Member Avatar for compdummie

:eek: my pixels are low, i need 600 to maybe 800, but my computer won't let me change it. i know that i used to have them. what do i do to manually put them back in to get choices? now it's at 640x480 16 color. windows 98. i know dino. please help. ain't got no other comp.

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As suggested, this behavior usually means Windows is running a generic VGA driver rather than the card-specific driver. As hinted, checking Display Properties helps — if the Controls for resolution or Colors are greyed out, that is a strong clue the proper driver is not loaded. The checklist below is focused on Windows 98 diagnostics and fixes.

Start by identifying what Windows thinks the adapter is: open Control Panel → System → Device Manager → Display adapters. If it shows a “Standard VGA” or an unknown device (or a yellow exclamation), the real driver is missing. Run dxdiag (Start → Run → dxdiag) and look at the Display tab for the adapter name and driver file. If the adapter name is still generic, read the model printed on the card or the motherboard (if using onboard video) to find an appropriate 98-era driver.

To restore higher resolutions and color depth: remove the generic adapter entry in Device Manager (Properties → Driver → Remove), reboot, and install the correct driver files when Windows redetects the card. If the system has no Internet, use another PC to download drivers compatible with Windows 98 (not XP/2000 drivers) and transfer them by floppy/CD/USB if supported. Also check that the VGA cable is plugged into the video card (not the motherboard) and that the card is properly seated; a faulty or loose card can force the generic driver.

Notes and cautions: booting into Safe Mode always forces 640x480/16-color — that is expected. Many modern video cards no longer include Windows 98 drivers, so for very old systems an archived driver or a different legacy card may be required. If correct drivers are installed yet higher modes remain unavailable, the GPU or video RAM may be failing and the card may need replacement.

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Member Avatar for EriCartman13

Have you tried to go into properties and change it? If you havent can you set your color settings lower?

Member Avatar for Dani

It seems as if this is a problem with your video card drivers. Without the proper drivers installed, the computer can't send the appropriate signals to your monitor. To fix this, go to the website of your video card manufacturer (ATi or nVIDIA, typically) and download and install the latest drivers.

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