Adjusting the Screen Size (Resolution), Font or Icon Size, Color Depth, and Refresh Rate on a Dell™ Computer
Many display problems can be corrected by adjusting the following display settings:
Screen Size (Resolution): An improperly set screen resolution can result in all items on the screen appearing too large or small. The screen can also appear blocky, distorted, stretched, or fuzzy.
Color Depth: If the color depth is set too low, the screen can appear washed out or pixellated. It is recommended to set the color depth at the highest setting that your computer and display can support.
Refresh Rate: An incorrectly set refresh rate can cause the screen to flicker, blink, or appear distorted or stretched.
Font and Icon Size: While pictures and most other objects are displayed correctly, fonts and icons may be either to large or small to see properly, or may appear blocky or distorted. The font and icon sizes can be adjusted separately from the screen resolution.
If you see
Close all open programs.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
In the Control Panel window, click Appearance and Themes, and then click Display.
In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab.
Under Screen resolution, click and drag the horizontal slider control to change the screen resolution, and then click Apply.
When prompted that Windows is about resize your desktop, click OK.
If the new settings are compatible, the screen will reappear with the new settings.
Click Yes if you want to keep the new settings.
Restart the computer to ensure that the changes stay in effect.
Click to select the color depth you want from the drop-down menu under Colors.
Click Apply and then click OK.
Click Advanced, and then click the Monitor tab.
Click the Screen refresh rate drop-down menu under Monitor settings.
Select the refresh rate you want from the available options, and then click Apply.
Close all windows and restart the computer when prompted.
In the Control Panel window, click Adjust screen resolution under Appearance and Personalization.
Under Resolution, click and drag the horizontal slider control to change the screen resolution, and then click Apply.
Click Advanced Settings, and then click the Monitor tab.
Adjust the Size of Icons and Toolbars by Using the Dell QuickSet tool
In the notification area of the taskbar, click the Dell QuickSet icon.
On the menu that appears, point to Icons & Toolbars, and then click the setting that you want.
Adjust the Size of Fonts
Right-click an empty area of the desktop, and then click Properties. (Or, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Display.)
In the Display Properties window, click the Appearance tab.
In the Font size box, click the font size that you want.
Click Apply, and then click OK.
Adjust the DPI Setting
Right-click an empty area of the desktop, and then click Properties. (Or, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Display).
Click Advanced.
On the General tab, click the DPI setting that you want in the DPI setting box, or click Custom setting to set a custom DPI setting.
If prompted, restart the computer.
Right-click the desktop (not on an icon).
Click Personalize.
In the Personalization window, select Adjust font size (DPI) in the left-hand pane (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Windows Vista Personalization Window
Select the size that will make fonts more readable or select Custom DPI to customize font size.
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