Dell 24 inch monitor - driver problems

[CantabRich]

I am slowly going mad as I try to get my 2405FPW panel to work again...

I recently updated my Thinkpad 42 (9600 Radeon) with Port Replicator II using software installer. Stupid Mistake 1: I let it update the video drivers. My Dell Monitor, attached to the DVI output on my Port Replicator II and set to 1920 x 1200, promptly reverted to 1400 x 1050 resolution.

Then came the second Stupid Mistake: I did not simply "roll back" the driver, but instead tried to install Catalyst 5.7. As I subsequently discovered elsewhere on this board, Catalyst 5.7 cannot be modded. And so I could not get the correct resolution.

At this stage, it all got horribly complicated. I could get the Dell working at the correct resolution if I installed the ATI drivers which came with the Flat Panel; however, whenever I rebooted, the computer reverted to the most updated ATI software. I re-installed Catalyst 5.6 and modded it, and that worked fine until I rebooted. At which point the monitor reverted to 1400 x 1050.

At the moment, ATI Check Version tells me that I have version 6.14.10.5155 of Control Panel loaded, and Driver 8.14-050512m-023864C-ATI loaded. According to Windows, the driver powering the Radeon 9600 is version 6.14.10.6542 dated 5/12/2005. The Dell Monitor driver is version 1.0.0.0 dated 20/12/2004.

I have tried removing all ATI software and re-installing from the Windows standard VGA driver. No luck.

Finally, when I open display Properties, Settings, I am offered a drop down menu with two choices:

1. Multiple Monitors on Radeon 9600
2 9600 Multiple Monitors on Radeon 9600

The first selection gives me the option of resolution up to 1400 x 1050; the second option gives me much higher resolutions, but cannot be loaded. The only way I can load the second option is to choose to "extend my windows desktop on to this monitor" - but I do not need an extended desktop. I simply want to use the Dell monitor as a substitute for the T42s flat panel.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I might approach this problem? I have installed and re-installed the drivers multiple times and am reaching the limit of my patience!

Thanks in advance

[GomJabbar]

Choose which version of the video driver that you want from:

2005-06-13

2004-07-01

2004-05-17


Follow the uninstallation and reinstallation instructions below (copied from 2005-06-13 IBM ATI video driver readme file).

Installation instructions
---------------------------------
Note: Uninstall the ATI display driver before installing new drivers.
See uninstallation instructions section below.

1. Start Windows 2000/XP and logon with administrative privileges.
2. Extract the video drivers to the hard disk drive.
Driver package is extracted into C:\DRIVERS\WIN\DISPLAY.
3. Click Start, then click Run.
4. In the Run dialog window, type C:\DRIVERS\WIN\DISPLAY\SETUP.EXE
to install the video driver. Click OK to start the installation process. If you extracted
the files to a different location, specify that location instead.
5. When the Welcome window appears, click Next.
6. At the Software Licence Agreement screen, if you agree, click Yes.
7. At the Select Components screen, click Express.
8. At the Setup Complete screen, select Yes, I want to restart my computer now.
9. Click Finish, then reboot the system.

Uninstallation instructions
---------------------------
1. Start Windows 2000/XP and logon with administrative privileges.
2. Click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
4. Select ATI - Software Uninstall Utility then click Change/Remove button.
5. Click OK to continue to remove ATI related software.
6. Click Yes to restart Windows.

[RonS]

I had problems with the Dell 2405fpw monitor driver on my T42p. I ended up uninstalling the dell driver, and went with the native ATI drivers (IBM release) alone. It let me select 1920x1200 and all is well.

[CantabRich]

Thanks you both; after two re-installs, and a couple of reboots, it seems to be working. For now! Pointers much appreciated.