I have a Dell XPS. I need to change the resolution to 1440x900 for some games. I can do that easily, but it doesn't stay. I think I must be leaving out some "save" step. I can play the game for 10 min. to 45min., but eventually, the resolution will change and I am knocked out of the game. Any help?
Thanks,
teach

Please be more specific about the model number of your computer, the video card it has, and what games you're having this trouble with.

Sorry. I am having trouble with several Big Fish games and get the message that Auto detect (analog Input) cannot display this video mode. optimum resolution 1440x900 60HZ. Here is my computer info: Window XP Professional-XPS 630i Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090804-1435)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc
System Model: XPS 630i
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs)
Memory: 3326MB RAM
Page File: 609MB used, 4600MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x9442)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9442&SUBSYS_05021028&REV_00
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6844 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/9/2008 19:57:48, 311296 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 9/9/2008 19:57:50, 3266560 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D702-11CF-2469-0825A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x9442
SubSys ID: 0x05021028
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Realtek HD Audio output
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10280249&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5506 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 1/14/2008 22:10:30, 4620288 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: Realtek HD Audio Input
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5506 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 1/14/2008 22:10:30, 4620288 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xFFF

Description: Realtek HD Digital input
Default Sound Capture: No
Default Voice Capture: No
Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5506 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 1/14/2008 22:10:30, 4620288 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xFFF

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Registry: OK

Games that have given me trouble are: Stray Souls and Shadow Wolf Mystery: Curse of the Moon. Chronicles of Mystery-Tree of Life is playing beautifully.
Thanks again,
Teach

None of those games play in 1440x900.
The games you've listed are probably all 1024x768.

1440x900 may be your monitor's native resolution, and that's why it's in the error message. Your dxdiag says you're currently using 1280x768, which would probably look OK with a 1024x768 game if you used the "windowed" option.

Do you have the "Full Screen" option checked in the Game Options? Or are you using the "Windowed" option? Whichever you're using, try the other one and see if that gets rid of the crashing. Stray Souls and Shadow Wolf Mystery: Curse of the Moon should both have an Options selection in the Main Menu, and under Options you should see a selection that allows you to switch between Full screen and Windowed.

Thank you for responding. 1440x900 is not my monitor's native resolution. It isn't even listed on my "quick list". I have to go to "advance" to find it. I did that because the messages kept saying that resolution. I will try the screen change you mention.
Thanks again,
teach

teach8, can you just ignore that message and proceed with the game. Seems I got that message also on a game recently, but I can't remember which one it was. I was trying to fiddle with things and nothing seemed to work. Then I just ignored it and everything was fine. I just can't remember the exact process, messages, etc. that occurred at that time.

Wish I could, but the screen goes black when the message comes on and, since I can't see, I have to do a hard boot. That is what really bothers me-turning my puter on and off so much. Could it be my monitor rather than my computer? Do monitors have different "powers"?
teach

Some monitors have scaling options that allow games with a 4:3 aspect ratio to play on a widescreen monitor without being horizontally stretched. If a monitor doesn't have scaling options, the video card has to do the scaling.

What is your monitor's model number?

In looking for the model number, I found that I have to change the resolution in "advance", I have to be logged on under "administration" not my user name. I'm going to try that! I'll let you all know! Thanks so much! I really love this computer and it was a "retirement" gift to myself so I am not ready to replace it. I did get Windows 7 with it, so I can change to that when I want to, but XP really has worked very well so far.
Thanks again,
teach