Anyone know of a hack to force monitor resolution and refresh rate to stick after cloning an image?

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

Back in the XP days, I could capture an image at, say, 11024x768 at
60Hz, dump it to another machine whose monitor supports that
resolution and it will come up at 1024x768 @ 60Hz. Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

Anyone know of a hack (registry or otherwise) that prevents Win 7 from
wanting to choose the highest resolution and refresh rate for you
after an image dump?

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Back in the XP days, I could capture an image at, say, 11024x768 at
60Hz, dump it to another machine whose monitor supports that
resolution and it will come up at 1024x768 @ 60Hz. Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

Anyone know of a hack (registry or otherwise) that prevents Win 7 from
wanting to choose the highest resolution and refresh rate for you
after an image dump?

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

I don't know how to prevent it, I use a utility to force the resolution
to what I want it to be and have it triggered by a runonce when the
image is booted for the first time.

The utility I use was written in-house but there are several utilities
out there that can do it - NirCmd for one
<http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html>

 

[Wolf K]

Back in the XP days, I could capture an image at, say, 11024x768 at
60Hz, dump it to another machine whose monitor supports that
resolution and it will come up at 1024x768 @ 60Hz. Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

Anyone know of a hack (registry or otherwise) that prevents Win 7 from
wanting to choose the highest resolution and refresh rate for you
after an image dump?

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

a) Refresh rate has nothing to do with the image. It's a monitor
specification. Video cards are built to provide a variety of refresh
rates to match different monitors. If you try to change the refresh
rate, you will certainly get weird artefacts in the image, and you may
damage your monitor.

b) Resolution is another monitor specification, and you should run the
monitor at its native resolution. On LCD/LED monitors, that happens to
be a physical spec. If you change it, the video card will "dither" the
image, which will result in fuzziness.

c) Display size is set by the image viewing software, not the OS. The
default is "fit to window if larger than window", as you may notice if
you use the window controls to shrink/expand the display window and/or
the image. Fit-to-window also results in fuzziness, some display
software can be set to "display original size". If you use Windows built
in image viewer, you're stuck with limited controls and options.

HTH

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

a) Refresh rate has nothing to do with the image. It's a monitor
specification. Video cards are built to provide a variety of refresh
rates to match different monitors. If you try to change the refresh
rate, you will certainly get weird artefacts in the image, and you may
damage your monitor.

We are talking about two different types of image. This is a system /
OS / drive image that you deploy / clone to a new computer so that each
one is identical, not a graphical image as in gif, etc.

b) Resolution is another monitor specification, and you should run the
monitor at its native resolution. On LCD/LED monitors, that happens to
be a physical spec. If you change it, the video card will "dither" the
image, which will result in fuzziness.

True, but many times PCs are deployed with built-for-purpose software
that works best at a particular resolution, regardless of the native
resolution of the display. Modern LCD displays do a remarkably good
job of handling non-native resolutions with minimal blurring /
fuzziness so this really isn't an issue.

c) Display size is set by the image viewing software, not the OS. The
default is "fit to window if larger than window", as you may notice if
you use the window controls to shrink/expand the display window and/or
the image. Fit-to-window also results in fuzziness, some display
software can be set to "display original size". If you use Windows built
in image viewer, you're stuck with limited controls and options.

Again, different kind of image.

--
Zaphod

Adventurer, ex-hippie, good-timer (crook? quite possibly),
manic self-publicist, terrible bad at personal relationships,
often thought to be completely out to lunch.

 

[Wolf K]

On 13/09/2012 1:14 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
[...]

Again, different kind of image.

I eventually figured that out. ;-)

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

On 13/09/2012 1:14 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
[...]

Again, different kind of image.

I eventually figured that out. ;-)

I didn't.

Well, I did when I read Zaphod's post, but that hardly counts as my
figuring it out.

Thanks, ZB. My head has now stopped spinning.

 

[Robert Sudbury]

Back in the XP days, I could capture an image at, say, 11024x768 at
60Hz, dump it to another machine whose monitor supports that
resolution and it will come up at 1024x768 @ 60Hz. Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

Anyone know of a hack (registry or otherwise) that prevents Win 7 from
wanting to choose the highest resolution and refresh rate for you
after an image dump?

