Windows 7: How to increase screen refresh rate (won't go past 60Hz)

I have a 17-inch Toshiba laptop with a resolution of 1600x900 and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. However, on some backgrounds, I can clearly see my screen flickering. With the preservation of my eyes in mind, it would be greatly beneficial to know if I can increase this or not. I go here: and click "Advanced Settings". Under "Monitor Settings", the pull-down bar only gives me the option of 60Hz (the "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" is whited out). Is it possible to increase the refresh rate?

EDIT: I have a generic PnP monitor on Intel HD graphics
EDIT#2: I just noticed the similar threads section at the bottom, and found that LCD monitors are supposed to be 60 Hz. But then how do I reduce the flicker?

To my knowledge LCD screens shouldn't flicker at all regardless of the refresh rate? They don't refresh, the pixel is either on or off. How old is this laptop? Maybe your back light is failing? Other than that, without being able to see what you see, its hard to comment?

The laptop is less than 1 month old. And I don't mean that the flickering is so bad that I can barely see the screen, I guess I may have used the wrong wording in my original post. I just mean that on certain (ie - not all) backgrounds I can see my screen flickering (I can see everything clearly, its just more of a nuisance than anything). It's just that I don't want to cause myself any unnecessary eye strain.

Also, I just searched on youtube for what a screen flicker looks like. Mine is a very minor version of the type that renders one unable to see. I guess the light flickering that I see might just be normal; however, I have never seen it before on my desktop, and its monitor was approximately the same size and proximity from my eyes as my laptop is.

I know on my old 19 inch CRT monitor 60hz would give me a headache, especially with a white background. I now have two 19 inch 1280x1024 LCD's and have never ever seen a flicker. I don't know what to suggest, update your drivers I guess?

You're not going to be able to change the refresh rate on that laptop monitor unless it was specifically designed to run at a higher rate, which is most likely not the case as the common refresh rate for LCD monitors (including laptop) is 60Hz

Refresh rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also......

Monitor Specifications - scroll down to Refresh Rate

If I am reading this correctly you have a laptop and you have connected a PnP monitor to it. Is that correct?

If so then:
Which display is blinking - the laptop or the PnP monitor?
Is the PnP monitor an LCD or a CRT?
Connected by VGA, or HDMI cable?

Does your laptop have a dedicated video chip (ATI or Nvidia) or just the Intel graphics?

One other possible cause for perceived flicker on a laptop LCD screen is the room lighting, this has been a long term issue in industry with fluorescent tube illumination.

If you have this type of illumination you may find that changing your location will cure it, (a possible reason that you do not see the flicker on the desktop) - the way it is done in industry is to use a special control box on twin tubes that controls the strobing of the tubes to produce a steady light source, but this is of course a major outlay.

I shut off the lights and still saw the flickering, so no dice
I have one display, which is the laptop. I use Speccy (same maker as CCleaner), which tells me the specs of my computer. It said that I have a "Generic PnP monitor on Intel HD Graphics". No extra monitor, no dedicated video chip.

Also, I tried to update my drivers through intel's website but I kept running into errors with it. I guess I'll just have to live with it

What is the exact model number of the laptop?

If it just one month old, I would return it to the store. You should see no flickering.