Laptop Blurry in Extended Desktop Mode

[deepgrewal22]

I have been using a laptop and monitor combination (as extended desktop) for years at different jobs. At my new job, I have personally formatted and reinstalled the drivers for my issued laptop because the screen on the laptop looks slightly blurry when compared to the extended desktop monitor. If I drag a window halfway across the screens so that it spans both LCD displays (laptop and monitor), there is a clear difference between the clarity of text. I've tried just about everything (including formatting & reinstalling, changing resolution, changing refresh rates, updating driver) and am out of suggestions. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Laptop: Dell Inspiron 1525
Video: Intel 965 Express
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 192MP
O/S: Windows XP Pro SP3


Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[BadBigBen]

Usually blurry display means that the resolution is not set to the native resolution of the monitor...

set the resolution of the Dell to 1280x800 Pixel (native) and enable Clear Type... then see if that helps...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[deepgrewal22]

I've tried that and it still appears a little blurry. Maybe that's just how the display is supposed to look on the laptop screen?

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[BadBigBen]

Can't relate there, since on my laptop the display (native 1440x900) is crisp and clear but not if it is set to other resolutions, e.g. 1280x768...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[deepgrewal22]

I uninstalled the DELL driver and downloaded the driver from INTEL. This seems to have fixed the problem. However, with the DELL driver, the max resolution (native) was 1280x800. With the INTEL driver, the max resolution is 1400x900.

When I try to set it to 1280x900, the size of the screen shrinks and there is a black border around the screen. I then change the Aspect Ratio so that the screen is not centered, and the image becomes blurry. Therefore, I'm using 1400x900 and would now like to know if there's any way I can go to 1280x900 without the black border around a compromised screen size and without the fuzziness.

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[BadBigBen]

Glad to hear that a correct driver from Intel fixed it...

Q: What is wrong with the 1440x900 resolution? if it is clear then I would stick with it...

and the info that I received was wrong, as to the native resolution of the laptop...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[deepgrewal22]

There's nothing wrong when using the 1440x900 resolution. I suppose that I'm just getting a bit too old to read text that small.

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[BadBigBen]

I suppose that I'm just getting a bit too old to read text that small.

LOL... but I agree, at times small text can be a pain to read...

but the Font size can be increased, thus allowing for better reading...


1. open the display properties...

2. click on the Appearance tab at the top of the screen.

3. At the bottom left side of the screen you will see an area to change the Font Size:

Use your mouse to switch between normal, large and extra large according to your preference.

4. Then click on the OK button to save your changes and exit Display Properties window.



also this will give some more info:

How to change the appearance of desktop items in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310543

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[deepgrewal22]

BadBigBen,

Thanx for that suggestion. I tried it and if made my Window control buttons (Min, Restore, Max, Close) look like I was visually impaired. I figured that I can wait a little bit longer (hopefully many years) before I need to resort to doing that again.



Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron

 

[BadBigBen]

I tried it and if made my Window control buttons (Min, Restore, Max, Close) look like I was visually impaired.

LOL...

good luck to you, and I hope you wont need it...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[wahnula]

In Mozilla's Firefox, I adjust the text using CTRL plus +, and reduce it with Ctrl minus -.

In IE, the adjustment is made through the "View" menu.

You can also change just the font size in Windows by going to "Display Properties"-->Settings-->Advanced--> "DPI Setting".

This is a custom setting and should not result in the gigantic buttons, just larger text. Worth a shot.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[deepgrewal22]

Tony,

Thanx for the information. I was able to find the correct driver for my laptopn by going directly to the vendor's site (Intel). I'm aware of the techniques that you're describing and I had applied them when I was using the Dell driver. However, nothing could eliminate the fuzziness/blur which appeared on screen.

Deep Grewal
"Microsoft Works" - oxymoron