Computer Help? (obviously not fishing related)

[Krome Brite]

OK, I've been living with this for quite awhile now and I would like to fix it. Take a look at the '(Moderated by: Pilar, FishinMission, hookset)' text up on the left below the blue ifish.net graphic. On my computer here at home, this text appears small and blurry/distorted. I have been on several other computers and this text appears normal. I have asked people for help on how to fix this so it is easier to see/read, but they all talk in computer tongues, so to speak. images/icons/rolleyes.gif They said something about changing the resolution of my moniter? I am fairly computer illiterate so I don't understand them. Can anybody help, please? images/icons/confused.gif

[Silent Lucidity]

I'll assume that you are running a flavor of Windows...


Click on the Start button, then on Settings, then on Control Panel.

Double-click on the icon that says Display. Click on the tab that says "Settings" up on top there. In the bottom right will be a section that says Screen Area or something like that, and it will have a slider. The more to the right you slide it, the smaller it makes things thereby giving you a larger desktop to work with. Of course, if your eyesight sucks anything less than 800x600 on a 17" monitor is gonna be hard for you to read.

If that doesn't fix it and things are still blurry, you may be in need of a new monitor. With 17" monitors going for around $125 or less it's a good time to buy.

[Krome Brite]

Thank you very much for the directions, SL. I tried to adjust the screen area, but I am unable to do this. images/icons/confused.gif It's stuck at 640x480 pixels. The "colors" to the left of the screen area say True Color (32 bit). I don't know if this makes a difference. I have a brand new gateway moniter, so I don't think I need a new one.

[invader]

you should not be in 32 bit color! you should be in 256 color!!.....john

[Deleted User]

You can change the True Color to Hi-Color 16- bit and you might get to 600x800 or higher and the color is just as good.

Be sure you hit the APPLY button and reboot if it prompts you to.

[Silent Lucidity]

Hmmm...if it won't let you change the resolution then I'm guessing that you might have an older computer whose video chipset doesn't support anything greater than 640x480. If that's the case then get a new video card. Less than $100 and you'll be amazed.

Also, drop below 32-bit color. If your video chipset won't support above 640x480 that 32-bit stuff could really be dragging it down.

It is also possible that you will be able to go to 640x480 if you drop to 16-bit color or even only 256 colors. Give that a try.

[Jennie@ifish]

Does it have a degause feature on the monitor?

[AngleThis]

I am a PC consultant and it sounds to me like you may have a crappy or malfunctioning graphics card. How old is this computer? If not fairly new, go get yourself a new graphics card so U can get some real use out of your brand new monitor.

DC

[Krome Brite]

Jen, what is a degause feature? As I said, I am dumb when it comes to computers. images/icons/blush.gif I have a brand new Gateway computer and moniter. Can't understand why in the world this wont work. I've tryed everything. Thanks again guys and gals for your suggestions. Guess I'll just have to call Gateway and ask them what's up.

[sinker]

Might not be a crappy or disfunctioning graphics card. Might just be that the correct drivers aren't loaded.

[Pilar]

Krome Brite, sorry to hear about your personal computer hell.

Degauss is for removing residual magnetic charges from the magnetic coils that create the images on your monitor. Usually this is a button, in a menu or an actual button on the monitor somewhere. Press the button, the screen goes all blurry and then begins to work again.

The resolution seems to be your problem. Calling Gateway is a good idea. They have pretty good support for thier products. Almost all video cards and monitors sold in the last 5 years will support almost all video modes. I would say that 800x600 would be the minimum you would need. I run mine at 1024x768. Reduce your colors to as low as you can, 16 or 256 and try to increase the resolution to 800x600.

To change the pixel resolution (Screen Area) click on the windows Icon. Then click on 'Settings', 'Control Panel', and then 'Display'. This dialog box will have tabs at the top edge. Click on 'Settings'. Notice which driver is loaded and write it down. Color resolution can be changed as well as pixel resolution. If you cannot increase the pixel resolution then decrease the color resolution to the lowest and try it again.

Other things to think about. How long is the video cord to the monitor? If you extended it with a patch cable that will cause problems. My cell mate did this and it really fubed things up. As mentioned above, is the video driver file correct for the video card and monitor?

Windows (any version) is a strange beast and may be the real culprit. 98 is pretty good about plug and play and will almost always load the correct driver file, but not always.

Can't wait to use the new Windows. I hear it combines the reliability of 98 with the speed of NT.

Boooya! Bill Gates

[ 09-19-2001: Message edited by: Inmate, Anti Productivity Pod 27Alpha ]

[ 09-19-2001: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[Phish_on]

Don't overlook the font settings in your Web browser ... those links may not have a specified font and your browser is defaulting to something weird - - -

especially if you are not having any other video problems.

In Netscape the fonts are under "Edit" -> "Preferences"
Explorer ... (%#$@%# Micro$oft junk) ... um lessee, try "Tools"->"Internet Options"->"Fonts"(button)

Is your brain starting to bake now images/icons/confused.gif