If only part of the display is readable, Drivers, What is a driver – Dell Vostro 1400 (Mid 2007) User Manual

Page 147

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Troubleshooting

147

A

DJUST

THE

W

INDOWS

DISPLAY

SETTINGS

Windows XP:

1 Click Start→ Control Panel→ Appearance and Themes.
2 Click the area you want to change or click the Display icon.
3 Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution.

Windows Vista:

1 Click Start

→ Control Panel→ Hardware and Sound→

Personalization

→ Display Settings.

2 Adjust Resolution and Colors settings, as needed.

R

UN

THE

V

IDEO

DIAGNOSTICS

TESTS

If no error message appears and you

still have a display problem, but the display is not completely blank, run the
Video device group in the "Dell Diagnostics" on page 115, then contact Dell
(see "Contacting Dell" on page 201).

S

EE

" E

RROR

M

ESSAGES

" —

If an error message appears, see "Error Messages"

on page 127.

If only part of the display is readable

C

ONNECT

AN

EXTERNAL

MONITOR

1 Shut down your computer and connect an external monitor to the

computer.

2 Turn on the computer and the monitor, and then adjust the monitor

brightness and contrast controls.

If the external monitor works, the computer display or video controller
may be defective. Contact Dell (see "Contacting Dell" on page 201).

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or
keyboard. All devices require a driver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that
use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only
its driver recognizes.

book.book Page 147 Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:12 AM

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