Hey all..

Ihave an NEC Multisync 1700M+ , 17" LCD Monitor.

Had it now for a few years, and always ran it at 1200x1024 @ 60 HZ @ TRUE color. THis is great sizing and has always looked good.

Thing is, last nite, a friend of my sons used that computer to play games online. Nothing was installed etc....

AND somehow, the "look" of the screen has changed. At the righthand side of anything on screen, an icon, a folder, a file or it's name, there is now a light-colored shadow -- sort of an 'echo' of whatever it might be. It is VERY bloody well annoying and I want to get rid of it.

First thing I tried was to go to Display Properties > Settings and I now see that what WAS the maximum size of 1200x1024, is now up at 3000x2400 ????

Oh, if I set the res to 800x600 the display is PERFECT, focused wise - that is the problems go away, but I don't wanna use that size...I wanna use my old 1200x1024 !!!

And I've tried to make changes to any of those settings to get "bacK" my nice clear focused display to no avail. I've downloaded drivers for the monitor and installed same, no help. I've played with everything inlcuding the pretty basic monitor management settings themselves, to no avail.

WHAT in hell happened? Does anyone know WHY this happened and how I can get back my focused display?

Anyone else run into this? Where'd all those NEW resolutions come from and how can I go "back" to the old focused display???

Also, my NEC also did NOT show the 'other' sizes either ie the list of other sizes available...but now it does and the checkbox "hide items that can't be displayed" box is grayed out...that is I can no longer check/uncheck it...

???

Jim

First thing I would do is remove the video card (in Safe Mode if possible to completely remove ghost drivers) and reinstall it.

I'm wondering how you play games online without installing them???

Since this seems to be related to being online, I would also run a full set of security scans - antivirus, spyware, trojan, browser hijackers. Check the Applications and Security (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?f=34) section of the forums and you'll find links in the first few "sticky" threads to good utilities to use, and links in Budfred's signature to the current versions of AdAware and Hijack this. (Look down the list and click on any thread showing Budfred as making the last post.)

okay...did that. getting the stupid ATI Radeon card out was hell, but it's out then in and has been reinstalled along with the original drivers etc.

STILL have that right-hand side 'ghosting' echo on screen tho...

Now, I've replaced everything (card and monitor drivers etc.) but still get the same ghosting...

Anyone else? HELP -- I can't see stuff!

Jim

Start with your monitor. Try it in another pc or try another known working monitor on your system.

Ghosting in my guess would be something changed in the monitor circuits enough to cause some RF interference like worn out capacitors and the likes. Another video card would make a good try at finding a fix also.

.

"maximum size of 1200x1024, is now up at 3000x2400 ????"
Do you mean that:
1. previously the maximum available [and selected] "Screen Area" was 1200x1024?
2. And now the maximum available [and also selected] is 3000x2400?

A. If the maximum available has changed, then that means some settings installed in the registry have altered [a different video driver installed?]
I'm not certain, but think that if you go back to the previous configuration, then the original drivers would be used and these new ones ignored.
B. If the settings available haven't changed, just the values selected, then there has been a change of configuration alone. You could undo that by going back to the previous configuration. How you do that depends on which OS you're using.

I'd normally fix this by restoring a backup of the way the software used to be [all the files on the C: drive (mostly program files in my case)]. If that didn't fix it I'd know it wasn't a software problem and begin looking at hardware and BIOS settings.