Help for a computer idiot?

Shannon · 08-29-2003, 08:43 AM

I turned on my computer this morning and found the colors all messed up and everything is much larger than normal. I'm clueless how to fix this.

As soon as I turned the computer on, it gave me "There is a problem with your display settings. The adapter type is incorrect, or the current settings do not work with your hardward."

Then I clicked "Okay", and it brought me to settings. Colors were set at 16 colors, and screen area is 640 by 480 pixels. It wouldn't allow me to change either one.

Can someone help me???

Shannon
33 year old T4/5 complete
25 years post

Steven Edwards · 08-29-2003, 09:55 AM

Reboot, go to Start->Settings->Control Panel and click on Display. Click the Settings tab at the top and see if you can change them from there.

-Steven

Shannon · 08-29-2003, 10:15 AM

Didn't work Steven. It still won't let me change anything. Any other ideas?

Shannon
33 year old T4/5 complete
25 years post

Steven Edwards · 08-29-2003, 10:24 AM

Do you still have your Windows install CD?

-Steven

Shannon · 08-29-2003, 12:07 PM

Gosh, I don't know. I can look for it, but I'm not sure I'll find it.

Would I need to get rid of everything and reinstall windows?

Shannon
33 year old T4/5 complete
25 years post

Steven Edwards · 08-29-2003, 12:40 PM

No, you'd just need to reinstall the driver for your Display Adapter.

-Steven

BlkDiamond · 08-29-2003, 12:57 PM

Typically, Windows reverts back to this video setting when it doesn't have the correct driver loaded, for whatever reason.

Don't know what version of Windows you have, but somewhere in your video settings is an advanced or driver update button. Try re-selecting or detecting your video adapter again. .(Might try the Add Hardware Wizard to detect it also.) You'll need your Windows CD Steven mentioned earlier or better would be the adapter's original driver disks. If it doesn't find your specific adapter, try one of the generic drivers Windows provides.

"Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created
them."

Shannon · 08-29-2003, 05:23 PM

Thanks guys. I hope I can find it...

Shannon
33 year old T4/5 complete
25 years post

Shannon · 08-30-2003, 10:38 AM

I found the Windows CD, but would you be able to tell me what to do now? And keep in mind that I am a computer idiot!

Shannon
33 year old T4/5 complete
25 years post

Shannon · 08-30-2003, 03:47 PM

A friend fixed it for me.

Shannon
33 year old T4/5 complete
25 years post

08-29-2003, 08:43 AM	#1
Shannon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,947	Help for a computer idiot? I turned on my computer this morning and found the colors all messed up and everything is much larger than normal. I'm clueless how to fix this. As soon as I turned the computer on, it gave me "There is a problem with your display settings. The adapter type is incorrect, or the current settings do not work with your hardward." Then I clicked "Okay", and it brought me to settings. Colors were set at 16 colors, and screen area is 640 by 480 pixels. It wouldn't allow me to change either one. Can someone help me??? Shannon 33 year old T4/5 complete 25 years post

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08-29-2003, 09:55 AM	#2
Steven Edwards Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Acme Labs Posts: 15,530	Reboot, go to Start->Settings->Control Panel and click on Display. Click the Settings tab at the top and see if you can change them from there. -Steven

08-29-2003, 10:15 AM	#3
Shannon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,947	Didn't work Steven. It still won't let me change anything. Any other ideas? Shannon 33 year old T4/5 complete 25 years post

08-29-2003, 10:24 AM	#4
Steven Edwards Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Acme Labs Posts: 15,530	Do you still have your Windows install CD? -Steven

08-29-2003, 12:07 PM	#5
Shannon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,947	Gosh, I don't know. I can look for it, but I'm not sure I'll find it. Would I need to get rid of everything and reinstall windows? Shannon 33 year old T4/5 complete 25 years post

08-29-2003, 12:40 PM	#6
Steven Edwards Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Acme Labs Posts: 15,530	No, you'd just need to reinstall the driver for your Display Adapter. -Steven

08-29-2003, 12:57 PM	#7
BlkDiamond Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 33	Typically, Windows reverts back to this video setting when it doesn't have the correct driver loaded, for whatever reason. Don't know what version of Windows you have, but somewhere in your video settings is an advanced or driver update button. Try re-selecting or detecting your video adapter again. .(Might try the Add Hardware Wizard to detect it also.) You'll need your Windows CD Steven mentioned earlier or better would be the adapter's original driver disks. If it doesn't find your specific adapter, try one of the generic drivers Windows provides. "Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them."

08-29-2003, 05:23 PM	#8
Shannon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,947	Thanks guys. I hope I can find it... Shannon 33 year old T4/5 complete 25 years post

08-30-2003, 10:38 AM	#9
Shannon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,947	I found the Windows CD, but would you be able to tell me what to do now? And keep in mind that I am a computer idiot! Shannon 33 year old T4/5 complete 25 years post

08-30-2003, 03:47 PM	#10
Shannon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,947	A friend fixed it for me. Shannon 33 year old T4/5 complete 25 years post