Display resolution issue

[MegaHurtz83]

So the setup I run at work is an IBM laptop with a port replicator, and a 17" LCD beside it. I use both the LCD on the laptop and my standalone LCD, to run an extended desktop setup. Both monitors are at different resolutions, the laptop at 1600x1200 and the desktop at 1280x1024.

Now, through a fortunate series of events, I managed to have a manager buy me a 20" widescreen LCD. I took out the old 17" and put it in my new toy, but I can't get XP to see the new monitor and let me set a widescreen res on it. I've tried doing it manually via a command line res changer, and that didn't take. I've tried updating the monitor driver files and that didn't work either. I still only have 4:3 aspect resolutions and I need to get 16:10 so that I can run my 1680x1050.

Does anybody know how I can force this change, or force Windows to see my new monitor and pick up the resolution?

 

[Matthias99]

You can try a program called PowerStrip to see if you can force the video driver to add widescreen resolutions. You can also try contacting IBM to see what they have to say about it.

However, if it's an older laptop, you may be out of luck. Some old GPUs and integrated chipsets have hardware/driver restrictions that keep them from outputting widescreen resolutions properly.

 

[MegaHurtz83]

Thanks for the advice

I ended up finally getting it to work a bit earlier... Just took a little tweaking, a few reboots and some driver updates.