How do I stop Dell Inspiron1720 laptop from changing resolution on lid close/open?

It's a Dell Inspiron 1720, and I use extended desktop (not the clone option), my secondary display is a TV (not HD or DTV) at the end of an S-video cable. I do real computing and browsing on the laptop screen, and I view/share images or video on the secondary side.

When I close the laptop lid, everything from the PC desktop and the extended desktop are shown on the TV. So, if I was looking at a video clip and dragged it to the extended desktop to share with the others in the room, then I close the lid, they see all my icons, taskbar, etc on the TV. THAT, I could maybe live with - just hide the taskbar and full-screen the video. But when I open the laptop, the desktop is the right 1280 resolution, but ALL of my running program windows are resized=TINY and jammed to the upper-left of the laptop screen. The TV still shows the right side of the Windows background.

The screen resolution is 1280 by 768, and the output to the TV is 800 by 600. Vista Home Premium, SP2. see below for graphics info.

I do not have the power settings to change *anything* (sleep/turn off screen etc) when the A/C power is hooked up, which it always is.

To save you the trouble of suggesting things that are already set, I took notes on the config screens. I think I tried all of the obvious options here. I think what I want is for the LCD to stay on, or think it's on when it's closed. THANKS!

MY NOTES

Driver version: 7.14.10.1409

Right Click on desktop => personalize => Display Settings => Monitor

1=Generic PnP Monitor on Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Resolution is 1280 by 768 pixels, Color is Highest (32 bit)

2=Generic Non-PnP Monitor on Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

800 by 600 32-bit/"extend desktop onto this monitor" is checked

click on advanced settings, ==> adapter properties window, with tab for "Graphics Media Driver for Mobile";

"Graphics Properties" button:

Intel driver window; has same settings for colors/resolution/refresh

Display Settings/Notebook tab= Aspect Ratio Options button: full screen, no border option

Display Settings/TV tab= 32bit color/800 by 600 res/NTSC_M, not full screen

If you're still reading this, thanks again. I just want to rant about the fact that MSVista, Intel, and Dell don't work better together so there's not 10 ways to see and/or change the same settings. 3 different user interfaces, and even different terminology for the same thing. I can imagine how registries get corrupted!