Question : Problem: VGA MODE in a XPS M1710 with Geforce Go 7900 GS

Hi, i just had a video card problem (which you can check here:     http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Video_Cards/Q_23533858.html               )

The videocard failed, Dell will send me a replacement in 2 or 3 weeks (too long to wait!)  , but in their tests, we tried with the F8 key option, and entered the VGA MODE, so the OS was able to load and I was able to see my Desktop, but with a much lower resolution.   ( in normal mode, I only see Lines at startup, and a Black screen (i mean nothing appears) when the OS starts to load, just after the Windows Logo, it goes completley Black...

So my question is, what are the limtations of a VGA MODE?   I work full on 3D software (3ds max)  and photoshop, so Videocard is absolutely important.   Is this VGA Mode working with my video card, or is that working without it?   Is this like a SAFE mode? or can i still work as before, just perhaps slower?

Thanks for your advice.



My computer:
Laptop XPS M1710
Geforce Go 7900 GS
Windows XP PRO SP2
2 gigs ram
2.13 Ghz Intel core 2 duo

Answer : Problem: VGA MODE in a XPS M1710 with Geforce Go 7900 GS

See this MS article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP

quotation:

Enable VGA Mode: This option starts Windows in 640 x 480 mode by using the current video driver (not Vga.sys). This mode is useful if the display is configured for a setting that the monitor cannot display.

Note Safe mode and Safe mode with Networking load the Vga.sys driver instead.


Thus it appears that VGA mode is still using your normal driver, while Safe mode and Safe mode with Networking will using a different driver, namely Vga.sys.