Windows 8 : Modifying Display Appearance and Video Settings (part 2) - Configuring Video Settings, Troubleshooting Display Problems

Every computer has a monitor driver and a video adapter driver. The monitor driver tells Windows about the capabilities of the monitor. The video adapter (or display) driver tells Windows about the capabilities of the graphics card.

Proper display is dependent on the computer using accurate information about the video adapter and the monitor. Different driver files are installed depending on which video adapter and monitor models Windows 8 detects on a system. These drivers are extremely important in determining which display resolutions, color depths, and refresh rates are available and appropriate for the system. If the adapter and monitor aren’t detected and configured properly, Windows 8 won’t be able to take advantage of their capabilities.

Current settings for the video adapter or monitor can be wrong for many reasons. Sometimes Plug and Play doesn’t detect the device, and a generic device driver is used. At other times, Windows 8 detects the wrong type of device, such as a different model. In this case, the device will probably work, but some features won’t be available.

To check the current video adapter and monitor configured for a computer, follow these steps:

If you followed the previous instructions and the video driver shown does not match the make and model installed on the computer, you might want to try to install a different driver. For example, if the computer has a generic S3 video driver configured and you are sure the computer has an NVIDIA GeForce video adapter, you should change the video driver.

To determine whether the video card make and model are correct, you need to know how the system is configured. The system documentation can tell you which video adapter is installed. Other administrators are also useful resources. Typically, someone else on the technology team will know immediately what video adapter is installed on a particular type of computer. If you can’t figure out the make and model of the video adapter, you have several options. If the current settings are working, you can leave the display settings alone. You can also try the following techniques to determine the video adapter’s make and model:

Once you determine the video adapter’s make and model, see whether you can locate the necessary drivers on the manufacturer’s website. Some video adapters come with installation discs. On the disc, you might find a setup program. Run this program to install the video driver. If the installation disc contains the drivers but no setup program, you need to install the drivers manually.

When you are ready to install the video adapter driver, follow these steps:

The overall display quality is controlled by the combined capabilities of a computer’s monitor and video adapter. Most computers have at least one monitor connection available. The type of connections supported may include the following:

If a computer has a Plug and Play monitor, Windows 8 might have detected it and installed it properly, or it might have installed a similar driver, but not the one that matches the monitor’s make and model. For the best quality, Windows 8 should use the driver designed for the applicable monitor. Otherwise, the display mode, color depth, refresh rate, and color-matching options might not be appropriate for the monitor.

To change the monitor setup, follow these steps:

Most modern computers come with a video adapter that supports two monitors. You’ll know this because the adapter will have multiple monitor connection ports. On these computers, you can connect multiple monitors and then extend a user’s desktop across those monitors so that the user can see more information at one time. If you’ve connected multiple monitors to a computer, the Screen Resolution page will show one box for each monitor. The first monitor is labeled 1, the second is labeled 2, and so on. If you tap or click the monitor box, you can work with the monitor in the same way you would if you had selected the monitor from the Display list.

If a monitor you’ve connected doesn’t have its own box, check the monitor connection and then turn the monitor on. Then, when you tap or click Detect, Windows should automatically detect the monitor.

If you’ve connected multiple monitors and are unsure which monitor is which, you can tap or click Identify to display the numeric identifier of each monitor on the monitor’s screen. The numeric identifier appears as a large white numeral. If you find that the screens are represented in a different position than they are configured, you can drag the monitor boxes on the Screen Resolution page so that their position matches the physical layout of the monitors.

After you configure the monitors, you may want to extend the display across their screens. To do this, tap or click the box representing the second monitor (or select the second monitor in the Display list), and then select Extend These Displays from the Multiple Displays list. Generally, you will want screen 1 to be marked This Is Currently Your Main Display.

After you’ve configured your monitors, you’ll find that pressing the Windows logo key + P is a convenient way to change the monitor configuration quickly. After pressing the Windows log key + P, you can use any of the following options:

With touch UI, you can access similar options by sliding in from the right, tapping devices, and then tapping Second Screen.

Screen resolution, color quality, and refresh rate are key factors that affect display appearance. Screen resolution is the number of pixels that make up the display. Color quality is the number of colors that can be displayed simultaneously on the screen. Refresh rate is the rate at which the screen is repainted.

Windows 8 automatically optimizes display settings for each of your monitors by selecting a screen resolution, color quality, and refresh rate that seem most appropriate based on its testing. Normally, the settings that Windows selects work well, but they might not be the optimal settings for your computer.

