Device Manager in XP doesn't see LCD monitor

February 21, 2007 3:11 PM

Help! I've just reinstalled Windows XP, and now my computer doesn't recognize that I have a monitor in the Device Manager, which means I can't install drivers, which means my screen in currently in 4-bit colour mode. Which is really not going to sit well with my family if I can't fix it.

The screen is a Viewsonic VX924 LCD Display. I have the install CD, but it's useless if the computer doesn't even know it has a monitor. Before I updated to SP2, it was running in 16-bit colour mode at 640x480, and I tried the CD to no effect. But now it's in 4-bit colour mode, and the install CD won't even run without 16-bit colour. I have already been to this page and tried installing both the Signed XP and the Unsigned drivers. Nothing.

Help! I'm starting to get worried.

posted by Dasein to computers & internet (12 comments total)

Have you installed the proper video card driver yet?
posted by Good Brain at 3:38 PM on February 21, 2007

Good Brain is correct, don't worry about the monitor drivers, you need to install drivers for your graphics card.
posted by Mwongozi at 3:47 PM on February 21, 2007

No, I haven't. As soon as I get back from dinner, I will try that. I think it's an onboard video card (does that make sense? As in, it's part of the motherboard, not a separate graphics card) so I didn't think I had to.
posted by Dasein at 3:49 PM on February 21, 2007

Okay, I have to go to dinner now. I will try that as soon as I get home. I have another graphics card I can swap in if I need.
posted by Dasein at 3:50 PM on February 21, 2007

Yup, you'll have to install the video adapter drivers whether or not it's part of the motherboard. Some motherboard makers will provide one big installer with drivers for all the devices on the board, including the network, audio & video.
posted by Good Brain at 3:57 PM on February 21, 2007

You will typically need to visit the mobo manufacturer's website, collect the following, and install them in this order:

• Chipset drivers
• Graphics card (video) drivers
• Sound card (audio) drivers

and usually also

• Network drivers
• Modem drivers
• USB2 drivers

If Windows hasn't autodetected your existing network or modem and limped into action with its own drivers, you'll need to use a different computer to get these things. Or you might be lucky and find the original drivers CD supplied with the mobo.
posted by flabdablet at 6:41 PM on February 21, 2007

And unless you're doing exceedingly fine work with Photoshop, you don't need to install a monitor driver at all.
posted by flabdablet at 6:42 PM on February 21, 2007

Have you tried Windows Update? In some cases, it will detect your video chipset and install the driver for you. You might want to try that before you go hunting for the manufacturer's driver. This will, of course, require that your network card has already been detected.
posted by odinsdream at 7:22 PM on February 21, 2007

odinsdream, I've got Windows fully up to date, and I had hoped that during the process it would magically find the right drivers. No such luck.

flabdablet, thank you. This is making more sense to me - actually, I had to swap in a PCI ethernet card because it wasn't detecting my ethernet port. It's now clear to me that that's because I need to install the motherboard drivers. Now, to figure out which motherboard I have...
posted by Dasein at 7:47 PM on February 21, 2007

And it turns out that after a previous horrendous experience with MDG customer support, they were able to tell me the motherboard model number with no problem. I'm on my way...
posted by Dasein at 7:53 PM on February 21, 2007

Thanks so much for your help!
posted by Dasein at 8:00 PM on February 21, 2007

My general experience with using Windows Update to update drivers is: don't! Things break.
posted by flabdablet at 8:27 PM on February 21, 2007