Display Auto-Detect?

I'm getting a new LCD display for my Windows XP machine.

I right-click the desktop and go to settings to see the available resolutions, but does the list I see depend on what monitor the computer is hooked to, or is the list of the computer's specifically? Like if I hooked up to a different monitor, will the choices be different, or would I still have the same resolutions to choose from?

Also if the right resolution isn't there to choose, does a monitor just automatically set the resolution straight? The new monitor is a 16:9 Dell LCD monitor on a Dell desktop computer with Windows XP, and this computer originally came with a 4:3 LCD monitor.

Simple answer is yes

No

If you have your new monitor and the resolutions for it are wrong, uninstall you video adapter reboot and then reintall wit the latest drivers.


HTH

The monitor tells the computer what resolutions it cannot display and whatever resolutions the video card can handle are left. So if your video card cannot display in wide-screen then you may never find a resolution that looks "quite right".

I went to see the drivers for the service tag of the computer I'm hooking the monitor to on Dell's site, but none of the video drivers dealt with resolutions...there was just one and it was a patch fix for bug issues regarding a program.

The video drivers do deal with the resolutions. If you uninstall your current video drivers download the latest from Dell, then install them. Rebooting at the end.

The monitor tells the vid card using edid what resolutions it can handle and then the video card sends the monitor the correct format for the resolution.

Multiple W7 sites = more help = win.

Not really as I'm doing this on both sites

I believe he is saying there were no new video drivers that added additional screen resolutions listed at the manufacturers site

Probably a minor point but It is my understanding that the monitor does not tell the computer what it CAN display but rather tells it what it cannot.

MJOLNIR,
A video card can't suddenly display in resolutions it wasn't designed to support. If it can only output 1024x768 or 800x600 then it isn't going to suddenly be able to provide 1280x720 just because you add a 16:9 monitor.

What is the make model of your video card? If it is on-board video from the motherboard then what is the make model of the motherboard if you know it or at least the model of Dell computer you have?

Actually it is considered poor forum etiquette to post the same question on multiple forums at the same time. If you don't get an answer after 4 or 5 days then fine but otherwise it's somewhat rude.

Sorry to disagree but I'm in to Vid Cards and displays.

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