Screen size too small

Did you re-load your video drivers? If so, have you tried adjusting your display resolution (right-click on your desktop, choose properties, under the Settings tab you should find a slider to adjust the resolution)? Remember, laptop LCDs should be set at their highest possible resolution for the best picture quality.

Dear Rob,

After going to the Dell Help Site, I am embarrased to admit that I didn't know what new download I needed to correct my problem.  I was hoping that you could tell me what it is called and under which system it is listed.  I am still very green at this computer stuff, and have a lot to learn yet.

Please know I appreciate your help, and thank you for responding to my query.

Sincerely, Tigglith

Spiked-Martini,

Thank you for the suggestion.  I did what you said and indeed changed the resolution to the highest degree.  What this did however, was make everything so small I had a hard time reading it.  It seems that the adjustment is only high or low, no in between.  Although the change allowed me to see eveything on my monitor, it was so tiny that it was uncomfortable to keep it that way.  If there are other adjustments to off set the tiny print and pictures, please let me hear from you again.

Again thank you for trying to help me.  It's greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,  Tigglith

Well there are 2 things that you can do.  First to download the applications you need to visit...  you will need to login here: http://support.dell.com/home.aspx.  You should be able to either log in (if cannot, then set up a log in) or get the site to see what you have.  You can do this under "Current Configuration."  If you get there, then choose Downloads (http://support.dell.com/filelib/criteria.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen).  Here you will have 3 choices... do the one that match your needs (i.e. FlashBIOS updates, etc.).  Then follow the directions.  When you get to the screen that says what you need with a "Previous Versions" underneath, then you are where you need to be.  Choose previous versions to get to the BIOS version A22 before you install BIOS A28.  This is the one that you will need to create a bootable CD for.  Once this one is installed and you have rebooted, then you can automatically execute the A28 in Windows.

For your screen resolution, you might look this article over: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_video&message.id=92122.  They discuss changing the DPI size in the Advanced button on the Settings tab in the Display Properties that you can pull up when you right click on your desktop (the same place where you set your screen saver and background, etc.).  Also, it talks about some settings that you can do for the fonts, etc.  I hope this helps.

Robert

I agree with Rob - your best bet is to keep the highest resolution, and then change your DPI setting to Large Fonts (or larger, if you wish) to make the text bigger.

You can also change the size of your icons (Display Properties - Effects in Win98, probably similar in XP), your theme (Display Properties - Appearance), and change the size of text in Internet Explorer, even if the page has "locked" the font at a particular pixel height (IE - Tools - Internet Options - Accessibility - Ignore font sizes specified on web pages).

When I first got my UXGA screen, I didn't use it at its highest resolution, because of text sizes. Once I started coming to these boards, and learned about the adjustments you can make, I changed it and have been loving the full 1600x1200 resolution ever since.

Best of luck!

Dear Rob & Spiked,

Just another quick thank you to you both.  Your information was perfect, and I did just what you suggested.  The result is my problem has been resolved.

This is exactly why the Dell Community Forum is such a wonderful resource for people like myself.  Because of people like yourselves, this is the first place I come whenever I have a question.  You make the system work as it should.

Tigglith