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Monitor problem

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Sean K

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Hi everyone,

I've just bought a new monitor to connect to my lap top and the picture is ever so slightly off. Images are great, but the words on the screen have a slight shaddow and seem out of focus.

The guide tells me the best screen resolution is 1400x1050 but the closest I can get it to is:

1280x1024 or
1600x1200

But these do not fix the shaddowing at all.

Any suggestions out there?

Do I just have a monitor that doesn't match my computer??

Cheers,
kennas
 
If you can't find a solution you can try using a program called Powerstrip.

It allows you to set custom resolutions, Eg. I'm running 1814x1028 on this monitor.

Give me a yell if you can't find it.
 
Cheers, I've installed the program and adjusted the resolution but I can only apply it to my notebook screen, not the attached second screen which is the problem. ??
 
I think the problem is now that my computer will not allow me to change the primary monitor which will allow me to the adjust the resolution. In the Display Properties box, the check box 'Use this device as the primary monitor', does not allow me to check it.
 
yeah I think your right Kennas. I read that some laptops might need a bios update. Might be worth giving your model number a google.

Another thing to try is changing the cleartype setting.

try
changing the 'Clear Type' setting under the 'Effects' button of 'Display
Properties - Appearance'. Some people say clear type can make things look
blurry.
Click to expand...
 
Ooooo, I've really cocked this up now. Somehow the attached monitor view is skewed and I've been trying for the last hour to get it back to the start. The full page view has the page stretched beyond the boundaries of the monitor, and I can't get it back. Aaaaggghhhh!!

Tried the font adjustment, but no luck.
 
perhaps wanting more from a laptop than can be expected and designed for. Disconnect before you overlode and payout to rebuild of youre system thats the way youre heading. Programme cd download plug and play should not be the answer for desperation wait till theres a funny smell or clicking sounds will be to late$50 bucks and take it to a technitian could be much cheaper
 
What's the brand and model of the notebook? How old is it? Is it running XP
Also the Brand of graphics would be a help... It MAY just need a newer version of the graphics driver.. The Graphics is probably Ati, Nvidia, Intel or SiS.

Most Notebooks will allow you to change the primary monitor with the function keys. This may get you back to normal...
 
Cheers, I've got it back to just being fuzzy. Don't know what I did....It's a Toshiba Satellite A100 and something. It's only a year old and cost me too much, so it should have the works. I'm now downloading something to do with monitors from Toshiba. If this doesn't work I'll try the BIOS upgrade, although perhaps I should do that anyway...Thanks!
 
If this is only a year old, a BIOS upgrade shouldn't be needed. I have just started work this morning and read up about the issues. I dare say others will read the post and hopefully will have something for you before the market opens
 
black_bird2 said:
If this is only a year old, a BIOS upgrade shouldn't be needed. I have just started work this morning and read up about the issues. I dare say others will read the post and hopefully will have something for you before the market opens
Click to expand...
Yep, you would think so. I attached my wife's laptop to it and it went fine!!! The difference is that in her contol panel, she can adjust the second monitor's resolution to 1400x1050, which my computer will not allow me to do. Is this a software problem, or hardware? See screen shot below for the highest res I can put on the second monitor...
 

Attachments

  • monitor.GIF
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Kennas,

What type of monitor? LCD or CRT?

Also, have you tried the function-external monitor button found on most laptops...this usually forces the laptop to send signal only to the external monitor. If you can see a picture on your laptop and your external monitor at the same time then chances are you haven't done this.

Also, LCD monitors have perfect resolutions, anything other than perfect looks off. What is perfect for your laptop may not be perfect for the external monitor and vice versa.

Edges outside the screen can be monitor settings itself ie. the buttons that stretch and align the picture.

If the monitor is a CRT and it looks off then I'd be inclined to test with another computer/video-card combination to prove that the monitor can be made to display clearly...if its a monitor fault then you're chasing your tail.

Needless to say, you will not damage anything plugging an external monitor into your PC. This is what that little 15-pin D connector on the back was made for, its not rocket science and doesn't require a technician.

ASX.G
 
kennas, on the screenshot you added, click on ADVANCED, then the driver tab. It will be named 7300 go or similar.

That will open a new screen and go down to SCREEN RESOLUTIONS AND REFRESH RATES or words to that effect.
In that new window there should be an ADD button to add new, custom refresh rates.

Give that a try
 
Kennas,

Is it a CRT monitor or an LCD monitor? CRTs can have alignment problems with the colours, which appears to give coloured shadows around writing and the like. If that's the issue, then it's a hardware problem in the monitor and I'd return it. LCDs don't have that issue though as far as I know (if they do it would have to be for a different reason).

Cheers,
GP
 
Kennas, in the display settings area that you posted before can you click on the Advanced button and under the Monitor tab you will see a refresh rate. If the additional monitor is working but just the characters have a 'shadow' or are 'fuzzy' then use the highest 'Screen Refresh Rate' which will allow the characters to be refreshed faster and should give a clearer picture in general.
 
Hi Kennas,

I have a Toshiba Satellite with a second monitor - think it's the same model as yours. Here is a screen shot in case it's any help in comparing the settings:
 

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  • laptop monitor.JPG
    40.9 KB · Views: 293

Yep, 1280 x 1024 is not a native resolution for the LCD monitor (I assume that its LCD now), 1400 x 1050 is native so everything looks clear...its a common issue with LCDs. I freaked out for the same reason when I got a new LCD. Once you get it to a native resolution everything will look sweet.

I think its driver related...you either need more advanced monitor drivers or to simply match the monitor driver. When you click thru "advanced" and select the monitor tab does it show your monitor model, or does it just call it default monitor? You want to see your actual monitor model in this list.
 
Hi K.

If you can hold off installing any more software, drivers and bios upgrades for little while I confirm few things for you....

And esp just b4 market open, murphy law can always strike...speaking from my experience...

EDIT: Can you also confirm the model no.

Satellite A100 PSAA2A-03501N
Satellite A100 PSAA5A-01H00T
Satellite A100 PSAARA-055007
Satellite A100 PSAARA-057007
Satellite A100 PSAA8A-0GF010
Satellite A100 PSAANA-04E005
Satellite A100 PSAA9A-0CU004
Satellite A100 PSAA9A-118038
Satellite A100 PSAA8A-1HQ03R
Satellite A100 PSAA9A-046004
Satellite A100 PSAA9A-016004
Satellite A100 PSAARA-054007
Satellite A100 PSAA8A-05R010
Satellite A100 PSAA8A-19Y03Q

Thanks
SevenFX..
 
I have not needed to do this but I believe that it is available.

In that settings control panel that you have displayed in your post, press the advanced tab near the bottom right corner. Then click the GeForce Go 7300 tab.
This should open a secondary menu page showing Geforce go 7300 “screen resolution and refresh rates”. Click that.

When you click that it should change the selections on the primary page.
Towards the bottom of the primary page you should see “custom resolution and refresh rates” ADD

You should be able to ADD the settings of your choice.
 
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