Solved Vista not recognising native resolution

saffer · May 15, 2011

As the title suggests, Vista wont recognise the native resolution of my monitor. I recently reinstalled Windows after some fun times with a virus and subsequent hard drive format. However, after reinstalling Windows the resolution was fine (the native for my monitor is 1680x1050). It's only been the last three or four days that not only does it not allow me to select my native resolution from the display settings, it resets my resolution each (I've started changing it using my Nvidia control panel thing) time I turn my PC off.

I've tried looking up possible fixes and software updates for my monitor as well as updating graphics card drivers. After that didn't work, I wanted to try a system restore. In Vista's infinite wisdom and thoughtful programming though, the furthest I can revert back to is the 13th. This has been an issue since the 11th or 12th; I forget exactly when.

I've run out of ideas so if anyone could shed any light on this at all, I'd be really grateful. Thanks in advance.

I forgot to mention that after installing a few updates through the Windows updater, my framerate recording program, Fraps, no longer boots up on start up. It tries to but it gives me some error about Direct X. Needless to say, I tried updating Direct X but it said I was up to date and closed itself.

Arvinwebb · May 15, 2011

Hello Saffer, welcome to the forum

This would be more a NVIDIA driver problem I think. Just download your Nvidia GeForce 9600GT graphic card driver from the given below link and install manually. I hope, therafter you problem may be fixed.

Nvidia 9600GT graphic card driver

Thanks.
Arvin

saffer · May 15, 2011

Hi Arvin and thanks for your response. Although I've already tried updating my graphics card drivers on Friday, I'll try again to see if it fixes anything. If it doesn't work, what would you suggest I try next?

Edit: I've just checked the DXDIAG report and under the 'Display' tab it lists my monitor as a 'Generic Non-PnP Monitor'. I'm not sure but shouldn't that say PnP rather than Non-PnP? Or give me a name or model no. of my monitor?

So I reinstalled those drivers and I've had no success. What I have found though, is that Vista says the recommended resolution for a monitor of 20"+ is 1600 x 1200. Or so it says in Windows Help and Support. It thinks my native resolution is 1600 x 1200. It says this, but my monitor tells me that for the best display I should set it to 1680 x 1050, just like I've had it set for the last year or two. 1600 x 1200 also makes the text look strange.

Is there any way for me to change what Vista thinks is the native resolution for a monitor? Should Vista recognise my particular monitor? Also, I have a TV Monitor; it doubles as a TV and a PC monitor. Could that be causing an issue?

Arvinwebb · May 15, 2011

Hello Saffer,

Please go to these link given below. Just follow the advise and hopefully you may fix the problem.

Generic Non pnp Monitor Fix

Generic Non-Pnp Monitor problem

Hopefully you will come with a positive result.

Thanks.
Arvin

Note: Although the steps taken in this link are for Windows 7, but you can try these options.

MrNeeds · May 15, 2011

Can I just add to this post...

LG have certain monitors that will only detect the native resolution with the appropriate drivers installed, if you can remember the model number of your monitor, I can search for the drivers that you require(if needed of course).

MrNeeds

The Howling Wolves · May 15, 2011

Update LG DriversLG with Driver Performer

This may be a place to find your driver....

BLuehotdog5 · May 17, 2011

I think I'm having a similar problem, in NVIDIA control panel I can't select anything at all, does it look like this for you?

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/3275/errorgi.jpg (notice how where it normally say's the make of the monitor is messed up)

and I can't find out why either

is that the same problem your having?

saffer · May 22, 2011

So that driver performer thing was just malware. I now have lots of software like window shopper and some random toolbar for firefox that I didn't ask for. Cheers for that.

Anyway,

Arvinwebb said:
Hello Saffer,

Please go to these link given below. Just follow the advise and hopefully you may fix the problem.

Generic Non pnp Monitor Fix

Generic Non-Pnp Monitor problem

Hopefully you will come with a positive result.

Thanks.
Arvin

Note: Although the steps taken in this link are for Windows 7, but you can try these options.

Unfortunately these links didn't help. I can't find my model or anything similar to my model no. in the LG manufacturer section. I'm back at square one: using a "custom" resolution which is actually my native resolution of 1680x1050 by using the customise button in my Nvidia control panel. My resolution resets every time I leave or alt tab out of a game or restart my PC. Fraps, my video recording software, doesn't start up when Windows starts up anymore; it gives me an error about failing to initialise direct x. I've tried reinstalling direct x, but the installer closes after telling me I'm up to date.

BLuehotdog5 said:
I think I'm having a similar problem, in NVIDIA control panel I can't select anything at all, does it look like this for you?

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/3275/errorgi.jpg (notice how where it normally say's the make of the monitor is messed up)

and I can't find out why either

is that the same problem your having?

No mate, this is what I'm seeing:

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

MrNeeds said:
Can I just add to this post...

LG have certain monitors that will only detect the native resolution with the appropriate drivers installed, if you can remember the model number of your monitor, I can search for the drivers that you require(if needed of course).

