Hiya folks

I've just acquired a computer from a mate, plugged it in and wired it to the net. The first thing I noticed is that the picture is a bit fuzzy. I looked at the settings and discovered that it can only get 16 colours. It's running Windows ME. Pentium III with a 20GB HDD.

I changed the video card in case that was the problem, it's not that, the other one is doing the same thing. I even swapped monitors around, but the same thing occurs.

How can I get 256 colours and a nice clear screen?

Buffy

are the correct drivers for the graphics card installed, 16 colours is what you get if it's running the default vga graphics drivers or it's running in safemode.

Update the drivers.

OK, next question is 'how do i find out what type of graphic card I have' and how do I update the drivers?

Right click on My Computer, select Properties, select the Hardware tab, click Device Manager. It's in there under Display Adapters, or something like that.

Once you've found the card type make a note of it and check the manufacturers website for updated drivers or Google for some. Download them, save them somewhere and then either;

a) If the file you download is a .exe file usually running this file updates your drivers for you.

b) If you download the actual drivers then right click on the display adapter in Device Manager and select the Driver tab, click Update Driver at the bottom and check only the Specify A Location tab then click next, browse to the folder you saved the driver in and select it. Click OK\Next until it's sorted itself out.

Generally, there are instructions on the manufacturers sir=tes for downloading the drivers and updating them.

I think I've downloaded the actual drivers now (took a long, long time!). Where do I find this device manager? I seem to be going round in circles!

right click on my computer, goto properties. Device manager opens up.

Navigate down the tree to graphics cards, open it and double click the card that shows in there.

Goto the driver tab, tell it to update drivers. Don't let it search, say you will choose and then say you have a disk, navigate to the drivers you downloaded. Select the right version of the card from the list (if it gives you a choice). Click ok until it's all done and reboots.

Unless the drivers downloaded as an exe, in which case just run it and follow the instructions.

Found Device Manager, followed your suggested route, but it wouldnt' recognise the driver. It kept saying I have the best driver in place at the moment and the driver I've downloaded says nothing about the system. Back to square one. I've been doing this ALL evening. Frustrated.

It's a .icm file. Is that a driver?

Computers, they're ****! I've spent hours, days even, doing this sort of endless insanity inducing procedure for all sorts of things. It usually involves lots of Googling and continual repetition.

.ICM files are something to do with monitors and graphics, I'm not exactly sure what but I think you're in the right area. Usually, driver files are .DLL files and the files you look for when doing the driver update are .INF files.

I've downloaded the same driver twice from locations now. Both times I've pointed the computer to load up the new driver but it says that the one that's already installed is the best. I'm reading this page at the moment through a really gravelly screen, nothing is clear. I can only get 16 colours and cannot get the computer to install 256 colours. Someone somewhere please advise. It's a 770M monitor.

Whats the make and model of the graphic card?

It just keeps telling me it's a standard VGA. I'm not sure how to find out more.....

Everest home edition from Lavalys (www.lavalys.com) will list in detail all the devices on your computer and in most cases, give you a link to the correct driver downloads. Worth a try, sorted me out before.

Lurch, go to the top of the class for that fine recommendation! It sorted it straight away. It was the graphics card after all and I sorted it! I now have a perfect screen!!!

Oh happy me! Thank yoooooo!!!

Thread closed.

Excellent stuff, if only that thought had crossed my mind when I was writing the first post!

Originally posted by Classic Rock
I think I've downloaded the actual drivers now (took a long, long time!). Where do I find this device manager? I seem to be going round in circles! As your PC starts, before the POST, before Windows, the blac screen show the make and model of your graphics card.
Basically, if it's an Nvidia, just go to their side (nvidia.com), get the exe file for your card, execute it, and it all does the stuff itself.
If you have anything else, bang your fingers with a ruler.