Increasing Video Resolution Results in Larger Virtual Desktop

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

When you increase the screen area (or resolution), the actual screen resolution may not change, but the virtual desktop size increases.

CAUSE

You may experience this behavior when you are using a monitor and keyboard switchbox that does not support Display Data Channel (DDC) communication. If you have a DDC-capable monitor, the monitor attempts to tell the video adapter what resolutions and frequencies it is capable of displaying. If you plug the monitor into a monitor and keyboard switchbox that does not support the DDC line, this resolution and frequency information is not received by the video adapter. Some video chip sets that support the DDC standard (for example, S3) default to a virtual mode resolution with the absence of this resolution information. This is done to prevent resolution and frequency settings that are beyond the capabilities of the monitor and that may cause permanent damage to the monitor.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use any of the following methods:

• Use a monitor and keyboard switchbox that supports the DDC line.



• Change the monitor type in Display properties to a standard monitor type.



• Plug the monitor directly into the video adapter.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about DDC and monitor detection in Windows 2000, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q228167 Monitor Is Not Detected Properly by Windows 2000

Additional query words: switch box 640x480

Keywords : kbdisplay kbenv
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb