Windows '98 problem

assistance required

[Millreef3]

I recently had occasion to reload Window '98. Everything is now twice as big which looks ridiculous on the 17" high resolution monitor. The display which was previously set at 1028 x 768 pixels, 16-bit colour, now refuses to be re-set at anything above 640 x 480 pixels, 16 colours, however many attempts are made using Display Properties then Settings. Could someone give me detailed instructions on how to remedy this?

[jatar_k]

it sounds like it is using a default display driver or a non updated version of the driver but I am far from an expert. I think that is in settings>control panel>system under device manager. Click on the display adapter and then properties and there you can click on update driver.

not totally sure

[oilman]

You likely need to reinstall your video card drivers.

<added>
jatar beat me to it ;)

[Millreef3]

I have also reloaded the drivers but perhaps they are not taking. Has anyone detailed instructions how to get Windows 98 off the default setting e.g. using Run because everything possible has been tried using the graphical display provided by Display Properties?

[jatar_k]

if your drivers are all properly set then I am not sure.

I will try and get someone in here who can maybe answer more expertly.

[diddlydazz]

Millreef,

What graphics card are you using ?

dazz

[pageoneresults]

Go to start > control panel > display > settings

Tell us what it says for Display:

That will tell you if your graphics card is being recognized.

Now, go to control panel > system > device manager >

Are there any ? marks next to any of the devices listed? If so, what is it telling you when you expand the folder?

Double check > display adapter and make sure it is recognizing the graphics card. This should be a shortened description of what you see as Display: in the settings.

Also check your monitors and make sure your monitor is being recognized. Man, its been so long since I had to reinstall but I think those are the primary areas to look at.

Last time I had to reinstall Windows 98 was in 99 due to a trojan that got through, man that was a mess!

[Millreef3]

Display:
NEC VR17 on 3Dfx Voodoo3

Device Manager:
Monitors: NEC VR17
Display Adapters: 3Dfx Voodoo3

Definitely loaded. Being recognized.

There must be some part of win.ini or a similar file or the Registry or whatever where it is encoded what the screen sizes and number of colours should be. The values can then be changed. If someone could point how to get there, what to look for and what to change a solution should be available.

[pageoneresults]

Yes, something is up with the settings of your monitor or display adapter.

Your monitor and display adapter determine whether you can change your screen resolution. Your monitor and display adapter determine the maximum number of colors that can appear on your monitor.

One last shot. When you are in the device manager, right click on the display adapter and go to properties. Go to the drivers tab and click on update driver. Do that for both the display adapter and the monitor. Click okay, restart and see what happens.

Something is definitely not right with one of those two areas.

[Millreef3]

Thanks. You appear to have solved it well but not in precisely the way anticipated. Searched for a 'better' driver and a standard VGA driver was substituted as a result. It was worse because it only had a choice of 2 colours or 16 colours! So had to reload Voodoo(for the third time) but because this time it had something other than itself to replace it took and is working properly. I'd say Windows '98 is full of bugs not Voodoo software.

If for some reason the problem recurs, I'll keep you posted.

[pageoneresults]

Great! Glad to be of help. I don't think it is really a windows bug more than how things are loaded and in what order. I may be wrong but there are certain steps and sequences to take when loading drivers and if something is done out of sequence then things like this happen.

Good luck!