this is for a friend.. so i am not sure what speed the Pc is .. anwyay.. the issue is this..whenever they are trying to change the properties for the color display for the PC.. they will set the options for 256 colors and then 800x600 resolution. and that works.. but once they reboot the system.. the settings have not held and they revert back to 16 colors and 640x480. is this an issue with the Video card?? this is a Pc they just got from a friend.. and they are trying to get it to work.. could it be just a bad card??

Try reinstalling the video drivers.

quote "they will set the options for 256 colors and then 800x600 resolution. and that works.. but once they reboot". no expert here DJ, but when you say "but once they reboot....", is this because Windows has asked you to reboot because you changed the colour/resolution settings ?? I ask this, 'cause when i go to MY Settings (right click Desktop) and change either my Colour or Resolution, WinME gives me a choice of 1)Apply Settings Change Immediately WITHOUT Rebooting or 2)REBOOT To Change Settings. I always choose 1). If the answer to my above question is NO, then as Trev suggests, reload Vid Card Drivers, BUT not only that, make sure they are the LATEST drivers issued for THAT vid card. Visit the manufactures WWW. i run (800/600) 16 bit desktop colour. I find with 32 bit, background colours of Desktop picy "go off" a little. it seems to me its the Vid Card Drivers. rob

yeah i will let them know that. i am geting this info all second hand. after talking to them about what kind of video card they have.. they are not even sure. but they will look tonight.. i believe they had chosen the option to change w/o restarting.. BUT when the Pc itself was rebooted it reverted back.. but thanks again.. it doesnt sound like much of a Pc.. as they said the floppy drive does not work. and they are not too sure about the CD-ROM LOL. doesnt sound like its worth the time. but we will give it a go and see what happens.. tx again

They may have the SCANREGistry option disabled in the Starup list and have a Registy error on the system. After resetting the mode to 256 color, have them go to Start - RUN - scanregw and do a scan of the Registry and if it is OK, use the option to save a new backup of the Registry.