If only part of the display is readable, Drivers, What is a driver – Dell Vostro 1400 (Mid 2007) User Manual
Page 147
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"
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.
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