Dual boot video problems

Hey guys, I've been having a problem for a while, but usually I don't think to ask for help with an issue unless it actually becomes either really annoying or is something I just can't get around. In this case it's really mostly a matter of being too lazy to look for a fix because its not really that big of an issue. Anyways, I'm rambling before I even start on topic :rolleyes:
My issue is with a laptop with a dual boot of Windows 7 and Ubuntu. Every time I boot into Ubuntu, then reboot into windows, the resolution is that default low resolution in which you can't really do anything productive. It's almost like linux changed settings in some rom on the video card or mobo or something because its not like linux is writing to anywhere on the ntfs partition afaik. When this happens I usually just reboot, because when I log in it doesn't recognize any higher resolutions as options. I think the mouse pad may not work as well in this situation, but I can't remember, as I usually just reboot. Its a pretty strange problem, but not really much more than an annoyance, as I usually have been sticking to windows 7 on my laptop because of most engineering software and whatnot.

Food for thought: After finishing with Ubuntu-> Shut down the pc... Then start it back up.

I'm assuming you mean as opposed to using restart? Would that make a difference?

I used to have this problem a LONG time ago with other Operating Systems. I Honestly don't even remember how the hell I fixed it, but I think you can check the video settings on both Operating Systems, and make sure everything is right, and most likely you'll find out that one of them is using a different resolution than the other, causing this ;)

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Originally Posted by metguru

I'm assuming you mean as opposed to using restart? Would that make a difference?

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No.. :)

(^ Steve R jones, why the sudden interest in AO? :rolleyes: )

I had a similar issue happening when i was dual -booting kubuntux64 with win7x64

when ever i would leave 1 OS and straight boot into the other it would always have something playing up.

Note down the different Graphics settings under each OS, including screen resolution and output mghz etc.

what Specs/Brand is this laptop?

What brand & Specs are on this laptop?

As a last resort you could force the resolution using the .inf file for the monitor...

Win7 is a bit buggy, as a result of trying to be more secure. Depending on the programs you have installed, and the compatibility mode it's settings are under could cause this. Tediously, you could right click every program you have, check it's settings and resolution, prolly find the problem there, good luck.

Both operating systems are 1600x900. Its an HP Pavilion dv7. I also checked the refresh rate. Both are at 60Hz. Is there anything else to look for?

Hi,

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Both operating systems are 1600x900.

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If you have set your screen resolution to that, I am surprised that you can see anything other than all black with some kind of "unsupported" message :D

16:9 is the aspect ratio for HD widescreen and 15:9 for the old widescreen.

Your resolution should be set to 1366x768 @ 60Hz. That is the HP factory default, and the highest your kit will support. You won't be able to change the refresh rate IIRC.

If you cold boot into Windows, does the resolution come up OK? It should do, as Windows shouldn't even know that Linux is there. The only way I can see Linux passing settings to Windows is through the boot manager???

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As a last resort you could force the resolution using the .inf file for the monitor...

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That works for desktops, but this is an HP laptop, so it should "know" what sort of monitor it has, and have the correct .inf file out of the box ;) also, I don't think you can "force" a resolution on an HP laptop like you can with video cards............you get what HP allows, because they don't want the customer support calls :D

However, it is worth looking into, as Windows may well have become confused by you loading Linux (which HP did not intend and doubtless won't support). Your ATI or nVidia manager should see the correct kit............but does Windows?.............if it doesn't, Windows usually plays safe and uses the lowest settings, which might explain what is happening ;)

What's the screen resolution settings set to via your monitor? There should be various adjustment settings available on the monitor.

Hmmmmm,

I haven't come across this in Windows 7 yet, but in Vista it happens when you load the wrong drivers.

You get a really crappy screen and then a windows message saying that the resolution is not optimal would you like to change it? ...........................DON'T...........unless you like black screens :D

Boot into safe mode and kill the driver/management software, uninstall the video card in device manager, then reboot..........Vista will "find" the new hardware and will even go and get you a driver that will work, if you haven't done that yourself (if you only have one machine you would find that a bit annoying in the failsafe screen settings).

