NaveWeiss's Journal: Slashdot is responsible for blackening 2 lab computers!

I had a test today but I was late so I missed it. I hope I won't be late for the next time.

So what happened with the lab? Here's the introduction. In the computer lab we have win2k machines and very limited security - students can barely touch any configuration and every change is wiped after log-off - including files (except for the files in the network drive, which is limited to 15 megs).

Today I went to the computer lab and read slashdot, and then I saw an article which mentioned Justin Frankel (is he Jewish?) so I went into Nullsoft.com and found the "useful" utility called jRes.

It changes the screen resolution, and I thought it's great! Because the lab computers security limitations won't allow you to change it, and they are stuck on 800x600, and I was sure the monitors won't have a problem displaying 1024x768.

So I downloaded that program and tried to change the resolution to 1024x768, and then the screen went black. I guess it can't show this resolution after all.
I tried in another computer and the same thing happened. So I thought that logging off will solve the problem, but it didn't help. Even rebooting didn't help! Shouldn't the computer forget that change?

I even tried to use the source of the program in order to make a program which will just change the resolution to 800x600, but it didn't work either.. (I wonder why.. well I don't know enough about nasty WIN32API). If I reboot in VGA mode I can see things (in 16 colors), but I can't restore the resolution back to 800x600.

If Justin was more responsible he might have programmed jRes to ask the user if the new video mode is visible (just like Windows control panel does), but no.

So, two things might happen:
1. The technicians have some way of restoring the old config automatically without bothering to find out what went wrong.
2. The technicians will take the 2 PCs to the service lab and will find it strange that both of them don't work because some dork set the resolution to 1024x768. They'll find it interesting that user NaveWeiss was the last one to use both PCs. Hmm.. I hope they won't revoke my access.. ;)

D'oh!

[MonTemplar]

Moral of the story : don't go trying to up the screen resolution if you're not sure the monitor will handle it.

-MT.

Re:D'oh!

[NaveWeiss]

No. I think the moral is "if you want to screw settings then it's fine, but don't leave evidence!"

Re:D'oh!

[ceejayoz]

Well, you can still fix things now...

Solution involves gasoline and a match.

Re:D'oh!

[TechnoLust]

No the moral is; don't work in a computer lab, because there are always people like NW that make you have a bad day. ;-)

Re:D'oh!

[jawtheshark]

Yeah, just googling on the brand/model of the monitor would have been a smart move.

Re:D'oh!

[NaveWeiss]

Have you ever seen a modern monitor (with digital controls) that can't display 1024x768? It just doesn't make sense.

Re:D'oh!

[jawtheshark]

Yes, I have... Sad but true. I was surprised too.