# Changing resolution in Windows XP **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026 "2008-01-18T15:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/1 "2008-01-18T15:57:35Z")
I am connecting my laptop to my TV for watching streaming netflix movies. I however have a problem. My TV is 1366 by 768. I cannot get the laptop to output this resolution. It can only do 4 by 3 resolutions so the one I have been using is 1024 by 768. While this works it is not ideal. When I change the resolution on the laptop by right clicking a blank part of the screen choosing properties and then settings the screen resolutions offered don’t include any wide screen formats. Is there a way to choose a resolution other than what is offered on the display properties window? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/2 "2008-01-18T16:03:41Z")
How are you connecting the computer to the TV? ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/3 "2008-01-18T16:06:07Z")
How is the TV connected to the laptop? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/4 "2008-01-18T16:09:50Z")
The TV has a VGA input connector. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/5 "2008-01-18T16:14:08Z")
The laptop should detect it as a monitor then - when you go into the advanced display properties, is it listed as a second display? Is it enabled? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/6 "2008-01-18T16:23:39Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] The laptop should detect it as a monitor then - when you go into the advanced display properties, is it listed as a second display? Is it enabled? [/QUOTE] I have tried a few different ways. I can have the TV and laptop screen both have the same picture. I can have the TV as an extended part of the screen so I have two monitors. But in all cases I can only choose 4 by 3 resolutions. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/7 "2008-01-18T16:35:20Z")
Sounds like a limitation of you video card to me. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/8 "2008-01-18T16:43:07Z")
Driver update perhaps? A newer version of your video display driver may accommodate the other resolutions you require. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/9 "2008-01-18T16:46:49Z")
[PowerStrip](http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm) is a popular utility for getting video cards to run particular resolutions. You might not have to buy it, I was able to run the trial version at work to set my ATI onboard video to the 1440x900 that my LCD monitor requires, then PowerStrip is no longer needed. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/10 "2008-01-18T17:26:11Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] [PowerStrip](http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm) is a popular utility for getting video cards to run particular resolutions. You might not have to buy it, I was able to run the trial version at work to set my ATI onboard video to the 1440x900 that my LCD monitor requires, then PowerStrip is no longer needed. [/QUOTE] I am at work now but I will give this a shot tonight and let you guys know. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/11 "2008-01-18T17:51:11Z")
Does your laptop offer you 1280x720? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/12 "2008-01-18T18:05:22Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Does your laptop offer you 1280x720? [/QUOTE] It does not show up on the slider. resolutions that show up: 2048 by 1536 1600 by 1200 This is what I use at work when the laptop is in the docking station and I have an external monitor. 1400 by 1050 This is the native laptop screen resolution. 1280 by 1024 1024 by 768 This is what is sort of working with the TV. The issue is I have the unused space to the left and right. 800 by 600 ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/13 "2008-01-19T03:32:06Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] [PowerStrip](http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm) is a popular utility for getting video cards to run particular resolutions. You might not have to buy it, I was able to run the trial version at work to set my ATI onboard video to the 1440x900 that my LCD monitor requires, then PowerStrip is no longer needed. [/QUOTE] This worked great. It allowed me to add the 1360 by 768 resolution to the slider bar in the display properties. Thanks a lot for the link. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-resolution-in-windows-xp/434026/14 "2008-01-19T16:38:37Z")
No problem, glad it worked for you too.