Use regedit, go to key "[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\EA GAMES\Need for Speed Undercover]", and manually change the "g_..." video parameters as needed. I think these will show up in hex, so use the calculator in programmer view to do the decimal to hex conversions.
Thanks for the answer but when I went to that key it already had the settings from the last time I played it (the correct ones) but when I opened the game again it would return to default. Yet when I went back to the registry key, it showed the correct values. I'm stumped.
Then try calling EA support. This may be another case of the Steam version having issues that the original DVD version did not. I bought the DVD version, which uses an install key, but once it's installed and activated, the DVD is not needed again (unless you need to re-install), so it's similar to a download version. For those that have the DVD version, apparently EA support can switch to the Steam version or back (or you could uninstall Steam version and re-install DVD version). I don't know if EA support can provide a way for you to download the DVD version, as I assume they'd have to provide a key. The DVD version has the advantage that you can use patch 1.0.1.18, which enables the challenge series and three bonus cars. This patch used to be at ea downloads (which has patch 1.0.1.17, but no longer has 1.0.1.18), but now you have to do a web search to find a web site that sill has patch 1.0.1.18.
