From Old to New

[Lori]

I've worked on getting a cheapie PC for my mom and so far I'm more than happy with it.[nbsp][nbsp]We're talking bare bones, no frills kind of thing but it's functional way better than the 386-66 that she had before.

It's a K6-2 500 and I've just completed the install of Win 98 etc.

However, it of course at the price she paid didn't come with a monitor so I gave her a spare that I've kept around for quite a while (just incase something happens). A PC without a monitor is like having no PC at all.

Anyway, apparently Windows is not wanting to acknowledge the monitor as anything but "unknown" and installs a common driver that's not working the way I want. I've looked and tweaked and done what I can but I'm still unable to get it to function correctly. I can see stuff just fine and all but I can't change the resolution or color scheme. It's default at 640 x 480 with 16 colors when I know that I've used it at 1024 x 768 and 256.

I have no documentation and it isn't even a brand name :( It's something I got from staples some time ago when a monitor I had fried and I had no choice but to grab something up un a hurry. :(

Any suggestions on how I may either find a better driver for it or force it to allow me to change the settings?[nbsp][nbsp]I don't need anymore than 800 x 600 and 256 but the way it is now I know it's gong to cause her problems in using the Internet. Teaching her to use a mouse at this point is challenge enough. *sigh*

Lori
- plug n play

[Fiend]

The resolution and color depth of the display are video card dependant.[nbsp][nbsp]Windows doesn't really pay attention to the monitor when you make changes to resolution or color depth, just as long as the video card is cappable of handling those settings it will push a monitor beyond its capabilities.

[Justin]

Fiend is right - go into Control Panel --> System --> Device Manager and look for any exclamation or question marks. Most likely it's a video card driver problem.

The *only* benefit of a "Plug 'n' play" monitor is that it won't allow resolutions that are beyond the monitor's range. With a non-PNP monitor, you just have to be careful not to go out of its range.

The res you are stuck at is standard VGA, like that used in Safe Mode - all video cards support it, thus Windows can do that regardless of the driver situation.

On a side note (not to hijack or anything), I just pieced together PC #4 for the living room... similar situation - P6 233 MMX, 64 megs, Trident video ($30), a $15 sound card, $19 network card, $50 case, and the rest from the junk pile :)[nbsp][nbsp]No real use other than having access to a PC from all the way in the living room, rather than walking :)

So I have the office/bedroom, living room, and car covered - just need a laptop to fill in everywhere else and I'll be all set :P

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Justin Nelson
FutureQuest (http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php) Support

[Dan Kaplan]

Wow, put a PC in the bathroom and you'll be a model of efficiency.[nbsp][nbsp]:)

Yours in hijacking.

[Justin]

The laptop would be good for the bathroom I think... I'd of course have to get a wireless PCMCIA network adapter though...

I saw a commercial where this guy had a headset/visor thing on, and was emailing etc while walking around... I think it was connected to a PDA of some sort. That might be neat, but only if it can play MP3's ;)

Or better yet, we can do away with all of this equipment and just get some sort of implant, which would be a full PC, connected to the net via PCS/cellular or something... I'd be willing to beta test that... :P

</LackOfSleepRant>

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Justin Nelson
FutureQuest (http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php) Support

[Lori]

Talk about a ... </LackOfSleepRant>
That where I was when I posted this to start with.

Unless there's something in the bios that I missed it can't be a video card issue as the one that's in there is ... 3D AGP Graphics with up to 8MB selectable 64-Bit Memory Data Bus interface. Direct Memory Access Shared from System Memory. 24-Bit true color RAMDAC up to 240MHz pixel clock.

The only exclamation points that I had were for a Joy Stick and that's been taken care of even though it could have been disabled since no one will ever use it.

I've used the monitor with a way old 512 card and it was great. Still I can't get this to work.

Lori
-- never a dull moment --

[Lori]

Argggg :o NEVER trust a tech support person who wants to argue something when it's clear that they are clueless to what they're talking about!

This was a software issue folks, something that they didn't send along but after tweaking and tweaking some more, I found the correct drivers for the video card and installed them. They weren't even close to what they'd sent so obviously I had to remove the whole thing and start over. At least now it's working perfectly no thanks to them. :P

Thanks Justin &amp; Fiend, I knew it was video card related but in my tired stupor I chose to believe what the company was telling me instead of going a step farther and questioning their fumbled configurations and set up.

Still glad I don't build them anymore but this time a box full of parts would have caused me less grief

Lori