Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   Dragonlair
   Member

   I just got a new computer. Unlike some, it's a rare occasion for me to get a new "toy" like this. However, as technology increases, it causes some problems for those of us with "aging eyes".

   This new monitor is a 23" diagonal wide screen. I'm not sure you can get other than widescreen anymore! However, to use the "recommended" resolution of 1920X1080 makes for TINY text. If you change the resolution, it will either "window it" and just use part of the screen (no help at all) or blow-up your display and cause everything to be a little fuzzy. That's useable but not real nice. The recommended solution to the problem is to adjust the font size (easily done with Windows 7) in the Control panel. The "pre-set" options are 100%, 125% and 150%. You can also choose anything in between - even as large as 200%.

   However, this does have some drawbacks. In some cases, your text may over-write other parts of windows or be cut off by the edges of it's window but in general, it's be best compromise.

   The problem comes with some games. I've already seen that if you download to install a game from Jenkat with your resolution other than the 3 pre-set values, you get no information in the install procedure other than the buttons.

   Also, some games go wonky. In some cases, you only see the upper 1/4 of the screen (with no scroll bars) or your mouse may disappear or any of other odd problems. These games that I've been working with are OLD. They are from the more respected free sites.

   When these games are this old, it doesn't make sense to say your graphics driver is out of date. The games were written for the graphics of 5 or more years ago in most cases so why would it make a difference if you're a few weeks or a few months behind the times?

   The first thing to try is to reset the resolution text size to 100%. It will force a log off. Let it and then log back on and load the game. If it works, make it windowed and do whatever else you think you need (like turn on the custom cursor).

   From what I've seen - most of the time it works! The game is fine and once you have it set, you never have to play with it again. Just remember to set the resolution back to your preferred setting (another log off required).

   Note - this is not a reboot - just a log off / log on.

   Posted 11 years ago #
2. 

   graylox
   Moderator

   I have a (second) pair of glasses only for the computer, easier to handle :)

   Posted 11 years ago #
3. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   I have a (second) pair of glasses only for the computer, easier to handle

   You're lucky -- to only have one pair I mean. Besides the other I'm diabetic so my vision changes, a Lot. Thankfully goggles4u often had sales [still has them but not as often] -- 1 pair for ~$5 shipped. I got tired of the same thing Dragonlair talks about, so now I just try one pair of glasses after the other till I find one that works at the moment. lol Every year the eye doc writes a slightly different prescription, so I've got plenty.

   Posted 11 years ago #
4. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   Dragonlair you not the only one I run XP & Windows 7 at 1024 by 768 but 2 XP will only run at 800 by 600

   You can all so change Font size as well

   Posted 11 years ago #
5. 

   graylox
   Moderator

   There is a very helpful Firefox add-on:
   NoSquint: Firefox Extension

   Having a hard time reading on the web? Is that website with the ridiculously small font and hot-pink-on-slightly-darker-hot-pink text raising your blood pressure?

   NoSquint is a Firefox addon that can:

   Override the default text-only and full-page (both text and images) zoom levels for all websites
   Enforce your own foreground and background colors
   Remember your zoom levels and color settings per site, automatically applying them when you return.
   Disagree with what NoSquint calls a site? A powerful exceptions mechanism lets you split up or group together sites with URL patterns.

   You can view the Online Help to get a sense of the features NoSquint supports.
   

   It's easy to use and hassle-free, no log on - log off, or any other annoyances.

   graylox

   Posted 11 years ago #
6. 

   Dragonlair
   Member

   You can ctrl+ (enlarge) or ctrl- (reduce) or even ctrl0 (original) for Firefox but that doesn't affect the menus, bookrmarks or such.

   I DO have computer glasses and it's still a problem. My eyes are are so bad that they are not completely correctable and never have been. This funky resolution is the best compromise for me but it does have other ramifications!

   Posted 11 years ago #
7. 

   Dragonlair
   Member

   I have found a way to have your cake and eat it, too -- for the most part.

   The 150% does affect different games in different ways. Since I got this new computer about a month ago, I've seen at least 5 different ways that that High-res/150% setup has caused games to either fail or be limited.

   However, thanks to Ben and his specialist friend (I don't know his name) at BigFishGames, I have a way that seems to be working. It has made unplayable games perfectly good games and so solves that problem. I have used it successfully in at least 5 ways of games either failing (only see 1/4 of the screen, complaining about the resolution or display being too tall no matter what you so -- just examples).

   The fix is SO easy. It may not work in all cases but it is having remarkable success! All you need to do is right click on EITHER the shortcut or the main executable (change one and you change the other), and select "Properties". Select the "Compatibility" tab. Down at the bottom of "settings", select "Disable Display scaling on high DPI settings". Apply that change and you're good to go.

   Basically, all you're doing is telling that program to IGNORE your funky 150% setting and it works!

   This really does make this the best compromise for me. I've already fixed 3 complete failures and 2 "restricted" and have dug back out the backup install programs for 10 more to give them another chance!

   One slight drawback - this trick often changes the sizes and shapes of any loaded windows. It does not appear to change windows at full screen but I don't know what will happen the next time you open that application in windowed mode.

   Posted 11 years ago #

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