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Change Video Settings in Windows Vista

Summary: Learn how to change the display or video settings in Microsoft Windows Vista on your Dell PC. Find information about how to change the screen resolution, refresh rate and size of fonts or icons. ...

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Article Content


Symptoms

SLN144905_en_US__1icon Note: As of April 11, 2017, Windows Vista customers are no longer receiving new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft. This article will no longer be updated and remains for information only. Please visit the Microsoft site for the full end of support statement.

Table of Contents:

  1. Set or Change the Screen Resolution
  2. Adjust the Color Depth
  3. Adjust the Refresh Rate
  4. Change the Size of Fonts and Icons

This article is specific to Microsoft Windows Vista.
Click below to change the operating system.


Set or Change the Screen Resolution

  1. Close all open programs.

  • Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  • In the Control Panel window, click Adjust screen resolution under Appearance and Personalization.

  • Under Resolution, click and drag the horizontal slider control to change the screen resolution, and then click Apply.

  • If the new settings are compatible, the screen will reappear with the new settings.

  • Click Yes if you want to keep the new settings.
    SLN144905_en_US__1icon Note: If new settings do not work, Windows will attempt to revert back to the original settings automatically. If the video has become corrupted or an Out of Scan Range error occurs that cannot be automatically corrected, restart the computer. Press F8 during startup, highlight Safe Mode from the Startup Menu, and press Enter to start the computer in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, change the screen resolution back to the original settings and restart normally.

  • Restart the computer to ensure that the changes stay in effect.
  • Back to Top


Adjust the Color Depth

  1. Close all open programs.

  • Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  • In the Control Panel window, click Adjust screen resolution under Appearance and Personalization.

  • Click to select the color depth you want from the drop-down menu under Colors.

Adjust the Refresh Rate

SLN144905_en_US__1icon Note: Adjusting the refresh rate is only recommended for cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors, and is unnecessary for laptop LCD screens or flat-panel LCD monitors.
  1. Close all open programs.

  • Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  • In the Control Panel window, click Adjust screen resolution under Appearance and Personalization.

  • Click Advanced Settings, and then click the Monitor tab.

  • Click the Screen refresh rate drop-down menu under Monitor settings.

  • Select the refresh rate you want from the available options, and then click Apply.

  • When you are informed that Windows will now adjust the refresh rate, click OK. NOTE If a Refresh Rate warning appears stating that you have specified a custom refresh rate, click Yes.

  • If the new settings are compatible, the screen will reappear with the new settings.

  • Click Yes if you want to keep the new settings.
    SLN144905_en_US__1icon Note: If new settings do not work, Windows will attempt to revert back to the original settings automatically. If the video has become corrupted or an Out of Scan Range error occurs that cannot be automatically corrected, restart the computer. Press F8 during startup, highlight Safe Mode from the Startup Menu, and press Enter to start the computer in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, change the screen resolution back to the original settings and restart normally.

  • Close all windows and restart the computer when prompted.
  • Back to Top


Change the Size of Fonts and Icons

  1. Right-click the desktop (not on an icon).

  • Click Personalize.

  • In the Personalization window, select Adjust font size (DPI) in the left-hand pane (Figure 1).
    SLN144905_en_US__5Vistapersonlize_screen
    Figure 1: Windows Vista Personalization Window

Resolution

SLN144905_en_US__7Monitors More information and support for your Dell monitor, laptop or tablet screen can be found on our Monitor Support site.


Article Properties


Last Published Date

21 Feb 2021

Version

4

Article Type

Solution