Windows – Cannot set video resolution above 640×480 after installing Windows XP SP2

display-settingswindowswindows xp

I've installed Windows XP SP2 on a computer (there was not SP at all). Now the display settings are set back to 640×480 and 4 bits colors. And I can't change it, it is the only option in Settings tab of the Display dialog of Windows.

The screen look awful now, how can I solve this problem?

UPDATE: Seems to be a problem with the video driver (thanks @Karan and @Hennes). I did run Speccy (PC-Wizard freezes the computer) and this is a part of the log file:

Summary
    Operating System
        Microsoft Windows XP Professional 32-bit SP3
    CPU
        Intel Celeron
        Willamette 0.18um Technology
    RAM
        512 MB DDR @ 133MHz (2.5-3-3-6)
    Motherboard
        COMPAQ 0838h (FC-478)
    Graphics
        Standard Monitor (640x480@1Hz)
    Hard Drives
        19.0GB Maxtor 2B020H1 (PATA)
    Optical Drives
        No optical disk drives detected
    Audio
        No audio card detected

…

Graphics
    Monitor
        Name    Standard Monitor on
        Current Resolution  640x480 pixels
        Work Resolution 640x450 pixels
        State   enabled, primary
        Monitor Width   640
        Monitor Height  480
        Monitor BPP 4 bits per pixel
        Monitor Frequency   1 Hz
        Device  \\.\DISPLAY1
    OpenGL
        Version 1.1.0
        Vendor  Microsoft Corporation
        Renderer    GDI Generic
        GLU Version 1.2.2.0 Microsoft Corporation
            Values
                GL_MAX_LIGHTS   8
                GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE 1024
                GL_MAX_TEXTURE_STACK_DEPTH  10
            GL Extensions
                GL_WIN_swap_hint
                GL_EXT_bgra
                GL_EXT_paletted_texture
                GL_EXT_bgra

UPDATE(2):

I also did run GPU-Z:

Screenshot GPU-Z

It doesn't tell me anything. Can anybody please help?

UPDATE(3):
I did run winmsd (System Information/msinfo32), it gives me this (all in Dutch because of a Dutch Windows version):

winmsd(1)

winmsd(2)

Message means "driver for this device not installed".

winmsd(3)

"Beeldscherm" (Dutch) means "monitor".

UPDATE(4)

Thanks to @Hennes I finally got the solution! Looks fine now:

enter image description here

enter image description here

Best Answer

The build in video driver for windows XP is 640x480 at 16 colours. This one gets used until you install a working driver specifically for your video card.

If it worked before then check which driver is installed, download a newer version of it, deinstall the old driver, reboot and install the new driver. After yet another reboot you should be able to select higher resolutions.

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