Laptop no longer automatically adjust display resolution to external monitor

[CookingWithGas]

I have a Gateway laptop (XP Pro) with a monitor resolution of 1280 x 768. I have a desktop monitor that I frequently connect it to with a resolution of 1680 x 1050. For the last year or so, when I connect it to the desktop monitor and toggle the display mode to be "external only," it automatically adjusted the resolution to match the external monitor.

This week it doesn't do that anymore.And the Display configuration does not include an exact match to set it up manually.

Is there a setting someplace I may have inadvertently toggled off that allows automatic resolution matching?

[CookingWithGas]

I've gotta believe someone here has seen this before.

[gladtobeblazed]

I had this happen a couple of times, it was caused by the vga cable going bad.

[astro]

Have you installed in the "inf" driver info file for that external monitor so the system has the definition onboard?

I've seen notebooks get confused in video switching and once the mistake is made it tends to "stick" as the future definition. The only way I found to fix the issue is to completely detach the monitor cable from the notebook, power down everything, and take the battery out of the notebook (this is impt) . Also check the integrity of the VGA or HDMI cable connection.

Restart without the monitor. Power down then restart with the monitor attached. This works for me most of the time.