Windows Forum

Ask something
Question Locked

Accidently changed windows display adapter

0 helpful
15 replies

by mnlcarey

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
I have an Inspiron 1150, windows XP w/SP2 and I accidently changed my display adapter from system to automatic. Does anyone know step by step command instructions on how I can change it back to system settings? I can't see anything on my screen to change it back and don't know all the commands to get it back where it was. Thanks!

15 replies

by mnlcarey

I was changing the screen resolution and also went into the advance menu. I clicked on the drop down menu, it was on system and I must have clicked on automatic as I was closing out. Went to restart the computer when I was done with the resolution and lo and behold, no screen to look at. After windows boots up, just a bluish black screen.

by baxenden

Boot into safe mode by pressing F8 ASAP after post. Select SAFE MODE and amend your video settings back to what they were previously.

by mnlcarey

I have tried F8 for safe mode, safe mode with command, just about everything including F2. It doesn't even go into F2, bios doesn't come up. F12 works, ran diagnostic's, passed everything till I got to Diagnostic Utility Partition not found. Don't have the window's cd or the utilities cd. Thought someone might have some magic they could share. Thanks!

by Former member

Get hold of another monitor and connect this up to your spare port at the back of your computer, then switch on, hopefully the other monitor will kick in allowing you to change back to the original setting. If this does not work then get hold of another graphic card and put this in the place of your old card and reboot your system.
Hope all works out for you.

Please post back if you have more problems or questions.

by mnlcarey

Thanks, I'll give it a whirl after I find another monitor. May resort to the graphic card change.

by techienate

With windows xp, if you hit F8, you get an option to boot in VGA mode. This will generally allow you to correct video settings problems such as resolution, etc.

by mnlcarey

I tried going into VGA mode and I still have no screen that I can see when it loads. I tried everything in F8. Thanks anyway though!

by rob miners

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1150/en/F7573a01.pdf

Dell? Inspiron? 1150

Video and Display Problems
If the display is blank
CHECK THE LIGHT ? When the light is blinking, the computer has power.
? If the light is blinking, the computer is in standby mode?press the power button to exit standby
mode.
? If the light is off, press the power button.
? If the light is on, your power management settings may have caused the display to turn off. Try
pressing any key or move the cursor to exit standby mode.
CHECK THE BATTERY ? If you are using a battery to power your computer, the battery charge may be
depleted. Connect the computer to an electrical outlet using the AC adapter, and turn on the
computer.
Solving Problems 53
If the display is difficult to read
TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET ? Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another
device, such as a lamp.
CHECK THE AC ADAPTER ? Check the AC adapter cable connections. If the AC adapter has a light,
ensure that it is on.
CONNECT THE COMPUTER DIRECTLY TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET ? Bypass power protection devices,
power strips, and the extension cable to verify that the computer turns on. To access the help file, see
page 9.
ADJUST THE POWER PROPERTIES ? Search for the keyword standby in the Windows Help and
Support Center. To access the help file, see page 9.
SWITCH THE VIDEO IMAGE ? If your computer is attached to an external monitor, press
to switch the video image to the display.
NOTE: If you are playing a DVD or watching a streaming video, is disabled.
ADJUST THE BRIGHTNESS ? See the Dell Inspiron Help file for instructions on adjusting the
brightness. To access the help file, see page 9.
MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER OR MONITOR ? If your external speaker system
includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm (2 ft) away from the computer or
external monitor.
ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE ? Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, or
other appliances.
ROTATE THE COMPUTER TO FACE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ? Eliminate sunlight glare, which can
cause poor picture quality.

by mnlcarey

Thanks! I pretty much have tried these things, been all over Dell for answers, no luck there. Without a Windows XP CD or the Dell Resource disk I'm pretty much on my own unless I purchase Windows XP w/sp2 to see if it will reinstall and reset the default settings to system on the windows display. I have already removed the battery, cd/dvd, hard drive and nothing has reset anything. I'm trying not to gut the thing just to get the display adapter back to system setting instead of automatic setting.

by rob miners

is to do a System Restore. Unfortunately you will lose any information that was on the PC unless it is on another Partition.

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system.
PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the
computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer?including data files?
are permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail
messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using
PC Restore.
NOTICE: Using PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications
or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using
PC Restore.
To use PC Restore:
1 Turn on the computer.
During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.
2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press .
If you do not press in time, let the computer finish restarting, and then
restart the computer again.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.
Solving Problems 63
3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.
4 On the next screen, click Confirm.
The restore process takes approximately 6?10 minutes to complete.
5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.
NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer
completely reboot.
6 When prompted, click Yes.
The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the
screens that appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that
appeared the first time the computer was turned on.
7 Click Next.
The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.
8 After the computer restarts, click OK.

by mnlcarey

I will try this, nothing like starting fresh. Told myself I would never do this again. I should just go buy a new laptop but I can't seem to stay away from the challenge or should I say, "dual" with this electronic mess.

This discussion is closed to new replies.