Getting Windows 7 boot screen at 640x480@60hz

I am using Windows 7 on an Arcade monitor with a maximum resolution of 640x480@60hz. Sending a higher resolution to the monitor will damage it. Using the command "bcdedit /set bootux basic" Windows still outputs 1024x768@60hz for about half a second before showing the low resolution boot screen at 640x480@60hz. During that brief half second a get a rapid clicking sound from my Arcade Monitor as it can’t sync and this has previously damaged my old monitor.

I ran msconfig and on the Boot tab, I checked No GUI Boot and Base video. This should run windows startup in 640x480@60hz, but you won't see the Windows load screen. Unfortunately that's actually worse than using the command "bcdedit /set bootux basic" as Windows 7 outputs a blank screen at 1024x768@60hz for about 15 second before windows appears at 640x480@60hz.


Why does Windows 7 have a low resolution boot mode that still outputs a high resolution and is there anyway to keep the system at 640x480@60hz during the Window 7 64bit bootup?

Ranger4 said:

I don't know if there is any way to keep the low resolution when Windows is starting, but an easy work around, would be to wait until Windows starts before turning on the monitor.

Unfortunately that's not an easy work around as the PC sits within the Arcade cabinet and is powered by it's internal power supply. i.e. I can't power on the PC unless the Arcade Cabinet is on and therefore the monitor is already on.

I just tried the "OS boot information" option in "msconfig". The bios post screen is at 640x480@60hz. Then some of the boot information as it lists the files is at 1024x768@60hz. Then it goes back to 640x480@60hz for the rest of the boot process.

I also tried "OS boot information" and the "Base Video" option together and it does the same thing.
I can believe Microsoft have put in options like "bcdedit /set bootux basic" and "Base Video" and still allow them to output 1024x768@60hz for part of the boot process.