A+: Using Graphics Acceleration Settings to Troubleshoot

To determine the best setting to use for display problems, try this procedure:

Step 1. Start the computer.

Step 2. Open the Troubleshooting or Performance dialog box as described in the previous section.

Step 3. Slide the acceleration pointer one notch to the left from its current position.

Step 4. Click Apply, OK, and then OK again to close the Display Properties dialog box.

Step 5. Use your normal software and perform typical tasks.

If the computer now performs acceptably (no more crashes), continue to use this setting until you can obtain and install updated drivers. If the computer continues to have problems, repeat Steps 2–5 and move the pointer one step to the left each time until the problems go away or until you can install updated drivers.

Setting: All the way right
Effect: Full acceleration
Long-term solution: None needed

Disable write combiing, a display speedup method, for stability when using any setting but all the way right. Re-enable write combining after installing update drives, then retry.

Setting: Three clicks to the right
Effect: Disable cursor, drawing acceleration
Long-term solution: Update display drivers

Setting: Two clicks to the right
Effect: Disable DirectX, DirectDraw, Direct 3D acceleration (mostly for 3D games)
Long-term solution:  Update DirectX drivers.

Setting: One click to the right
Effect: Disabled all but basic acceleration
Long-term solution:  Update display, DirectX and Mouse drivers.

Setting: Leftmost
Effect: No acceleration, use when system won't start except in Safe or VGA Mode
Long-term solution: Update display, DirectX and Mouse drivers.