Windows 7 and problem with screen resolution

[ticma]

Hi

I see this is the most popular place on net regarding to Windows 7. So let me ask you a question.

I usually use 1280x768 screen resolution on 20" widescreen monitor, both on XP an Vista, and it look normal. But on Windows 7 I can use only recomended resolution, wich means 1680x1050. All other resolutions do not give natural picture. For example on 1280x768 my screen look like 16:9 movie on 4:3 TV screen, with black stripes on top and botom of screen.

Could this problem be fixed or I must uninstal Win7.

[Pikey]

Hi .. If you are using an Nvidia card, windows 7 may have installed suitable drivers for you.

If so you could go to the Nvidia Control Panel and use 'Create Custom Resolution' to try out some of your own!

I don't know if other card drivers have similar functionality ..

Welcome to the forum btw!

[Lewkwarm]

I had a similar issue, but I installed video drivers from Vista and the problem was fixed. You might want to try that.

[andacb]

Yesterday:

Hi people,

I've used x64 version of build 6801 and 6936 of Win7 and both of them worked fine for my daily works. Yesterday, I upgraded from build 6936 to the newly released 7000 build and afterwards I'm having problem with the resolution of my secondary monitor attached to my notebooks external display port. It worked fine with both of the older builds with the resolution 1680x1050, which is the recommended resolution for the monitor. I've had a problem with build 6801, however I could solve it by changing the monitor driver to a custom one I made using Rivatuner. This time nothing I've done has worked, so I would be happy if you can help me by sharing your experience.

I've tried following configurations with my Win7 build 7000 x64 and my NVIDIA Geforce Go 7600 display adapter:

1. Installed drivers from WindowsUpdate (with Antivirus software turned off), tried to change resolution, stuck at 1600x1200.

2. Changed monitor driver to a custom made with the resolution 1680x1050 defined, stuck at 1600x1200.

3. Installed 185.20 drivers from NVIDIA, using different monitor drivers, stuck at 1600x1200.

4. Edited registry keys at HKLM\System\Currentcontrolset\Control\Video with 1680x1050 resolution at refresh rate 60. Can see the resolution in Screen Resolution menu but when trying to apply it, stuck at 1600x1200.

5. Uninstalled all display drivers and installed drivers from NVIDIA and/or WinUpdate, stuck at 1600x1200.

6. Tried to create custom resolutions with unchecked "Hide modes that the monitor cannot display, tried to test the custom resolution of 1680x1050, it worked in older builds, but in build 7000, it even don't tries to test (no screen flickering) and gives "Custom Mode Failed" error, stuck at 1600x1200.

7. Create custom resolution with advanced settings and all timing options, same custom mode failed message without screen flickering, stuck at 1600x1200.

8. Installing older version display drivers from NVIDIA 170 and 180 series drivers, stuck at 1600x1200.

Anyone experiencing the same problem? Anyone knows what else to do? Since I've experienced the same problem with 6801 build and could get over it by changing the monitor driver, it is now strange, why this solution even not works for this build. Anyway, any help would be appericiated..

Today:

Updates (not so really):

- Made a clean install of Win7 bulid 7000 x64. No program installations made to be sure, just the updates from Windows Update and all not found drivers. Tried the 1680x1050 resolution with the driver came from Windows Update, no luck, still max resolution 1600x1200.

- Made a clean install (not again, just restored the clean backed up install with Acronis True Image Home ), installed 181.20 drivers from Nvidia, no luck, still max resolution 1600x1200.

- Made a clean install (restore to be honest), installed 185.20 drivers from Nvidia, no luck, still max resolution 1600x1200.

- In every condition, I also changed the monitor driver to a custom made, which has worked in Vista, and in builds 6801 and 6936, no luck, still max resolution 1600x1200.

Giving up on build 7000. There is a problem whether with the display driver system or monitor driver. (actually also changed the monitor driver files, with the ones in 6936, no luck, still max resolution 1600x1200.)

Anybody else having such an issue? Wanna share experiences, opinions? All comments very welcome!

Andac

[andacb]

After some search with google, it seems like, the resolution problem will stay as pain with dual or single monitors in systems using NVIDIA cards.

So, it make sense to know for all, if NVIDIA graphic card users with or without secondary monitor experiencing the problem about the screen resolution and not being able to use the native resolution of their monitors.

