Drop shadow problem - nobody could solve it so far

[kimiraikkonen]

Hi,
For this problem, I have already done a lot of tips such as enabling
transparent icon label background, but none of them are related to
this problem.

First off,
the problem is not about transparency. Background Transparency is
present, the problem is that the icon labels has no "shadows" although
they're transparent.

The problem is: If i select icons or open some windows or click
elsewhere around icons, shadows get lost. If i refresh desktop for
some, shadows come back then re-lost after desktop usage.

As you see icon labels are transparent but when i select them or use
them, the shadows are lost and only transparent + non-shadowed label
remain.

I use an ancient CRT monitor.
I saw that on a different computer with CRT monitor. Could be a
relationship to this?

Also my graphic card is an old Nvidia GeForce 4 card, using the latest
Nvidia Forceware drivers.

Please check the screenshots:
If i select (single left click) icons or use desktop, shadow gets
lost:
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/7467/noshadow2wd7.gif

Until i select icons or open some windows, shadows remains:
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6398/shadowno8.gif

Note: Cleartype is disabled, has no relationship to this.

Thanks.

 

[RajKohli]

Try this:

1. open Display Properties - click Appearance tab.
2. Click Effects button
3. Make a check mark on "Use the following method....
and use Clear Type
4. Apply the changes and see if this help.

If not, then try using 32-bit colors. Even if that doesn't help then:

1. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties
2. Click Advanced tab and click Settings button under Performance
3. From Visual Effects tab click "Adjust for best appearance" and apply the
changes.

If nothing works then try tuning the Clear Type of Windows XP by using the
ClearType Tuner PowerToy from the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[kimiraikkonen]

Try this:

1. open Display Properties - click Appearance tab.
2. Click Effects button
3. Make a check mark on "Use the following method....
and use Clear Type
4. Apply the changes and see if this help.

Used cleartype for sometime but has terrible view with my old CRT
monitor. When refesh desktop while using cleartype, the shadow problem
appears but minor than standard type. But not completely. So, i don't
use cleartype any time :-(

If not, then try using 32-bit colors. Even if that doesn't help then:

I've been using 32-bit already.

1. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties
2. Click Advanced tab and click Settings button under Performance
3. From Visual Effects tab click "Adjust for best appearance" and apply the
changes.

When select for "adjust for best appearance",

If nothing works then try tuning the Clear Type of Windows XP by using the
ClearType Tuner PowerToy from the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Don't know if it's useful or may harm XP, if clearType Tuner is about
cleartype why is there a need to use it for a user who doesn't use
clearType for now.

Hope this help, let us know!

Thanks for your interest, but still no solid help.

 

[kimiraikkonen]

Try this:

1. open Display Properties - click Appearance tab.
2. Click Effects button
3. Make a check mark on "Use the following method....
and use Clear Type
4. Apply the changes and see if this help.

If not, then try using 32-bit colors. Even if that doesn't help then:

1. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties
2. Click Advanced tab and click Settings button under Performance
3. From Visual Effects tab click "Adjust for best appearance" and apply the
changes.

If nothing works then try tuning the Clear Type of Windows XP by using the
ClearType Tuner PowerToy from the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Hope this help, let us know!











Try this:

1. open Display Properties - click Appearance tab.
2. Click Effects button
3. Make a check mark on "Use the following method....
and use Clear Type
4. Apply the changes and see if this help.

Used cleartype for sometime but has terrible view with my old CRT
monitor. When refesh desktop while using cleartype, the shadow problem
appears but minor than standard type. But not completely. So, i don't
use cleartype any time :-(

If not, then try using 32-bit colors. Even if that doesn't help then:

I've been using 32-bit already.

1. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties
2. Click Advanced tab and click Settings button under Performance
3. From Visual Effects tab click "Adjust for best appearance" and apply the
changes.

When select for "adjust for best appearance", everything is selected
but this doesn't do anything regarding to problem.

If nothing works then try tuning the Clear Type of Windows XP by using the
ClearType Tuner PowerToy from the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Don't know if it's useful or may harm XP, Tried but that tool has no
difference than you do settings manually.
Dowloaded from: http://download.microsoft.com/download/b/7/0/b7019730-0fa3-47a9-a159-98b80c185aad/setup.exe
But didn't help.

Hope this help, let us know!

Thanks for your interest, but still no solid help.

 

[RajKohli]

Last but not the least, try setting a different Refresh Rate for your Monitor:

1. Right-click on Desktop, choose Properties
2. Click Settings - click Advanced button
3. Click Adapter tab then click List All Modes button
4. Experiment with different Refresh Rates with same Resolution e.g. 800x600
- 32 Bit - 60 Hz.

If something goes wrong like a Blank Screen then do nothing and wait for 15
Seconds and it will revert back to the previous settings automatically.

