Monitor Drivers

Monitor drivers are the instrument used by a computer monitor to display programs and various graphics properly. The majority of monitors and operating systems use compatible, default, or PnP monitor drivers. Monitors usually have their own specific set of drivers for their specific set of wires. Normally, the monitor driver is included on an installation disc when purchasing a computer or a new monitor, but should this not be the case, the manufacturer of the monitor should offer the drivers for free download on their web page.

Using standard monitor drivers while running Macintosh should allow the monitor to work properly without any actual issues. This is also the case while running Windows. For the latter, it is possible to let Windows automatically detect the monitor and install it as such. Using default drivers for a monitor, though it does not cause actual problems, can result in the inability to access more advanced features as offered by the manufacturer. Additionally, the resolution will not reach the required level of the monitor. For example, if the monitor looks best at 1280×800, using generic drivers will likely not allow it to reach past 1024×768. Therefore, manufacturer drivers are best mostly for aesthetic purposes.

On an additional note, Linux users have a rather wide variety of drivers similar to each other. As such, choosing one similar and not precisely the one for the monitor in question should also not cause any issues.

There are a few common problems with drivers that users may experience from time to time. Sometimes when installing a new monitor, it still may not work properly. When this is the case, a new driver is likely needed. This can occur even if the monitor hasn’t been recently installed and has been in use for awhile. Drivers need to update every once in awhile and when they do, they must be compatible with the user’s current version of their operating system. Simply check for updates using the operating system’s automatic update.

Sometimes, in Windows, text may appear blurry after installing a new monitor. This occurs because Windows uses a technology called ClearType to create text that is more readable, but this sometimes conflicts with monitors and actually make them blurry. Therefore, for some monitors, it would be best to turn off ClearType or adjust it.

Other than that, with the exception of more uncommon problems and other questions that arise from more advanced desires and implementations of monitors, users should be able to use their monitors with no problems at all. To reiterate the most common problem, should a monitor not properly display the correct resolution, this is likely due to incorrect, missing, or corrupt drivers. Search the manufacturer’s web page for the correct drivers for your monitor’s specific model number and operating system and this should resolve this common problem.