MrNeeds

Hi mate, I have the LG Flatron Wide M228WA-BZ. It's a monitor TV.

Thank you all very much for your input, I really do appreciate it.

MrNeeds · May 22, 2011

saffer said:
MrNeeds said:

Can I just add to this post...

LG have certain monitors that will only detect the native resolution with the appropriate drivers installed, if you can remember the model number of your monitor, I can search for the drivers that you require(if needed of course).

MrNeeds

Click to expand...

Hi mate, I have the LG Flatron Wide M228WA-BZ. It's a monitor TV.

Thank you all very much for your input, I really do appreciate it.

had a look at LG site and found this LG Product Support for M228WA-BZ click on drivers and software and download the zip file, hope it helps

MrNeeds

saffer · May 22, 2011

Hi MrNeeds. I've downloaded this before, but I have no idea what to do with the files that come zipped. There's no executable file, only an .inf, .icm and a .cat file.

I read somewhere that you might have to put these into a system folder. I did that but to no avail, although what I was reading at the time wasn't advice aimed at my particular problem. Perhaps that is the route to go, but I might need to do one or two things differently (?).

MrNeeds · May 22, 2011

saffer said:
Hi MrNeeds. I've downloaded this before, but I have no idea what to do with the files that come zipped. There's no executable file, only an .inf, .icm and a .cat file.

I read somewhere that you might have to put these into a system folder. I did that but to no avail, although what I was reading at the time wasn't advice aimed at my particular problem. Perhaps that is the route to go, but I might need to do one or two things differently (?).

No, the inf file is a driver file, you need to go to device manager and right click "generic non-uPnP monitor" and update drivers, then browse for drivers and point it to the directory you have the files(unzipped) in, this will install the drivers for your monitor and you should be set :-)

MrNeeds

saffer · May 23, 2011

It tells me:

"The best driver software for your device is already installed
Windows has determined that the driver software for your device is up to date."

It still calls my monitor a Generic Non-PnP monitor and only gives me the option to close the window.

EDIT: Should I try disabling or uninstalling the software for my monitor and reinstalling it from scratch? Or would that disable video as well? I'm no good with DOS commands so I'd like to try avoid that if possible.

MrNeeds · May 23, 2011

saffer said:
It tells me:

"The best driver software for your device is already installed
Windows has determined that the driver software for your device is up to date."

It still calls my monitor a Generic Non-PnP monitor and only gives me the option to close the window.

EDIT: Should I try disabling or uninstalling the software for my monitor and reinstalling it from scratch? Or would that disable video as well? I'm no good with DOS commands so I'd like to try avoid that if possible.

it shouldn't affect it, go ahead and uninstall the drivers that are there for your monitor and install the new drivers, should work ok, keep us posted saffer.

Dave

saffer · May 24, 2011

I uninstalled the drivers but it's not changed anything. I've restarted and it's just back to the way it was before I uninstalled the drivers. Is there a way I can manually configure these sorts of things? Manually tell it what monitor I have and locate the files it needs and such?

In the Windows help, it tells me monitors of 20" and larger generally use a resolution of 1600x1200 for some reason. Can I change that so the default settings for this monitor are correct for my monitor? Also, when I run games some of them don't even support my resolution anymore; the list of resolutions they support has changed.

saffer · May 24, 2011

It really doesn't like 1680x1050 now. I've had to create the custom resolution again, but it keeps "forgetting" that resolution. Every time I open a game or restart now, it has forgotten that resolution and I have to recreate it again. Windows really is amazing... the fact that it can break itself like this is remarkable.

MrNeeds · May 24, 2011

saffer said:
It really doesn't like 1680x1050 now. I've had to create the custom resolution again, but it keeps "forgetting" that resolution. Every time I open a game or restart now, it has forgotten that resolution and I have to recreate it again. Windows really is amazing... the fact that it can break itself like this is remarkable.

I've never heard of that happening, strange indeed! The drivers are automatically installing on restart so you will never get the chance to install the new drivers, you need to re-install the newer drivers before you restart, if it asks you to restart after uninstalling then say no and re-install :-)

Dave

saffer · May 25, 2011

When I uninstall the drivers, it won't let me click on the properties of my monitor.

http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/8283/resolutionjpg2.jpg

I don't know how else to install these sorts of files? Also, uninstalling the drivers doesn't affect the resolutions listed by Vista... I would've thought I'd get none or at least the original resolutions shown?

Patonb · May 25, 2011

Try installing the inf file through the "Browse -> Let me choose -> Have disk"

Then browse to the file.

How are you connected? Analog, or dvi?

saffer · Jun 15, 2011

Sorry for taking such a long time to reply, I've been doing my exams and such. I'm connected by DVI and I've already tried the method of installation you mentioned before. I'll try redownloading my Nvidia drivers and the monitor drivers again and see how things go, just to humour myself in the mean time.

Patonb · Jun 15, 2011

Its your quater, take all the time yhou need, plus exams suck..... glad i'm done with them.

Solved Vista not recognising native resolution

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