Analysis
After doing a quick search, there are some other people with the same issue, most of which didn't solve it. I also found a blog post explaining how to solve the problem in Windows 2000, which basically involved doing the steps you probably did back when using Windows XP, albeit without success in Windows 7.
Monitor
I couldn't find much information at all. This is what I collected from an old DriverGuide thread:
17" StarLogic LCD Monitor (11004988)
Model M17ANA
Resolution 1280 x 1024
Display colors 16.7 million colors
Pixel Pitch 0.264 mm
Brightness 260 cd/m2
Contrast ratio 400:1
Viewing angle 140 x 125 degree
Response time 12 ms
Sync. frequency Horizontal 31.5kHz - 79.9kHz, Vertical 70Hz - 75Hz
Input Connector RGB
Weight 8.14 lbs.
This at least confirms the monitor is actually capable of displaying a 1280x1024 resolution. Still, the proper resolution isn't applied, and isn't even listed in the available modes.
Graphic card
In this case the graphic card model is an Intel Q45/Q43 Express Chipset, which is integrated in the motherboard. According to the technical product specifications:
Supports digital and analog displays up to 2048 x 1536 at 75 Hz refresh
(QXGA); also supports 1920 x 1080 resolution for full High Definition video
playback quality.
The video modes supported by this board are based on the Extended Display
Identification Data (EDID) modes of the monitor to which the system is connected.
Standard monitors are assumed.
The graphic card doesn't seem a limiting factor. These are the specific hardware IDs:
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&SUBSYS_3036103C&REV_03
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&SUBSYS_3036103C
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&CC_030000
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&CC_0300
The generic hardware IDs actually is PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12
. In fact, apparently there are only generic drivers available for such cards. The installed driver version was 8.15.10.1749, which dates back to 2009, and probably was the one bundled with Windows 7. The latest version available from Intel official support page is 8.15.10.2869, released about three years later.
On a side note, looking for an updated version through Windows Update can be misleading: the system will happily assume the driver is "up to date" even when no entry was found in Microsoft database.
Extended Display Identification Data
All monitors, analog or digital, must support EDID, which contains info such as the monitor identifier, manufacturer data, hardware identifier, timing info, and so on. This data is stored in the monitor’s EEPROM in a format that is specified by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA).
Source: Overriding Monitor EDIDs with an INF
While the EDID data structure is not exactly human-friendly, we can use Monitor Asset Manager to examine it:
Monitor
Manufacturer............. NUL
Plug and Play ID......... NUL0001
Serial number............ 1
Manufacture date......... 2001, ISO week 1
Filter driver............ None
-------------------------
EDID revision............ 1.3
Input signal type........ Analog 0.700,0.300 (1.0V p-p)
Sync input support....... Separate
Display type............. RGB color
Screen size.............. 310 x 230 mm (15.2 in)
Power management......... Standby, Suspend
Extension blocs.......... None
-------------------------
DDC/CI................... Not supported
Color characteristics
Default color space...... Non-sRGB
Display gamma............ 1.00
Red chromaticity......... Rx 0.597 - Ry 0.343
Green chromaticity....... Gx 0.316 - Gy 0.566
Blue chromaticity........ Bx 0.153 - By 0.131
White point (default).... Wx 0.310 - Wy 0.328
Additional descriptors... None
Timing characteristics
Range limits............. Not available
GTF standard............. Not supported
Additional descriptors... None
Preferred timing......... Yes
Native/preferred timing.. 1024x768p at 68Hz (4:3)
Modeline............... "1024x768" 65.000 1024 1048 1184 1184 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
Standard timings supported
720 x 400p at 70Hz - IBM VGA
640 x 480p at 60Hz - IBM VGA
800 x 600p at 60Hz - VESA
1024 x 768p at 60Hz - VESA
Report information
Date generated........... 2/12/2014
Software revision........ 2.70.0.989
Data source.............. Real-time 0x0011
Operating system......... 6.1.7601.2.Service Pack 1
Raw data
00,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,00,3A,AC,01,00,01,00,00,00,01,0B,01,03,08,1F,17,00,CA,F0,64,98,57,51,91,27,
21,4F,54,A1,08,00,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,64,19,00,A0,40,00,26,30,18,88,
36,00,30,E4,10,00,00,18,00,00,00,FE,00,0A,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,00,00,00,FE,00,0A,
20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,00,00,00,FC,00,0A,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,20,00,E
Windows stores the EDID in the registry after querying the monitor. The problem is the system thinks you have a 15.2" monitor with a maximum supported resolution of 1024x768 pixels and 68 Hz refresh rate. This is just plain wrong, and the monitor is to blame here.
Conclusion
The monitor won't report the correct information, so we have to manually fix that. There are a few ways to do it, and I'll briefly describe them referring you to the links below for additional information. It's better to have more options just in case something doesn't work properly or isn't applicable.
Intel Graphics Control Panel
While updating the old, bare-bone graphic driver which comes with Windows you'll also get the Intel Graphics Control Panel (GfxUI.exe
). Among other things, it can be used to change the screen resolution.
Custom resolution
Some (but not all) Intel graphic cards can support up to five extra Detailed Timing Descriptors (DTDs) through custom registry entries named DTD_x
which can be found in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000
. Each DTD value includes information such as screen resolution, refresh rates, and so on. The TotalDTDCount
value controls the amount of DTD supported. When it's set to 0
, the feature is disabled.
