"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Windows XP and the Display - Desktop

List All Available Video Card Modes

SUMMARY: Quickly list all display modes, including resolution, color depth, and refresh rate, supported by your video card.

If you are troubleshooting display issues in Windows XP, you may want to quickly display which display modes (screen resolution, color depth, and refresh rate) are supported by your video card. With this list you can determine if expected modes are not supported by Windows, possibly resulting in searching for an updated driver.

1. Right-click an empty area of your Desktop and choose "Properties".

2. When the "Display Properties" multi-tabbed dialog box appears, click the "Settings" tab.

3. Click the "Advanced" button.

4. When the video card dialog box appears, click the "Adapter" tab.

5. Click the "List All Modes" button. A "List All Modes" dialog box will appear.

This lists the video modes supported by your graphics card, NOT necessarily the modes supported by your monitor or output device! Selecting a display mode not supported by your monitor or output device MAY either blank the screen or cause actual damage, possibly permanent!

All disclaimers apply.

Sample "List All Modes" dialog box.

6. You can click "Cancel" on the dialog boxes to close them. Or, click on a particular mode you wish to use, then "OK" on the dialog boxes to change to the desired display mode.