Screen Resolution Crapshoot

[DJanda]

So far, this is an intermittent problem. But, for the past few days, the screen resolution that I have set up via the nVidia Control Panel may or may not be honored at boot-up. I have the screen resolution set for 1280x1024 pixels @ 60 Hz which is the "preferred" setting for my video card. Occasionally, when I boot up, the screen "blinks" on with the correct setting, then switches to 1024x768 pixels @ 60 Hz 

I am still in the process of characterizing the problem, but it is NOT the hardware -- I have a dual-boot setup with Vista Home Edition x64 on one disc partition and Windows 7 Ultimate x64 on another. Windows 7 boots up with the correct setting every time.

Another strange feature of this is that when the problem occurs at boot-up, all accounts (user and admin) on the Vista side of the house are affected. However, if I set the resolution for one account, the other is not affected. (i.e. I currently have the resolution set correctly for the 'admin' account. If I merely switch users without a reboot to the 'user' account, the display will blink on briefly with the correct resolution, then reset itself to the 'bad' resolution). 

Anyone have any suggestions?

[Spawn]

Sounds like a driver issue.
 
Spawn

[DJanda]

Sounds like a driver issue.

Makes sense. This would explain the disparity between the Vista and Win7 systems on my machine, see: "Win 7 RC on ASUS computers" http://bbs.blackviper.com/index.php/topic,1942.msg11718.html#msg11718 for details.

As noted in the referenced thread, have downloaded and installed the latest nVidea drivers. So -- I'll  be back only if the problem is 

[DJanda]

I'll  be back only if the problem is 

Ok. The problem is back and so am I. When I booted up this morning (with my new drivers installed) I had the 1024x768 pixel resolution. The screen didn't even blink the (as set) 1280x1024 resolution. It just went directly to the wrong one.

Any more suggestions 

[IH8U]

Give Driver Sweeper a shot. It is designed to search for and remove the remnants of video card drivers. So first uninstall your video card drivers and then run Driver Sweeper. Hopefully that will clear up the issue for you. Get Driver Sweeper @ http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/

[Spawn]

Have you also checked to make sure you have the newest monitor driver installed as well?
 
Spawn

[DJanda]

Give Driver Sweeper a shot. [snip] http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/

Thanks. I did that and everything is ok ... for now 

Have you also checked to make sure you have the newest monitor driver installed as well?

Thanks. I attempted this, which led to a entertaining afternoon. The problem resolves down to:
1). I have an LG1980Q monitor. Which is a rather good (i.e. quite fast) 19" LCD monitor.
2). LG doesn't even acknowledge that this monitor ever existed, let alone have updates for it.
3). The drivers that I received with the monitor are for Win95-98, ME, Win2K and XP, which is why I haven't installed them yet. Currently the monitor seems happy being a "generic PNP" type.

I tried misc. google searches with interesting but unhelpful returns.  I also tried "Driver Dectective" but it doesn't know anything either. I did email them to add my computer and monitor to their list -- who knows?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

[DJanda]

everything is ok ... for now

Not true -- Vista did it again 

Once again, any and all suggestions are appreciated.

[DJanda]

Things have improved somewhat. The problem is now down to about 1 in 10 boot-ups. It only seems to occur if something interrupts the flow of the boot process (i.e. something starts slow). Also, it only occurs now on my "user" account. The "admin" account does not seem to be affected.

I believe that what triggered the problem in the first place was the HP Photo organizer program that I mentioned in: http://bbs.blackviper.com/index.php/topic,1957.msg11590.html#msg11590

It managed to creep back in (via an update) when I wasn't paying attention. As I said before "Ya gotta stay on your toes." 

So... I'm still open to suggestions. Re-arranging my icons got old the first time I had to do it. The "fewer-pixel" screen rearranges the icons so that they fit -- in a somewhat mixed-up manner. Then, when I re-select my desired screen resolution. The icons remain in their mixed-up arrangement in the top left of the screen. 

Also, as per the following quotes from above:

Have you also checked to make sure you have the newest monitor driver installed as well?

I attempted this [snip]. The problem resolves down to:
1). I have an LG1980Q monitor. Which is a rather good (i.e. quite fast) 19" LCD monitor.
2). LG doesn't even acknowledge that this monitor ever existed, let alone have updates for it.
3). The drivers that I received with the monitor are for Win95-98, ME, Win2K and XP, which is why I haven't installed them yet. Currently the monitor seems happy being a "generic PNP" type.

I tried misc. google searches with interesting but unhelpful returns.  I also tried "Driver Dectective" but it doesn't know anything either.

I would still appreciate any suggestions as to acquiring a driver for this monitor on Vista/Win7.

Do any of you gurus think that the XP driver will work?

Will it fry anything if I try it?
Hmmmmmmmmm 

[WildcatDan]

Sometimes you can solve strange configuration issues by simply creating a new user account, transferring your data over, and killing off the old corrupted account.  It doesn't really help you to know exactly what went wrong but it has a tendency to solve problems like your's. 

[DJanda]

Thanks. However, having been a hardware-software integration engineer, I'm curious about the corruption.

If I don't find the answer before the actual release of Win7 in October, I'll give your suggestion a try -- I DON'T want to have a corrupted account transferred to Win7.

In fact, although it will be a major pain, I am thinking about wiping the disc, and doing a clean install of Win7. I'll then have to go through the process of re-installing all of my stuff (having saved all of my "data" to removable media of course  ). Any thoughts?