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

The "Windows System Image Manager (WSIM)" which is a part of the
"Windows Automated Installation Kit" <
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=5753

& < http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5188 >

can be used to build up a SysPrep answer file (*.xml).

WSIM is free and nightmarish, but it gives you granular control over
every step of the processes of preparing an OS with Sysprep for
duplication and how it should look and behave once it comes out of Sysprep.

 

[Wolf K]

On 13/09/2012 9:41 PM, Robert Sudbury wrote:
[...]

Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

[...]

OK, I understand what you're really on about now, and I have a serious
question: since W7 automatically selects the native resolution and
refresh rate of the monitor, why would you want to change them?

 

[Gene Wirchenko]

On 13/09/2012 9:41 PM, Robert Sudbury wrote:
[...]

Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

[...]

OK, I understand what you're really on about now, and I have a serious
question: since W7 automatically selects the native resolution and
refresh rate of the monitor, why would you want to change them?

For me, I have two systems using the one monitor by KVM. I
prefer that they be at the same resolution. My XP system is at what
it is because I like it and it is also standard for an app I maintain.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko

 

[Char Jackson]

On 13/09/2012 9:41 PM, Robert Sudbury wrote:
[...]

Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

[...]

OK, I understand what you're really on about now, and I have a serious
question: since W7 automatically selects the native resolution and
refresh rate of the monitor, why would you want to change them?

For me, I have two systems using the one monitor by KVM. I
prefer that they be at the same resolution. My XP system is at what
it is because I like it and it is also standard for an app I maintain.

The way I see it, your single monitor has a single native resolution
and both systems should be running at THAT resolution, but different
strokes for different folks.

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

On 13/09/2012 1:14 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
[...]

Again, different kind of image.

I eventually figured that out. ;-)

See, there's hope for you yet! ;-)

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:52:30 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch" <not-
(e-mail address removed)> wrote in article <18zedbouilia
[email protected]>...

On 13/09/2012 1:14 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
[...]

Again, different kind of image.

I eventually figured that out. ;-)

I didn't.

Well, I did when I read Zaphod's post, but that hardly counts as my
figuring it out.

Thanks, ZB. My head has now stopped spinning.

YW. It usually takes a couple of solid whacks up side my head with a
2x4 to stop mine spinning. Darkness, blessed darkness...

 

[BillW50]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:52:30 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"<not-
(e-mail address removed)> wrote in article<18zedbouilia
[email protected]>...

On 13/09/2012 1:14 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
[...]
Again, different kind of image.

I eventually figured that out. ;-)

I didn't.

Well, I did when I read Zaphod's post, but that hardly counts as my
figuring it out.

Thanks, ZB. My head has now stopped spinning.

YW. It usually takes a couple of solid whacks up side my head with a
2x4 to stop mine spinning. Darkness, blessed darkness...

Oh that explains a lot!

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

On 13/09/2012 9:41 PM, Robert Sudbury wrote:
[...]
Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!
[...]

OK, I understand what you're really on about now, and I have a serious
question: since W7 automatically selects the native resolution and
refresh rate of the monitor, why would you want to change them?

For me, I have two systems using the one monitor by KVM. I
prefer that they be at the same resolution. My XP system is at what
it is because I like it and it is also standard for an app I maintain.

The way I see it, your single monitor has a single native resolution
and both systems should be running at THAT resolution, but different
strokes for different folks.

In my case it has more to do with an issue outside of my control:
Poorly coded software that doesn't behave properly at anything other
than the "one true resolution" for which it was written. So, I either
develop and deploy images at that resolution or I get unhappy users,
field trainers, and technical support staff. Oh, and unhappy bosses.
Those are the worst :/

--
Zaphod

Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's
something big and sinister going on in the world.
Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the
universe gets that.

 

[Wolf K]

On 13/09/2012 1:14 PM, Zaphod Beeblebrox wrote:
[...]

Again, different kind of image.

I eventually figured that out. ;-)

See, there's hope for you yet! ;-)

Well, it better work a little faster, I'm past the three-score-and-ten
already!

