Projector display resolution problem - no display to allow change in resolution

Question

How can I change a display resolution when my projector will not display at the current resolution?

More detail...With a projector connected, pressing Fn+F8 switches through 3 options, 1) Laptop screen, 2) laptop screen and projector, 3) projector only. While on the projector only option, I increased the display resolution to one above which my projector will not now display (projector screen went blank). Now, on this projector only display, I can not see anything to allow me to return the display resolution back to it's previous setting. I have tried system restore with no success.

DELL-Les · Answer

cfishmuk73,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

If you are not able to change the settings in the display properties window then go to the device manager. Once in device manager remove the display adapter. After the display adapter has been removed you will be prompted to reboot the system. Reboot and the system will reidentify the display adapter and reinstall it and all settings will be returned to the default.

DELL-Les · Answer

cfishmuk73,

You may want to post this to the one of the portables boards as they may have more information on how to resolve this. It does not sound like a problem specific to the projector or even windows as it does work when both the monitor and the projector are active. It may be a problem with the system. As for not being able to watch a movie on the projector when both are active you can go into the display options and set the projector as the primary display and this will allow the movie to show on the projector but it will not show on the screen of the portable.

cfishmuk73 · Answer

I carried out your procedure. I was a little concerned at first as on the first 2 reboots, my laptop screen displayed a low resolution, and wouldn't allow me to increase it ('you do not have the administrative right'), but eventually it sorted itself out. However, the original problem remains. I attach my projector, press Fn+F8, the projector displays what the laptop screen shows, then I press Fn+F8 again, the laptop screen turns off and the projector goes blank. I could perhaps live with the fact that the laptop screen must remain on while I project an image, but the problem is that when I play a movie, the movie image is only displayed on the laptop screen and not the projected image.

cfishmuk73 · Answer

PROBLEM SOLVED!!! SOLUTION--> As originally stated, I thought the problem was one of a bad resolution setting that I could now not change as I could not see the screen to change it. The key was realising that all 3 viewing options (i.e. laptop screen only, laptop screen + projector, & projector only) showed the same open windows. So, in a viewing option where I could see the screen, I opened 'display'. I clicked on the resolution setting (allowing me to change the resolution by pressing the left or right arrow buttons), I then switched to the 'projecter only' viewing option (by pressing Fn+F8), although I could not now see what actions I was taking, I pressed the left arrow in the hope I was reducing the resolution. I pressed the tab button the required number of times so it fell on 'apply'. I the pressed return, and it worked!! Quite simple really, but only if you know how! Thanks for your advice though.

Windows General

Projector display resolution problem - no display to allow change in resolution

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