Monitor out of sync at 640X480/16

[stephawey]

I did ask the discussion group before, but nobody seemed to know how to fix this, I am really stuck! Please help....

Mt monitor is out of sync at screen resolution 640X480 in 16 colors. It used to be a problem for other HIGHER resolution/colors comninations too but I was able to re-sync my monitor by changing the v-sync using display properties/settings/advance/adjustment/v-sync. Recently, I found the program "PowerStrip" also has that v-sync function. When the monitor is out of sync, I get a 5-6 inch tall screen that span the width of the monitor. Please note that the "adjustment tab" in display properties is an ATI proprietary tab (ie. came with ATI video driver)

Strange enough that "PowerStrip" does not operate at 640X480/16, a pop-up message indicates that it doesn't work in that resolution and SAFE mode. Similarly, the "adjustment tab" is also missing in 16 color. So, I have no way to re-sync my monitor in this particular screen resolution. Unfortunately, this screen mode is what SAFE mode uses and the boot-up screen use. For some reasons my game Rougue Squadron is also affected.

My PC is P166MMX, with 64 Mb RAM. Win 98 SE. I disabled the on-board 2 Mb ATI RAGE II when I tried to fix this problem and replaced it with an ATI XPERT 8 Mb PCI video card. Didn't help at all. The MONSTER voodoo II card had no influence on the problem because I did remove it before and didn't correct the problem. Since the problem, I updated the PC BIOS, the video drivers etc. I also reset the CMOS before. Well, if I use another monitor, the signal is normal, so somehow my original monitor is out-of-sync in only one mode but OK when I used another monitor!

Here are my questions:
1) Where does the PC store the information about the sync settings when I turn off the PC? Can I change that setting?
2) Is there a physical knobs/buttons inside the monitor for synchronization (like some old TVs)?
3) Is there a software that I can use to perform sync in 16 colors?
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

[Paleo Pete]

Don't open the monitor unless you're trained in TV/monitor repair. It's highly unhealthy in there...

Some monitors have the settings you're looking for on the front panel. Sometimes it's a single button that brings up a menu of different settings, with other buttons to scroll to what you need. I think some also are operated by software.

I think it's monitor settings here, not video card, look up the manufacturer's website and see if they might have a manual for it. That would help a lot...

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[stephawey]

IBM phone and online tech supports were hopeless! There is no info at all. The IBM guy on the phone asked me to buy a new monitor....conflict of interest here! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

Since I was able to sync the other higher color/resolution combo, there must be a place where the sync settings are stored, how can I access this? See, I only had to sync the other C/R modes once, the comp seems to remember the settings after I reboot.

The System.ini showed
[boot]
display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv

[boot description]
display.drv=XPERT 98 PCI (English)

[Display]
????blank here...is it supposed to be blank?

[Paleo Pete]

I don't have a [Display] category, you might try putting a semi=colon ( http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif in front of ther category, save changes and reboot. The system might be having problems because of a section in system.ini with nothing in it...I'm not sure, I haven't seen that one before.

You might also try removing the video card from Device Manager in Safe Mode, and remove ALL video cards shown, reboot and let windows find it again, see if that helps. I don't think it's a video card problem, sounds more like monitor, but it might be...

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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[tjaymadison]

If you have no problems when using a different monitor on your system, take the next logical step -- hook the "bad" monitor up to a different PC. If the problem duplicates itself, I think you'll have your answer.

If not, are you overclocking? Depending on the OC method, your bus speed may be affected, causing video problems.

Do you have options in your BIOS setup for things like "VGA palette snoop" or "video BIOS shadow"? Set those to the default per your manual. I'd be very leery using third-party or downloaded software that makes video hardware adjustments. Monitors can be permanently damaged by forcing signals they are not designed to handle.

Look on the mfr's web site for a model-specific driver or an .INF file for your monitor. They usually have installation instructions, and sometimes FAQ and trouble-shooting tips.

[stephawey]

Pete, my laptop system.ini also have [Display] category, inside there is a single line that says "svgamode=106". My laptop runs in SVGA mode normally (except in SAFE mode). Perhaps, I should also have a line in here that say "vgamode=???", do you what number I should try?

TJay,
Here are what I have tried:

Plugging the CRT monitor into my laptop yielded a scrambled screen in SAFE mode. So, that again tells me that the CRT monitor is the problem. The laptop used the correct monitor driver as shown in Device Manager. Toggling between laptop TFT and CRT monitors gave me a normal screen in TFT but a scrambled screen in CRT. No problem if I change to another screen modes.

I restored BIOS setup to manufacturer's default, no change. I cannot find "VGA palette snoop" in my BIOS.

Nope, I have never OC my desktop.

Any other ideas? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif