new computer new monitor not happy together

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:00 pm

new computer set up with old monitor

new monitor arrives [acer1916w] connects new monitor turn on the computer insert disk cant read it need to know who wrote it or sintax error [both faults on different comands] choices quickstart/manual/download non work

new monitor works but computer think its the old monitor!!!

gib_goblin · Post by **gib_goblin** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:12 pm

You can manually install the drivers quite simply...
Goto Control Panel and open Display Properties.
Choose the SETTINGS tab and click on ADVANCED.
Choose the MONITOR tab and click on PROPERTIES.
Choose the DRIVER tab and click on UPDATE DRIVER.

If windows ask if you want to connect to the web, choose no. Then click next.
Make sure the disk is in the PC and click next so that it searches for the drivers.
When it finds the drivers on the disk, choose your model and click next until its finished.
Thats all you need for Monitor drivers.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:21 pm

done that thanks
and it says cannot find a better match than the presently installed hardware

gib_goblin · Post by **gib_goblin** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:47 am

ok, that means it can't detect/find the drivers on the disk.

You will need to get back to the update driver and choose 'select a location' then navigate to the drivers folder on the disk.

If that doesn't work, download the screen drivers from the web and specifiy the folder you save them in.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:32 am

Firstly, forget the driver! not needed. They do supply a driver but it is not necessary. What you need to do to tell the video driver (which will not have changed) that you want to drive a different resolution.

This is what to do....

Right click on desktop somewehere away from any icons and chose "Properties"

Click on "Settings" tab

There is a Screen Reslution slider there - can you see the mive the slider to the required resaolution (1440 x 900)? If so, move it to that and click Apply and see if the display is as needed.

If 1440x900 is not there, carry on process below.....

Click on "Advanced" button

Click in "Monitor" tab

In Monitor Type - what does is say? hopefully Acer1916W, biut if not no worries

The option 'Hide modes that this monitor cannot display' is probably checked - uncheck this

Click on and you will be taken back to Settings tab and the slider will now show a lot more little marks

Now move it around and you will find almost certainly a 1440x900 option

Select that and click OK (make sure you do OK, not Apply!)

The resolution will change and a message will come up saying something like "The Desktop has been reconfigured. Do you want to save these settings?" - If it looks ok, Say yes - If you CANNOT ready anything, then after 15 seconds it will revery to as it was
(this is why you didn't do APPLY - as the apply will not automatically go back if you cannot read the message)

After following this process, you will have your new moinitor running at 1440 x 900 and it will look great!!

If it doesn't work, PM me and I will try and see what the problem could be (after suggesting that screen, I will responsible for making sure it works!!)

Good Luck and let us know if it works

gib_goblin · Post by **gib_goblin** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:54 am

Hoovie is correct in what he's saying.

But...

Hoovie wrote:The option 'Hide modes that this monitor cannot display' is probably checked - uncheck this

I know all what you said and agree from IT viewpoint, but I thought to avoid using this option so that screen isn't forced onto resolution it can't support just load drivers, imho its a touchy feely thing for the user to know they have the right drivers for the right kit...

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:12 am

And you are right as well, Gib - the right monitor driver should allow the video driver to have the settings allowed for the monitor to be available from the selection.

The ACER 1916W is a great monitor, but the drivers supplied with that screen are known to be are a bit problematical for some people and do not always seem to work as they should and rather then have someone go round a loop of installing a driver over and over, sometimes easier to just go with another solution to resolve. The screen will not be damaged by setting a resolution incorrectly - it will either not show anything or show a picture in a strange aspect.

Should be noted that if when you get to Settings >>> Advanced >>> Monitor part the Monitor Type shows "Plug and Play Monitor" then there *should* be no need to uncheck the "Hide Modes" box.

Big-all - did you actually go into display properties and change the screen resolution before you tried to install drivers etc? (and have you done so afterwards?).
I don't know your IT awareness level, so you may know about that already? Plugging in a new screen will not automatically make the PC change its setup to use that screens optimum resolution - you have to do that bit yourself via the Display Properties

FWIW, I have used my Acer 1916W with three different PCs, and it is currently connected via a KVM (Keyboad, Mouse and Monitor sharing box) to a desktop and a laptop and I didn't need to install a driver on any of then for it to work - and that was WITHOUT unchecking the "hide modes" option.
The only time I have had to use that option was on an older KVM switch that did not pass the Plug and Play info correctly (and the driver made no difference in that case either)

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:47 am

Big-all - did you actually go into display properties and change the screen resolution before you tried to install drivers etc? (and have you done so afterwards?).
I don't know your IT awareness level, so you may know about that already? Plugging in a new screen will not automatically make the PC change its setup to use that screens optimum resolution - you have to do that bit yourself via the Display Properties

minimal skills can understand most instructions and carry them out easily as long as the abreviations dont get to short

screen is now set to the correct resolution for the first time

what should i now be checking!!!!! the instalation disk or download a program !![i think i have already managed to download but cant workout how to use it!!!!!

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:59 am

ok the main use for the screen is so my son can play world of warcraft and when i try and play it says"world of warcraft was unable to start 3D acceleration.
please make sure directx 9.0c is installed and your video drivers are up to date
now that lot goes right over my head

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:19 am

right - so to confirm ..

Screen is now running 1440x900 resolution Windows ? If yes, then no more to worry about as far as monitor installation goes and don't need to doanload anything else for the MONITOR itself

so WOW requires directx 9.0c (or later would be ok, I would think)?

Two ways to get this - you can download it from Microsoft via the link here
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/det ... layLang=en

OR

If you update your Operating System service pack level to SP2, Directx 9.0c is inlcuded in that - I would suggest you do the first one initialy as sometimes essier to see what is going on if just change one thing at a time.

Just to clarify - Video Drivers are for the video card in the computer itself, they do not need updating for a particular monitor (now there are always exceptions to any rules, but 99.99% of the time, that is the case)

You *may* need to update your video drivers for WOW, but for now assume you don't and just get the latest directx downloaded and installed

gib_goblin · Post by **gib_goblin** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:24 am

big-all wrote:ok the main use for the screen is so my son can play world of warcraft and when i try and play it says"world of warcraft was unable to start 3D acceleration.
please make sure directx 9.0c is installed and your video drivers are up to date
now that lot goes right over my head

Ohhh ok.
Good news: Your screen is fine, don't worry about that now.
Not so good news: You have other kit in the PC which needs some software updates before warcraft will play nicely.

DirectX should of been supplied with Warcraft, if its not on the disk, got Micorsoft and search for DirectX9

If after installing DirectX9 you still can't run the game, the next thing is to update the GRAPHICS CARD Drivers.

First you need to identify the make/model of the graphics card....will have to post later as I don't have time now. Let us know if updateing DirectX works?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:32 am

yes monitor is sett on the highest setting the one required[1440x900)

have down loaded direct x
and it still says the same check fir direct x an vidio card thingy

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:52 am

big-all wrote:yes monitor is sett on the highest setting the one required[1440x900)

have down loaded direct x
and it still says the same check fir direct x an vidio card thingy

sorry to ask a silly question, but you did run the file you downloaded to install it and then restart the PC?

If No, do so - If Yes, looks like you need to try updating driver.

What video card do you have and what is the driver version? the info can be found in the Driver Properties area you went to to set up the screen resolution

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:33 am

not a silly question

was half aware it may be required but it never asked me!!!!!
but i restarted just in case
where should direct x be found so i can check i have installed it properly!!

havent a clue what videocard i have wherre can i find out!!!

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:55 am

big-all wrote:not a silly question was half aware it may be required but it never asked me!!!!!
but i restarted just in case
where should direct x be found so i can check i have installed it properly!!

havent a clue what videocard i have wherre can i find out!!!

How to check DirectX is working

there is an app called dxdiag that will test this

To start the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, click Start, click Run, type dxdiag in the Open box, and then click OK.

There is more detailed info here on the test http://support.microsoft.com/kb/190900 - the picture shows the initial report on my system with the directx setting highlight here

Next - how to check what video driver you have:

Video Drivers

Right click on desktop and chose properties - you get a wndow up called "Display Properties", ok.

Click Settings, and then at the bottom, there are three buttons in a row - "Identify", "troubshoot" and "Advanced" - click advanced.

You will then get SOMETHING like the picture I added - The amount of tabs will vary depending on your video card, but you WILL have one called "Adapter" - click that.
and then you get a display like the pic - make a note of that!

THEN - click 'properties' by the adapter type bit and another window will pop up - choose the middle tab - "Driver" - and this is the key info with the date of the driver and the details. -make anote of this info