This looks a bit like that, in that Linux is somehow passing the wrong settings to Windows. Linux may look at the settings and adapt them to the hardware, whilst Windows does not? dunno, as I don't dual boot Linux & Windows.

I would say that Linux is not passing the settings being used to Windows or the Linux display would be just as crappy. It must be sending something that Windows doesn't understand, which is why it goes to this failsafe mode.

On my HP lappy you can set from 1366x768 down to 800x600 using their slider screen for resolution settings.

When I look at the more traditional ATI screen (advanced settings from the slider screen) I can set 640x480, which I think is the failsafe default, as opposed to "safe mode", which I would guess to be 800x600.

It might be an idea to check the HP website to see if there are any newer video drivers & management software. Failing that, you might check out the chipset manufacturer's website, but be careful..........OEM's have a habit of customising their installations.

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Originally Posted by nihil

16:9 is the aspect ratio for HD widescreen and 15:9 for the old widescreen

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The resolution is 1600 x 900. I know that is fairly uncommon, but I have a fairly uncommon laptop, I think. But I'm sure that both Linux and Windows are currently in 1600 x 900. Instead of the normal 17 inch monitors, with their resolution at 1366x768, mine is a 17.3 inch monitor. Maybe its supposed to be the full 1920 x 1080? But I'm sure I don't have that option in Linux, and I don't think I have that option in Windows. I have actually tried cold booting as opposed to restarting and it does make a difference. The cold boot results in Windows' normal resolution. The restart results in the bad resolution.

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Originally Posted by metguru

I have actually tried cold booting as opposed to restarting and it does make a difference. The cold boot results in Windows' normal resolution. The restart results in the bad resolution.

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I was talking about this in my reply. I had the exact same issue but it was only when I rebooted. Do you have the actual driver for your video card installed for Linux or is it one of the no 3D basic ones?

Hmmmm,

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But I'm sure that both Linux and Windows are currently in 1600 x 900. Instead of the normal 17 inch monitors, with their resolution at 1366x768, mine is a 17.3 inch monitor. Maybe its supposed to be the full 1920 x 1080?

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I would check what your recommended resolutions for Windows are, some video cards/chipsets can act funny.

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Tediously, you could right click every program you have, check it's settings and resolution, prolly find the problem there

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I was trying to say that depending on the programs you have installed, and their settings could cause this problem, not an overall thing...one by one, you have to right click and check the settings. What would I know know though? Driver issues being something, lulz.

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Originally Posted by nihil

Hmmmm,
I would check what your recommended resolutions for Windows are, some video cards/chipsets can act funny.

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In windows it says 1600 x 900 is the recommended, and it is the highest resolution possible in the options. I also have 1280x720, however thats smaller, so it doesn't seem to make sense to use that instead. Also everything looks fine, the text isn't fuzzy, as it sometimes is with wrong resolutions on LCD monitors.

Gore, would it be preferred to use the linux drivers that are proprietary (ATI)?

Well, no matter what the super geeks say, I personally like the REAL Drivers. I mean the ones that come out of the box so to speak, are cool and all since you'll at least have a GUI, but on one of my machines here, before the video card went to crap on me, I always used the 3D Nvidia Driver from Nvidia. It worked great, made it look good, and it allowed me to play actual games on that machine.

ATI's Driver, I have a more limited experience with it, but it does seem to work better than the one it uses if you don't install their own version. I also perfer Nvidia to ATI.

I guess it is tough sh1t.............HP don't support Linux on that box.

Now, my HP lappy runs Windows 7 real sweet...........:D

Virtual Machine anybody? ;)

I must admit that I am technically intrigued..............

1. I have some damn fancy videocards that do not offer 1600x900
2. How is Linux passing info to Windows?:confused: