Re: Pls help/advise planning reformat/reinstall attack

Munching Downs wrote:

On Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:45:25 -0300, John John <audetweld@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


Did you by any chance do some "Registry Cleaning" before the problem started? Throw these damed registry cleaners to the garbage! They have little to no value and more often than not they cause more problems than anything else!

Try reinstalling the video drivers and see if things improve.

John


Hello John. I actually understand and (generally) agree with your
concerns. I use registry checker/cleaner software primarily to learn
*about* the registry and how things work or don't work when messed
with, so if the laptop goes up in smoke my only concern will be
explaining myself to the fire department. <g>

No, I didn't have any reason to check the registry until *after* the
problem started, then didn't do anything other than zap a reference to
a program I'd uninstalled. Instead, I zeroed in (regedit) on the word
"desktop" because, of all my search-word options that's the only one I
felt comfortable with; I was looking for something referring to
dimensions. I would have come here with a question first had I found
anything, but either I didn't find entries or I didn't recognize
whatever I might have found. Instead, I think I posted a general
request for a reg-key fix, if one existed, and got no response. Sorry
I don't remember which group as I was web-based at the time, user ID
"shug" which actually belongs to someone else.

Reinstalling video drivers - love the idea - device manager, yes? The
drivers listed under the ATI adapter, *not* the codecs listed
elsewhere, right? My choices are:

Update Driver
Roll Back Driver
Uninstall Driver

My brain just stopped because I don't know what could/will happen when
I hit one of the buttons.

The first thing to do would be to go to your laptop manufacturer's support site and check to see if Windows XP drivers are available for your laptop. Laptops are not the same as desktops, they're pretty finicky and they have proprietary hardware. It's important to install the right drivers if you want it to run well. Even though your video adapter is identified as an ATI adapter you should get the drivers from the laptop company instead of ATI. The ATI drivers may have been specially modified for the laptop, only rely on other (ATI) drivers if you have absolutely no choice!

If you can get drivers from manufacturer follow the manufacturers instructions to install them or select to update them in the Device Manager (Display Adapters). If it doesn't help you can select to uninstall then reboot and have Windows rediscover the hardware and reinstall the drivers.

If you keep having further problems it may help us if you post the make and model number of the laptop. Someone reading may have an identical laptop or may have experience maintaining them and may be able to provide valuable and accurate help.

John
.