The DTD is actually a section of the full EDID, and it's just as cryptic. In order to easily change the data you can use DTDCalculator.
Correcting the EDID
There are two approaches to correcting EDIDs:
- The standard solution is to have the customer send the monitor back to the manufacturer, who reflashes the EEPROM with the correct EDID and returns the monitor to the customer.
- A better solution, described here, is for the manufacturer to implement an INF file that contains the correct EDID info, and have the customer download it to the computer that's connected to the monitor. Windows extracts the updated EDID info from the INF and provides it to components instead of the info from the EEPROM EDID, effectively overriding the EEPROM EDID.
Source: Overriding Monitor EDIDs with an INF
Using Phoenix EDID designer you can extract the EDID stored in the registry, and change the settings to reflect the monitor true capabilities. When done you save the modified EDID data, and open it using Monitor Asset Manager to validate it. Then you create an INF file, and update the monitor driver in the Device Manager using the file you just created. A restart is required to apply the changes.
Further reading
it sounds some like your limited to "compatability mode" video resolutions, as if the driver for the GPU item is not installed or working properly yet. (check your video drivers in the device manager). . Do you have this same problem with any other monitor hooked up exactally the same way to the exact same port? – Psycogeek – 2014-02-07T07:28:40.410
What's the graphic card hardware ID? Which driver version are you currently using? Is Windows 32-bit or 64-bit? – and31415 – 2014-02-11T18:33:47.700
@and31415 the adapter is built into the motherboard. There are 4 hardware IDs listed in device manager: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&SUBSYS_3036103C&REV_03 PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&SUBSYS_3036103C PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&CC_030000 PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2E12&CC_0300. The driver version is 8.15.10.1749 and it's Windows 7 Professional 32-bit. – Mark Ransom – 2014-02-12T05:08:03.667
The current driver is quite old (2009), and probably is the one bundled with Windows 7. Latest available version is 15.17.19.2869 (8.15.10.2869), which you can get from the official Intel support page. Restart Windows after updating the driver, and see whether you can choose a 1280x1024 resolution.
– and31415 – 2014-02-12T12:07:28.143@and31415 I got the latest from the Intel site, no help. – Mark Ransom – 2014-02-12T14:48:33.397
The driver version was updated successfully, right? Start
– and31415 – 2014-02-12T22:13:36.467regedit.exe
, and navigate toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E968-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000
. Check if there's any value called eitherDTD_1
orTotalDTDCount
. Download and run Monitor Asset Manager. Select the "Real-item" item from the display IDs list and copy the asset information, then upload the text to http://pastebin.com/. Repeat the same steps for the "Registry" and "Registry-Active" items.@and31415 the driver version reported in driver properties is 8.15.10.2869. Regedit shows 5 DTD entries but TotalDTDCount is 0. Results from Monitor Asset Manager are at http://pastebin.com/XZMtc7ti http://pastebin.com/ih89yB4V and http://pastebin.com/qEatJDNZ.
– Mark Ransom – 2014-02-13T03:27:59.330@and31415 I tried the Intel utility that was installed with the driver and it let me create a 1280x1024 profile. Once I unchecked the "Hide modes" checkbox I was allowed to choose it, and it's working! Let's see if it will hold this time. – Mark Ransom – 2014-02-13T03:35:10.980
@MarkRansom Since you have an older monitor, there should be a sticker on the back that tells you the supported refresh rates of the monitor. Depending on the manufacturer, it might list the low and highest refresh rate supported by resolution. Windows "hides" some of these refresh rates, as damage may occur if you use too high of a refresh rate on a monitor that doesn't support it. Your settings should hold now. – JSanchez – 2014-02-13T22:43:15.380
@MarkRansom The problem is the system thinks you have a 15.2" monitor with a max supported resolution of 1024x768 pixels and 68 Hz refresh rate. That needs to be fixed, otherwise the resolution is likely to be reset again sometime in the future (e.g. after stand-by/suspend). – and31415 – 2014-02-14T11:44:53.503
@and31415 you've actually solved my problem. Please leave an answer so I don't have to waste the bonus. – Mark Ransom – 2014-02-14T14:40:53.773
@and31415: Please include in your answer the tools used, like Monitor Asset Manager. I find it interesting how you have arrived at your conclusions. – harrymc – 2014-02-14T15:05:01.107
@MarkRansom You mean the default Intel configuration program? What's the utility name? Can you confirm that the screen resolution remains unchanged even when the monitor switches back from the low-power mode? Has the
TotalDTDCount
value changed? Could you repeat the steps I described earlier using the Monitor Asset Manager tool? – and31415 – 2014-02-14T15:37:33.690@and31415 I'm asked to approve about 4 different apps when I log in. The utility I spoke of is called GfxUI.exe and it's located in Windows\System32. The resolution seems to be holding.
TotalDTDCount
is still 0. Monitor Asset Manager is now erroring out when I start it so I'm unable to rerun those tests. – Mark Ransom – 2014-02-15T04:39:52.303@MarkRansom You mean approve as in requiring admin rights? Out of curiosity, what's the error returned? – and31415 – 2014-02-15T19:05:50.730