I have installed various versions of the nvidia driver for the 8800gts
many times and the same problem occurs each time. If I can set the
resolutions I need (not possible on all driver versions), they are gone next
time I boot vista. My target is 1920x1440 for the display, and 1920x1080 for
the HDTV. I have been able to set the resolutions correctly many times, but
only for a day or so, and then on reboot the system resets them down to a
lower value. I am unable to reset them. My monitor is stuck again at
1600x1200, and the HDTV mode is 720P. I know all about the advanced
settings, show all modes, driver cleaner, etc. etc. I see no point in trying
any more drivers, and this is all tech support can suggest. There is
something fundamentally wrong with Vista or the way the driver is programmed
to interact with the system. I'm currently on 177.83.
I use the same hardware on XP, in a dual boot configuration, and the
resolutions are correct and stable.

Maybe it's probably because the 8xxx series isn't exactly HDCP compatible
and Vista will have to lower the resolution due to the DRM inside the thing.
Of course this could be wrong but one possible possibility.

You know, I thought of the DRM thing, but I have no documentation. But why did it run at 1920x1080 for even a day or so? Vista went through a couple of warm boots also and held this setting. Was it just the really cold boot a day or so later that caused the downgrade? Or is this whole thing just a bug? The totally obvious fix if it's DRM related is XP. This would make XP seem like the next generation OS, not the reverse.