Can't set display for 16 colors
 

Had been using Windows 98SE for more than a year. Recently, a lot of
corruption developed on my hard drive. In desperation, or frustration, I
finally reformatted it and then reinstalled Windows 98SE and AOL 9.0 Security
Edition. When I tried to reinstall Microsoft Internet Pack Service Pack 1, I
got the error message:

"Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 CD Warning: Title 'bitmap" has 8 bits per
pixel. It must be changed to 4BPP[16 colors]"

I clicked "OK" to the message, then ran the gauntlet - "Start" "Control
Panel" "Settings" and got a beautiful spectrum band of 16 colors, which I
assumed was the default setting. There was just one other option - 2 colors -
so I clicked on that, then "Apply", and restarted the machine. The 2 color
display was downright ugly and of no pratical use other than for text files.
I then retraced the "Start" "Control Panel" "Settings" route, clicked "16
colors", and "Apply". After I restarted the machine, I found nothing had
changed for the better. I got the same message "...Ttitle 'bitmap' has 8 bits
per pixel..."

I did not encounter the dread message when I reinstalled Screen Shot 2.0 and
Winzip 9.0, successfully.

I then repeated the foregoing rigamarole involving Windows Update Internet
Pack several times, to no avail, and thought about starting all over again
with Format. On second thought, I decided I needed expert help, so here I am.

Please see:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308080
Error Message When You Try to Start Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 Setup by
Using Autorun.inf

Note that you have to be careful to distinguish between bits per pixel and
colours. 2 colours is 1 bit per pixel, 16 colours is 4 bits per pixel and
256 colours is 8 bits per pixel. You can see, therefore, that the
description in the error message is nonsense, and why it confused you into
thinking that you needed to reduce the number of colours. The message should
read "The 'title' bitmap has 8 bits per pixel (256 colours). Your display is
configured for fewer colours than this, and it must be changed to 8BPP or
more."

If you don't have an option to select more than 256 colours, then you are
probably running with the generic VGA driver. You need to identify the
video adapter card that is installed in the machine and find and install
the correct drivers for that card. That will give you access to the full
colour depth available with the card - for instance, 16 bits per pixel, or
65k colours. This driver may be on a CD that was supplied with the machine,
or that was supplied with the video adapter card if you have upgraded it
since buying the machine. It may be at the PC manufacturer's www site,
listed under software for your model of machine, or you may have to go to
the video adapter card manufacturer's www site.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Ellis" wrote in message
...
Had been using Windows 98SE for more than a year. Recently, a lot of
corruption developed on my hard drive. In desperation, or frustration, I
finally reformatted it and then reinstalled Windows 98SE and AOL 9.0
Security
Edition. When I tried to reinstall Microsoft Internet Pack Service Pack 1,
I
got the error message:

"Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 CD Warning: Title 'bitmap" has 8 bits per
pixel. It must be changed to 4BPP[16 colors]"

I clicked "OK" to the message, then ran the gauntlet - "Start" "Control
Panel" "Settings" and got a beautiful spectrum band of 16 colors, which
I
assumed was the default setting. There was just one other option - 2
colors -
so I clicked on that, then "Apply", and restarted the machine. The 2 color
display was downright ugly and of no pratical use other than for text
files.
I then retraced the "Start" "Control Panel" "Settings" route, clicked
"16
colors", and "Apply". After I restarted the machine, I found nothing had
changed for the better. I got the same message "...Ttitle 'bitmap' has 8
bits
per pixel..."

I did not encounter the dread message when I reinstalled Screen Shot 2.0
and
Winzip 9.0, successfully.

I then repeated the foregoing rigamarole involving Windows Update Internet
Pack several times, to no avail, and thought about starting all over again
with Format. On second thought, I decided I needed expert help, so here I
am.