PC Users Bible

The appearance of everything on your monitor screen depends on the resolution, refresh rate, and color-quality settings that control the graphics controller's performance. To adjust the display settings, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Windows desktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu. The Display Properties window opens.

2. Click the Settings tab at the top of the window. The dialog box shown in Figure 10.12 appears.

   Figure 10.12: Use the Settings screen to adjust resolution and color quality.

3. Set the Screen resolution first. Move the slider in the lower-left part of the screen to choose the resolution you want to use.

4. Use the drop-down Color Quality menu to select the highest quality that your system accepts at the current screen resolution. If you set the Color Quality too high, Windows automatically tries to reduce the resolution setting. If that happens, move the resolution setting back to the value you want and try a lower color-depth setting.

5. Click the Advanced button. An options window opens with settings that are customized for your monitor and graphics controller.

6. Drag the custom window away from the Display Properties window so you can see both windows on your screen.

7. Click the Monitor tab to open a dialog box like the one in Figure 10.13.

   Figure 10.13: Use the Screen refresh rate drop-down menu to set the refresh rate.

8. Open the Screen refresh rate drop-down menu in the Monitor settings box.

9. Choose the screen refresh rate you want to use. For most users, a setting between 66 Hertz and 85 Hertz is fine. Click Apply to save your setting.

10. Make sure the Screen Resolution setting doesn't change when you set the refresh rate. If it does change, try a lower refresh rate.

11. Click Apply to save your settings. Windows asks you to confirm that you want to change these settings.

12. Click Yes to make the changes. Depending on the way your system is configured, Windows might restart the computer.