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And booting in safe mode doesn't help, as you can't uninstall catalyst (it says windows installer service not running or something) or change the desktop resolution/refresh.
Anyone know how to change my Catalyst desktop refresh rate or resolution from config files or registry or something?
Any other ideas?
MGOwen
Posted 2013-07-11T14:45:36.553
Reputation: 575
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You will want to access the Advanced Startup Options, and then follow the instructions to Enable Low-resolution Video (640x480). Once it starts at that resolution, it essentially temporarily resets your current video resolution and refresh settings to a basic default. You can from there, set your resolution and refresh to what you want, and restart.
So, it's not as much a matter of booting to safe mode, but still following almost the same path to boot to safe mode.
Under Advanced startup, tap or click Restart now.
On the Choose an option screen, tap or click Troubleshoot.
Tap or click Startup Settings.
Tap or click Restart.
On the Startup Settings screen, choose the startup setting you want.
That startup setting, would be Enable low-resolution video (640x480)
Bon Gart
Posted 2013-07-11T14:45:36.553
Reputation: 12 574
Thanks! This worked eventually; I had to boot using a win 8 DVD to get into safe mode (NOT straightforward), then use msconfig to turn safe mode off, but not restart yet, then "hold shift - click Power Off - Restart" to get into a version of Adv Start Ops that had the Startup Settings option. Then I chose Low Res from the boot menu, but it went into safe mode again. But using msconfig to get out of safe mode and shift-restart trick 3 times it finally "stuck" and started in low res mode. Anyway, I'll accept this answer in a few days unless someone knows a else knows a better fix. Thanks again. – MGOwen – 2013-07-12T01:26:28.890
I would just disable the service itself which will prevent from starting you can do this in safe mode. – Ramhound – 2013-07-11T14:52:57.470
I didn't disable the service, but I did disable all the catalyst stuff in the startup menu, and it didn't help. Maybe once the desktop is already set at that resolution/rate, it stays that way after restarts even without catalyst running. – MGOwen – 2013-07-12T01:29:44.733