Second Monitor Resolution problem with new cable


  1. servemonster
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
       New #1

    Second Monitor Resolution problem with new cable


    Hi everyone,

    I have an alienware 14 laptop with a 23 inch Dell ultrasharp monitor. I have been using them together just fine until last week. I was moving into a new apartment and somehow lost the VGA cable that came with the monitor so I bought a SVGA cable from Radioshack, and ever since, my laptop won't recognize the resolution of the monitor! The resolution in the monitor is stuck at 1200 x 768 and it won't allow me to change it. Both screens are set the 60Hz refresh rate. Before the cable swap, the resolution in the monitor was at 1600 x 900, the native resolution of my laptop.

    Is it possible that the newly acquired SVGA cable is causing this problem? Isn't the SVGA supposed to better than a VGA cable? Help please!!
    Last edited by servemonster; 06 Aug 2013 at 19:28.
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  3. GARoss
    Posts : 359
    Windows 7 64-bit
       New #2

    SVGA & VGA are virtually identical. My understanding is SVGA is more shielded than VGA & cost more - better for long distances.

    My guess is by changing cables your laptop somehow detected different hardware & loaded a different driver. Check device drivers to see what driver is being used for the Dell monitor & post that info.
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  4. servemonster
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Ok! I am working right now but I'll post the info once I get off work. Thanks!
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  6. servemonster
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    The Dell monitor is coming up as a Generic Non-PnP Monitor, and its

    Driver provider is Microsoft
    Driver Date: 6/21/2006
    Driver Version: 6.1.7600.16385
    Digital Server: Microsoft Windows

    I don't know what is wrong!! I click update Driver and it says it's the most current one, but is it"?
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  7. servemonster
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Please Help!!
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  8. servemonster
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Solved, I ended up creating a custom resolution of 1920 x 1080 for my second monitor and it worked.
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  10. GARoss
    Posts : 359
    Windows 7 64-bit
       New #7

    Sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. Generic Non-PnP is what I suspected. Windows didn't recognize your monitor, sensing a different cable type, & found a driver on its own.

    Sounds like you have worked out a solution but you probably could download the correct driver from Dell & replace the generic one. Hard to say if that would make a major improvement or not. You got it working & that's the important thing.:)

    BTW - be sure to mark this thread as "Solved" in your 1st post.
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  11. jimbo45
    Posts : 5,941
    Linux CENTOS 7 / various Windows OS'es and servers
       New #8

    Hi there
    1) when plugging in an external monitor the resolution is set to the MAXIMUM that EITHER monitor can do TOGETHER -- in other words if you plug in an external monitor to an average laptop that has a native resolution of 1366 X 768 that's all you'll get on the external monitor unless you do 2 and 4 below.

    2) set (Windows +P) to ONLY display on external monitor --then you should have full resolution that your graphics card plus external monitor are capable of. Easily full HD (1080 x 1960) on modern monitors --often more.

    3) If you've got an HDMI output use that for 2nd monitor --then AUDIO is also transmitted otherwise you'll need to supply audio from the computer via audio leads (analog) to audio device.

    4) sometimes if the "Aspect" looks a bit funny most decent monitors and TV's have a HARDWARE control - usually via a remote to "automatically re-size / adjust picture.

    Cheers
    jimbo
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  12. servemonster
    Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Thank you for the reply everyone! I'll try to download the correct driver for my monitor and see if that improves the quality. Thanks!
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