Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old res.

Pseudolife · 11-03-2009, 09:08 AM

So I just bought and installed a Radeon 4650. The Monitor I have supports 1680x1050 so I set the desktop to that. When I start a game though, I can't change the resolution... when I try to it shows the new res for a second then flashes black and goes to desktop, then back to the old resolution.

I even tried to lower it to a smaller resolution and it still doesn't switch. Something weird is going on... is there some resolution changing process thats messing up in the OS? The desktop displays the high res no problem... why can't the games switch to the higher res, or even the lower ones for that matter??

I'm running windows xp btw, and my old crappy graphics card switched back and forth no problem... it just looked like crap. I have all the newest drivers and the latest directx too.

Has anyone had this problem before and figured out how to fix it? I'd appreciate anyones help!

**Chef** · 11-03-2009, 12:20 PM

Make sure your game in properly installed and update the game to the latest patch. The problem your experiencing is a common problem with outdated game updates and graphics drivers.

**bakuryu** · 11-03-2009, 04:10 PM

Which was your previous card ? What steps did you follow to remove it ?

**X-Caliber** · 11-03-2009, 04:38 PM

Try Removing the Save files.. and starting the game All new...

Pseudolife · 11-03-2009, 09:58 PM

Well I'm pretty sure the game is installed properly, but I'm going to uninstall then reinstall it. Because the setting it keeps switching back to was one I told it to use back when I had the old graphics card... and like I said I can't change it to ANY resolution.

Last night after I posted this I used driver sweeper to remove all the old ATI drivers and even the new ones. Then I swept for nvidia and removed 4 that I don't even know why were on here lol. I installed the most recent drivers, and still no go.

Before I reinstall it I'm going to try removing the save files... see it that does it. If this doesn't work I'm going to shoot myself.

I'm trying to play red alert 3 on high graphics.... and at low resolution its just too hard to see. You know? This game has just too many frills!

**bakuryu** · 11-03-2009, 11:10 PM

You are lucky to not have any BSOD's. The proper way to change cards would be :
1. Uninstall drivers from Device manager (with old card still plugged in).
2. Reboot in safe mode, run Driver Sweeper, clean out files (either NVidia or ATi depending on your card).
3. Turn off computer, and change cards.
4. Boot in normal mode and install drivers for new card.

You can also create a new profile/alias in the game with default settings and see if you can change resolutions in it.

Wolfie276 · 12-03-2009, 01:31 AM

red alert 3 has very many bugs, for example i cant even run it

on a sidenote its not a good game, RA2 was good but then again...EA always ***** up cool classics imo

Pseudolife · 12-03-2009, 08:56 AM

the old card was a radeon x300 or 350... something like that. I uninstalled the game, deleted the profile folder under mydocuments and its still using the old settings. There must be some secret place where it stores info that I'm not finding and deleting.

I wonder what file stores the resolution preferences.. then I could just edit that and change the settings! (Wouldn't that be nice?)

Also... I'm totally addicted to the game. It is in fact VERY fun, you just have to know how to play it. It isn't fun if you think its going to be red alert 2... it isn't. They are two VERY different games with different strategies... so don't be a hater

!!

**bakuryu** · 12-03-2009, 01:45 PM

Do other games work properly / you can change resolutions ?

**Chef** · 12-03-2009, 05:45 PM

usually all information once you run a game is then logged into a text or ini file. Most are called Config.ini or Settings.ini or for Crysis its just a log.txt file. But make sure your game has the latest patches/updates installed, this should most likely get rid of any bugs in the game now etc. If this still doesn't help, some leftover game registry commands might be still left in your registry.

@Wolfie: I agree...EA does ***** up alot of classics, like RA3 and Need for Speed series.

11-03-2009, 09:08 AM	#1
Pseudolife Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Age: 28 Posts: 4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0 OS:	Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old res. So I just bought and installed a Radeon 4650. The Monitor I have supports 1680x1050 so I set the desktop to that. When I start a game though, I can't change the resolution... when I try to it shows the new res for a second then flashes black and goes to desktop, then back to the old resolution. I even tried to lower it to a smaller resolution and it still doesn't switch. Something weird is going on... is there some resolution changing process thats messing up in the OS? The desktop displays the high res no problem... why can't the games switch to the higher res, or even the lower ones for that matter?? I'm running windows xp btw, and my old crappy graphics card switched back and forth no problem... it just looked like crap. I have all the newest drivers and the latest directx too. Has anyone had this problem before and figured out how to fix it? I'd appreciate anyones help!

