Elias Saba’s Blog

The Intel 855GM video driver in the Dell Inspiron 700m is not and will not be supported on Windows 7. The following methods worked for me to get native (1280 x 800) resolution in Windows 7. Everything except Windows Aero and Dual monitors seems to be working with this method.

1. Download and extract the following drivers to your laptop:  DOWNLOAD DRIVER
2. Open a command prompt as administrator. (Click start > type ‘cmd’ > right-click on cmd under programs> select ‘Run as administrator’ > agree to any/all messages)
3. Copy and paste the following into the command prompt: takeown /f c:\windows\system32\drivers\vgapnp.sys
4. You will get a SUCCESS message in return.
5. Copy and paste the following into the command prompt (replace ‘Elias’ with your username): cacls c:\windows\system32\drivers\vgapnp.sys /G Elias:F
6. Type ‘y’ to confirm.
7. Open the following file in notepad: c:\windows\system32\drivers\vgapnp.sys
8. Type ‘a’ to the beginning of this document.
9. Save and close.
10. Open your device manager (Press the windows key + r > type ‘devmgmt.msc’ > click OK)
11. Uninstall ‘Standard VGA Adapter’ under ‘Display adapters’ (Expand ‘Display adapters’ > right-click on ‘Standard VGA Adapter’ > select ‘Uninstall’)
12. Restart laptop
13. After restarting you will see an error message. This is desired and normal.
14. Open your device manager (Press the windows key + r > type ‘devmgmt.msc’ > click OK)
15. Under ‘Other devices, find ‘video controller (vga compatible)’. Right-click on it and select ‘Update Driver Software’.
16. Click on ‘Browse my computer for driver software’.
17. Click ‘Browse…’ and select the ‘Win2000′ folder within the extracted driver files you downloaded above. Click OK.
18. If your screen goes black, wait a few minutes and then press the enter key several times.
19. The laptop should restart.
20. Open the following file in notepad: c:\windows\system32\drivers\vgapnp.sys
21. Delete the ‘a’ you added earlier.
22. Save and close.
23. Enjoy Windows 7 at full resolution.