Intel 915 video problem re: dual display switching

Yeah yeah yeah, Intel sucks, lol.

That said, I didn't have this problem before, and I believe it can be fixed.

Laptop: Dell Inspiron 630m (but this is relevant to all Dells with Intel 915, perhaps also 945?)
Graphics: Intel 915
OS: XP SP3

I have QuickSet installed, if it makes a difference.

Driver versions this happens with: all, even after uninstall of previous then switching to new version.

The problem:

I often use my 20" widescreen LCD as a second monitor (extended desktop). Internal display is also widescreen. What used to happen was I would hit Fn+F8 and it would blink the internal LCD, then the external monitor turns on and I get my two displays.

But then I wanted to test a 4:3 LCD monitor on laptop...so I did. However, both displays need to be the same aspect ratio apparently, so it dropped the internal LCD to 800x600. Determined the 4:3 monitor was garbage (display glitches).

The problem is that now when I hit the shortcut to switch to dual displays, it first switches the internal LCD to 800x600, then back to 1280x800. This throws all my desktop icons into a jumbled mess (bothersome because I keep my icons along the bottom edge of the screen, which means they ALL get moved).

Does anyone know where the configuration file is that is telling it to switch to 800x600 first? I know it's as easy as editing or deleting a file, I just don't know where it is. I really don't want to reinstall Windows just for this stupid annoyance but if I can't figure it out, I'm going to have to.

Thanks

Suppose I should have clarified, I am now using the 20" widescreen again, but despite this it still cycles to 800x600 first.

Contacted Intel, got a suggestion, it's kind of ambiguous so I'll try it out and if it works I'll post about it in greater detail than they provided.

Intel's suggestion didn't work (search for registry keys potentially storing the resolution which were related to a specific service name).

I ended up reinstalling Windows. I'd wanted to for a while and as an extra benefit of course it fixed this issue.

If I have it happen again I'll actually investigate further. That was the one and only time I used a 4:3 monitor on this laptop so it's not likely to happen again.