11-03-2009, 12:20 PM	#2
Chef Hardware Support Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: C:/Program Files/Games/ Age: 17 Posts: 965 Thanks: 65 Thanked 52 Times in 49 Posts Rep Power: 13 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re Make sure your game in properly installed and update the game to the latest patch. The problem your experiencing is a common problem with outdated game updates and graphics drivers. __________________

11-03-2009, 04:10 PM	#3
bakuryu ƒ(ψ)=Θº×φ Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Age: 23 Posts: 6,621 Thanks: 19 Thanked 645 Times in 603 Posts Rep Power: 87 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re Which was your previous card ? What steps did you follow to remove it ? __________________ Please don't click here

11-03-2009, 04:38 PM	#4
X-Caliber Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Latitude - 18.975° & Longitude - 72.825° Age: 21 Posts: 1,229 Thanks: 46 Thanked 80 Times in 65 Posts Rep Power: 32 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re Try Removing the Save files.. and starting the game All new... __________________ Also Catch me on my Blog igoY - The journey of Yogi

11-03-2009, 09:58 PM	#5
Pseudolife Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Age: 28 Posts: 4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re Well I'm pretty sure the game is installed properly, but I'm going to uninstall then reinstall it. Because the setting it keeps switching back to was one I told it to use back when I had the old graphics card... and like I said I can't change it to ANY resolution. Last night after I posted this I used driver sweeper to remove all the old ATI drivers and even the new ones. Then I swept for nvidia and removed 4 that I don't even know why were on here lol. I installed the most recent drivers, and still no go. Before I reinstall it I'm going to try removing the save files... see it that does it. If this doesn't work I'm going to shoot myself. I'm trying to play red alert 3 on high graphics.... and at low resolution its just too hard to see. You know? This game has just too many frills!

11-03-2009, 11:10 PM	#6
bakuryu ƒ(ψ)=Θº×φ Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Age: 23 Posts: 6,621 Thanks: 19 Thanked 645 Times in 603 Posts Rep Power: 87 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re You are lucky to not have any BSOD's. The proper way to change cards would be : 1. Uninstall drivers from Device manager (with old card still plugged in). 2. Reboot in safe mode, run Driver Sweeper, clean out files (either NVidia or ATi depending on your card). 3. Turn off computer, and change cards. 4. Boot in normal mode and install drivers for new card. You can also create a new profile/alias in the game with default settings and see if you can change resolutions in it.

12-03-2009, 01:31 AM	#7
Wolfie276 Advanced Member (250+) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: /etc/init.d/ Posts: 441 Thanks: 15 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts Rep Power: 0 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re red alert 3 has very many bugs, for example i cant even run it on a sidenote its not a good game, RA2 was good but then again...EA always ***** up cool classics imo __________________ (\__/) (='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your (" )_(" ) signature to help him gain world domination. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXD4N_Mi1iE&fmt=22# Freelancer Evolving

12-03-2009, 08:56 AM	#8
Pseudolife Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Age: 28 Posts: 4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re the old card was a radeon x300 or 350... something like that. I uninstalled the game, deleted the profile folder under mydocuments and its still using the old settings. There must be some secret place where it stores info that I'm not finding and deleting. I wonder what file stores the resolution preferences.. then I could just edit that and change the settings! (Wouldn't that be nice?) Also... I'm totally addicted to the game. It is in fact VERY fun, you just have to know how to play it. It isn't fun if you think its going to be red alert 2... it isn't. They are two VERY different games with different strategies... so don't be a hater !!

12-03-2009, 01:45 PM	#9
bakuryu ƒ(ψ)=Θº×φ Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Age: 23 Posts: 6,621 Thanks: 19 Thanked 645 Times in 603 Posts Rep Power: 87 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re Do other games work properly / you can change resolutions ?

12-03-2009, 05:45 PM	#10
Chef Hardware Support Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: C:/Program Files/Games/ Age: 17 Posts: 965 Thanks: 65 Thanked 52 Times in 49 Posts Rep Power: 13 OS:	Re: Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old re usually all information once you run a game is then logged into a text or ini file. Most are called Config.ini or Settings.ini or for Crysis its just a log.txt file. But make sure your game has the latest patches/updates installed, this should most likely get rid of any bugs in the game now etc. If this still doesn't help, some leftover game registry commands might be still left in your registry. @Wolfie: I agree...EA does ***** up alot of classics, like RA3 and Need for Speed series.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Meet our Staff Refer Forum Rules Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read

Games won't change resolution after installing new card. Flashes to desktop, then back to old res.

Audio, Display & Video Cards