Vista - monitor resolution problems

my resolution is set at 1360 x 768 but 3 different applications gave me a message saying monitor resolution must be at least 1024 x 768. 2 of those applications won't start because of this. i tried setting the resolution to 1024 xx 768 and updating my graphics driver (nvidia 8400 gs) and vista updates and tried on a different monitor, but noting worked. also another problem that i don't know if it's related, but sometimes when large windows are displayed, the bottom goes off the screen and i can't see it which is getting very annoying because most windows that have buttons have them at the bottom. any help?

what is the make and model of your monitor? is it listed correctly in display properties? are you using the latest nvidia graphics driver?
you should be able to create a custom resolution (if your screen goes blank, wait 10 seconds for it to revert back to previous setting)

are you connecting via d-sub, dvi or hdmi?

my monitor is a tv, insignia ns-lcd37. i tried updating my nvidia driver but it already has the latest driver. it's connected through vga and on the tv settings it says whatever resolution that i set it to on the control panel (which is really frustrating)

Insignia™ 37" Class / 720p / 60Hz / LCD HDTV : Insignia
this is the direct link to the manufacturers site for your specific product.
also are you just going into personalise and changing from there? It would probably be better to change the resolution through the Nvidia software.
check it out mate should be there in start/all programs/nvidia or something like that

i tried changing the resolution through the nvidia control panel, but no luck

what happened when you tried to do that?

i changed it from 1360 x 768 to 1024 x 768 and the screen went blank for a second, then it had margins on the side that were just black and the mouse wouldn't go, when i changed it back the desktop background "shrunk", there's now a black margin around the background, the icons are still in the same place and the mouse and windows will display over it like before, there's just a black margin around it.

because your tv is 1360 pixels accross ie _ not upwards ie |
you will find when you change it to something like that, it will simply not "stretch" so you need to be careful or it wont display properly. does it have hdmi or a dvi input?
you'll often find if you input through these sources the graphics card will automatically detect the resolution and all will be well in the tv world, that's all I can really suggest for now im sorry.

the tv has a hdmi input and the graphics card has a dvi output and i ordered a cable to connect them. hopefully it will work