Solved Not sure if right driver & can't set resolution

[RonAshman]

Hi all!

So making long story short.
Just did a fresh clean install of Win7 x64 Ultimate on my mother's PC. Used the same disc I've been using with my PC for about 2 years now and didn't have any problems.

Here are the specs of the PC I'm troubleshooting (the specs in my user cp are for my pc):

- OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
- CPU: DualCore Intel Pentium E2140, 1600 MHz (8 x 200)
- Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-VM900M v1 (2 PCI, 1 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x16, 2 DDR2 DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)
- Memory: 2496 MB (DDR2 SDRAM)
- Graphics Card: VIA Chrome9 HC IGP WDDM (64 MB)
- Monitor display: Led LG E1941S



Like I always do when I format a PC I tried to find chipset drivers from the manufacturer but there was nothing useful in this case.
I downloaded from VIA the latest drivers for the graphic card, since it was using a generic driver.

The led monitor I'm using I bought it about a week ago, pretty much around the same time I did the fresh install of Windows. Before that she was using an old CRT monitor which I just couldn't see anymore.
The max resolution for this monitor is 1366x768.


Getting to the point: that resolution is not available. I tried to find threads about this but I don't think this is the right solution for me: http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/102056-1366x768-resolution-problem.html


Windows Update insists that I install another driver from october 2008 by VIA which I did and only got a "!" in the device manager so I went back. The only difference I noticed is that with the driver from Windows Update in the graphic properties I saw the name of the monitor. Now I only see a generic name.


Where can I go from here?
All drivers should be ok. Still can't choose the max resolution for this monitor. I only have the standard ones and of course I can't go any higher than 768 so 1280x1024 doesn't work. I'm using 1280*768 right now but in order to keep the aspect ratio I'm "wasting" parts of the screen ie not using them.

Any suggestion?
Thanks in advance!

 

[James7679]

Try reinstalling the driver in compatibility mode.

 

[RonAshman]

Thanks for replying!

I'll try that. Which version of Windows?
The drivers I downloaded from VIA are supposed to be for W7x64 though.

 

[James7679]

Here is the drivers for your motherboard. GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 775 - GA-VM900M (rev. 1.0)You will see that the last supported OS for this MoBo was Vista64 bit. So, I would download the driver listed there, and save it to your desktop. After that, uninstall the current driver you have using Guru3D - Driver Sweeperthen run the driver installer you just downloaded in compatibility mode for vista x64. Reboot. Post back.
http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/

 

[RonAshman]

Ok thanks!

I did check that website before, but as I didn't find any drivers for W7 I just checked the VIA website where I did find drivers for Win7.

So I did what you suggested. I installed it in compatibility mode and now I only have 800x600 or 1024x768. It does show the right monitor.

This is driving me crazy. Never had problems like this, I feel stupid.
I gave my mom this new led monitor for her bday and it seems it's causing more trouble than good.

I connected it to my laptop and it works just fine in other resolutions.

 

[James7679]

Did your monitor come with an installation disk? If so, go ahead and instal the driver it came with and see if this corrects.

 

[RonAshman]

I did try that, I even have the drivers. Downloaded them from LG website.
But the monitor properties button is always grayed out (with all the graphic drivers I have tried).

I even tried Powerstrip but it seems this card does not allow custom resolutions.

Is it possible that this sh***y graphic card can't be set to 1366x768? Thus allowing only standard resolutions?
As I said, I connected it to my laptop and was able to set it to 1366x768.

It also bothers me that in the Adapter tab there's no information, not even the name of the card. This is happening now because this morning I installed the update from Windows Update. Before, with the drivers I got from their website I did see the name of the card but the highest resolution I could use was 1024x768. I get the "!" in the device manager but at least I can use 1280x768 instead of 1024x768.
The option to list all modes is available, but 1366x768 is not there.



Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[James7679]

Ron, my final suggestion is to update the BIOSGIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 775 - GA-VM900M (rev. 1.0). You, of course, do this at your own risk. If this does not fix the problem, you do have the option of buying a fairly cheap PCIe GPU. They have gotten pretty cheap and most newer models will support this resolution.

 

[RonAshman]

Yeah I thought of that. I had a problem with BSODs on my laptop when I bought it and a bios update solved it.

I tried using Q-flash and it won't recognize the usb drive and I think the last time I had a working floppy drive dinosaurs were still around (just kidding, I'm 25 since today).

So, getting to the point, I think I'll leave it as it is. Probably she won't mind, after all it's not MUCH what she loses of screen, and I did replace her old crappy CRT monitor after all.
It bothers me much more than it bothers the user of the PC lol

Thanks A LOT for your help!

 

[James7679]

If you want, start a new thread requesting help with doind a BIOS flash using a USB drive. Someone can help you with that.


Take care,

James

 

[RonAshman]

So...
My mother complained about other issues with her PC now that I had installed Win7x64. Like random BSOD and other stuff.

Anyway I came home yesterday and decided to finally solve this sh*t. So I borrowed a floppy drive and did a bios update. I must say -and I don't mean to offend anyone- that it took like 10'' longer than I thought it would and my balls jumped back inside my body, but it worked.

Now: the monitor is recognized with its name; the optimum resolution is recommended and available to be chosen; new audio drivers were installed; it can sleep or hibernate; I could install the update from Windows I couldn't before.

Guess it was just the bios update all it needed.


Thanks a lot!