[ozzie300]

I don't know if this is a hardware or a Vista problem, but here it goes. I'm aware there is one other thread somewhat similar but it doesn't address the same problem.

I use my 1330 mainly with an external LCD monitor - ViewSonic VA1912wb. I keep setting the display setting for the external monitor as the main monitor with a resolution of 1440x900. This worked well with my Vaio under windows XP. With the XPS running Vista, each time I boot up the settings revert back to 1280x800, and the image on the external monitor is way off to the right leaving a black bar on the left. I've tried everything but haven't found a way to lock the settings.

Any suggestions, or where to go for help, would be most appreciated. It's not a huge problem, just an annoyance since I always have to go through -> Control Panel>Personalize>Display Settings each time I boot or re-start.

By the way, the Dell has an NVIDIA GeForce 8400M DS card with 895MB video memory.

[DellCA]

This is John from Dell headquarters.

I strongly suspect that Quickset is doing this. If you expand your icon tray, you should see the Quickset icon. I would check the settings in there to see if that is reverting your resolution. If you can't seem to isolate the problem, perhaps disabling quickset using 'msconfig' may resolve the problem.

Let me know if you need any help with any of this.

John
Dell Customer Advocate

[ozzie300]

John,

Thank you for the reply. The settings "hold" only when I'm on external monitor; they do not when I configure the settings for both LED and external. When in this configuration, I consistently get a 1280x800 in the external monitor instead of 1440x900. It's not just a lower resolution but the entire screen is shifted to the right by at least a 1/4 of the screen, and THAT is what makes it a problem since much of the screen right is off the screen, literally. Also, if this is of any help, I can adjust the external monitor to its proper resolution when it is the main display. As long as the LED remains the main display, the external will not configure as 1440x900.

[DellCA]

When you disabled QuickSet, the problem persisted?

If so, you may want to try downloading NVIDIA's driver package, as it comes with configuration software that is top-notch. This problem sounds like it's very annoying for you, and understandably so.

John
Dell Customer Advocate

[ozzie300]

I can diable QuickSet if only I can find it in msconfig. How is the app referred to in msconfig? I can only find one Dell app in all the lists.

Also, I've searched for new NVIDIA drivers but haven't found any that didn't come with the XPS 1330. Can you recommend any specifically?

[Bengaul]

Have you tried installing the drivers for the Viewsonic monitor?

[ozzie300]

Originally Posted by Bengaul

Have you tried installing the drivers for the Viewsonic monitor?

Of course.

[Bengaul]

If there is some Dell software on there that is "helping", perhaps uninstall it. Or if your feeling brave, search the registry for Viewsonic, and see if you can set the resolution there.

[xps]

You could try to uninstall quickset, but make sure you can get it back from the Cd's that were supplied with your PC or from the Dell webpages if you find it usefull in general.

To uninstall Quickset:
1. Press "Windows+R"
2. write "control" and press "enter"
3. Choose "uninstall a program" form the menu
4. Find Quickset in the program list and uninstall


You should probably reboot to make sure that any settings from QS are not in action.

Edit: "Enter" is the same as "return", I'm originally from Europe.....


XPS

[DellCA]

Alternatively to completely uninstalling quickset, you can disable it instead:

Click the "Orb"
In the Search field, type "msconfig" and hit enter
Click on the "Startup" tab
Find quickset in the list, remove the check
Hit "apply", then "close"
Restart the system