Screen resolution changed and won't change back.. 10 POINTS IF YOU CAN HELP.?

So here's the deal. My computer was acting funky when I tried to boot up a video editing program. Program wasn't responding for 15 minutes straight so I unplugged the computer from the power unit it was on (did not reformat the system because all my stuff is still there.) BIG MISTAKE. I certainly will NOT be doing that again. Because when I restarted the system, the screen resolution was sitting at 640 something x 800 something and when I went into Control Panel to modify it, it wouldn't change. I also tried System Restore. Didn't do anything.



My computer's OS is Windows XP Professional.

Computer make is Dell.

I cannot reinstall the OS. That is not an option.

Also, calling a Tech Support person isn't an option, so please don't bother with those kinds of answers if you intend to post.



How can I fix this?

I know that fixing the problem involves graphics drivers and stuff. But everytime I look it up, the explanations leave me no where and are too complicating for me, plus, sometimes it seems like when someone's instructions tell me to go to My Computer and do something, it doesn't appear the way they describe so I can't do anything.





Can anyone actually shed some light on this? I'm totally lost! ):Screen resolution changed and won't change back.. 10 POINTS IF YOU CAN HELP.?
If you purchased your computer from DELL..it should have a Resource Disk--that is where the Graphics Driver is..

Do Not..re-install the CHIPSET driver..it can only be intalled after the OS..has been re-installed//a Clean re-install is the OS..and its ChipSet Driver..//

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Also..look in the Control Panel at your Video Settings--look at your REFESH RATE..set it @60-Hz/look in Monitor(properties)..

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If you go to websites that keep asking that you download their Media Player--you might want to stop doing that..that's why your REFESH RATE is changing..

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Basically..if your having a resolution issue/

Just re-install the graphics driver..check your resolution settings..

Check the REFESH RATE..mine runs at 60-Hz/

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If you were installing software--it must be compatible--there's really no way to make software run on a machine--its not meant for..

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Describe the software your attempting to install.Screen resolution changed and won't change back.. 10 POINTS IF YOU CAN HELP.?
Safe Mode Bootup ?XP, Vista, Win7

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Try this, its easy and will not harm anything



Slowly tap the F8 key while the computer is powering up



Just after the screen goes blank, the F8 key will point the computer to a menu where safe mode can be selected.



Note if you mistakenly tap F8 key again, it will continue through to normal boot, so power down and try again.



Scroll and select Last known good configuration.



This is stronger than doing a system restore in normal mode.

Wait till the boot has finished before clicking anything.



(System restore is the first line of restoration.

The second line is last known good configuration.

The third line is system restore in safe mode.

The fourth line is repair from your disk recovery console.

The fifth line is a delete partition with clean install).





After doing last known good restore and if you need to adjust the resolution follow this:

XP - update video or sound driver

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in XP do this

click start %26gt;help and support %26gt;type in processor in the search

in the results look for find hardware and in there your video or sound card is displayed

highlite some of the video or sound card text of the name and type and press control +c to copy it



paste it in google and add driver

in the results pick one that looks like the manufacturer and download the latest driver

if its an exe file just double click it to install.



if its a driver file then right click my computer icon %26gt;manage %26gt;device manager.

For video expand display adapter %26gt;right click your video card %26gt;update driver %26gt;point wizard to your file.

for sound expand sound %26gt; right click the audio controller %26gt;update driver %26gt;point wizard to your file.



reboot.



for video

Right Click the empty space on the desktop%26gt; properties%26gt; settings. Choose a resolution where the little screen in the window is the same shape as your screen.

Some graphics cards overide windows resolution settings. You can tell this is the case because the settings will not change from windows settings. If so hover the mouse over the icons in the sys tray near the clock. One of the icons will be the graphics card. Right click it and follow your nose to sniff out how to alter the resolution.
*facepalm*



Firstly, never unplug the computer, never do a system restore.



System restore is very buggy and doesn't always fix what you intend it to work.



Secondly, I hate you for still having XP professional. I'm on W7. It's terrible.



Now to fix your problem.

1: Go to your desktop

2: Right Click on the Desktop

3: Click on properties

4: Go to the screen resolution tab near the top of the window

5: Change the screen size from 800x600 to something ideal like 1024x768

6: Hit Apply and OK



If your screen flickers once or twice, then stays at 800x600 ... then chances are you have an issue with your hardware. Seeing as you pulled out your power supply, opening up your computer and changing components isn't an option.



The only relatively safe thing I can advise you to do next is update your drivers.

1: Click the start menu

2: Go to control panel

3: Under the View tab, change your view to classic start menu. The blue bar on the left lets you do this too if I remember correctly.

4: Open Device Manager

5: Go to Display Adapters, and expand it until you see what the adapter is.

6: Right click on it, click Properties.



If it's working, that's good. Otherwise, I think there should be a troubleshooting option or some way to repair it. If not, I'm not sure what else you can do.