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[kimiraikkonen]

Last but not the least, try setting a different Refresh Rate for your Monitor:

1. Right-click on Desktop, choose Properties
2. Click Settings - click Advanced button
3. Click Adapter tab then click List All Modes button
4. Experiment with different Refresh Rates with same Resolution e.g. 800x600
- 32 Bit - 60 Hz.

If something goes wrong like a Blank Screen then do nothing and wait for 15
Seconds and it will revert back to the previous settings automatically.

Hope this help, let us know!

With lower resolution modes like 800x600 @60 hz, almost no shadow is
displayed, with current mode(1024x768@60) shadows are displayed
temporarily as the problem of topic.

There are 3 key points which couldn't make a solution:

1-When shadows are lost due to icon selection or desktop usage, they
only comes back if i refresh desktop for numerous times till the next
icon click and desktop usage --- vicious circle

2-I saw the same issue on a different computer who uses a CRT monitor
with "plug and play" driver in device manager, with Nvidia forceware
card with same driver (93.71 latest for Geforce4 series).

3-There's no major problems about graphics cards on these 2 computers
except this minor icon label shadow problem.

 

[RajKohli]

My guess is that your monitor may have a Refresh Rate problem. Not sure but
you can still give it a try:

http://www.mysuperpc.com/vcu/monitor_refresh_rate_problem.shtml

Hope this help, let us know!

 

[kimiraikkonen]

My guess is that your monitor may have a Refresh Rate problem. Not sure but
you can still give it a try:

http://www.mysuperpc.com/vcu/monitor_refresh_rate_problem.shtml

Hope this help, let us know!










- Show quoted text -

What does the link you gave mean?
Does that article say sthat although you change (lowering or
increasing) refresh rate, it doesn't take effect?

Hundred millions of computers use Windows's standard refresh rate/
resolution changing menus, so is the refresh rate they set under
Windows is fake?
I don't think that it must apply for all monitors, because when you
change refresh rate just under Windows, you may see the difference.

If you summarize this link you've given, i'd be glad to hear from you.

Thanks.

 

[RajKohli]

I'm not sure but the problem your Windows may have could be because Refresh
Rate. On one of my friend's Internet Cafe there are high tension wires are
passing by. The interesting thing is that he has six PCs in his cafe some are
15" and some 17"s of same models. Although they have same Refresh Rate -
Resolution and Colors but some monitors do flickers and some not.

I will not say that the Default Refresh Rates of Windows are fake but
sometimes things doesn't work the way they are meant for. That is why there
is Windows XP SP2 because there was not everything thing perfect when the
Windows XP was being released. This is why I have given you the link to check
if there is a problem with your specific monitor or not.

I too get sometimes the same effects with Drop Shadows but when Resolution -
Refresh Rate are set accordingly it works perfect.

I am not a Developer, so can't comment on Windows Coding but I think there
are still many things that needs improvement. I have 8 PCs and sometimes I
get amazed when the same thing doesn't run another PC of same configuration.

Hope you understand!!

 

[kimiraikkonen]

I'm not sure but the problem your Windows may have could be because Refresh
Rate. On one of my friend's Internet Cafe there are high tension wires are
passing by. The interesting thing is that he has six PCs in his cafe some are
15" and some 17"s of same models. Although they have same Refresh Rate -
Resolution and Colors but some monitors do flickers and some not.

I will not say that the Default Refresh Rates of Windows are fake but
sometimes things doesn't work the way they are meant for. That is why there
is Windows XP SP2 because there was not everything thing perfect when the
Windows XP was being released. This is why I have given you the link to check
if there is a problem with your specific monitor or not.

I too get sometimes the same effects with Drop Shadows but when Resolution -
Refresh Rate are set accordingly it works perfect.

I am not a Developer, so can't comment on Windows Coding but I think there
are still many things that needs improvement. I have 8 PCs and sometimes I
get amazed when the same thing doesn't run another PC of same configuration.

Hope you understand!!

Hi!
I understood you very well, so you do confirm that you experienced
same thing with some monitors?

 

[RajKohli]

The monitor I am currently working on has the same problem but only if I do
not install VGA drivers or an incorrect resolution with improper Refresh Rate.

Had you tried different resolution with different refresh rates and you
should also give a try the Clear Type program. If you affraid of wrong
settings then maybe there was a restore Default setting but was available.
You will get nothing till you give a try.

 

[kimiraikkonen]

The monitor I am currently working on has the same problem but only if I do
not install VGA drivers or an incorrect resolution with improper Refresh Rate.

Had you tried different resolution with different refresh rates and you
should also give a try the Clear Type program. If you affraid of wrong
settings then maybe there was a restore Default setting but was available.
You will get nothing till you give a try.

Absolutely right, my monitor is too old actually it has no driver
except being recognized as standard or plug and play monitor. I know
another modern CRT monitor shown as "plug and play" in device manager
with same problem. But only shadow problem. Refresh rates takes effect
on games even after increasing refresh rate higher than 60hz on these
computers, tearing effect goes away particularly (off-topic but
important).

I tried Cleartype it gives something shadow-like effect even if you
refresh desktop (right-click refresh) for numerous times, you may
experience a 2nd shadow effect or empowered shadow effect sth. But
this time when you click or use them, a particular amount of shadow
goes away.

Additionaly, for some screens like CRT, cleartype is not a good chose
like some LCDs unlike some modern LCDs.

As a result, another stupid effect about drop shadows is that
sometimes some icon labels which have about 2 char lines or more,
loses shadows particularly - not all the chars.

Anyway, thanks for tracking the issue.

Glad to get reply from you.

 

[kimiraikkonen]

Absolutely right, my monitor is too old actually it has no driver
except being recognized as standard or plug and play monitor. I know
another modern CRT monitor shown as "plug and play" in device manager
with same problem. But only shadow problem. Refresh rates takes effect
on games even after increasing refresh rate higher than 60hz on these
computers, tearing effect goes away particularly (off-topic but
important).

I tried Cleartype it gives something shadow-like effect even if you
refresh desktop (right-click refresh) for numerous times, you may
experience a 2nd shadow effect or empowered shadow effect sth. But
this time when you click or use them, a particular amount of shadow
goes away.

Additionaly, for some screens like CRT, cleartype is not a good chose
like some LCDs unlike some modern LCDs.

As a result, another stupid effect about drop shadows is that
sometimes some icon labels which have about 2 char lines or more,
loses shadows particularly - not all the chars.

Anyway, thanks for tracking the issue.

Glad to get reply from you.

 

[RajKohli]

Yes, you are right. Those features are especially made for LCD Monitors. I am
also surprized that the 32-Bit Colors doesn't take any sufficient effects on
CRT Monitors.

Sometimes, we get irritated when things doesn't work as they should. Anyway,
we have to live with them till the developers take a step.

I am also glad to discuss this topic with you.

 

[kimiraikkonen]

Yes, you are right. Those features are especially made for LCD Monitors. I am
also surprized that the 32-Bit Colors doesn't take any sufficient effects on
CRT Monitors.

Sometimes, we get irritated when things doesn't work as they should. Anyway,
we have to live with them till the developers take a step.

I am also glad to discuss this topic with you.

Hi again,
Thanks for trying to help and sharing your experiences. Today i saw
the same issue on a notebook (LCD of course , monitor driver
provided by Microsoft), the settings were 1024x768@60hz like my system
which i had that issue. I concluded it's about XP SP2 incompatibility
or instability inside.
Problem happened after i refreshed destop for numerous times, i bet
millions of XP SP2 users with these config are experiencing this issue
but i know it's hard to be aware of the issue without having a
deliberate attention.

Please look at screenshots from another PC (notebook, LCD,
1024x768@60hz)

When there is no shadow:
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6250/noshadowedaj4.png

If there's shadow(if you refresh desktop with a lot of times, it comes
back till next usage):
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4923/shadowedzx7.png

So, i couldn't find any path related to that issue or any MS article.
If you find the solution as a patch or stable settings for that issue
(resolution, refresh rate, monitor driver etc.), please send as mail,
i appreciate you.

(e-mail address removed)

Very thanks.

 

[RajKohli]

Very funny and annoying. Check this:

After Smooth Edge Standard Type:
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/e608582954.jpg

After Smooth Edge Clear Type:
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/d74734d007.jpg

After Clear Type in Display Properties:
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/cb45df242a.jpg

After Refresh:
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/761cbf9b27.jpg

After Clear Type Tuning Wizard:
http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f8654c340e.jpg

I will advise you to once give a try to Clear Type Tuning Wizard.

Let me know!

 

[kimiraikkonen]

Very funny and annoying. Check this:

After Smooth Edge Standard Type:http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/e608582954.jpg

After Smooth Edge Clear Type:http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/d74734d007.jpg

After Clear Type in Display Properties:http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/cb45df242a.jpg

After Refresh:http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/761cbf9b27.jpg

After Clear Type Tuning Wizard:http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f8654c340e.jpg

I will advise you to once give a try to Clear Type Tuning Wizard.

Let me know!

The same! Your first and second (especially second) screenshot refer
to the exact problem! Enabling Cleartype only hides or changes the
form of problem. If you enable cleartype and do a clean desktop
refresh the situation gets more confusing as if icons have double
shadow or tick shadow. Third one seems reasonable, but with cleartype.
Last screenshot makes shadows to thick than they have to be.

However, there shouldn't be an obligation about being forced to use
Cleartype, as i stated and you know cleartype doesn't run well on all
the screens, and cleartype mustn't be thought as solution. I hope you
agree me.

So, i don't know what refresh rate + resolution make shadow visibility
better and there's no patch(if there's please inform), it's explict
that there's no one person who experiences that related to XP SP2.

Thanks for support.