MBA screen in Windows XP sometimes blurry sometimes not...

[Philflow]

I work a lot in Windows XP SP3 on my Air.

Now I've noticed that sometimes my screen displays black letters a bit blurry, not so sharp. at other times it is completely sharp.

This does not change with changing brightness.

It does change:
-at night. it looks better
-it got better after installing Inputremapper. Unfortunately that app is a bit buggy in my experience. It also installs 4 drivers that are always running.
-it changes back and forth after connecting the Air to my HDTV.

So I am guessing this has something to do with the light sensors. Correct?

Where are these sensors located?
And is there another way to change the setting in XP?

[bentoms]

If it is only AFTER unplugging/replugging the HD Screen this will probably be with the Air chaging the resolution to match the screens.

If this is all the time, could be something to do with font smoothing..

Right click 'My Computer' > Properties > Performance > Visual Effects & tick/untick the "Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts" & see if that makes any difference.

[Philflow]

If it is only AFTER unplugging/replugging the HD Screen this will probably be with the Air chaging the resolution to match the screens.
No resolution is 1280*800 all the time.

By the fact it always looks better at night, I expect the light sensors to play some part in this.


Right click 'My Computer' > Properties > Performance > Visual Effects & tick/untick the "Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts" & see if that makes any difference.
Yes it does get a little better. I prefer without. Thanks for the tip.

This one shows it even better: http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ClearType/tuner/tune.aspx (needs to be run in IE)

But still, I know my screen can look better than it does now.

[bentoms]

Well glad it's getting better..

I'm out of ideas now so maybe someone else can help sorry.

[Philflow]

I've got it back to looking sharp now.

So I did the tweak by bentoms, then I switched of cleartype on the MS site, and then I rebooted.

Looks much better now :)

[ayeying]

Its actually a little different. The drivers for the MBA windows side creates a blurry image until reboot. Goto intel.com and install the newest driver for GM965 chipset. That'll fix the real blurry image.

[mothman]

Good call on the Intel GM965 driver. I had the same problem with Windows XP blurred images. Mine would go blurry after returning from sleep and would correct upon re-boot.I went to Intel and updated the driver. So i can confirm that it fixes the problem !

[Philflow]

Its actually a little different. The drivers for the MBA windows side creates a blurry image until reboot. Goto intel.com and install the newest driver for GM965 chipset. That'll fix the real blurry image.
Yep. Great tip!

Did you also find a driver for the touchpad (for tapping and rightclick)?

[ayeying]

Yep. Great tip!

Did you also find a driver for the touchpad (for tapping and rightclick)?

Afraid not. The problem with this style of clicking is that I get used to it.. then I do the same in OSX. lol