In all cases and all seems to be possible solutions, I've had no luck and the highest resolution I could get was 1600x1200. NVIDIA's control panel gives "custom mode test failed" error without even testing the resolution, if you try to test a custom resolution.

Shame that this problem wasn't part of the older builds and now with the public beta there it is..

PS: For the ones, that use older builds with succesfully native solutions of their monitors, please don't think that the upgrade will be ok without a problem, this has been done before and it ends in the same way! :)

Andac

[dubi]

I had a somewhat similiar problem, running a dell inspiron 1100 with a stuck resolution of 480x640. I just fixed it by installing dells driver for XP and running it in compatability mode. You all seem more technically inclined than me, so I'm assuming your problem is worse.

Hope I helped.

[strelok1911]

windows 7 has aspect ratio fixing.

meaning if you select a resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio, and u have 16:10 aspect ratio, the image won't stretch to 16:10, it will stay 16:9.

[Lamp Post]

Try to install drivers for your monitor, as it should then properly recognize the native resolution.

[HardSide]

I just installed Windows 7. Here is the problem, most companies are not supporting (releasing drivers) for windows 7, especially Dell. I was on there forums, tons of complaints. Secondly windows 7 changes the scale of your view. So in the Nvidia options find the option that says "Use my display built-in scaling" or "no scaling" and change the resolution to what you want for it to display like it use to in vista and xp.

[Jon Fortier]

Hi

I see this is the most popular place on net regarding to Windows 7. So let me ask you a question.

I usually use 1280x768 screen resolution on 20" widescreen monitor, both on XP an Vista, and it look normal. But on Windows 7 I can use only recomended resolution, wich means 1680x1050. All other resolutions do not give natural picture. For example on 1280x768 my screen look like 16:9 movie on 4:3 TV screen, with black stripes on top and botom of screen.

Could this problem be fixed or I must uninstal Win7.

This may be a little unrelated to your question but this helped me after hours of frustration. I have a Sceptre 22" monitor, ran fine on XP at its normal resolution of 1680x1050, but it does support full 1080p. So naturally Windown 7 put it at that, and everything was fuzzy. So I tried putting it at 1680x1050 and it was square, boxy, and terrible looking. Spending frustating hours looking up solutions and upgrading my drivers, I finally found that all you have to do is switch it from 61 hertz to 59 hertz and it looked completely great on 1680x1050. So try playing with your hertz for anyone that is having that issue.

[elvisfever]

I know a way to solve this problem.Do not change your screen resolution via Windows 7's screen resolution page.

Instead go to Nvidia Control Panel and Click to Add Custom Resolution..Create desired resolution and click Test and if it's ok with you use it.

[IvanGS]

Hi all,

THIS IS THE SOLUTION -

It stumped me for a while as-well and I don?t know why Microsoft did this.

Anyway the resolution is correct for your screen but the windows size is not.

1. Right click on desktop

2. click "screen resolution"

3. Click the blue text - "make text and other items larger or smaller"

4. Click on - smaller - 100% (default)

5. Hope this solves the problem - it did for me. :D

My first post :)

IvanGS

On another note, I suggest you get Microsoft office 2010 beta - I love it :)

[KiHu]

I dont think that was the issue.

..also, why am I posting in this revived thread

[HawkMan]

Hi

I see this is the most popular place on net regarding to Windows 7. So let me ask you a question.

I usually use 1280x768 screen resolution on 20" widescreen monitor, both on XP an Vista, and it look normal. But on Windows 7 I can use only recomended resolution, wich means 1680x1050. All other resolutions do not give natural picture. For example on 1280x768 my screen look like 16:9 movie on 4:3 TV screen, with black stripes on top and botom of screen.

Could this problem be fixed or I must uninstal Win7.

1280x768 is the wrong aspect anyway so the screen would distort the picture. try 1280x800 instead.

though I don't know why you would run a low nonnative res on a big screen but, each to his own. Whatever you're trying to accomplish can probably be done better with DPI settings though

[Subject Delta]

NEVER upgrade from a beta to a final release. I would recommend you do a clean install.

[TGW]

I had this very problem, installing the monitor driver did the trick for me.

Try to install your monitor driver and see if that helps, it worked for me so maybe it will work for you too.

Good luck.

Note: I'm using Windows 7 RTM (6.1.7600).