Update messing up all Dell Optiplex GX260 computer's graphic drive

I work in a Helpdesk and since 2 days ago, we have been called nonstop by
every user in the field that is using a Dell Optiplex GX260 computer. These
computers use the integrated Intell 845G video graphics adapter. All users
report after their computers updated with a new MS update, their computer
reboots in 4 bit graphics mode at 640x480 and is stuck there. This affects
Win2000 and XP as we've been getting calls on both. With XP we've just been
rolling back to a early this week and that works but eventually the comptuer
will probably go and get the same update again. I remoted into one of these
computers and noticed 4 new updates had been installed the day before this
happened so I figured it had to be one of those updates. One by one I
removed each update starting with KB908531, then KB911562, KB912812, and
finally KB911567. After removing all 4 updates, the graphic card was still
stuck in 4bit at 640x480. Everything in the settings tab is grayed out. Any
ideas on what exactly is causing this?

I saw the Dell Inc post...

I guess I didn't realize drivers could be considered critical updates. I
always thought those updates were optional but obviously in some cases they
are critical.

"Mike" wrote:

> I work in a Helpdesk and since 2 days ago, we have been called nonstop by
> every user in the field that is using a Dell Optiplex GX260 computer. These
> computers use the integrated Intell 845G video graphics adapter. All users
> report after their computers updated with a new MS update, their computer
> reboots in 4 bit graphics mode at 640x480 and is stuck there. This affects
> Win2000 and XP as we've been getting calls on both. With XP we've just been
> rolling back to a early this week and that works but eventually the comptuer
> will probably go and get the same update again. I remoted into one of these
> computers and noticed 4 new updates had been installed the day before this
> happened so I figured it had to be one of those updates. One by one I
> removed each update starting with KB908531, then KB911562, KB912812, and
> finally KB911567. After removing all 4 updates, the graphic card was still
> stuck in 4bit at 640x480. Everything in the settings tab is grayed out. Any
> ideas on what exactly is causing this?

Driver updates are not supposed to be downloaded automatically. They are
supposed to be done manually by the user as an option using Windows Update
or Microsoft Update. If they've been downloading automatically, something
is wrong.

If you go to Windows Update and click on "Review Your Update History", it
will list whatever has been downloaded and installed together with its
source.

We had one WinXP computer out of 40 that use Automatic Updates revert to
4-bit color and 640 x 480 resolution. We were unable to make any changes.
No different drivers had been installed. We removed all the April updates
and rebooted. Then, manually added each update back one at a time,
rebooting in between each. Each time, the computer booted normally. And,
we had no more problems with resolution or color.

I am of the opinion the issue occurred (in our case) because the anti-virus
autoprotect was running during the download and installation, causing
corruption. When all updates were uninstalled and reinstalled, we did so
with autoprotect off.

Tom
"Mike" <> wrote in message
news:A152E6B5-F55A-4707-BDAF-...
>I saw the Dell Inc post...
>
> I guess I didn't realize drivers could be considered critical updates. I
> always thought those updates were optional but obviously in some cases
> they
> are critical.
>
> "Mike" wrote:
>
>> I work in a Helpdesk and since 2 days ago, we have been called nonstop by
>> every user in the field that is using a Dell Optiplex GX260 computer.
>> These
>> computers use the integrated Intell 845G video graphics adapter. All
>> users
>> report after their computers updated with a new MS update, their computer
>> reboots in 4 bit graphics mode at 640x480 and is stuck there. This
>> affects
>> Win2000 and XP as we've been getting calls on both. With XP we've just
>> been
>> rolling back to a early this week and that works but eventually the
>> comptuer
>> will probably go and get the same update again. I remoted into one of
>> these
>> computers and noticed 4 new updates had been installed the day before
>> this
>> happened so I figured it had to be one of those updates. One by one I
>> removed each update starting with KB908531, then KB911562, KB912812, and
>> finally KB911567. After removing all 4 updates, the graphic card was
>> still
>> stuck in 4bit at 640x480. Everything in the settings tab is grayed out.
>> Any
>> ideas on what exactly is causing this?

"Tom [Pepper] Willett" <> schrieb:

> Driver updates are not supposed to be downloaded automatically. They are
> supposed to be done manually by the user as an option using Windows Update
> or Microsoft Update. If they've been downloading automatically, something
> is wrong.

Maybe, maybe not. See my other followups on your statement which
is IMHO and AFAIK not correct unfortunatly.

Bye,
Freudi

Ottmar must be correct because we have around 150 machines out their with
users that hardly know where the start button is, let alone users that posses
the knowledge of going to the Windows Update site and navigating their way to
manually download an optional updated driver.

"Ottmar Freudenberger" wrote:

> "Tom [Pepper] Willett" <> schrieb:
>
> > Driver updates are not supposed to be downloaded automatically. They are
> > supposed to be done manually by the user as an option using Windows Update
> > or Microsoft Update. If they've been downloading automatically, something
> > is wrong.
>
> Maybe, maybe not. See my other followups on your statement which
> is IMHO and AFAIK not correct unfortunatly.
>
> Bye,
> Freudi
>

I had 3 users affected using automatic updates. The video did load as 16 bit
& res of 480x600 and couldn't changed it. When I selected properties pc would
reboot. Same from control panel. Two users I was able to reload previous
driver but one is still messed up...HELP????



"Tom [Pepper] Willett" wrote:

> Driver updates are not supposed to be downloaded automatically. They are
> supposed to be done manually by the user as an option using Windows Update
> or Microsoft Update. If they've been downloading automatically, something
> is wrong.
>
> If you go to Windows Update and click on "Review Your Update History", it
> will list whatever has been downloaded and installed together with its
> source.
>
> We had one WinXP computer out of 40 that use Automatic Updates revert to
> 4-bit color and 640 x 480 resolution. We were unable to make any changes.
> No different drivers had been installed. We removed all the April updates
> and rebooted. Then, manually added each update back one at a time,
> rebooting in between each. Each time, the computer booted normally. And,
> we had no more problems with resolution or color.
>
> I am of the opinion the issue occurred (in our case) because the anti-virus
> autoprotect was running during the download and installation, causing
> corruption. When all updates were uninstalled and reinstalled, we did so
> with autoprotect off.
>
> Tom
> "Mike" <> wrote in message
> news:A152E6B5-F55A-4707-BDAF-...
> >I saw the Dell Inc post...
> >
> > I guess I didn't realize drivers could be considered critical updates. I
> > always thought those updates were optional but obviously in some cases
> > they
> > are critical.
> >
> > "Mike" wrote:
> >
> >> I work in a Helpdesk and since 2 days ago, we have been called nonstop by
> >> every user in the field that is using a Dell Optiplex GX260 computer.
> >> These
> >> computers use the integrated Intell 845G video graphics adapter. All
> >> users
> >> report after their computers updated with a new MS update, their computer
> >> reboots in 4 bit graphics mode at 640x480 and is stuck there. This
> >> affects
> >> Win2000 and XP as we've been getting calls on both. With XP we've just
> >> been
> >> rolling back to a early this week and that works but eventually the
> >> comptuer
> >> will probably go and get the same update again. I remoted into one of
> >> these
> >> computers and noticed 4 new updates had been installed the day before
> >> this
> >> happened so I figured it had to be one of those updates. One by one I
> >> removed each update starting with KB908531, then KB911562, KB912812, and
> >> finally KB911567. After removing all 4 updates, the graphic card was
> >> still
> >> stuck in 4bit at 640x480. Everything in the settings tab is grayed out.
> >> Any
> >> ideas on what exactly is causing this?
>
>
>

One thing that caused me quite a few problems is that I had the RealVNC
software installed and after the update it hung on starting, then would not
let the services database unlock so the driver could be automatically
installed by Windows when I had uninstalled the driver in safe mode fyi.
Still don't know what whacked out the video on the systems though, we've got
about 15 of them in this location I'm working at now that encountered it
though...


"APCO Admin" wrote:

