Windows 7: Custom Resolution Question

Johnathan Lyman · 22 Apr 2010

I use my laptop for a lot of recorded screencasts and we're making a jump to all HD screencasts in the next few weeks within our company. The only issue I'm having is my laptop has a screen of the 16:10 widescreen orientation versus the normal 16:9.

My default resolution is 1280x800. Nowhere can I figure out how to bring it down to 1280x720 without hooking up an external display that supports that resolution. For example, my Sony TV takes VGA up to 1280x720 and hitting Fn+F7 adjusts my desktop to match (800 to 720) but at no other time is there an option on the slider for it.

Is there ANYTHING I can do to add this as a setting? I know my Intel GMA 4500HD chip can do it, I know my screen can do it, but Windows 7 Ultimate and the drivers don't seem to think it can be done.

Any advice on what to do?

not so gray matter · 22 Apr 2010

This *may* help:

Control Panel > All Control Panel Options > Display > Screen Resolution > Advanced Settings > Monitor Tab > Select your monitor in list > Uncheck "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display"

It also might help if you get real drivers that have a control panel other than the default windows one. Can't find GMA 4500HD in the list, but if you get the model of your motherboard using a program like Speccy you should be able to download the latest drivers.

Johnathan Lyman · 22 Apr 2010

Thanks for the ideas, but:

1. "Hide Modes..." is greyed out unless I'm connected to a projector

2. The drivers I have are from Intel as a part of the Express 4 Chipset.

For the record, my laptop is a Sony Vaio VGN-NS150J

According to Speccy, this is what's onboard:

Code:

Monitor
	Name	Generic PnP Monitor on Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
	Current Resolution	1280x800 pixels
	Work Resolution	1280x760 pixels
	State	enabled, primary, Unsafe
	Monitor Width	1280
	Monitor Height	800
	Monitor Bpp	32 bits per pixel
	Monitor Frequency	59 Hz
	Device	\\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0
Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family
	Memory	1839 MB
	Memory type	2
	Driver version	8.15.10.1872

Windows 7: Custom Resolution Question

Custom Resolution Question problems?