Can't change resolution

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Manticore - 12 Jan 2005 18:25 GMT

Many months ago I saw in display properties under the settings tab where it
said "Extend My Windows Desktop onto this Monitor"..I put a check mark in
the box and played around with it,unchecked the box again and clicked
apply,I thought everything was ok...Now I'm unable to change my
resolution...the checkmark is still there and it's grayed out,so am unable
to make any changes...before this I was able to go up to 1280x1024..now I'm
stuck on 800x600..any ideas....would entering Safe Mode and trying that
work??

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AlmostBob - 12 Jan 2005 21:15 GMT

that message occurs on systems with two monitors fitted, to either 2 adaptor
cards, or to a 2 headed video adaptor
check the back of the case for a second video port and plug into the other
one if there is,
If not use device manager to remove the video adaptor and allow windows to
redetect the adaptor

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> Many months ago I saw in display properties under the settings tab where it
> said "Extend My Windows Desktop onto this Monitor"..I put a check mark in
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> stuck on 800x600..any ideas....would entering Safe Mode and trying that
> work??

Reply to this Message

Manticore - 12 Jan 2005 21:19 GMT

I don't have 2 monitors or two video cards connected..it was only virtual

> that message occurs on systems with two monitors fitted, to either 2 adaptor
> cards, or to a 2 headed video adaptor
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> > stuck on 800x600..any ideas....would entering Safe Mode and trying that
> > work??

Reply to this Message

Jeff Richards - 12 Jan 2005 23:50 GMT

If you are sure that your video adapter card is capable of that extended
resolution and if the option doesn't appear then the driver you are using is
not the correct one for your video adapter. Confirm the exact make and
model of the card installed in the machine, then get the right video driver
for it from the manufacturer's www site and install it according to their
instructions.

The option to extend the desktop onto a second adapter is not relevant,
unless you are using a video adapter card that is actually two devices and
includes an option to allocate both devices to one monitor. However, if that
was the case the option would not be grayed out (unless, of course, you are
running the wrong driver, as above).

Signature

Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

> Many months ago I saw in display properties under the settings tab where
> it
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> stuck on 800x600..any ideas....would entering Safe Mode and trying that
> work??

Reply to this Message

Manticore - 13 Jan 2005 01:46 GMT

Well,before I put a check in that box...I was able to change
resolutions....I know I have the right drivers for video card,I haven't
changed them in a long time.....Whenever I try to change to a higher
resolution...the screen gets bigger,that is to say.....I have to scroll
up,down,left and right to see the whole desktop,it makes it appear to be a
larger screen..I had one reply telling me to remove the video card from the
device manager and letting Windows redetect it,but am sure if that would do
it or not....I remember when I messed with it and checked the box,it showed
2 monitors on the settings tab..one actual and one virtual..as I stated
before...I played with it and removed the checkmark,clicked apply and forgot
about it till just last week when I tried to go to a higher resolution and
was unable...I checked Microsoft web site and read something there about 3rd
party software for display..I do have a Blaster Control tab on my Advanced
button in display properties....
any other ideas???
thanks for your reply

> If you are sure that your video adapter card is capable of that extended
> resolution and if the option doesn't appear then the driver you are using is
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> > stuck on 800x600..any ideas....would entering Safe Mode and trying that
> > work??

Reply to this Message

Jeff Richards - 13 Jan 2005 02:09 GMT

So you are saying that you do have the option to select the larger
resolution, and you can select that option and the resolution is changed
correctly. However, the image is now larger than the display area, AND you
get an option that allows you to scroll the image back and forth within the
display area to see the whole desktop. This is rather different than
suggesting that you can't change the resolution.

The video adapter card driver is operating in a mode that is often used for
LCD or similar screens that do not display well at anything other than their
physical pixel resolution. You need to look for a setting somewhere in the
video adapter card settings applet (perhaps under an advanced option) that
puts the display into the scrolling mode. It might be labelled as LCD mode
or similar, or it might be called 'Virtual desktop". Since this feature is
specific to the video adapter card you are using (or possibly controlled by
an add-on utility you have installed) it is not possible to be precise about
where this option is or what it is called. It could even be a separate
video display management utility. It's also possible that it is controlled
by the monitor you have selected - check whether your monitor is identified
as LCD or flat panel - this setting might force the adapter to use the
virtual display mode.

Signature

Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

> Well,before I put a check in that box...I was able to change
> resolutions....I know I have the right drivers for video card,I haven't
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> any other ideas???
> thanks for your reply

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Manticore - 13 Jan 2005 02:24 GMT

Thank you..I found where the problem was..it was in my Blaster Control
Panel.I changed a setting in there to Sync With Desktop and that did the
trick,am now able to go to higher resolutions....still have a checkmark in
the box and still grayed out..but that doesn't matter now :-)...Thank you
for pointing me in the right direction Jeff.

> So you are saying that you do have the option to select the larger
> resolution, and you can select that option and the resolution is changed
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> > any other ideas???
> > thanks for your reply

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