> I had 3 users affected using automatic updates. The video did load as 16 bit
> & res of 480x600 and couldn't changed it. When I selected properties pc would
> reboot. Same from control panel. Two users I was able to reload previous
> driver but one is still messed up...HELP????
>
>
>
> "Tom [Pepper] Willett" wrote:
>
> > Driver updates are not supposed to be downloaded automatically. They are
> > supposed to be done manually by the user as an option using Windows Update
> > or Microsoft Update. If they've been downloading automatically, something
> > is wrong.
> >
> > If you go to Windows Update and click on "Review Your Update History", it
> > will list whatever has been downloaded and installed together with its
> > source.
> >
> > We had one WinXP computer out of 40 that use Automatic Updates revert to
> > 4-bit color and 640 x 480 resolution. We were unable to make any changes.
> > No different drivers had been installed. We removed all the April updates
> > and rebooted. Then, manually added each update back one at a time,
> > rebooting in between each. Each time, the computer booted normally. And,
> > we had no more problems with resolution or color.
> >
> > I am of the opinion the issue occurred (in our case) because the anti-virus
> > autoprotect was running during the download and installation, causing
> > corruption. When all updates were uninstalled and reinstalled, we did so
> > with autoprotect off.
> >
> > Tom
> > "Mike" <> wrote in message
> > news:A152E6B5-F55A-4707-BDAF-...
> > >I saw the Dell Inc post...
> > >
> > > I guess I didn't realize drivers could be considered critical updates. I
> > > always thought those updates were optional but obviously in some cases
> > > they
> > > are critical.
> > >
> > > "Mike" wrote:
> > >
> > >> I work in a Helpdesk and since 2 days ago, we have been called nonstop by
> > >> every user in the field that is using a Dell Optiplex GX260 computer.
> > >> These
> > >> computers use the integrated Intell 845G video graphics adapter. All
> > >> users
> > >> report after their computers updated with a new MS update, their computer
> > >> reboots in 4 bit graphics mode at 640x480 and is stuck there. This
> > >> affects
> > >> Win2000 and XP as we've been getting calls on both. With XP we've just
> > >> been
> > >> rolling back to a early this week and that works but eventually the
> > >> comptuer
> > >> will probably go and get the same update again. I remoted into one of
> > >> these
> > >> computers and noticed 4 new updates had been installed the day before
> > >> this
> > >> happened so I figured it had to be one of those updates. One by one I
> > >> removed each update starting with KB908531, then KB911562, KB912812, and
> > >> finally KB911567. After removing all 4 updates, the graphic card was
> > >> still
> > >> stuck in 4bit at 640x480. Everything in the settings tab is grayed out.
> > >> Any
> > >> ideas on what exactly is causing this?
> >
> >
> >

Yes that is the worst part about this. As soon as a person with this issue
right clicks the desktop and click on properties, the machine immediately
reboots. So frustrating.

"APCO Admin" wrote:

> I had 3 users affected using automatic updates. The video did load as 16 bit
> & res of 480x600 and couldn't changed it. When I selected properties pc would
> reboot. Same from control panel. Two users I was able to reload previous
> driver but one is still messed up...HELP????
>
>
>
> "Tom [Pepper] Willett" wrote:
>
> > Driver updates are not supposed to be downloaded automatically. They are
> > supposed to be done manually by the user as an option using Windows Update
> > or Microsoft Update. If they've been downloading automatically, something
> > is wrong.
> >
> > If you go to Windows Update and click on "Review Your Update History", it
> > will list whatever has been downloaded and installed together with its
> > source.
> >
> > We had one WinXP computer out of 40 that use Automatic Updates revert to
> > 4-bit color and 640 x 480 resolution. We were unable to make any changes.
> > No different drivers had been installed. We removed all the April updates
> > and rebooted. Then, manually added each update back one at a time,
> > rebooting in between each. Each time, the computer booted normally. And,
> > we had no more problems with resolution or color.
> >
> > I am of the opinion the issue occurred (in our case) because the anti-virus
> > autoprotect was running during the download and installation, causing
> > corruption. When all updates were uninstalled and reinstalled, we did so
> > with autoprotect off.
> >
> > Tom
> > "Mike" <> wrote in message
> > news:A152E6B5-F55A-4707-BDAF-...
> > >I saw the Dell Inc post...
> > >
> > > I guess I didn't realize drivers could be considered critical updates. I
> > > always thought those updates were optional but obviously in some cases
> > > they
> > > are critical.
> > >
> > > "Mike" wrote:
> > >
> > >> I work in a Helpdesk and since 2 days ago, we have been called nonstop by
> > >> every user in the field that is using a Dell Optiplex GX260 computer.
> > >> These
> > >> computers use the integrated Intell 845G video graphics adapter. All
> > >> users
> > >> report after their computers updated with a new MS update, their computer
> > >> reboots in 4 bit graphics mode at 640x480 and is stuck there. This
> > >> affects
> > >> Win2000 and XP as we've been getting calls on both. With XP we've just
> > >> been
> > >> rolling back to a early this week and that works but eventually the
> > >> comptuer
> > >> will probably go and get the same update again. I remoted into one of
> > >> these
> > >> computers and noticed 4 new updates had been installed the day before
> > >> this
> > >> happened so I figured it had to be one of those updates. One by one I
> > >> removed each update starting with KB908531, then KB911562, KB912812, and
> > >> finally KB911567. After removing all 4 updates, the graphic card was
> > >> still
> > >> stuck in 4bit at 640x480. Everything in the settings tab is grayed out.
> > >> Any
> > >> ideas on what exactly is causing this?
> >
> >
> >

I have 3 Dell computers, all Dimensions (2400 and 4500S), that were affected
by this video problem after a Windows update. (Stuck at 640x480 and 4 color)
They all seem to have the Intel 82845G Graphics chip.

