keithw

Using: Win98SE on Compaq 1692 laptop (800x600)

Santa brought me a LG l1720p monitor, capable of 1024 x 768 (and more).

The driver seems to be loaded correctly. How do I tell for sure?

When first booted up, the view on the Big Screen is just the same as on the little screen ----only larger. (I didn't get this so I could read it from across the room!)

I go Display>Settings> 1024x 768 > OK, etc. The result is that the icons move to the right and expand downward and the task bar is not visible at all. It appears that the computer thinks the screen if about 4'x3' and of course I'm only seeing a portion of it.

I would expect the icon field to simply "shrink down" on the Big Screen and appear in the upper left corner, with lots of empty desktop on the right and bottom sides. Is this expectation what one should see?

What's the problem, and what do I need to do to fix it?

As usual, your enlightenment would be appreciated!

Keith

Chevy

If the monitor came with a CD, try loading the drivers from it.

oshwyn5

At first I could not fathom your problem and then I saw that this is a Laptop with a large LCD monitor also attached.
The problem is that each LCD monitor has what is called a native resolution. This is a physical restriction on available resolutions caused by the actual layout of pixel transistors. When you set to a different resolution, then it either will be a little box within the monitors total screen or it will be chopped off.
Unfortunately, you have chosen to purchase a monitor which has a different resolution than the laptop itself.
Thus when you set to the resolution to perfectly fill the smaller screen, it is just a box in the big one. When you configure for the larger, it is to big to fit on the smaller.

Now on some screens, when the resolution is smaller than the native, but a supported fraction, it can just expand it to fill the screen. This appears to be what you have.

Basically, you can adjust things for one screen or the other. If you choose to set things to be perfect on the big screen; you can go to the desktop => right click / properties => effects and change things like icon and text size.

keithw

Yep, that's the way it should work---but I can never get it set so it is correct on the big screen. That's the problem.

I have installed the driver. And when I use the big screen on my desktop computer, it works as we'd expect.

Apparently I have some driver or display problems with the laptop which need fixin'. I'll do some more homework when time permits.

Thanks for the responses!

Keith

oshwyn5

Does your laptop have either a button on top row or keyboard combo used to switch primary display from the attached LCD to the external one? Most do and you have to switch the primary display this way.

keithw

That was the key to success, Oshwyn! Thanks!

On my computer, the "switch" is Function+F3. Switched it to the large screen and now the sizing in Setting works just like it should! Sure glad it was something simple. And now I'm embarrassed that I dind't know that. 'spose it's in the book???

Thanks for the help, everyone!

Keith

oshwyn5

Nothing to be embarrassed about, most folks never realize it is there or what it is there for.
Once you understand them; most problems have simple solutions. But until you identify the solution it is not simple.