On a beige g3, i have lost the option for a different screen resolution - the only one available is 640x480 or something. I have tried restarting the computer with the monitor off, have unplugged and replugged all the cables with the machine on and with it off. I have tried the machine with another monitor and it does the same thing. How do i get my settings back?

I had the same problem on an older Mac caused by graphics card gone bad. Only base resolution supported by system board without extra h.p. from graphics card. Sorry...

I had this happen a long time ago but can't recall the fix. But something worked. try a couple of things: Reinstall the monitor control panel from the system disk. Check to see if TV mirroring has been turned on in the control strip--some of those beige machines had video cards for tv ouput & editing video, if yours is one of those,there may be an issue there (check to see if there is a smiley-faced tv in your control strip.) Open up monitor controls and try "show all" in the resolution. The reinstall monior control panel is my best advise. good luck rf

Toss out your Monitors Preferences file (inside the Preferences folder) and see if that does anything. Might try tossing Display Preferences and other display-related things while you're at it. Or just move the whole Preferences folder out of the System Folder, restart, and then migrate all the preferences *back* except for the monitor-related ones. p