Cannot Display This Video Mode

[Damon]

So my typically random computer decided to throw another typically random
error at me, as usual rendering it completely unusable.

This time it started when I upgraded my GeForce 8800 GT graphics card
drivers from the latest official 175.19 driver to the unofficial (oops)
177.79 driver. It was recommended by my Driver Detective program so I went
with it... Bad idea. Suddenly none of my games worked. So I decided to "roll
back" to the 175.19. I did this by simply reinstalling the older driver,
overwriting all of the newer files. I had a feeling this might cause issues
but was in a hurry... This might have been a reckless act but I've done it
before with no issues.

I rebooted my computer and everything goes fine until Windows loads, then I
get a black screen and my computer monitor tells me "Cannot Display Video
Mode", an alarming error that I've never seen before. Everything else seems
to load fine but I can't see anything except for that message. I figure it
might be the monitor so I take an older model from the other room and plug
that in, reboot. This time the message is "Out of Range."

I figure this has something to do with the driver, so for the time being I
yank the 8800 out and hook the monitor back up to the Integrated Graphics
(Intel 82945G Express Chipset) that came with the computer and reboot,
Windows loads and I have an image! Yay! Everything works! But no GeForce
8800. :[ Boo.

I tried changing the resolution a few times and rebooting the computer with
the GeForce back in but I get the same "Video Mode" error from my monitor. I
tried running Setup at startup and fiddling with the video settings with the
GeForce plugged in with same result.

Does anyone know how to solve this?

I'm going to try a few things, I'm going to boot the computer with the
Geforce in and attempt to reinstall the newer 177.79 driver blindly, maybe
I'll do a System Restore, but first I want to know if anyone can solve this
bloodlessly.

Dell Dimension DM051
Pentium 4 CPU 3.0 GHz (dual-core)
0.99 GB of RAM
Windows XP Media Center Edition (Version 2002)(SP3)

I bought the GeForce 8800 GT (512 mb) separately, as well as the 500w power
supply necessary to run it. This was about two months ago, and I have had no
issues with it until now.

The monitor is a... Dell 16" LCD Flatscreen... Plug and Play(?), I typically
run in a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels, 32 bit color quality, the usual.
I keep my hard-drive in as tip-top shape as possible, weekly cleaning and
defrags, etc. but the thing just has issues.

If anyone can help but needs more information just ask.

Thanks! Damon

[Brian A.]

"Damon" <Damon@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:BC736535-CCA3-47D1-967C-7B619185BB3F@microsoft.com...
> So my typically random computer decided to throw another typically random
> error at me, as usual rendering it completely unusable.
>
> This time it started when I upgraded my GeForce 8800 GT graphics card
> drivers from the latest official 175.19 driver to the unofficial (oops)
> 177.79 driver. It was recommended by my Driver Detective program so I went
> with it... Bad idea. Suddenly none of my games worked. So I decided to "roll
> back" to the 175.19. I did this by simply reinstalling the older driver,
> overwriting all of the newer files. I had a feeling this might cause issues
> but was in a hurry... This might have been a reckless act but I've done it
> before with no issues.
>
> I rebooted my computer and everything goes fine until Windows loads, then I
> get a black screen and my computer monitor tells me "Cannot Display Video
> Mode", an alarming error that I've never seen before. Everything else seems
> to load fine but I can't see anything except for that message. I figure it
> might be the monitor so I take an older model from the other room and plug
> that in, reboot. This time the message is "Out of Range."
>
> I figure this has something to do with the driver, so for the time being I
> yank the 8800 out and hook the monitor back up to the Integrated Graphics
> (Intel 82945G Express Chipset) that came with the computer and reboot,
> Windows loads and I have an image! Yay! Everything works! But no GeForce
> 8800. :[ Boo.
>
> I tried changing the resolution a few times and rebooting the computer with
> the GeForce back in but I get the same "Video Mode" error from my monitor. I
> tried running Setup at startup and fiddling with the video settings with the
> GeForce plugged in with same result.
>
> Does anyone know how to solve this?
>
> I'm going to try a few things, I'm going to boot the computer with the
> Geforce in and attempt to reinstall the newer 177.79 driver blindly, maybe
> I'll do a System Restore, but first I want to know if anyone can solve this
> bloodlessly.
>
> Dell Dimension DM051
> Pentium 4 CPU 3.0 GHz (dual-core)
> 0.99 GB of RAM
> Windows XP Media Center Edition (Version 2002)(SP3)
>
> I bought the GeForce 8800 GT (512 mb) separately, as well as the 500w power
> supply necessary to run it. This was about two months ago, and I have had no
> issues with it until now.
>
> The monitor is a... Dell 16" LCD Flatscreen... Plug and Play(?), I typically
> run in a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels, 32 bit color quality, the usual.
> I keep my hard-drive in as tip-top shape as possible, weekly cleaning and
> defrags, etc. but the thing just has issues.
>
> If anyone can help but needs more information just ask.
>
> Thanks! Damon

Boot to Safe Mode > Explorer or MyComputer and delete the contents in:


C:\Documents and Settings\Your Username Folder\Local Settings\Temp
Click once in the right pane.
Press ctrl+a.
Press the Delete key.



C:\Windows\Temp

Click once in the right pane.
Press ctrl+a.
Press the Delete key.



C:\Windows\Prefetch

Click once in the right pane.
Press ctrl+a.
Press the Delete key.



Close out of Explorer/MyComputer back to your desktop.
Open Device Manager and uninstall Any/All devices listed in Display Adapters,
when completed close out back to the desktop and shut down.
Install the GeForce in the box.
Boot to the BIOS and disable the integrated/onboard video, save and exit to
reboot.
Windows will detect the new hardware and install the drivers. If possible, stop
Windows from installing the drivers and install them yourself to make sure
Windows doesn't reinstall the problem ones.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375