My monitor gives 16-bit color at 640x480, but will only offer 256 colors at 1024x768 -- and only displays 16 colors when I select that... In order to access resolution options, I have to go into Advanced Settings under Display Options, then click List All Modes... and choose one of the following: 1024 by 768, 256 colors, default refresh 640 by 480, 256 colors, default refresh 800 by 600, 256 colors, default refresh 640 by 480, high color (16 bit), default refresh 640 by 480, 16 colors, default refresh When on 640 by 480, high color, I am indeed given 16 bit color depth and low resolution -- at the cost of most applications extending beyond the edge of the screen. When I go to 1024 by 768, 256 colors (or any 256 color option, for that matter), however, I am given high resolution and only 16 colors. I've tried uninstalling the monitor and reinstalling the drivers with no success... How do I at least get the promised 256 colors in high resolution? Dell Dimension tower, 2.53 GHz processor, on-board video, Windows 7... if I've missed any important specs, let me know.

Hi,

· open Control Panel and select Display menu and open it

· Then select Settings Tab from where you can change resolution and Color quality as 32 bit /64 bit

· ]Or you can click on Advance where you can set DPI
If you want to switch in 256 color
Some games and other software programs require that your monitor be set to 256 colors, or they run better in 256 colors. Many of those programs will switch your monitor to 256 colors automatically when you start the program. For those that don

Restart the computer
2 While the computer is loading, press "F8" key on the keyboard right before the
computer reads the hard drive or press the "F8" key multiple times in 1 second
interval until the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" appears on the screen
3 Under "Windows Advanced Options Menu", using the arrow key on the
keyboard, select "Enable VGA Mode" then press Enter. Select "Windows 2000
or Windows XP" for your operating system.
4 Wait while the computer is loading and once the computer finishes loading,
5 Right Click anywhere on the blank area on the desktop then click "Properties"
6 Click on "Settings"
7 Click on "Advanced"
8 Click on "Adapter"
9 Click on "List All Modes..."
10 We recommend that for 15" LCD's select 1024x768, True Color (32 Bit) 60
Hz or 1024x768, High Color (16 Bit), 60 Hertz; For 17" & 18" LCD's select
1280x1024, True Color (32 Bit), 60 hertz, or 1280x1024, High Color (16 Bit)
60 Hertz, or
640x480, 256 colors, 60Hertz or 75Hertz
640x480, High Color (16 bit), 60Hertz or 75Hertz
640x480, True Color (32 bit), 60Hertz or 75Hertz
800x600, 256 Colors, 60Hertz or 75Hertz
800x600, High Color (16 bit), 60Hertz or 75Hertz
800x600, True Color (32 bit), 60Hertz or 75Hertz
1024x768, 256 colors, 60Hertz
1024x768, High Color (16 bit), 60Hertz
1024x768, True Color (32 bit), 60Hertz

11 Additional Valid Modes for use only with 17" & 18" LCD Monitor
1280x1024, 256 colors, 60Hertz
1280x1024, High Color (16 bit), 60Hertz
1280x1024, True Color (32 bit), 60Hertz

MONITOR RESOLUTION SETTING

12" RGB 512x348 13467
13" RGB 640x480 66Hz 1467
PORTRAIT 640x870 23467
VGA/SVGA 640x480/800x600 60 Hz 2367

15" TILT N/A 2467
16" COLOR 832x624 1367
19" COLOR 1024x768 1267

21" COLOR 1152x870 123467

2 PG MONO 1152x870 3467

NTSC N/A 12467
NTSC/PAL N/A 12367
HI-RES 12-14" up to 640x480 1467

MULTI SCAN 14" up to 832x624 146789

MULTI SCAN 16" up to 1024x768 14679

MULTI SCAN 21" up to 1280x1024 14678

When you cannot increase the screen resolution nor a higher color bit, this usually means the video driver has defaulted to standard VGA driver and 8 or 16 bit color.
Install or re-install the latest video driver for your model video card.
When the correct video driver is installed you will be able to change the screen resolution and 32 color bit.

256 colors is a quite old settings for a computer. All modern monitors/laptops come with 16 and 32bit colors, which is FAR more advanced than the old school 256 colors.

There's no driver required to support that setting as it's relatively useless and antiquated, unless you're in a situation where you need to run a program/game in 256 color mode, which you can alter by right clicking the icon, selecting properties, then the compatibility tab and checking the "Run in 256 colors " box.

Hope I was of assistance :)

Ok I think i found your problem. You don't need to install any drivers.

Switch your display to 256 colors To switch your display to 256 colors
Some games and other software programs require that your monitor be set to 256 colors, or they run better in 256 colors. Many of those programs will switch your monitor to 256 colors automatically when you start the program. For those that don't, follow the steps below if you want to switch the display temporarily while the game or program is running.

1. On your desktop or on the Start menu, right-click the game or other program that you want to run in 256 colors, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Compatibility tab.
3. Select the Run in 256 colors check box.

• The screen will revert to your default color quality when you close the program.
• Try switching to 256 colors if your software program shows the wrong color or the graphics redraw slowly.
• If your software program appears in a small window in the center of your screen, you can increase its size by changing your screen resolution temporarily. Follow the procedure above, but in step 3 select the Run in 640x480 screen resolution check box. Your screen resolution will revert to its previous resolution when you close the program.
• The Compatibility tab is available only for programs or games located on your computer's hard disk. It is not available if the program is stored on a floppy disk, compact disk, or a network.

Please rate this if it fix your issue

Right click the desktop, click "Properties", go to the "Settings" tab and under "Color quality" choose "Highest (32 bit)"

Yes the TV could have changed your screen settings (probably to 640X480 resolution).
Go to the Control Panel, then click on Display, then the Settings TAB, then change the Screen Resolution to at least 1024X768 pixels or higher to suit your requirements.
NOTE :- The higher the resolution the smaller Icons and text will be displayed also a lower color quality display ie the best is 32 bit color.

You are using a screen resolution that is not supported by your monitor. Start the computer in safe mode and open display properties. What ever resolution and color depth is (usually 640x480 and 16 colors), click OK button. Restart the computer. Go to display properties and increase the color depth to the maximum value. Set the resolution to 800x600. Restart the machine. Do you see double screens? No? Great! Now try increasing the resolution to the next level. (1024x768). When you click 'apply' you will be give 15 seconds to say it is OK. So if you see double screens, do not click anything. Display will revert to 800x600 resolution (and you will see only a single screen!)

Go to the control panel. Click on display. The display applet is your next stop. The display applet is your central location for all of your display settings, including resolution, refresh rate, driver info., and color depth. The display applet has 5 tabs: Thmes, Desktop, Screen Saver, Appearance, and Settings. The 5th tab is where you make adjustments that relate directly to your monitor and video card. Look at the Settings tab. At the bottom of the dialog box, you'll see 2 options. Screen Resolution and Color Quality. By moving the Screen Resolution slider, you can change the resolution. The most common resolutions are 640x480, 800x600, 1,024x768, and 1,280x1,024.Your system may have more or fewer resolution options.

The color quality is the number of colors displayed on the screen .You can change the screen resolution with a simple slider and adjust the color depth from 4-bit all the way up to 32-bit color.

Running a 32-bit color gives a nice, realistic tone to images, and many games insist on it.

Clicking the Advance button opens another dialog box with 4 or more tabs.

The monitor tab gives you details about the currently installed monitor and enables you to make changes to the driver and the refresh rate.

After you make your changes to your monitor and it still is not working properly, it must be your video card which is not seated.
In layman term, your video card is not plugged in firmly in the slot!!