Why does me monitor suck?

**rjlohan** · Mar 22nd, 2002, 11:21 PM

I can't get the setting on me other PC above 16 colours and 640x400px...

Why? It used to be a reasonable setting, but since I got it, and reinstalled Windows, (and removed all the old stuff) I can't make it work properly.

I've tried plugging in this monitor, and using the drivers etc. off this computer, but it makes no difference...

Monitors don't really have driver disks, AFAIK, so what's gone wrong?

**Gandalf_Grey_** · Mar 22nd, 2002, 11:25 PM

maybe you just have a crappy video card

**rjlohan** · Mar 22nd, 2002, 11:26 PM

But I haven't changed any hardware, and it used to have full colour depth, etc. (To the extent DiabloII looked fine on it...)

jim mcnamara · Mar 22nd, 2002, 11:31 PM

Okay - your driver database is hosed.

If you know how to check driver versions, do so, using version checker, not properties. Windows is using a default windows driver, not the one from the video card manufacturer.

Next, go to the site of the card manufacturer and see what version of the driver you are supposed to use.

Get what you need and install it by using the update part of properties in My Computer > Device Manager etc.

**rjlohan** · Mar 22nd, 2002, 11:36 PM

Shall do. Ta.

**rjlohan** · Mar 22nd, 2002, 11:39 PM

then again, maybe I won't, since I don't know how...

#1) How to check the driver for the video card?
#2) How to find out what video card I've got on there - I have no idea really...

**Guv** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 12:24 AM

You could try the following.

Start, Settings, Control Panel.
Then Double Click on System, and Click the Device Mamager Tab.

One of the Devices should be the Display Adapter.
Click the + and you should see what Windows thinks is your adapter.

If you left click on it, you will see button near the bottom of the Device Manager Windows. Clicking Refresh Button is supposed to ask Windows to check the device and make sure it has the correct name.

Then Click the Properties button. You should see a Window which tells you if Windows thinks the device is working Okay. You cxan click on the Driver Tab and try the Update Options. Windows might be able to find and install the corrrect device driver.

As a last resort, Click on the Remove button and Restart the sytem. This will force Windows to go thorugh the Plug & Play scenarios, which might help.

If all of that fails, do an Internet Search for the Display Adapter name you found along the way (see above). The search might find you the Manufacturer Site, where you have a good chance of finding an option to download the latest driver.

If all else fails, open the case and look at the Display Adapter to find the Male, Model, & manufacturer.

**Guv** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 12:29 AM

You could try the following.

Start, Settings, Control Panel.
Then Double Click on System, and Click the Device Manager Tab.

One of the Devices should be the Display Adapter.
Click the + and you should see what Windows thinks is your adapter.

If you left click on it, you will see 5 Command Buttons near the bottom of the Device Manager Windows. Clicking Refresh Button is supposed to ask Windows to check the device and make sure it has the correct name.

Then Click the Properties Button. You should see a Window which tells you if Windows thinks the device is working Okay. You can click on the Driver Tab and try the Update Options. Windows might be able to find and install the corrrect device driver.

As a last resort, Click on the Remove button and Restart the sytem. This will force Windows to go through the Plug & Play scenarios, which might help.

If all of that fails, do an Internet Search for the Display Adapter name you found along the way (see above). The search might find you the Manufacturer Site, where you have a good chance of finding an option to download the latest driver.

If all else fails, open the case and look at the Display Adapter to find the Make, Model, & manufacturer. Then try a search using manufacturer and/or model name.

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 12:34 AM

Ok, I'll try that... thanks.

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 12:41 AM

Have you tried pluggin another monitor into the PC. The one you are using could be flocked.......

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 12:46 AM

Originally posted by rjlohan
I've tried plugging in this monitor, and using the drivers etc. off this computer, but it makes no difference...

Sure have...

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 12:52 AM

Originally posted by rjlohan

Sure have...

Jez never worked at a help desk before rj......golden rules

1. Always ask the same question in at least two different ways.

2. Tell the person what to do and wait for em to do it

So what was the result of using a different monitor, and am persuming the monitor you used worked fine on another machine...

Also what OS you got playing there....major differences in even various versions of Windows...

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 12:59 AM

You're checked out

Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Display -> Settings right...

Some software resets your screen resolution and forgets to reset after exit.....

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:00 AM

If you need a new monitor check your local Cash Convertors they normally have some cheap high quality ones available....

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:03 AM

Nothing changed when monitors were swapped - my good one suddenly had a max range of 16 colours...

Yeah, have checked the settings, about 100 times - I have an option for 16 colours only. And I can't change the display size...

Win98 on the one that ain't working - I upgraded it from Win95.
Win2K on this machine. The Win98 on the other used to be on this one, and gave good display settings.

am looking at BIOS upgrades now, although I doubt that'll help... like I said, it did work until I changed the OS...

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:09 AM

Upgrade version of Win98 or full version....

Win95 was still 16bits in parts, and Win98 Upgrade didn't fully overwrite everything.....mind you Win98 itself can still be right buggy in patches.......

We have all sorts of problems with it and SB Client which is a full 32 bit application that really stretches the PC's OS....if ya can get a hold of it go the full version of Win 98 SE......or above.....MS really started getting it right then....

Damn if l can think of a reason why only 16 colour is showen. Check the Hardware tabs on your System (Control Panel) maybe a conflict somehow happening....

Ok would normally only ask a non tech person this but just to cover all simple solutions, you did re-boot when you changed monitor right.....

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:13 AM

Yes, re-booted when changed monitor

- and also I've checked fo hardware conflicts, and there were none.

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:19 AM

Hmmm...sounds dicy....can you get into the PC's BIOS, normally doesn't have a lot to do with the video output, but what the hell there was a spate of Asian rip offs floating around a couple of years ago......Have you got the video card drivers from the manufacturer, try reloading those.

A new vid card is only about $30 if you don't need to blast aliens or run way intensive apps....

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:22 AM

Bloody hell - I got a BIOS checker thingy from AMI, and the results it got aren't in it's database, so I can't get any frigging upgrades...

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:23 AM

Originally posted by Jethro
Hmmm...sounds dicy....can you get into the PC's BIOS, normally doesn't have a lot to do with the video output, but what the hell there was a spate of Asian rip offs floating around a couple of years ago......Have you got the video card drivers from the manufacturer, try reloading those.

A new vid card is only about $30 if you don't need to blast aliens or run way intensive apps....

Yeah, **** it - I've got too much other crap to do. I'm gonna buy a new one. I'm sick of wasting time on this... it's a lost cause anyway - and no, don't have any original stuff - I don't think the original owner of that PC got any - it was built in a shop.

Stupid buggers...

*sigh*

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:27 AM

This is the best priced one I've found at cwsydney.com.au

OEM - 32M TNT2 M64 AGP VGA CARD - $70

What d'ya reckon?

Anyone else got a suggestion? (Australian vendors please...

)

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 01:39 AM

Sound good....check www.ht.com.au for a full price list. But $70 for a 32mb card sounds good, can email you our suppliers price list monday, but only carries 6 or so cards around the $100 mark..

Forgot the $30 dollar cards don't come with 32mg, so would be problematic on P4 machines......different power supplies...damn, my company is turning me into a geek, if l start spouting leet just shot me okay....

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 05:04 PM

Originally posted by Jethro
...if l start spouting leet just shot me okay....

Of course I'll do that for you...

The other PC is only a P2 or P3 I think - it's a few years old - it had Win95 installed on it, so it was bought prior to '98.

Hmmm.... better check if it's a PCI card - I assume it is...

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 11:44 PM

Well I finally managed to track down the right drivers for it, and it's all working spiffily again...

Thank god for C-Net...

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 11:51 PM

So you just reinstalled the video drivers....

**rjlohan** · Mar 23rd, 2002, 11:56 PM

Nah - I had to d/l some upgrade pack or something from C-Net...

I didn't find it when I was searching around yesterday, although I did find a bunch of stuff that didn't work...

Jethro · Mar 23rd, 2002, 11:59 PM

LOL

Always the way....

[wankaday mode]
Did you look on a computer site
[/wankaday mode]

**rjlohan** · Mar 24th, 2002, 12:03 AM

[prog_tom mode]
May I should plug my toaster into the microwave, to get high output radio frequency which enable the cortex of video monitor to televise at a complex hertz ratio
[/prog_tom mode]

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