try disbaling any options you may have fooled with in tweak XP.

if you're uncertain, on a fresh reformat, try the games BEFORE you install tweak XP.

i wouldnt be concerned about Tweak XP doing anything to the video card itself, so a risky GPU BIOS flash isnt necessary

 

Hi:

Since I don’t know exactly what version of XP you have, and am aware that you recently did a format C: here are a few things to look at:

Clean install XP again. If you don’t have SP2. get it here:
WinXP SP2 Manual Download/Off-line Installer http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

If you do have to get SP2, consider doing this before you clean install:
WinXP SP2 Slipstreaming: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

This is handy for the little things we can forget:
WinXP Clean Install http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

An SP2 install includes DirectX 9.0c but if you aren’t doing that you can get it here:
DirectX v9.0c http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.aspx?url=/windows/directx/downloads/default.htm

Since your card is ATI, stick with one version or other of their driver packages at first.
If you choose the drivers from another mfr, make sure all remnants of ATI’s software/drivers are removed.
Use this ATI tool: CATALYST Uninstaller http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/misc/catalystutils.html
It’s a good idea to use this tool when switching between ATI driver package versions too.

I don’t know what is on your ATI install disc but if you are trying to use the newer CCC (Control Panel Centre) instead of the older ATI Control panel, you need .NET Framework Version 1.1 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...E3-F589-4842-8157-034D1E7CF3A3&displaylang=en

Something I do with my monitors is to install the ICM files from the mfrs instead of leaving them with the generic PnP ones installed by Microsoft. Go to the monitor mfr’s site and download the ICM files (they may call them drivers … they aren’t) and load them onto your system. Often this is done via an INF load.

Then r-click desktop >Properties >Settings >select Monitor #1 >Advanced >Monitor >if monitor unnamed >Properties >Driver >Update Driver >select Not this time >select Install from a list or specific location [Advanced] >Next >Select Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install. >Next >uncheck Show compatible hardware >select your monitor’s mfr from Mfr list and your monitor model number from Model list > NEXT >ignore warning and install anyway and Apply/OK your way out.
That should end Microsoft’s confusion as to the proper resolution/refresh rates for your specific monitor.

My video setup:
ATI Radeon 9800 XT 256MB AGP retail (Cat5.1)
DV-I: Primary/Monitor #1 Samsung SyncMaster 213T Black 21.3” TFT
1600x1200 32bit 60Hz (native)
VGA: Secondary/Monitor #2 ViewSonic P225f 22” Aperture Grille CRT
1600x1200 32bit 85Hz
WindowsXP HE clean slipstream SP2

Hope something in the above helped,