Monitor Resolution Issue

Okay so here's the deal:

I received a new HG281D Hanns-G 28" Monitor for my birthday. The native resolution of the monitor is supposedly 1920x1200.

When I first plugged it into my laptop's VGA-out port, it instantly came up under 1600x1200 resolution. This is okay, but since the monitor is capable of 1920x1200, I want to utilize that! When I went to change it, my graphics card (Intel GMA 950 Chipset, Name: Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset Family) will only let me select from 1600x1200 and 1680x1200.

I went into the Advanced Display Settings on Windows and unchecked "Hide Modes that this Monitor Cannot Display" and wala!, 1920x1200 became available. However when I selected this in the output menu, I received a "Input Mode out of Range" screen on my monitor. If my monitor is supposed to support it, why is it saying it is out of range? Even when I look at the specifications of my monitor that Windows was able to gather, it says 1920x1200 is a supported graphics mode (along with a range of higher resolutions as well). I'm baffled why it's not working!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. My internal graphics card on my laptop is supposed to support a maximum resolution of somewhere in the 2000's x 1500's (I can't recall).

Why isn't it working?!

Thanks
-Eric

 

Hi Eric, is the new monitor externally powered? It may require more grunt than your Laptop can supply. Neil.

 

No offence, but I'd think it would have to be externally powered, even the lowest LCD's require 50-60watts and you won't get that from a USB port. Or am I further behind the times than I thought I was?

To the OP in device manager does your monitor show or is it just described as Generic / Plug and Play?

 

I did not install any additional drivers for the monitor. The CD it came with is for Vista only and I couldn't get it to work in XP (any suggestions there?).

Yes, the monitor is most definitely externally powered =P . It uses up quite a bit of juice.

In Device Manager under Monitors, the following is listed:
Default Monitor (I'm guessing laptop screen?)
Generic Television (Probably the S-Video out port that's not in use) "
Generic Television
Plug and Play Monitor
Plug and Play Monitor
Plug and Play Monitor
Plug and Play Monitor

The display adapter is what I originally posted.

Any ideas?

Thanks
-Eric

 

Start here http://usservice.hannsg.net/

There's 2 HG218D drivers (You'll have to follow the prompts, no direct link).

Hopefully this will solve your problem, if not contact their technical support but either way let us know.

HTH's

Just Looked both monitors appear to only have Vista drivers (unusual) but as I already indicated I'm a little behind the times. Perhaps others could help.

Sorry I can't be of more assistance Eric

 

Yep, there are only Vista drivers there. Does anyone know how to run a Vista driver on XP? The exe won't even load for me.

Any other ideas?

-Eric

 

You normally don't require to install drivers for display devices until & unless it has some features that require specific support.

Eric,

What's the refresh rate supported by your monitor & laptop in 1900 x 1200 ? There's most probably a mismatch over here.

 

I believe the refresh rate is locked in at 60 Hertz. What do you mean by a mis-match?

-Eric

 

Intel have a download (patch?):
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/sb/CS-028366.htm

 

@mattman:

I did try this already. Originally I couldn't even exceed the basic 1024x800 resolution. By installing this patch I increased it up to 1600x1200 but am still unable to achieve the native resolution of the monitor.

Any other ideas? I really appreciate your guys' support!!

Thanks
-Eric

 

You mentioned before that the drivers were an .exe file, have you tried using something like 7-Zip to extract the archive and see if there's a .inf file in there?

If you have apologies, if not try it and right click the .inf file and click install.

 

These drivers are installed correctly already... no problem. Thanks for trying to help!

I feel really stumped on this! I appreciate everything you guys are doing! Any other ideas?

 

Lookup your monitor manual for the refresh rates it supports. If it supports 60 Hz [as it should], the problem could be elsewhere.

 

It does support 60Hz. I just came across something new. I turned off the hiding of graphic options that my monitor won't support and now here are my options:

800x600
1024x768
1280x1024
1440x900
1600x1200
1680x1050
1920x1440
2048x1536

I tested all of these, and my monitor will work with any of the modes. However any mode above 1600x1200, my monitor will display it but my screen moves with my mouse (meaning my monitor isn't fitting the output correctly; I tried auto adjust to no avail). Do you guys understand what I mean? as I move my mouse across a edge, my screen moves as well. Also the 1920x1200 mode is still not available.

I'm having a hard time explaining the screen moving thing, I hope you guys are able to understand it. I'm sure it's a common issue.

Any ideas? This is very frustrating!

Thanks again
-Eric

 

I would anticipate that that is due to a software program. Where are you making the settings? Don't use Windows display settings, because I expect you have the Intel graphics manager program installed. Unfortunately, I left my laptop at work, I can't remember if the graphics manager is Intel or IBM/Lenovo. On mine, you open the graphics manager by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting it (the graphics manager)...then...you need to make selections for the laptop screen or the "monitor" screen. I have found that any changes should be made to the laptop screen, after that, switch to the monitor and make any changes there, then close the program (don't switch it back to the laptop settings before closing).

Sorry if this is a little (?) obscure, it was a lot of trial and error for me.

And...
Another factor may be any settings you can make for connecting a projector.

There are so many settings, it can be very confusing. Make a note of any settings you make so that you can go back and reset them before trying others.

Matt
PS do you have any mouse/cursor modifying programs? Themes maybe?

 

I am using the Intel Graphics Manager to make the changes. What do you mean by making settings for a projector?

The only theme I have installed is the Zune Theme... I don't think this could be causing problems? My mouse pointer is just a standard windows mouse.

Any other help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

There may be a function key to open the projector program. Mine is the Fn key and the (function) 5 button.

 

This doesn't apply to my laptop (sorry). That button controls the output between VGA, S-Video, or regular mode.

Any other ideas?

 

Not from my side.

The cursor moving the screen around is the only problem now?

At this stage I look at anything that may be involved. The Zune theme, I would uninstall it, test, reinstall it if there was no change. Look at any programs that control the mouse, on laptops it is generally a program by Synaptics. Do you have a mouse connected and have installed drivers/software for it (like for adding extra buttons)? It might be those sorts of programs.

Trial and error unless someone can see a specific cause.

Since the "right" resolutions have just decided to show themselves, it may require a reset of the graphics drivers and software by uninstalling and reinstalling them. [Graphics software, there should be an uninstaller for the Intel graphics in Add or Remove Programs.]

Matt