Visual Problem on All Games

fevian · 10-30-2009, 04:30 PM

Tech Support Forums,

This is a difficult probem to explain, so bear with me. I'm pretty savvy with computers myself, but have tried and tried to fix this, to no avail.

In April of 2009, I purchased a HP 2009m 20" Widescreen monitor (natural resolution: 1600x900). It's very nice and a I used it on my desktop (really crappy Graphics card) for a while on World of Warcraft and Counter-Strike: Source with no problems what so ever. In May 2009, I obtained a laptop for college and brought the monitor with me.

The laptop's default resolutions are 1280x720, 1280x768, and 1280x800. It does not have an option for 1600x900 when used by itself. When used with the monitor, it has access to 1600x900, but it has problems when set to it. The major problem is that, with the monitor attached and set to this resolution, it has "bars" that run vertically all the way across the screen. The "bars" are more like a pattern of light-dark shades. The picture is still displayed in full, but quality is compromised by the different shades of the bars.

The big problem is in games. My desktop doesn't have to be set to 1600x900 and is not, but when I go to games the only options are 1600x900 and the non-widescreen settings. I can't set my games (World of Warcraft or Counter-Strike: Source) to anything but these settings. In CSS, I can't even change the Aspect Ratio to 16:10.

My main belief is that my laptop, since it doesn't support 1600x900 naturally, it won't work correctly under that resolution. I don't care if I can't use it, but I would LOVE to be able to use my laptop resolution without being window moded if at all possible. I have no idea why it wouldn't let me use other resolutions.

If you have anything that could help it would be extremely appreciated. If you need any other info or specs, don't hesitate to ask. I can post my specs in another message if needed.

**RockmasteR** · 10-30-2009, 06:37 PM

Hello fevian
what is the video card in your laptop?
check the resolution in your video card driver's control panel
see if you can force it from there
also make sure that you have installed the LCD drivers on your laptop

fevian · 10-30-2009, 07:05 PM

ATI Radeon HD 3200

I've tried forcing it before. Dunno if I installed drivers.

Not currently at my monitor. I'll try your suggestions when I'm able to use it.

thetechguia · 10-30-2009, 07:36 PM

Try updating or re-installing your video card drivers... you'll probably get your problem solved.

fevian · 10-30-2009, 09:59 PM

Did that a while back, Techguia.

fevian · 11-02-2009, 01:10 PM

So, I hooked up to my monitor and tried forcing it. No go.

Installed monitor drivers. Didn't really do anything.

Updated ATI Video drivers to Catalyst 9.10. This is where it got weird. 1280x720 went to both of my games. I was psyched, but 1280x720 now looks horrible as my desktop resolution and in game. This makes me sad because now it's teasing me and because the only other resolution that looks decent for my desktop is 1280x800, which is kinda smooshed.

Any other ideas? Once again, if you need any info, tell me.

fevian · 11-03-2009, 11:41 AM

I dont' want to say problem solved, because it's not.

The problem only occurs when the laptop display is turned off in my video options. When it's on, I can use all my resolutions in games and problem solved.

fevian · 11-03-2009, 05:31 PM

Another update here. Counter-Strike looks awesome, but wow looks worse than it did for some reason (I could tune out the bars). I was gonna turn off the laptop screen like it was before today, but now it's my primary display and I cannot replace it with my monitor. I'd really rather have the monitor as the primary display. Catalyst/Windows will both not let me. Help appreciated.

**RockmasteR** · 11-03-2009, 05:42 PM

I think your problem could be solved in the Display option
Control panel -> Display
on the Display option you should see a screen with number 1 on it
this is your primary display
if your PC detects 2 displays, you should choose between 1 and 2
so try to play with those settings
also you have detect and Identify, first hit "detect" so your PC can detect all the displays
when you press Identify, a big 1 should appear on your primary display, hit identify for 2 and a big 2 should appear on the 2nd display

10-30-2009, 04:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
fevian Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Visual Problem on All Games Tech Support Forums, This is a difficult probem to explain, so bear with me. I'm pretty savvy with computers myself, but have tried and tried to fix this, to no avail. In April of 2009, I purchased a HP 2009m 20" Widescreen monitor (natural resolution: 1600x900). It's very nice and a I used it on my desktop (really crappy Graphics card) for a while on World of Warcraft and Counter-Strike: Source with no problems what so ever. In May 2009, I obtained a laptop for college and brought the monitor with me. The laptop's default resolutions are 1280x720, 1280x768, and 1280x800. It does not have an option for 1600x900 when used by itself. When used with the monitor, it has access to 1600x900, but it has problems when set to it. The major problem is that, with the monitor attached and set to this resolution, it has "bars" that run vertically all the way across the screen. The "bars" are more like a pattern of light-dark shades. The picture is still displayed in full, but quality is compromised by the different shades of the bars. The big problem is in games. My desktop doesn't have to be set to 1600x900 and is not, but when I go to games the only options are 1600x900 and the non-widescreen settings. I can't set my games (World of Warcraft or Counter-Strike: Source) to anything but these settings. In CSS, I can't even change the Aspect Ratio to 16:10. My main belief is that my laptop, since it doesn't support 1600x900 naturally, it won't work correctly under that resolution. I don't care if I can't use it, but I would LOVE to be able to use my laptop resolution without being window moded if at all possible. I have no idea why it wouldn't let me use other resolutions. If you have anything that could help it would be extremely appreciated. If you need any other info or specs, don't hesitate to ask. I can post my specs in another message if needed.

10-30-2009, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
RockmasteR Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lebanon Posts: 3,211 OS: Vista Ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Visual Problem on All Games Hello fevian what is the video card in your laptop? check the resolution in your video card driver's control panel see if you can force it from there also make sure that you have installed the LCD drivers on your laptop __________________ CPUz GPUz Nvidia Drivers ATI Drivers System Information for Windows (SIW) Revo Uninstaller RivaTuner ATITOOL Directx 9.0C !!Please don't PM me for Tech Support!!

10-30-2009, 07:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
fevian Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Visual Problem on All Games ATI Radeon HD 3200 I've tried forcing it before. Dunno if I installed drivers. Not currently at my monitor. I'll try your suggestions when I'm able to use it.

10-30-2009, 07:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
thetechguia Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 7	Re: Visual Problem on All Games Try updating or re-installing your video card drivers... you'll probably get your problem solved. __________________ Visit my blog! thetechguia.wordpress.com

10-30-2009, 09:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
fevian Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Visual Problem on All Games Did that a while back, Techguia.

11-02-2009, 01:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
fevian Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Visual Problem on All Games So, I hooked up to my monitor and tried forcing it. No go. Installed monitor drivers. Didn't really do anything. Updated ATI Video drivers to Catalyst 9.10. This is where it got weird. 1280x720 went to both of my games. I was psyched, but 1280x720 now looks horrible as my desktop resolution and in game. This makes me sad because now it's teasing me and because the only other resolution that looks decent for my desktop is 1280x800, which is kinda smooshed. Any other ideas? Once again, if you need any info, tell me.

11-03-2009, 11:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
fevian Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Visual Problem on All Games I dont' want to say problem solved, because it's not. The problem only occurs when the laptop display is turned off in my video options. When it's on, I can use all my resolutions in games and problem solved.

11-03-2009, 05:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
fevian Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 12 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium	Re: Visual Problem on All Games Another update here. Counter-Strike looks awesome, but wow looks worse than it did for some reason (I could tune out the bars). I was gonna turn off the laptop screen like it was before today, but now it's my primary display and I cannot replace it with my monitor. I'd really rather have the monitor as the primary display. Catalyst/Windows will both not let me. Help appreciated.

11-03-2009, 05:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
RockmasteR Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lebanon Posts: 3,211 OS: Vista Ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: Visual Problem on All Games I think your problem could be solved in the Display option Control panel -> Display on the Display option you should see a screen with number 1 on it this is your primary display if your PC detects 2 displays, you should choose between 1 and 2 so try to play with those settings also you have detect and Identify, first hit "detect" so your PC can detect all the displays when you press Identify, a big 1 should appear on your primary display, hit identify for 2 and a big 2 should appear on the 2nd display __________________ CPUz GPUz Nvidia Drivers ATI Drivers System Information for Windows (SIW) Revo Uninstaller RivaTuner ATITOOL Directx 9.0C !!Please don't PM me for Tech Support!!