Member Panel

I have inherited a CTX s501a 15" TFT monitor which seems to have a problem:

if you plug the monitor in while the computer is running, the resolution is fine, absolutley faultless. However, if the monitor is plugged in and the PC is then started, the Windows XP screen starts halfway up the screen, and then the resolution is very blocky, only coming up in 4 bit. I am unable to change the settings in Display Properties.

I've been on to several websites, including CTX, and no driver appears to be available for this monitor to download (possibly withdrawn, when you click, you get page error, or just nothing happening). Even if a driver re-install would fix the problem...! I've also tried the monitor on 2 other computers, so it's not just mine!

If anyone has any ideas I'd be grateful. Ta.

That is strange, what is the make and model of your graphics card?

Not entirely sure, I'll have to check when I get home, but it could be an AGP 4X, PCI or ATI Radeon 9700. The machine is a 2003 UK spec Dell Dimension 8250, which I've just googled to get those.

Hi pagemaster. When your talking about the Windows XP Screen, are you talking about Windows XP loading screen? Do you maintain the low resolution, even when you enter Windows itself?

Yep. You can't really tell on the XP loading screen (blue status bar moving under XP logo), it's just slightly blurry, but you can tell something's odd because the graphics on startup start halfway up the screen, but then the low resolution comes through on the desktop.

I've tried auto correct on the monitor itself too, and the windows pop which says your graphics aren't at their optimum settings or similar, but nothing happens, the display properties won't move. Strange.

pagemaster,

The resolution changes at each point as you start your PC up. At the post screen is where the resolution is lowest. When you reach the Windows startup screen, the resolution increases. When you reach your desktop, the resolution increases again.

Your monitor is supposed to autodetect any changes in resolution, and has nothing to do with drivers. There's not much you can do on a monitor, apart from going to the menu and selecting "Factory Reset". The monitors hardware is all integrated so it wouldn't be a matter of easily swapping out one component for another. And wouldn't be cheap either. If your PC is still under warranty, it may be a good idea to get this swapped out.

Yep that makes sense, although the same thing happens on our other PC running windows 98, and on a laptop running XP.

I bought my PC in 2003 with a one year Dell warranty. Unfortunately the memory is the Rambus type, which I think has been phased out, and I don't have any more slots, so it may be time to upgrade next year.