Running a game at a reduced resolution

[MadGamer]

Hey guys, I installed a game last night that ran on Windows XP. This game used to display and fit on a 15" monitor at 800 x 600. Although it runs on Vista (to my surprise) things like dialog boxes are half off the screen. I have my 19" LCD Monitor set to 1152 x 864. Is there anyway to make this game automatically default to 800 x 600 by adding something to the target line in the conpatability properties?

[Kymmy]

Very dependant on the game...some have a XXX.ini file that will have the initial settings for when the games starts..

So..what game is it

[MadGamer]

Theme Hospital surprisingly enough

Originally Posted by MadGamer

Hey guys, I installed a game last night that ran on Windows XP. This game used to display and fit on a 15" monitor at 800 x 600. Although it runs on Vista (to my surprise) things like dialog boxes are half off the screen. I have my 19" LCD Monitor set to 1152 x 864. Is there anyway to make this game automatically default to 800 x 600 by adding something to the target line in the conpatability properties?

my emphasis - isn't standard resolution for a 19" widescreen LCD 1400x900 ?

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by homealone

my emphasis - isn't standard resolution for a 19" widescreen LCD 1400x900 ?

Have to think of my eyesight, but thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by MadGamer

Have to think of my eyesight, but thanks for the tip.

you sometimes find the 'native' resolution can give a sharper image, especially with typefaces, then use DPI scaling to make text easier to read. (an option in the Control Panel 'ease of access' centre)

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by homealone

you sometimes find the 'native' resolution can give a sharper image, especially with typefaces, then use DPI scaling to make text easier to read. (an option in the Control Panel 'ease of access' centre)

Interesting i tried changing the res of my monitor yo a couple higher and it made the taksbar (inc start button) dissappaer

Originally Posted by MadGamer

Interesting i tried changing the res of my monitor yo a couple higher and it made the taksbar (inc start button) dissappaer

Sorry, this may be getting away from your problem with the game, however if the monitor is recognised as a standard 'plug & play' monitor & you are adjusting resolution via the graphics card settings, I'm surprised the display isn't re-sizing properly?

If you have the monitor connected with a VGA lead, rather than DVI, it may be you have adjusted the screen settings using the monitors manual controls & that will have to be re-done for a resolution change?

My thought was having the monitor at its native resolution would be the best place to start when trying to diagnose why your DOS based game wasn't displaying correctly.

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by homealone

Sorry, this may be getting away from your problem with the game, however if the monitor is recognised as a standard 'plug & play' monitor & you are adjusting resolution via the graphics card settings, I'm surprised the display isn't re-sizing properly?

If you have the monitor connected with a VGA lead, rather than DVI, it may be you have adjusted the screen settings using the monitors manual controls & that will have to be re-done for a resolution change?

My thought was having the monitor at its native resolution would be the best place to start when trying to diagnose why your DOS based game wasn't displaying correctly.

I have the monitor connected via DVI and have adjusted the resolution in the Windows Control Panel >>> Display Settings

[Graham M]

The monitor probably has an Auto-Adjust function (sometimes by pressing enter/select/similar) which will adjust the monitor for the new input resolution/refresh settings

[MadGamer]

Originally Posted by Graham M

The monitor probably has an Auto-Adjust function (sometimes by pressing enter/select/similar) which will adjust the monitor for the new input resolution/refresh settings

It does have an auto adjust. Didn't think of that