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Windows XP Display Question

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11 replies

by galahad04

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When looking at text on your monitor using Windows XP Pro, is it considered normal for there to be a slight drop shadow effect for all text? (When I look closely at any text displayed on the monitor, the "drop shadow" I see causes the last letterof each word to partially repeat in a very light shade nearly identical to the color of the background.) I wasn't sure if this is considered normal behavior for all text, since the text for any icons on the desktop do have an intentional drop shadow effect.

Also, if the drop shadow effect is a normal setting part of Windows XP, is there a way for users to turn it off?

11 replies

by dklippert

Go to Display Properties. (The Control Panel or Right-click the Desktop and choose Properties)
Go to the Appearance tab. Click the Effects button.
Change from ClearType to Standard.

by galahad04

Hi there DKlippert: Thanks for the quick reply! The display was already set to Standard though, so it must be something else. Do you think it might be possible that because my monitor is a 1998 CRT that since it's older that might be an issue?Any additional tips would be deeply appreciated.

by thechas

Do you see any shadowing on graphics images?
Or, just on text?

If there is shadowing on graphics and lines in addition to text, your monitor may be out of focus.

Otherwise, you may have a font set that has a built in shadow.

Go to display,appearance, advanced, and change your font.

Chas

by hinrgman

are you using a flat screen or a monitor?

If you are using a monitor try another monitor. The monitor might be defective or dropped and the drop shadow you see is because of the circuits in the monitor or a misalignment of the coil on the neck ofthe CRT.

by gigelul

Try to use different resolutions, refresh rates and monitors (try standard\plug and play monitor) in display properties.
Also if your monitor have some controls about geometry, colors, vertical and horizontal frequencies check again these settings.
Or the monitor itself has problems.

by galahad04

I seem to have figured out what the problem was -- apparently the wires for the KVM device that I use to share my monitor between 2 Windows boxes are sensitive to being moved around. (When I wiggle the loose wires around on the KVM, it can affectthe display in several ways, one of them being the drop shadow.)

Thanks to everyone for their helpful comments.

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