How do I get my monitor to display 256 colors?

Question

I'm stuck in 16 colors. When I try to change to 256 or 16 bit all I get is a black screen when I restart. Also I don`t know what brand my video card is.

Answer

This question was answered on September 22, 1999. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

Your video card possibly might not support 256 color or the driver for the video card might be damaged. To start with to find out what video card you have :

Double click on my computer

double click on control panel

double click on system

double click on device manager

double click on display adapter

then your video card will be listed

click and highlight the video card

then click properties

Here you will find the type of video card and also if you click on driver, you will have the chance to update the video card driver at this poit. You can go ahead and use the wizard to repair your driver if it is damaged. Windows 98 will ask ,"Do you want to search for a better driver?" The answer is yes, and click next. Then in the next screen click Microsoft Windows Update, then Windows 98 will go out over the internet looking for a better driver than the one you currently are using, follow the wizard through until it is finished. Then restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Hopefully this will repair a damaged video card driver if that is your problem. At the least you will now have the name of your video card(which may be onboard video meaning that there is no distinct video card only video is enable through the motherboard) to contact the manufacturer.

Author

Posted by Ken of Data Doctors on September 22, 1999