DVI to VGA issue (loss of EDID, signal not supported on startup)

datNinjaOtter

Honorable
May 23, 2013
6
0
10,510
This is a problem I've had in the past with other monitors.

I have an 8800GTS and the only outputs are DVI (not sure about the specific type of DVI, but that's irrelevant, I think), but the monitors I had before I got it are VGA. Right when I started using it, I was having trouble with resolution and refresh rate. Any place I have the ability to set res and RR, it shows crazy options the monitor I'm connected to obviously doesn't support because whatever that converter does kills the EDID (Extended Display Identification Data). Fortunately, my main monitor was able to somewhat handle the crazy resolution it started out in and I changed it to the correct settings.

I still have this problem when games try to detect settings, often setting it to 1080p 240hz, WAY above what my monitor can handle, making my monitor tell me "INPUT NOT SUPPORT". Then I need to find the game's config files and change shit there. But that's not the problem I'm having now.

HERE IS MY PROBLEM:

I'm house sitting for a week and did not bring a monitor as the people here have a 720p TV with VGA in I thought I'd just use instead. HOWEVER, when I hooked it up, the TV showed the startup stuff that sends out like 800x600 and 1024x768 signals, but once it got past all of that, it just goes black and says the signal is not supported. Well damn, it's sending out some res and hz that it doesn't support and I don't know how to force it to startup at a certain resolution and refresh rate. All the computers in this guy's house are Macs, so I can't just steal a monitor from him.

At the moment, I'm running off the integrated video card which is just VGA out (so no goofy problems, it's able to detect the TVs EDID), and I can do simple stuff with that, but I brought this thing to play games and keep myself from getting bored (and I'm pretty dang bored right now). I can't get into the NVIDIA control panel to set and restrict the allowed resolutions, so...

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS IF ANYONE KNOWS A WAY TO MANUALLY MODIFY THE NVIDIA DRIVER ALLOWED RESOLUTIONS

...and stuff, OR if there's someway I can temporarily force it to set a certain resolution and refresh rate on startup.

Thanks for any help I can get!

P.S. [edit]: Don't give me any bogus answers like "dude, just drive home and get one of your monitors." I'm not able to, and otherwise I totally would.
 

datNinjaOtter

Honorable
May 23, 2013
6
0
10,510
So I asked this on a couple other websites and found the solution.

Used this program called powerstrip http://entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm to make a display profile that matched this TVs settings, binded it to a hotkey, set powerstrip to open on login. I was able to easily login without being able to see anything (left arrow, enter, password, enter), wait for things to startup, press the hotkey, and it set it to the supported res and hz!

Posting this answer for anyone else who comes upon this sort of problem.