older monitor not working

HI
I have a couple older monitors, from 486 machines (about ten years old).
I tried connecting them to a pentium2 machine one at a time) with out much success. When the computer is booting the monitor works fine but when it gets to the desktop it becomes unviewable. Can anything be done or is it just get a more modern monitor?
Thanks
Lewis

 

Hi PeteC
Thanks for your reply, unviewable refers to the screen, it seems to be verticaly and horizontaly comprimised. The desktop is scrunched up into a 2" strip across the screen and the controls do not improve it.
Thanks again
Lewis

 

Lewis, I just went through the same situation. To make the monitor work, first boot into Safe Mode, this will load only the VGA drivers and lowest resolution. In safe mode right click on the desktop, Properties>Settings then set the Screen Area to 640 X 480 Pixels. Then click on the Advanced button and set the refresh rate to lowest setting or "optimal" whatever is available. OK you way out and reboot to normal Windows and see if picture comes up. You can then go back to Settings and adjust. As the monitors are old you probably won't be able to set the Screen area too high nor the refresh rate but they should work.

 

Hi JohnB
Thanks, I followed your instructions and it worked and my grandson is playing DX Ball on it. Great.
Thanks again
Lewis

 

Good news Lewis, glad that worked for you. Thanks for posting back with the results.