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Thread ID: 141787 2016-02-26 07:18:00 Laptop screen stuck on Default 640x480 bruce666 (8727) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1416541 2016-02-26 07:18:00 My Acer 7720G laptop screen has suddenly gone to 640x480 resolution with minimal colours. The graphics device is a NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS. So far I have:
:Tried to change the screen resolution in the normal dialogue box but it shows Default Monitor and no other resolution choices.
:Roll back display adapter driver.
:Uninstall and reinstall display adapter driver. (obtained from NVIDI website)
:Open up case and brush/vacuum out fluff partially blocking a fan and array of fine metal vanes.
None of these had any effect. What else should I try?
bruce666 (8727)
1416542 2016-02-26 08:35:00 What OS ? If its W10, what build ?

you can try booting from a Live Linux CD, the onboard drivers usually adjust to the best quality. If it looks OK in Linux then its a software problem, other wise could be hardware related.
wainuitech (129)
1416543 2016-02-26 09:00:00 Thanks Wainuitech
Windows 7 professional version 6.1
I should have added that immediately before this problem the computer unexpectedly shut down and restarted of its own accord followed by a message, too brief to read in full, about having not shut down properly.
bruce666 (8727)
1416544 2016-02-26 09:07:00 That can mean a faulty power supply somewhere

Look in event viewer. Go to start/run type eventvwr.msc

If there are any error 41 logs under windows logs, this is what it can mean
Speedy Gonzales (78)
1416545 2016-02-26 09:24:00 Hi Wainuitech
Yes! There are several error 41s labelled "Critical" and "Kernel-power" on the date it first happened. And only then.
What do I do? Get the power supply replaced?
bruce666 (8727)
1416546 2016-02-26 09:39:00 You didnt turn it off with the on/off button did you?? That error 41 can also happen if you do Speedy Gonzales (78)
1416547 2016-02-26 20:51:00 Try the method in post #2 Driftwood (5551)
1416548 2016-02-27 07:55:00 Hi SG

It turned off by itself and restarted, several times, at the beginning of this.

and to Wainuitech and Driftwood- I booted with a Linux Mint USB stick and the colours and resolution are normal in Mint.

I find if I delete the NVIDIA driver in Device Manager then restart, resolution and colours are OK and I have a choice of resolutions - BUT soon there's a message "reinstalling hardware" and it puts the driver back. After the next start or restart the bad resolution and 8 colours are back. Still, by deleting the driver again or just not turning the computer off I can now keep it in a useable state.
bruce666 (8727)
1416549 2016-02-27 08:16:00 You need to COMPLETELY remove the NVidia Drivers and install fresh. Simply removing from device manager / programs and features wont do it.

Download DDU uninstaller www.guru3d.com Scroll down the page, about half way are the download links, latest version is 15.7.4.1

Read the first bullet point in "Recommended usage" as well as the rest of the article -explains what the program does.

Run the program - select Clean and restart -- On restart your graphics should be rubbish , install the new drivers.
wainuitech (129)
1416550 2016-02-28 20:44:00 Thanks wainuitech
I ran the DDU tool in safe mode as Clean and Restart and on restart the graphics weren't rubbish at all, though the colour and themes seemed bit different to what I had before. I had a choice of resolutions and the normal colour palette. So already very satisfactory. But I tried to reinstall the NVIDIA driver from this webpage

www.geforce.com

which downloads an extractable programme, which I ran, but it said "Wrong version of Windows" and "no NVIDIA product installed" or words to that effect.
The graphics dialogue box now says I have "Generic Non-PnP monitor on Standard VGA Graphics Adapter." And Device Manager shows "Standard VGA Graphics Adapter."
bruce666 (8727)
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