The best resolution to use depends on the size of the monitor and what the user plans to do with the computer. Designers and developers who need a large screen area will appreciate a higher resolution, such as 1,920 x 1,200. They can then see more of what they’re working with on the screen. Users who spend most of their time reading email or working with Word documents might prefer a lower resolution, such as 1,280 x 1,024. At that resolution, screen elements are easier to see, and users will have less eyestrain. On a widescreen monitor, be sure to select a resolution that is appropriate for widescreen viewing.

Color quality depends greatly on screen resolution settings. Even though most current video cards display 32-bit color at a variety of screen resolutions, some video cards might not be capable of displaying 32-bit color at their maximum screen resolution. Video cards may display fewer colors when you set the screen resolution higher. In most cases, the higher the color quality that you can set, the better. Keep in mind that the amount of video memory required to maintain the video display is determined by multiplying the number of pixels on the screen (based on screen resolution) by the number of bits per pixel (determined by color quality). Furthermore, the maximum combination of resolution and color quality allowed is a function of the video memory on the video adapter.

You can set the screen resolution and color quality by completing the following steps:

Your eyes can’t perceive the display refresh, but a low refresh rate (under 72 Hz) can sometimes make your eyes tired if you look at the display too long. To view or set the refresh rate for a video card, follow these steps:

Color profiles allow you to get truer colors for specific uses. For example, you might need to more accurately match on-screen colors to print colors, and a color profile designed for this purpose can help you do that. After you obtain the color profile, you must install it on each monitor separately by following these steps:

If you don’t have a color profile and still would like the benefits of one, use the Display Color Calibration tool to fine-tune display colors to your liking. You can access this tool by typing Dccw.exe in the Apps Search box and pressing Enter.

Every computer has a monitor driver and a video adapter driver. The monitor driver tells Windows about the capabilities of the monitor. The video adapter (or display) driver tells Windows about the capabilities of the graphics card.

Clearly, the monitor driver and video adapter driver have important roles on a computer. When you are installing video components or updating a computer, you should be sure that the computer has drivers that have been tested in your environment and proven to be reliable. If you suspect a problem with the drivers, update the drivers if possible. If you suspect the problem is due to the configuration of the computer, start the computer in safe mode and then modify the default settings.

Before you start detailed diagnostics and troubleshooting, determine what programs the user has been running. Programs created for versions of Windows prior to Windows XP may cause compatibility issues. Close all running programs and check questionable programs to see what display mode they are using. If a program requires an alternative display mode and switching into and out of this display mode is causing problems, you may be able to configure compatibility settings to resolve the problem. Press and hold or right-click the application shortcut, and then tap or click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, select the Compatibility tab. On the Settings panel, choose the appropriate option, such as Run In 640 x 480 Screen Resolution. If you are unsure which compatibility settings to use, press and hold or right-click the application shortcut, tap or click Troubleshoot Compatibility, and then follow the prompts in the Program Compatibility Wizard.

Many problems with monitors have to do with the connection between the monitor and the computer. If the monitor displays blotches, color spots, diagonal lines, or horizontal bars, or has other similar display problems, you’ll want to check the monitor connection first. After you are sure the connections are all right, turn the monitor off for at least 10 seconds, and then turn the monitor back on. If you still are experiencing a problem and think that the problem has to do with the monitor itself, you can try to resolve it through additional troubleshooting.

Monitor flicker or jitter or a shaky image can be caused by configuration issues as well as positional issues. If the monitor refresh rate is causing the problem, you can resolve it by changing the refresh rate settings. If a positional issue is causing the problem, you can resolve the problem by moving the cables and devices that may be causing electromagnetic interference, including power cables for other devices, large speakers, or desk lamps. If the problem persists, make sure the monitor has a shielded cable and that it is positioned away from air-conditioning units, large fluorescent lights, and so on.

If the monitor has built-in controls, check for an auto-tuning setting. Often, this will be a separate button, and when you push this button, the monitor will automatically adjust itself.

If blotches of color, color spots, or lines are the problem and resetting the connections doesn’t work, you might need to perform a monitor degauss. This operation removes the buildup of stray magnetic fields around the monitor, which can distort the video image. Some monitors autodegauss by turning the monitor off and then on, some have a manual control only, and some combine both of these features. You may find a control labeled Degauss, or there may be a menu option within the monitor’s software controls. While the monitor is degaussing, the screen may become distorted temporarily. This is normal behavior during the degauss process. If you manually degauss, wait 15 to 20 minutes before attempting a second degauss.

If problems persist, connect the monitor directly to the computer. Remove any extension cables connected between the monitor and the video adapter. Also, remove any antiglare screens or other similar devices that cover the monitor’s screen. Check the video data cable for bent, broken, or missing pins. Although some pins are missing as part of the design, other pins that are missing or bent will cause display problems. If there are bent pins and the pins are repairable, turn the monitor off, unplug the monitor from the power source, and use tweezers or pliers to straighten the pins.