Incompatible Screen Resolution- Need Hidden Control to Change?

Question

Level 2

242 points

Incompatible Screen Resolution- Need Hidden Control to Change?

Hello,

I just installed WinDoze XP (on my Mac Pro) and I have changed the screen resolution (on my Dell 24" LCD) to something that is incompatible with my monitor. Yup, I was experimenting with different resolutions and assumed that the default Mac option to warn me of incompatible resolutions and/or the automatic revert to previous resolution without manual input would have kicked in. Big surprise, this is WinDoze! At this point, all I am able to see/access is a high contrast screen, low color definition, and no icons/menu bars.

So, Is there a keyboard shortcut or some other hidden action that will get me into a compatible screen resolution?

“Technological change is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal.” (Albert Einstein, 1941),
Dr. Z.

MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, PowerMac G5, Mac Mimi, Apple TV, and more..., Mac OS X (10.5.1), More Macs than sense...

Posted on Dec 19, 2007 4:44 PM

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Answer 1

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Dec 19, 2007 11:38 PM in response to Dr. Z.

Hi Dr. Z,

have you a tried doing a right-click on the desktop ?
It usually brings the Window with all your needed graphics settings Tabs up.

Good Luck

Stefan

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Answer 2

Dr. Z. Author

Level 2

242 points

Dec 25, 2007 7:34 AM in response to Fortuny

Stefan,

Yup, tried that. None of the right-click options help the situation. I think the main problem is that there are control options presented on the screen, but I am unable to see them with this particular resolution (no menu bars, no icons, etc.). I brought in a neighborhood WinDoze guru and even they were stumped, finding none of the safety features that WinDoze has for such a situation. If I can find no direct keyboard commands, then I will have no choice but to reinstall WinDoze.

This is a big goof on the part of Boot Camp and the way it coordinates WinDoze. Once again, all I did was click a resolution choice that was presented and I am stuck. Including the safety option for manual acknowledgement of a screen resolution change and reverting back if no command given is sorely needed with Boot Camp! I can't imagine that I am the only one that this has happened to.

“Technological change is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal.” (Albert Einstein, 1941),
Dr. Z.

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Answer 3

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Dec 25, 2007 10:15 PM in response to Dr. Z.

Hi Dr. Z.

have you or your Guru tried the SafeBoot options of XP yet ?
Especially the 'Enable VGA Mode' option might be able to help you without reinstalling XP.

See here: http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B315222&x=10&y=11

Good Luck

Stefan

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Answer 4

Dr. Z. Author

Level 2

242 points

Dec 26, 2007 1:03 PM in response to Fortuny

Stefan,

Thanks! That was the key that I was looking for.

For what it is worth, I have a 17" and 24" monitor attached to my Mac Pro. I finally did see a screen resolution change confirmation message after the safeboot. Further testing found inconstancies with how these monitors were dealt with upon subsequent restarts. Sometimes one monitor was not recognized. Other times both monitors worked, but the larger monitor would only display what I previously mentioned. Go figure. At least I have a shortcut way to correct the problem.

If we learn from our mistakes, then I obtained my PhD years ago!
Dr. Z.

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Answer 5

Fortuny

Level 7

21,455 points

Dec 26, 2007 11:20 PM in response to Dr. Z.

Hi Dr. Z.,

glad to be of any help or at least pointing you in the right direction.

Have Fun

Stefan

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