XP screen resolution change from command line ?

[Newsgroup_user]

How can I change the screen resolution in XP from the command line ?

My wife's XP logon has to be in a 640*480 because the only thing she
ever does on it is to play this game that doesn't maximize to full
screen and it fills up a 640*480 screen. My wife does not have perfect
eye sight so having a full 640*480 on my monitor is the only thing
where she can play this game. She knows nothing about PCs.

As for me, I always switch to 1280*1024 on my logon.

My PC only has both our logons, no one else.

So how can I do this at loging time ?

 

[M.I.5¾]

How can I change the screen resolution in XP from the command line ?

My wife's XP logon has to be in a 640*480 because the only thing she
ever does on it is to play this game that doesn't maximize to full
screen and it fills up a 640*480 screen. My wife does not have perfect
eye sight so having a full 640*480 on my monitor is the only thing
where she can play this game. She knows nothing about PCs.

As for me, I always switch to 1280*1024 on my logon.

My PC only has both our logons, no one else.

So how can I do this at loging time ?

AFAIAA, it is not possible to set up different screen resolutions for
different users. This is a machine setting and not an account setting.

 

[The Todal]

AFAIAA, it is not possible to set up different screen resolutions for
different users. This is a machine setting and not an account setting.

So the next question might be: can someone design a BAT file which if left
on the desktop will quickly convert the display resolution to a different
setting and then maybe another that will convert it back?

 

[John John (MVP)]

How can I change the screen resolution in XP from the command line ?

My wife's XP logon has to be in a 640*480 because the only thing she
ever does on it is to play this game that doesn't maximize to full
screen and it fills up a 640*480 screen. My wife does not have perfect
eye sight so having a full 640*480 on my monitor is the only thing
where she can play this game. She knows nothing about PCs.

As for me, I always switch to 1280*1024 on my logon.

My PC only has both our logons, no one else.

So how can I do this at loging time ?

You will have to use a third party helper application to do this for
you. MVP Doug Knox has crafted an application that should do the trick
for you: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_userdisplay.htm

If you want to craft your own batch file to fit particular needs that
you might have you will have to use a helper application that can work
in Console Mode and that can be called from a batch file, the following
utility will work with batch files (use the console version 'dccmd.exe'):

Display Changer 4.00 (previously Resolution Changer)
http://www.12noon.com/index.htm

You could just put a batch file with the desired settings in each user's
startup folder and the resolution will be set to their liking when they
logon. However, when you Fast User Switch the resolution will not
change, it will remain set to the last user's settings so you will have
to craft a little batch file to toggle the resolution.

For your use the batch file could simply use the "Echo" command on the
%userprofile% variable then using the "if" command against the return of
the Echo command you could just have dccmd.exe accordingly set the
display to the wanted resolution. Put the batch file or a shortcut to
the batch file on the "All Users" desktop and users will be able to
quickly and easily change the resolution by simply invoking the batch file.

John

 

[Bob Lucas]

You will have to use a third party helper application to do this for
you. MVP Doug Knox has crafted an application that should do the
trick for you: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_userdisplay.htm

If you want to craft your own batch file to fit particular needs that
you might have you will have to use a helper application that can work
in Console Mode and that can be called from a batch file, the
following utility will work with batch files (use the console version
'dccmd.exe'):

Display Changer 4.00 (previously Resolution Changer)
http://www.12noon.com/index.htm

You could just put a batch file with the desired settings in each
user's startup folder and the resolution will be set to their liking
when they logon. However, when you Fast User Switch the resolution
will not change, it will remain set to the last user's settings so you
will have to craft a little batch file to toggle the resolution.

For your use the batch file could simply use the "Echo" command on the
%userprofile% variable then using the "if" command against the return
of the Echo command you could just have dccmd.exe accordingly set the
display to the wanted resolution. Put the batch file or a shortcut to
the batch file on the "All Users" desktop and users will be able to
quickly and easily change the resolution by simply invoking the batch
file.

John

I don't know whether the user can achieve the required result
automatically, when he/she logs on. However, there might be a
workaround, depending upon the video card and video drivers.

For instance, the Intel (R) Graphics Media Accelerator for Mobile driver
allows users to create "Schemes", to cover different video
configurations. Having created different schemes, the user merely
clicks an icon on the task bar. On the popup menu, he/she clicks on
"Select Scheme", followed by the name of the required configuration.
Just a few clicks - and there is no need to open Control Panel to change
the video options.

 

[John John (MVP)]

I don't know whether the user can achieve the required result
automatically, when he/she logs on.

Yes, use one of the mentioned utility and put the batch file in the
user's Startup folder (or call it with a user's Logon Script) and the
resolution will be set as desired.




However, there might be a