Color and Resolution help!!!!!!

Kuragari · 19-08-2005, 22:03

ok, really random, i turn on my computer when i get home today from school and the colors and resolution are all wacked! it wasn't like that when i turned it off! it's permanently stuck on low color - 4bit, and the lowest resolution possible (icons are biggest)! i tried restarting my computer and it's the same thing again! i change the settings and click apply but it just puts it right back where it started! eeek! help!

swoop101 · 19-08-2005, 22:06

sounds like your video card/drivers are poorly.
Try reinstalling the drivers again, or if you are on windows xp do a system restore back to yesterday.

Kuragari · 19-08-2005, 22:08

sounds great, because it was not like this when i was using the computer yesterday, how do i do a system restore to yesterday?

nffc · 19-08-2005, 22:12

Try this first.
Start > Control Panel > Display > Settings > Advanced > Adapter > List all Modes > select the one you want...

If that's not working your display driver is corrupt or your card has failed.

swoop101 · 19-08-2005, 22:13

start/all programs/accesories/system tools/system restore - restore to an earlier time.

Kuragari · 19-08-2005, 22:15

heh, i'll try that, in a way i'm hoping it didn't fail, cause then my mom will be ****ed (she gets ****ed about the stupidest, most random things, and she's already been on a temper tantrum today), but then again, in a way, if it did fail, with a new card i could play battlefield 2....hhmmm, haha, ah well, we'll see

nffc · 19-08-2005, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoop101

start/all programs/accesories/system tools/system restore - restore to an earlier time.

Why the hell would you want to do that? The only time I ever tell someone to do that is when I'm talking to a total n00b over the phone

I'm pretty sure most PC problems can be fixed by someone on here.
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuragari

heh, i'll try that, in a way i'm hoping it didn't fail, cause then my mom will be ****ed (she gets ****ed about the stupidest, most random things, and she's already been on a temper tantrum today), but then again, in a way, if it did fail, with a new card i could play battlefield 2....hhmmm, haha, ah well, we'll see

OT: Just out of interest, how old are you?

swoop101 · 19-08-2005, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

Why the hell would you want to do that?

Quote:

how do i do a system restore to yesterday?

I answered the question, The OP obviously is not a computer 'expert' like you.

a system restore is the easiest way to try and sort a corrupt driver for a 'noob'

Kuragari · 19-08-2005, 22:26

yes, i am a newb, thank you very much, i know a few tricks, but by the standard for most people on this board, i am a newb in comparison
__________________

question, will this delete everything on my computer and restore everything to default or will it simply just put my computer exactly back the way it was at say, 6:00 pm yesterday

swoop101 · 19-08-2005, 22:28

system restore just puts it back to the previous time, it does not delete any files that you have worked on.

Plus you can always change it back again if you want.

nffc · 19-08-2005, 22:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoop101

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

Why the hell would you want to do that?

Quote:

how do i do a system restore to yesterday?

I answered the question, The OP obviously is not a computer 'expert' like you.

a system restore is the easiest way to try and sort a corrupt driver for a 'noob'

Per se, it doesn't fix it though. This will:

- Downloading the latest ATI or NVIDIA drivers from the ATI or NVIDIA site
- Removing the currently installed ATI or NVIDIA drivers in Add/Remove Programs
- DON'T REBOOT
- Right Click My Computer, click Manage, select Device Manager from the list on the left, expanding Display Adapters, right clicking, selecting uninstall
- DON'T REBOOT
- install the driver you just downloaded
- then reboot
- then reset the resolution to the one you want in Display Properties

Bonus of that is instead of a config that's failed once, you have a nigh-on guaranteed correct one, and the latest drivers to boot.

It's always a good idea if the knowledge is available, and the person you're helping can follow instructions, to try and fix the problem rather than use SysRes to gloss over the cracks

IMO

Kuragari · 19-08-2005, 22:37

alright, well, it worked, thank you very much, nffc, if i wasn't a newb, then why would i be asking something like this if it's "so simple"? a system restore took me all of a minute and worked easily, i don't see why you wouldn't suggest it to most people newb or no newb, thank you swoop101, and i'm 16, why?

edit: whatever the hell you just posted nffc looked way more confusing than a simple system restore, and i think the problem was because i downloaded something about my video card from windowsupdate.microsoft yesterday, and now it's perfectly fine, so go with the easy choice

nffc · 19-08-2005, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuragari

yes, i am a newb, thank you very much, i know a few tricks, but by the standard for most people on this board, i am a newb in comparison
__________________

question, will this delete everything on my computer and restore everything to default or will it simply just put my computer exactly back the way it was at say, 6:00 pm yesterday

1. n00bness isn't a problem though!

2. No, it will restore the system files back to as they were at the time the restore point was made.

ikthius · 20-08-2005, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

Per se, it doesn't fix it though. This will:

- Downloading the latest ATI or NVIDIA drivers from the ATI or NVIDIA site
- Removing the currently installed ATI or NVIDIA drivers in Add/Remove Programs
- DON'T REBOOT
- Right Click My Computer, click Manage, select Device Manager from the list on the left, expanding Display Adapters, right clicking, selecting uninstall
- DON'T REBOOT
- install the driver you just downloaded
- then reboot
- then reset the resolution to the one you want in Display Properties

Bonus of that is instead of a config that's failed once, you have a nigh-on guaranteed correct one, and the latest drivers to boot.

It's always a good idea if the knowledge is available, and the person you're helping can follow instructions, to try and fix the problem rather than use SysRes to gloss over the cracks

IMO

I would have followed this advice first, then you will have a better idea if it ever happens again.

System restore does not always work, as I had found out with a friends comp, but is easy to use.

You will not get used to your machine if you do not tinker with it, especially if it is slightly b*ggered.

if you are going to do something very detremental to your machine, the OS will ask you questions with warning signs, like:
Are you sure you want to totally destroy your Computer? Yes / No
usually pressing yes fixes the thing

ik