Windows 7's display configuration settings have gone through some of the biggest transformations from previous editions, including Windows Vista. And, the changes are more than skin-deep. With improved support for portrait displays, better ways to detect and manage multiple monitors, easy projector connections, and better theme controls, Windows 7 makes it easier than ever before to make the visual components of Windows work the way you want them to.

Accessing Display Settings

Windows 7 provides a variety of ways to access display settings. Right-click an empty location on the desktop to select from Screen Resolution, Gadgets, and Personalize menus:

From the Control Panel, you can access the Personalization category (shown here) and the Hardware and Sound category. Both categories include links to Display settings, and, on laptop computers, the Hardware and Sound category also includes a link to the Windows Mobility Center, which offers laptop-oriented display options.

This article focuses on the Screen Resolution and Personalization menus. A future article in this series will discuss Gadgets and other desktop features.

Using the New Screen Resolution Dialog

The new Screen Resolution dialog in Windows 7 is the nerve center for much more than adjusting screen resolution:

This dialog, as in previous versions of Windows, is also used to identify and configure multiple displays. However, it also provides new features and functionality:

• Click Detect to detect a newly-installed display. This feature helps overcome one of the biggest problems with multiple display use – getting Windows to find the additional display(s).
• Open the Orientation menu to switch between portrait and landscape modes, or to flip the display "upside down" to enable the display to be hung at different angles.
• Click Make Text or Other Items Larger or Smaller to open the Appearance and Personalization Display text size selection dialog.

Selecting the Optimal Resolution for Your Display

According to a study of Windows Feedback Program data performed by the Engineering Windows 7 blog last fall , 55% of users with default monitor displays of 1280x1024 or higher did not use their displays' default resolution, but used a lower resolution. What happens if you don't use your LCD display's default (aka 'native' or 'recommended')  resolution? Some of the problems cited by the Engineering Windows 7 blog include:

•  Blurry text resulting in eye fatigue
•  Reduced resolutions often use non-native aspect ratios, causing distorted text and graphics
•  Inability to tune LCD displays with ClearType
•  Inability to view 720p or higher HD video signals

Fortunately, it's easier than ever to choose the best resolution for your display in Windows 7. Select Screen Resolution or Adjust Screen Resolution to open the Change the Appearance of Your Display dialog shown in the previous figure. To change screen resolution, open the Resolution menu. The current setting is listed along with a pointer adjustment, along with the recommended setting:

Note that the recommended setting might not necessarily be the display's maximum setting. In this example, I needed to increase the display's resolution from 1280x768 to 1440x900. If you need to change your resolution, select the correct resolution, click Apply, then OK. Click Keep Changes on the confirming dialog that appears to save the new resolution setting. Here's the dialog after increasing the resolution as recommended: