display resolution on dell inspiron 8200

BigJohnMich · 07-05-2009, 10:13 PM

First of all, just joined, hello to all, and hoping to get an answer to this. Have a Dell Inspiron 8200, 2.2 Pentium 4, 768 memory, 30 gig hd, and Nvidia video card. Salvaged this unit from the scrap pile, rebuilt some, added a wireless card, different hd, and added a modem. More to come.
My main problem to start with, is that my screen resolution is smaller than I would like. Under properties, and settings, my screen resolution is set to 1600x1200, yet the screen is still very small. It is readable, but not set to the full screen size. I have tried changing it, but no luck.When I start it up, it will not recognize the hd/boot device at first, I shut it down, restart two or three times, and then it will load windows. During the restarts, it will sometimes comes up with a larger screen resolution, but just when it tells me "no hard drive/boot device", then the next restart, back to the small resolution. It has never started up with the larger resolution.
This is a work in progress, and I will be asking for more help, but for now, I would like to fix this glitch first. Thank you all in advance. This Forum is just what I was looking for. Hope to hear soon.
BigJohn

**TriggerFinger** · 07-06-2009, 02:30 PM

Hi and welcome to TSF....

First of all, try booting into BIOS settings only. Is the screen OK?

Next thing to try is to install the video drivers. With the video drivers installed, can you change the Display Properties to your desired settings?

Another thing to try is to boot with a linux live CD (ex. Ubuntu or Knoppix). If you know how, set your Display Properties in linux and see if get your desired resolution.

About the HDD not being recognized, run HDD Diags or test your HDD in another computer.

BigJohnMich · 07-12-2009, 11:21 AM

Thanks TriggerFinger. Sorry it took me so long to answer.Been on vacation. Anxious to try those suggestions. And, yes, in BIOS the screen is ok. Had time to think about this, and thought of something. Have a NVIDIA nview desktop manager in control panel for the NVIDIA installed video card. It has options to modify the display, and is it possible it may be causing the display problem? I tried going into the variables and changing the resolution there, but I just cant figure it out. Will try your other suggestions, but thought I would ask this first. Thanks again. BigJohn

**TriggerFinger** · 07-12-2009, 09:01 PM

Hi BigJohn,

Just to clarify... the problem is that for example the Desktop is not full screen (does not occupy the whole LCD), is this correct?

Also in BIOS the BIOS settings screen is full screen occupying the whole LCD.

If each of the above is true then yes, may be it could be fixed by the NVIDIA control panel (or just the Display properties).

If I may suggest, please upload a picture of what your screen is showing... make sure image shows the issue.

07-05-2009, 10:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
BigJohnMich Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Upper Penninsula of Michigan Posts: 2 OS: xp	display resolution on dell inspiron 8200 First of all, just joined, hello to all, and hoping to get an answer to this. Have a Dell Inspiron 8200, 2.2 Pentium 4, 768 memory, 30 gig hd, and Nvidia video card. Salvaged this unit from the scrap pile, rebuilt some, added a wireless card, different hd, and added a modem. More to come. My main problem to start with, is that my screen resolution is smaller than I would like. Under properties, and settings, my screen resolution is set to 1600x1200, yet the screen is still very small. It is readable, but not set to the full screen size. I have tried changing it, but no luck.When I start it up, it will not recognize the hd/boot device at first, I shut it down, restart two or three times, and then it will load windows. During the restarts, it will sometimes comes up with a larger screen resolution, but just when it tells me "no hard drive/boot device", then the next restart, back to the small resolution. It has never started up with the larger resolution. This is a work in progress, and I will be asking for more help, but for now, I would like to fix this glitch first. Thank you all in advance. This Forum is just what I was looking for. Hope to hear soon. BigJohn

07-06-2009, 02:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,853 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: display resolution on dell inspiron 8200 Hi and welcome to TSF.... First of all, try booting into BIOS settings only. Is the screen OK? Next thing to try is to install the video drivers. With the video drivers installed, can you change the Display Properties to your desired settings? Another thing to try is to boot with a linux live CD (ex. Ubuntu or Knoppix). If you know how, set your Display Properties in linux and see if get your desired resolution. About the HDD not being recognized, run HDD Diags or test your HDD in another computer. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

07-12-2009, 11:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
BigJohnMich Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Upper Penninsula of Michigan Posts: 2 OS: xp	Re: display resolution on dell inspiron 8200 Thanks TriggerFinger. Sorry it took me so long to answer.Been on vacation. Anxious to try those suggestions. And, yes, in BIOS the screen is ok. Had time to think about this, and thought of something. Have a NVIDIA nview desktop manager in control panel for the NVIDIA installed video card. It has options to modify the display, and is it possible it may be causing the display problem? I tried going into the variables and changing the resolution there, but I just cant figure it out. Will try your other suggestions, but thought I would ask this first. Thanks again. BigJohn

07-12-2009, 09:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,853 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: display resolution on dell inspiron 8200 Hi BigJohn, Just to clarify... the problem is that for example the Desktop is not full screen (does not occupy the whole LCD), is this correct? Also in BIOS the BIOS settings screen is full screen occupying the whole LCD. If each of the above is true then yes, may be it could be fixed by the NVIDIA control panel (or just the Display properties). If I may suggest, please upload a picture of what your screen is showing... make sure image shows the issue. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE