The Vista varient of Windows is able to rollback device drivers. That means that if you install an updated driver for a graphics board or whatever, and if it screws up your system, then you can ask Vista to uninstall it and use the previous version.
That happened to me yesterday.
HP periodically offers updated drivers and other software for my TX1120 tablet-like notebook computer. Problem is, the updates they offer are offered with no explanation. I have no idea whether the update does me any good.
There was an update for the nVidia graphics board. After I gave permission to download and install it, I noticed something strange. The image of the second monitor looked fuzzy, a sure sign of resolution mismatch.
(Speaking of which, I noticed that our local FutureShop pulls that stunt. On their cheapest monitor, they do a resolution mismatch to make the image look worse than it really would be -- a means by which to dissuade customers from spending that little, perhaps.)
I went to change the resolution back to 1440x900 -- but found I could not. The closest was 1440x1024. After scrolling through all available resolutions, I realized that nVidia's latest update eliminated the resolution needed by my new monitor.
In the meantime, the displays were freaking out, shuddering in black flashes each time I tried to find that ellusive combination.
Then I hoped that rolling back the driver to the previous release might work. As so much in Vista, Microsoft chose to make this difficult to access:
1. Rightclick the screen.
2. Click Personalize from the menu.
3. Click DisplaySettings in the dialog box
4. Click Advanced Settings button.
5. Click Adapter tab.
6. Click Properties button.
7. Click Driver tab.
8. Click Rollback Driver button. (If this button is grayed out, Windows cannot rollback the driver.)
The rollback worked, and I have my 1440x900 resolution back. No more driver updates!
Problem is, I cannot complain to nVidia, who created the problem and wasted my time. Even though their utility software has a Contact nVidia button, they want nothing to do with us; it's HP to whom we're to take our woes.
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