Getting the best display on your monitor depends on what kind you have. CRT, LCD, and laptop monitors all behave differently and usually require different resolution settings. For example, widescreens are dimensionally longer horizontally than CRT screens. Although laptops have widescreens, the parts typically are smaller than most widescreen LCDs designed to connect separately to a hard drive operating system. Before you try any other method to adjust sharpness, set the recommended settings for your monitor's display size.
Step 1
Click the "Start" button, click "Control Panel" and then click "Adjust screen resolution" under "Appearance and Personalization."
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Step 2
Click the "Resolution" drop-down list and then click the resolution that is "(recommended)" to select it. Click "OK." If the sharpness on your computer display is still not fixed, go to the next step.
Step 3
Repeat steps 1 and 2 and then click the "Resolution" drop-down list. If you have a CRT monitor, go to the next step; if yours is an LCD widescreen monitor, go to step 5; if you have a laptop, go to step 6.
Step 4
Select the CRT monitor that matches the size of the monitor connected to your computer. Select "1280 x 1024" if you have a 17- to 19-inch CRT monitor; select "1600 x 1200" if you have a 20-inch or larger CRT monitor. Click "OK."
Step 5
Select "1280 x 1024" if your widescreen LCD monitor has a 19-inch standard ratio; select "1600 x 1200" if it has a 20-inch standard ratio. Select "1680 x 1050" if it is a widescreen 20 to 22 inch. For a 24-inch or larger LCD, select "1920 x 1200." Click "OK."
Step 6
Select "1680 x 1050" if you have a 17-inch-wide laptop screen and then click "OK."
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