Vista Install Video Problem & Solution

SIMP

SIMP

Member
I recently made the jump to Vista from XP and have enjoyed it thus far. However, I ran into a video card/monitor problem that I felt compelled to tell others about just in case they experience this same problem.

After the installation process completed and it told me that it was about to start Vista for the first time, my monitor went black and displayed a message that read “Over Size, Recommand Mode, 1280x1024”. (It did say recommand and not recommend….this is no typo) I restarted the PC and tried going into Safe Mode, which it did but then I got a message telling me that Vista could not complete installation in Safe Mode and must be started in Normal Mode.

I tried hooking up my old CRT monitor to see if it was my flat panel causing the “black-out” but it would not display a picture either. Finally, I decided to call tech support!

Solution: After your BIOS finishes, keep tapping the F8 key to bring up advanced Vista startup options. One of the options will be to startup in low resolution mode. I selected this option and Vista started up with no problem. Once the installation process finished, I installed my video card drivers and this was no longer a problem. (Please note, a USB keyboard WILL NOT work for the advanced startup options. I had to use an older style keyboard with a PS2 type connector)

Again, I hope this helps anyone who may run into this problem while installing Vista on their PC. I am glad that I made the switch and I hope it works out for everyone else who takes the Vista plunge!! Best of luck to you all.
 
No loss of picture was seen here simply going with the default resolution when Vista detected the monitor. If you were trying to start Vista for the first with a higher resolution before the video drivers were installed it won't work. Until the installtion is completed you would boot normally to finish setting up Windows like you would any other version. The only time the usb keyboard won't work is when at the license agreement where the F8 key is pressed. That's when you use a $10- basic keyboard.
 
"If you were trying to start Vista for the first with a higher resolution before the video drivers were installed it won't work".....this was exactly my problem. I had to use my $10 basic keyboard to get the boot in low resolution option.
 
When installing Vista here a few times the automatic detection of the lcd used set it at 1280x1024. For XP it would be that as well. The earlier versions all saw 640x480 for the 16bit vga drivers included in those. Once you initially reach the desktop and can install the software/drivers for the card you can then set it to the resolution the card will support. If you had need for a driver for the monitor you can see Vista take that as well.
 
"Once you initially reach the desktop and can install the software/drivers for the card".....correct again! That's exactly what I had to do. Once I get to the desktop with the low-res option, I simply installed my Nvidia drivers and the problem was solved. It has worked wonderfully since I got everything going!
 
As part of the installation when the first boot to desk is in progress that's when you see the prompts as all hardwares are detected and setup. The video card is no exception there. The display you see until then is simply the default vga drivers included in Windows for installation, normal startup until the video card's drivers load, and during recovery times like booting in safe mode for some reason. You have to able to see what you are doing there.
 
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