screen

i just installed nvidia drivers (NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.07-pkg1.run) for my geforce 4 mx 420 agp card and when i click on graphic card and monitor under hardware in yast2 , graphic card and monitor wont open so i can change settings… is this normal?
i know i have a nvidia x server settings i can use.
the problem why i want to change the size of the desktop screen is i cant see all the icons on my taskbar… the two on either end i cant see, i cant see the time (clock) either. how can i change the screen sixe and resolution? i tried changing the resolution in nvidia x server settings and hit apply but it doesnt stay at the size and resolutions i pick when i reboot.