One was fixed by downloading the video driver from the Dell support site.
The second system wouldn't fix this way nor from an update on the Intel site
so I back-rev'd to a previous driver from 2003 and was successful in getting
some form of graphics back....The third system is still TBD.

In the mean time, I will likely back-rev the driver and shut off automatic
updates since the issue will be re-introduced on the next auto-update.

One other note is that all these systems have remote control software on
them (Logmein) and Intel has a note in their KB saying to disable any remote
control software and reinstall the driver if you have this problem. Haven't
tried that yet.

Has anyone else performed a sure-fire fix to this so we don't have to shut
off Windows Updates? I'll more than happy to share my fix if I come upon it
first.
--
DanaL


"Mike" wrote:

> Yes that is the worst part about this. As soon as a person with this issue
> right clicks the desktop and click on properties, the machine immediately
> reboots. So frustrating.
>
> "APCO Admin" wrote:
>
> > I had 3 users affected using automatic updates. The video did load as 16 bit
> > & res of 480x600 and couldn't changed it. When I selected properties pc would
> > reboot. Same from control panel. Two users I was able to reload previous
> > driver but one is still messed up...HELP????
> >
> >
> >
> > "Tom [Pepper] Willett" wrote:
> >
> > > Driver updates are not supposed to be downloaded automatically. They are
> > > supposed to be done manually by the user as an option using Windows Update
> > > or Microsoft Update. If they've been downloading automatically, something
> > > is wrong.
> > >
> > > If you go to Windows Update and click on "Review Your Update History", it
> > > will list whatever has been downloaded and installed together with its
> > > source.
> > >
> > > We had one WinXP computer out of 40 that use Automatic Updates revert to
> > > 4-bit color and 640 x 480 resolution. We were unable to make any changes.
> > > No different drivers had been installed. We removed all the April updates
> > > and rebooted. Then, manually added each update back one at a time,
> > > rebooting in between each. Each time, the computer booted normally. And,
> > > we had no more problems with resolution or color.
> > >
> > > I am of the opinion the issue occurred (in our case) because the anti-virus
> > > autoprotect was running during the download and installation, causing
> > > corruption. When all updates were uninstalled and reinstalled, we did so
> > > with autoprotect off.
> > >
> > > Tom
> > > "Mike" <> wrote in message
> > > news:A152E6B5-F55A-4707-BDAF-...
> > > >I saw the Dell Inc post...
> > > >
> > > > I guess I didn't realize drivers could be considered critical updates. I
> > > > always thought those updates were optional but obviously in some cases
> > > > they
> > > > are critical.
> > > >
> > > > "Mike" wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> I work in a Helpdesk and since 2 days ago, we have been called nonstop by
> > > >> every user in the field that is using a Dell Optiplex GX260 computer.
> > > >> These
> > > >> computers use the integrated Intell 845G video graphics adapter. All
> > > >> users
> > > >> report after their computers updated with a new MS update, their computer
> > > >> reboots in 4 bit graphics mode at 640x480 and is stuck there. This
> > > >> affects
> > > >> Win2000 and XP as we've been getting calls on both. With XP we've just
> > > >> been
> > > >> rolling back to a early this week and that works but eventually the
> > > >> comptuer
> > > >> will probably go and get the same update again. I remoted into one of
> > > >> these
> > > >> computers and noticed 4 new updates had been installed the day before
> > > >> this
> > > >> happened so I figured it had to be one of those updates. One by one I
> > > >> removed each update starting with KB908531, then KB911562, KB912812, and
> > > >> finally KB911567. After removing all 4 updates, the graphic card was
> > > >> still
> > > >> stuck in 4bit at 640x480. Everything in the settings tab is grayed out.
> > > >> Any
> > > >> ideas on what exactly is causing this?
> > >
> > >
> > >

We had three of our 9 DELL GX260's experience this problem. The first
two were corrected per the instructions listed above.

The third did not resolve (immediately) by using the same method. We
saw another article pointing to a combo Windows Update/Pcanywhere as
the problem. We uninstalled pcanywhere and performed the instructions
above and the issue resolved on third machine