Widescreen resolution on old VIA UniChrome IGP?

Question

I hooked an old Compaq Presario running Windows XP to an Acer 20" monitor capable of 1680x1050 resolution, because I need Windows to get into work from home and I want the screen real estate. But Windows doesn't give me any widescreen resolution options for the display. All the web searching I've done says update the driver (which I have done), or the hardware won't support widescreen. But if I boot up in Ubuntu, I get full 1680x1050 glory! So surely there must be a Windows driver out there somewhere that'll make this work. Right? Does anybody have any ideas?

Chipset is VIA/SG3 UniChrome IGP. Current driver version is 6.14.10.212, dated 3/9/2005. (U.S. date format, I believe -- m/d/y)

Edit: The machine is a Compaq Presario SR1230NX. Can't get the motherboard info just now.

Edit 2: System specs here (including motherboard info): http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00239779&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=431082

Solution

A more recent driver display is possibly to be found here : version 6.14.10.364 from April 28, 2007. (No guarantee that it will work.)

I would also suggest to flash your BIOS to the latest version, taking all due precautions and downloading the update only from the manufacturer's site.

For further and more detailed advice, please add the exact model of the computer and the motherboard.

Comments

[ganesh]

Ubuntu has the right drivers so there must be a right windows driver? BEEP! Wrong. Might be, might not be there.

[Fred Larson]

Well, the machine has long since been recycled. So I'm not too worried about it anymore.

[Harikrishnan]

did you get any solutions? I also have the same issue.

[Fred Larson]

Thanks for the suggestion. I know it's not listed in "List All Modes...". The highest resolution is 1600x1200; I'll try that. I've selected it from the slider before. The display is readable, but the monitor says "Mode not supported". I'll see if it gives me more options. Can't try it until tonight, though.

[Fred Larson]

I tried it. Didn't get any more options.

[Fred Larson]

That driver is for VIA/SG3 UniChrome Pro, but mine doesn't seem to be the "Pro". Not sure it would work. I could try the BIOS flash (something I've never attempted). But Ubuntu works with the current BIOS. Why wouldn't Windows?

[harrymc]

Probably the Ubuntu driver is better, and BIOS update is a standard catch-all advice I use. The HP video driver is older than yours, so yours must have come from Windows Update. It's interesting to know if there is an optional driver waiting in Windows Update. Also see if the programs in this article can come up with a later video driver (but read also the comments and never pay for a driver). Create a system restore point first, in case.

[Fred Larson]

Finding a newer driver that will support widescreen resolution is really the point of my question. I'd put in another video card if I had one lying around, but I don't. And I'm not really interested in spending money upgrading this old beast.

[HaydnWVN]

Mine was an old card from home from my retired gaming rig i hadn't quite found a home for... A suitable retirement for a volt modded and overclocked card that had a hard life!