How to Change the Screen Resolution Settings in Windows
The necessary steps are quick and straightforward, but there are differences depending on your version of Windows. Some types of software require the screen resolution settings to be set to a specific size. If you receive errors when opening certain software titles, make any screen resolution changes as necessary. If you’re using Vista, you won’t see it until you first select Display Settings. On XP, open the Settings tab.
Monitor Doesn’t Support a Screen Resolution?
It’s possible to change the screen resolution to a setting not supported by your monitor. If this happens, the screen will probably turn black and prevent you from seeing anything, including your mouse. Fixing this is a simple as starting Windows in Safe Mode and then following the directions above. This time, just make sure to lower the resolution to something that’s likely supported by your monitor. If Safe Mode doesn’t work, try choosing the Enable low-resolution video option in Startup Settings (Windows 10 and 8) or Advanced Boot Options menu for older versions of Windows. It’s called Windows Advanced Options Menu in Windows XP, and the option to select is Enable VGA Mode. If you have another monitor you can connect to the computer—one that supports the higher resolution—it might be quicker to do that to change the resolution than to boot Windows into Safe Mode.
