Resolution problem with Intel 915

iamandyh · 02 Feb 2009

Using a Dell Inspiron 630m with Intel 915.

Initially does not recognize graphics card, uses Generic PnP monitor. This gives terrible resolution capped at 1024 x 768.

Video Controller and Video Controller (VGA Compatible) appear in Other Devices section of Device Manager with yellow warning triangles.

I have tried everything, uninstalling drivers, windows update etc. Apparently there isn't even a Vista driver for this, so maybe a lost cause? Hopefully not.

I can force a temporary fix by updating the Video Controller device by browsing for the XP drivers. This then makes the resolution perfectly and everything works, but the Device properties show this message:

"This device is working properly.
The drivers for this device will be uninstalled when the machine is restarted. Any changes you make to this device will not be preserved.
You need to restart your computer before the changes you made to this device will take effect."

Sure enough, when rebooted it takes me back to square one.

Is there any way to

force Windows to keep the new drivers installed after reboot

or 2. force a higher resolution from the Generic PnP monitor?

Many thanks for your advice.

NosferatuX · 02 Feb 2009

Hi iamandyh and welcome to the forum!

There are two options you can take that might solve your problem.

The Windows 7 driver solution or
you could disable driver signing permanently by typing this in an elevated command prompt;

bcdedit /set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS

restart then update the driver manually.
That should let you keep your old driver on your pc.

Let us know how this turns out for yah

Bateman26 · 15 May 2009

I had the same problem with the intel 915 chipset but i found the solution to get the right resolution i downloaded the drivers for the nc4200 that has the same chipset
heres the link to the drivers that work. I extracted the drivers first and then forced the update. The Machine i had trubel with was a acer 1640z. But i only got a wei score of 1 on gaming grapics and 1.9 on aero
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp34501-35000/sp34749.exe

macksgarage · 09 Jul 2009

I got all excited when you said it 'posted and aero score of 1.9.' Not that 1.9 is good, but I thought that meant this driver made aero work. Wishful thinking. I was able to install the driver (through the update driver function of Device Manager) and all of the XP functionality of my video card returned, but of course, NO AERO (in caps for anyone else reading this thread).

As a side note, when went to find this driver, the HP ftp servers seemed to be ill, but a google search led me to CNET, which also has the sp34749.exe package needed.

I also get an aero score of 1.9, whatever that means, since aero doesn't work.

EDIT: I do have a mysterious phenomenon wherein when my t43 puts itself to sleep (but not when I tell it to sleep) it goes drops to 800x600. At least I think that's the vector. I can twiddle it back to the 1024x768 (as high as this panel goes) but . . . anyone else?

Zidane24 · 09 Jul 2009

NosferatuX said:

Hi iamandyh and welcome to the forum!

There are two options you can take that might solve your problem.

The Windows 7 driver solution or
you could disable driver signing permanently by typing this in an elevated command prompt;

bcdedit /set loadoptions DDISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS

restart then update the driver manually.
That should let you keep your old driver on your pc.

Let us know how this turns out for yah

He could also reboot press F8->turn off driver sign enforcement->Install needed drivers->reboot

That way he retains the security of driver enforcement and has a driver for his GPU

manosdoc · 10 Jul 2009

Official windows 7 driver for 915 chipset is at Windows Update Catalog.
Use this one, forget tricks and unofficial things.

Bateman26 · 12 Jul 2009

I dont get that update.

manosdoc · 12 Jul 2009

Bateman26 said:

I dont get that update.

It's not coming through WU.
I said about Windows update Catalog.

Navigate with IE8 to here
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Home.aspx

and install plugin. Then type Intel Intel 915GM

Resolution problem with Intel 915-update.jpg

bercerobry · 13 Oct 2009

manosdoc said:

Official windows 7 driver for 915 chipset is at Windows Update Catalog.
Use this one, forget tricks and unofficial things.

the file downloaded from windows update catalog doesnt have .inf (setup information file) windows 7 doesn't see any driver for the GFX card.

Mark Phelps · 14 Oct 2009

I know that "never" is a LONG time, but I believe I'm still safe in saying you will NEVER see Aero enabled with the 915 chipset. Why? Because everything I've read about Aero says it requires, at a minimum, an WDDM v1 driver -- and the 915 chipset driver is XPDM. That's because Intel refused to write a WDDM driver for the 915 chipset.

I'm using just that chipset, have downloaded ALL the drivers that I could find (from Intel, MS, and driver sites) and the results are always the same -- no Aero.

If you want a more colorful desktop display than Seven Basic, suggest you check out my threads in the Customization subforum. Those contain posts from other folks with links to enhanced Basic themes and a theme patcher that doesn't modify any system files.

Resolution problem with Intel 915

Resolution problem with Intel 915

Works for me