Monitor Driver Question 2

[Neo81]

Hey People...


Can someone tell me what good is it to install the correct monitor driver in windows compared to the defualt monitor windows usually installs? I just don't get it, you install the correct driver for monitor and it does nothing ?

thanks



Later
NEo81 >:O>

 

[cdogg]

Installing the correct driver allows you to adjust additional settings (like the refresh rate and resolution) that you might not have had the option to do under "Default Monitor".

For instance, let's say you bought a 21-inch display, but decided to use Default Monitor instead of the correct driver. Well on a 21-inch monitor, you could easily set the resolution (screen area) to something like 1600x1200, but you wouldn't be able to under Default Monitor.

Default, Plug & Play, and other standard Windows drivers for monitors work great for most basic monitors. That's why when you go out and buy a new 17-inch monitor, it usually won't come with a Windows driver. They just assume you can use Windows standard drivers just fine.

Does that make sense?

~cdogg

 

[dakota81]

The monitor drivers (to me atleast) are the most pointless drivers in your system. All they really do is enable certain resolution/refresh rate combinations. The "optimal refresh rate" is always a poor choice and results in you modifying the rate anyways, and if you select a rate that is not supported by your monitor, it doesn't affect the monitor physically at all, and you go just go back to the old rate after ten or fifteen seconds.

 

[enablepoint]

How about the screen size and color settings? I have a client that has a Dell E550 monitor that I can only set either 2 color or 16 color. There are no options for 256 color, etc. in the display settings.

I addition, I cannot change the screen size. The only screen size setting I can get is 800 X 600

has anyone heard of this? I cannot find the exact driver on Dell's website but I did try two others - No change. He says he originally bought the machine for use at home and it worked fine but at the office the color and screen size problem appeared. I suspect this is a different monitor than the original.

 

[paparazi]

Yes but this is much more likely to be that the display adapters drivers are not loaded?
If you right click on your desktop, press properties then settings you should see the name of your display adapter next to the monitor type/make.
If you cannot see this then it is likely that your graphics card drivers need reinstalling.
If you can see it named then try choosing another monitor in the driver list, choose one that says SVGA and something like 1024 X 768 (as long as you have a fairly modern monitor) this should work.
More information about the system is required really to comment further. Martin Just trying to help, sometimes falling short, I am only human after all.

 

[enablepoint]

Actually, I did not and should have checked for Display card drivers. You bring up a good point, this PC was originally purchased for home (games) use, my customer is a pilot and likes to play with Microsoft Flight Simulator (I know, this brings bad thoughts and memories from the past news).

Anyway, I did try to unplug the monitor and plugged it back into the system board monitor port, re-booted it up, and there was no video at all. Do you think if I physically pulled the video card out it would work with the system board port, and with more than 16 colors?

Any advice is appreciated. I am semi-technical and was recently introduced to this site by a technical employee. I thought I would tackle these smaller issues myself! This board is great so far.

 

[cdogg]

Here's the deal...

There are two main settings you need to look at. One is monitor type, the other is the video adapter type. As paparazi mentioned, you could try different monitor types. If that doesn't work, I'm willing to bet that for the adapter type, you are using "Standard PCI Display Adapter". This is the generic of generic drivers! It will only allow the options you mentioned. You'll need to reload the proper video card drivers which you should be able to obtain from the video card's manufacturer's website.

To find both settings, it first depends on the operating system. In Win9x, right-click the desktop, choose properties, click the settings tab, and click advanced. For WinME and Win2K, the only difference is that the adapter and monitor types will have their own tabs at the top.

 

[RMCSS]

How do I Identify the True Manufacture of my Monitor... Its labeled "MegaImage" and has an FCC ID AMP JD144C....I'm trying to locate a Driver as Win98 won't let me expand beyond 16 colors and large fonts..

 

[cdogg]

Hi RMCSS!

The problem with only having 16 colors usually stems from the video card drivers, not the "type" of monitor you have chosen. Go to "Control Panel -> Display -> Settings" and click the "advanced" button. Here you should be able to see both the monitor and adapter type.

So, once you've determined what type of video card you're running, make sure the proper drivers are loaded under adapter. After that, you can try changing the monitor type to something like "Default Monitor" or "Plug & Play". If those don't work, also try "Super VGA 1024x768 @ 75Hz".

Just remember that the monitor type usually has little to do with available resolutions and color settings...attack the video card drivers first.
~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein