Monitor only running on 16 colours & 640x480

[Voodoo]

Hi there,

I was just wondering if someone could PLEASE help me out, because I am completely stuck.

For some reason, my computer will only allow me to select 16 colours, and set it on 640 x 480. I am running a P3, 500mhz with 132MB RAM. I have a 10G hard drive. I dont know if you need any other info, as I am not an extremely computer literate person!

Now, as I am sure you can imagine, it is very difficult to visit websites and the like with only 16 colours! I have no idea why this happened - I re-booted one day and it was like it. I dont know if my younger sister had anything to do with it, because she has been known to screw around and change things sometimes.

Anyway, if anyone can tell me how to fix this problem, or offer any suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.

Voodoo http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[sea69]

g'day mate http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Have friends in NSW..

If u mean 16bit(high color) as opposed to 32bit??

I have mine @ 800x600-16bit high color and thats what is optimum for my vid card and current monitor (so they say) .. I did try it @ 32 bit.. but saw no real diff..

In the display properties under "Settings" TAB.. on the left u should see a small box w/ a 'drop-down' menu offering diff choices - 16 colors, 256 colors, High color(16 bit), true color (32 bit). If these are all not offered perhaps ur vid-card or monitor do not support a higher number.

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-17-2001).]

[Albatator]

Hey Kangroo,

So how is Survior doing up there? Ha, ha!

Anyway this Problem happen to me! Don't know if this pertains to you but hey advice is free right?

I installed a new video card and my Windows ME give me their drivers and I was stick with only one settings and colors. (Just you are right now) Was yours working fine then Boom it was stuck?? Anyway tried these two suggestions, ok..

1) To play with the settings, right click on the desktop, Properties / Settings/ Advanced and click on the Adapter tab / Change.

Play with this and see if it finds an updated driver or if it didn't
recongnize the card correctly....

If you need to, change it to like SVGA (1024 x ?) and you should be able to
make these changes.


OR

2) Get a new driver from the internet. After you got the drivers, Unzip it with WinZip (I had trouble with that! I forgot to UnZip it) Go to Windows Exployer and Choose the location of where it is at.

Find the File and Right Mouse it with Extract to C:/thenameofthefile or B:/thenameofthefile. This will Unzip it, then see if Windows like your new drivers by installing it...

Not a Expert but I did this and it work for me.

Good Luck, let us know what happen.

[Voodoo]

Hi guys,

No, I didnt mean 16 bit - it will only run on 16 colours. There isnt even a 16 bit option. I havent tried in install any new drivers or anything. This is what makes it so strange.

If I was to download a drive off the net, which would be the best place to go, and what would be the best driver to use. As I said, I dont know a lot about computers, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I really want to fix this myself, so I dont have to pay someone a fortune to do it! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Thankx
Voodoo

[mjc]

Well he first thing you need is to know what video card you are using, then check the manufacturers website for that model's drivers.

If you post back with a little more info about your computer someone here should be able to help you find what you need. Things to include would be motherboard (mobo), brand of computer, brand of video card (or on board video), which operating system.



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mjc

[Albatator]

Hey, if you're stuck on 640 x 480 it definetly sounds like to have to update your drivers. I had the same problem. So let us know what driver you are using. There are a lot of Driver Places out there for you to download it.

Just make sure you unzip it the drivers first!!

"Get ready for the New Surivior!"

[Paleo Pete]

Windrivers (http://www.windrivers.com)

WinFiles (http://www.winfiles.com)

'nuff said...

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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[TGray59034]

Originally posted by Albatator:
Hey, if you're stuck on 640 x 480 it definetly sounds like to have to update your drivers. I had the same problem. So let us know what driver you are using. There are a lot of Driver Places out there for you to download it.

Just make sure you unzip it the drivers first!!

"Get ready for the New Surivior!"

I agree with you. I had the same problem and ran a driver update and that solved everything.

[jon]

Problem is not video card
just try to find floppy which came with your monitor ,and install drivers from it ,That's all !!!

[tjaymadison]

Try this. Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information. Click Tools, click System Configuration Utility, click the Advanced button. If the VGA 640 x 480 x 16 box is checked, click to clear it and click OK. Sorry, can't tell you how it might have gotten checked -- any pranksters around?

[Randy_tx]

The MOST likely reason you can only operate in 16 colors is that your Video Card's drivers became corrupted ......usually a cache write-back error will do it...doesnt happen very often but it Does happen. To fix it, follow mjc's post (you HAVE to know what the make/model of your video card is to get drivers)......then follow Pete's post to go get em.

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Always wondered where Silicone Valley was...saw a pic of Pamela Anderson...now I know

[Paleo Pete]

A note: Since I posted the above links I have found out Winfiles is no longer available. I was very disappointed, I normally use Windrivers (http://www.windrivers.com) when I need drivers, but winfiles had lots of other goodies, some of the best utilities out there...but they're gone now...

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

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Bruce]

That 3dfx card only runs on 16 bit and not 32. If you reinstall your
3dfx drivers you should be fine. Just got to your display afterward
and up them to 600-800 etc etc. The latest 3dfx drivers that came out
since your card came out are much better. Download them and install
the new ones. If you can't get them I can send them to you.

downeaster@adelphia.net

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Bruce