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

I don't know how to prevent it, I use a utility to force the resolution
to what I want it to be and have it triggered by a runonce when the
image is booted for the first time.

The utility I use was written in-house but there are several utilities
out there that can do it - NirCmd for one
<http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html>

That's a good idea. I guess I could script it or something a la
RunOnce. What command do you give it? I've never used NirCmd but I do
use the other tools very regularly.

One good hack I found after some digging was to edit the .inf driver
for the monitor and edit out the modes you don't want (i.e., 70Hz, 72,
Hz, 75Hz, etc.). What I am experiencing is the fuzziness that most
LCDs do on non-native resolution with refresh rate above 60Hz. It
doesn't look bad per se but it just does have the crispness and
sharpness of native res or running non-native @ 60Hz. I've never seen
an LCD look good at anything above 60Hz at my shop. I'll keep the Nir
tool in mind. That site has the best tools for sure. Cheers!

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

The "Windows System Image Manager (WSIM)" which is a part of the
"Windows Automated Installation Kit" <
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=5753
can be used to build up a SysPrep answer file (*.xml).

WSIM is free and nightmarish, but it gives you granular control over
every step of the processes of preparing an OS with Sysprep for
duplication and how it should look and behave once it comes out of Sysprep.

Yep, it is nightmareish which is why I don't use it. As I told Zaphod,
I saw a good hack that I'm going to investigate where you just edit
the monitor .inf file and remove the refresh rates above 60Hz. If it
works, it's exactly what I need. Thanks for the suggestion though!

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

[...]

Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!

[...]

OK, I understand what you're really on about now, and I have a serious
question: since W7 automatically selects the native resolution and
refresh rate of the monitor, why would you want to change them?

Because in my environment (university), some equipment doesn't
function right at 1920x1080p resolution (i.e., overhead display
projectors, etc.) and they prefer around 1280x1024. Additionally, in a
lab environment, there are folks with bad eyesight or other visual
impairment and even at native res and refresh rate, the desktop icons
are TINY. Too tiny. Increasing icon / font size isn't the answer btw.
So, bumping res down a notch or two to get a "good fit" for monitor
res is usually what I do but the refresh rate wants to stick at 75 or
85Hz. Which is great if it is a CRT but it sucks on ANY LCD, font
aren't as crisp and sharp. 60Hz is always the way to go for the
sharpest and clearest experience at any resolution for LCDs in my
experience. But, someone suggested I just hack the monitor driver .inf
and remove the refresh rates I don't want for available resolutions
and leave the 60Hz one. If it works, it's exactly what I need.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

On 13/09/2012 9:41 PM, Robert Sudbury wrote:
[...]
Since Windows 7
came out, whenever I capture and dump an image to a new machine, Win 7
will forcibly want to use the highest resolution and the highest
refresh rate supported by the new monitor. This is one of the most
annoying behaviors of Win 7!
[...]

OK, I understand what you're really on about now, and I have a serious
question: since W7 automatically selects the native resolution and
refresh rate of the monitor, why would you want to change them?

For me, I have two systems using the one monitor by KVM. I
prefer that they be at the same resolution. My XP system is at what
it is because I like it and it is also standard for an app I maintain.

The way I see it, your single monitor has a single native resolution
and both systems should be running at THAT resolution, but different
strokes for different folks. [/QUOTE]

Maybe that works for a single end user, but in a environment where
people have visual impairments and such, that's a fail. It's also a
fail when an overhead project throws a 12-15' image and someone is 40'
feet away and can't see the tiny fonts and text. Shoving "Native
Resolution" down someone's throat that way is disingenuous at best.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[Gene Wirchenko]

[snip]

For me, I have two systems using the one monitor by KVM. I
prefer that they be at the same resolution. My XP system is at what
it is because I like it and it is also standard for an app I maintain.

The way I see it, your single monitor has a single native resolution
and both systems should be running at THAT resolution, but different
strokes for different folks.

Well, older eyes, too. I would rather use a lower resolution and
be comfortable using it even if it shows less than to be squinting at
a higher resolution. A YMMV issue to be sure.

In related news, my taskbar is at the top.

Sincerely,

Gene Wirchenko