resolution

[Guest]

Hi, Hope I'm in the right group and someone can help. I had the hard drive
reformatted on my desk top and when I reset the resolution from 800X600 to
1024X768 (which is what I would prefer) it distorts the screen to such a
degree that you can't read anything. Any way to get around this and set the
resolution like I want it?

 

[Malke]

Hi, Hope I'm in the right group and someone can help. I had the hard
drive reformatted on my desk top and when I reset the resolution from
800X600 to 1024X768 (which is what I would prefer) it distorts the
screen to such a
degree that you can't read anything. Any way to get around this and
set the resolution like I want it?

Since you haven't told us anything about your computer, it's hard to be
specific. Try this:

A. First, make sure you have installed drivers for your video card.
Never get drivers from Windows Update. Get them from:

1. The device mftr.'s website; OR
2. The motherboard mftr.'s website if hardware is onboard; OR
3. The OEM's website for your specific machine if you have an OEM
computer (HP, Dell, Sony, etc.).

Read the installation instructions on the website where you get the
drivers.

To find out what hardware is in your computer:

1. Read any documentation you got when you bought the computer.
2. If the computer is OEM, go to the OEM's website for your specific
model machine and look at the specs (you'll be there to get the drivers
anyway)
3. Download, install and run a free system inventory program like Belarc
Advisor. The older Aida32 is good for this, too.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html - Belarc Advisor
http://www.aumha.org/free.htm - Aida32 (hosted on Jim Eshelman's site)

If updated drivers don't help, then you may need a new video card.

Malke

 

[null2006]

Go to your video card's web site and download the latest drivers for the video
card - assuming, of course, that the monitor will support 1024x768.

 

[Phil Weldon]

'Rosalie' wrote:
| Hi, Hope I'm in the right group and someone can help. I had the hard
drive
| reformatted on my desk top and when I reset the resolution from 800X600 to
| 1024X768 (which is what I would prefer) it distorts the screen to such a
| degree that you can't read anything. Any way to get around this and set
the
| resolution like I want it?
_____

Do you have a LCD monitor or a CRT monitor?

What exactly do you mean by 'distorts the screen'? Be specific.

Do you have the driver for the monitor (mainly contains the allowable
resolutions and refresh rates) installed?

Do you have the driver for the display adapter installed?

Do you have an computer sold by Dell, HP, or the like? Did you use the
restore system CD to return the system to out-of-the-box condition, or did
you reinstall Windows XP?

If you reinstalled Windows XP then you must install ALL the drivers for ALL
the devices in your system (obtain the drivers in the methods suggested by
other posters.

With properly installed drivers, you should be able to switch resolutions
without gross distortion, and need only minor adjustment for CRT screens.
No such adjustments are available or possible with LCD monitors.

If you do have a system manufactured by companies like Dell or HP, then the
proper place to start getting help is from that company's technical support.

Phil Weldon

| Hi, Hope I'm in the right group and someone can help. I had the hard
drive
| reformatted on my desk top and when I reset the resolution from 800X600 to
| 1024X768 (which is what I would prefer) it distorts the screen to such a
| degree that you can't read anything. Any way to get around this and set
the
| resolution like I want it?

 

[Guest]

I'm sorry. I should have been more precise. I have a Dell Dimension 2300.
As I said, I just reformatted the hard drive. It will support 1024x768
because, as I said, I had it there before. I can reset it to this resolution
but it destorts the screen. It's like looking through a bubble. It has the
video card that came with the unit.

 

[peter]

If you formatted the HD....you took everything off the HD.
How did you install your Operating System...restore CD from Dell/Retail
Purchase CD??
With your Dell should have come a set of CD's....on one of them will be the
drivers for the motherboard,Sound as well as Video and other devices on your
machine like mouse..network card..etc etc
You need to install these........Or go to the Dell website and search for
the drivers using your model number.
On the other hand maybe you just need to use the screen controls to enlarge
the visuals...we dont know what you are seeing
peter

 

[DanS]

I'm sorry. I should have been more precise. I have a Dell Dimension
2300. As I said, I just reformatted the hard drive. It will support
1024x768 because, as I said, I had it there before. I can reset it to
this resolution but it destorts the screen. It's like looking through
a bubble. It has the video card that came with the unit.

You still haven't said what type of monitor it is.


If it's a CRT, have you tried adjusting the geometry on the monitor
itself....the button(s) on the front ?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm sorry. I should have been more precise. I have a Dell Dimension 2300.
As I said, I just reformatted the hard drive. It will support 1024x768
because, as I said, I had it there before. I can reset it to this resolution
but it destorts the screen. It's like looking through a bubble. It has the
video card that came with the unit.

Yes, but what happens when you install the most recent WinXP-specific
video drivers, as provided by your video adapter's manufacturer's web site?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[cschiller1]

Tou didn't install the video driver after you re-formatted. You need to
do that.

Craig

 

[Guest]

Actually, my daughter-in-law reformatted the unit with a SP2 cd I ordered
from Microsoft. I have the driver CD that came with the unit but they are
for SP1. Can I use it to redo the video card? Will it make a difference
that it's from a different operating system. The unit is a dell Dimension
2300 with a CRT monitor. I don't think using the buttons on the monitor will
correct the problem that I am having.

 

[Malke]

Actually, my daughter-in-law reformatted the unit with a SP2 cd I ordered
from Microsoft. I have the driver CD that came with the unit but they are
for SP1. Can I use it to redo the video card? Will it make a difference
that it's from a different operating system. The unit is a dell Dimension
2300 with a CRT monitor. I don't think using the buttons on the monitor
will correct the problem that I am having.

After your daughter-in-law did the clean install, she should have installed
all Dell's drivers for the motherboard chipset, audio, video, etc. The
drivers on the Dell Resource CD that you have should work just fine. If you
have a broadband connection, you may wish to go to Dell's tech support
website for your specific model computer and download the latest drivers.
Otherwise, use the ones on the Resource CD.

Malke