driver for more colors

I bought a HP71 17inch monitor at a computer show and can not get 256 colors. I have tried drivers.com,hp.com and everything in between. It is probably very simple but I can not seem to get it.Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANKS, CRAIG

 

The color quality is a function of the video card, not the monitor.

I take that to mean you cannot find 256 in the drop-down list in Display Properties>Settings tab.

If you can only find 16 colors...not "16 bit" but 16 colors...then you need to install the drivers for the video adapter.

If it's showing 16 bit and/or 32 bit, that's about as good as it gets. 256 colors is of much less quality than either of those.

Mine shows only 16 bit and 32 bit in the drop-down list. However, if you click on the Advanced button and then go to the Adapter tab, you should find a button there labeled "List all modes." Click on that and you will find all the modes the video card can handle....including 256 colors.

That does not necessarily mean your monitor can handle them all, though. High resolution with high color quality is where you might run into problems. 256 colors shouldn't be a problem for the monitor but it sure is going to be ugly.

 

need 256 colors

Miz,
Your info can never be too basic for me. I prefer it simple because when it comes to computers, I am about as smart as a pile of vomit. I tried your suggestion and found that the adapter tab only gave me a "change" button, not "list all modes." What I find weird is that I had 256 colors until I changed monitors. The games my son has are older games which require 256 colors to operate.I tried changing monitor types and the PC locks up when I do. Under the monitor tab it is set default at "standard monitor types" and "generic television." I did try HP for the monitor and standard 17 inch for the type but it will not accept those settings. I am working with a 233 pent. 2 w/ 160 meg of ram if that matters. The HP71 monitor has a trinitron tube.
MUZZLENUT