Colour/resolution - help urgently needed!

  • Thread starter Thread starter EJRocky
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EJRocky

EJRocky

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Okay, so my computer was fine yesterday... nothing wrong at all. However, I start it up today, and the resolution and colours are way out - I normally have 1024x768 pixels, with 32 bit colour... but now it seems to be stuck on 16 colours - yes, sixteen colours - and 640x480.

I thought to myself, this'll be easy to fix, I'll just go into the Display Properties box. So I see the settings - 640x480 and sixteen colours - and think it'll be an easy matter of resetting the sliders. However, when I click either a new resolution or colour setting, when I click Apply, it just goes back to what it was originally - so it's literally stuck in these settings. Plus, whenever I clicked Apply, I usually got a dialog box having the option to restart, or not restart, to apply the new settings - now it just comes up with a box saying I HAVE to restart. I tried going into Advanced, and clicking "apply new settings without restarting", but the same thing just happens... it's completely stuck in these settings. Plus I used to be able to select 32-bit colour, now it only goes up to 16-bit... as if it matters, because it only goes back to sixteen colours anyway :scared:

As a matter of fact, it was like the movie Apollo 13 just getting here to GTP :p

I desperately need help here... and fast... I'm using Windows 98SE, and the graphics card - if it matters - is a Matrox MGA Mystique. I don't really know anything more than that.

Help! :scared:
 
I'm no expert on PC matters, but to me it sounds like a problem with the graphics card and the machine has just defaulted to it's basic settings. Open her up and make sure the graphic card is properly seated in it's slot and all the wires are connected fully. It might be time for a new one :sick:
 
Windows 98, wow, in 2008 ;p

It sounds like a problem with the drivers of your videocard, or a problem with your videocard.
That is assuming you are not in 'safe mode' :)
Did you try the restart anyway?

Try it with a restart and if that does not work
Uninstall your video card drivers. according to matrox via 'add and remove programs' and if it is not there you can use their 'uninstall utility'
(it can hardly get worse then it is now (640.480 16 colours).
So you don't have to 'apollo 13' through the Matrox site, the drivers for the Matrox Mystique G200 for win98 can be found here

Good luck ;)
 
It sounds like a problem with well... You're running Windows 98. You've got other problems to worry about first.

Besides that, as above - reboot the PC and make sure you'r enot in safe mode. Reinstalling drivers will be the next step.

But maaan. Windows 98? I wouldn't touch that with a 10 foot pole. There hasn't been a significant security update on that OS in the past 5 years. None at all since 2006. That's a massive security liability.
 
Thank you for all those flattering comments about my OS... this is an old computer, it wouldn't run something like XP (which incidentally, I have on my laptop. Happy? :p)

I'm not in safe mode, and I have restarted it numerous times - later tonight, I'll open it up, and see if the graphics card is loose. If that isn't the problem, and the problem persists after securing the card (if it is indeed loose), then I will reinstall the drivers as per mindwise's post. If that does't work... hell, a new graphics card I suppose :p

Thanks 👍
 
Really a new GPU for that computer? AT best its an AGP card. I wouldn't spend anymore money on that computer. It has reached EOL.
 
EJRocky
this is an old computer, it wouldn't run something like XP (which incidentally, I have on my laptop. Happy? :p)
Click to expand...

Why do you need and old computer with Windows 98 if you have a laptop running XP, anyway?

That is the question that confuses me. :confused:
 
Because this is the family computer, and the one with internet access - the laptop is my gaming computer, upstairs, in my room. I would have net access on the latop, but my overprotective, overbearing mother...*sigh*... won't let me have net in my room.

Anyway, despite the age, this actually works just fine and does what we need, so there's no point in getting rid of it. It's just this error that's come up in recent days. So please stop flaming me about my system, because I'm happy with it, and it works just fine.

Anyway, I didn't get a chance to open it up... I'll try and do it sometime though, and get you guys an update.
 

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