KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q216166: How to Modify the Video Refresh Frequency in the Registry

Article: Q216166
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdisplay kbenv
Last Modified: 11-JUN-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP1, 4.0 SP2, 4.0 SP3, 4.0 SP4 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY
=======

Some video drivers for Windows NT may not support the Refresh Frequency box
feature on the Settings tab in the Display Properties dialog box. However, you
can control this setting using a Windows NT registry value.

MORE INFORMATION
================

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor
incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To change the monitor refresh rate using a registry value:

1. Click Start, click Run, type "regedt32" (without the quotation marks), and
  then click OK.

2. On the Windows menu, click "HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE on Local Machine."

3. Double-click the

  System\CurrentControlSet\HardwareProfiles\Current\System\CurrentControlSet\Services

  folder. Double-click the folder for your video driver (for example, if you
  have a video display adapter that is based on the S3 chip set, double-click
  the S3 folder), and then click the Device0 folder.

4. If there is no DefaultSettings.Vrefresh value, go to step 5. If there is an
  existing DefaultSettings.Vrefresh value, double-click the value and then type
  a numerical setting (from the table below) that is supported by your monitor
  in the Data box, and then click OK. Go to step 7.

5. If the value does not exist, click Add Value on the Edit menu, type
  "DefaultSettings.Vrefresh" (without the quotation marks), click REG_DWORD in
  the Data Type box, and then click OK.

6. Type "3c" (without the quotation marks) in the Data box, click Hex, and then
  click OK.

7. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

NOTE: The refresh frequency must be specified in hexadecimal. Refer to the table
below for common monitor refresh rates and their equivalent hexadecimal values.

Refresh Rate (in MHz)

+-----------------------+
| Decimal | Hexadecimal | 
+-----------------------+
| 50      | 32          | 
+-----------------------+
| 55      | 37          | 
+-----------------------+
| 60      | 3c          | 
+-----------------------+
| 65      | 41          | 
+-----------------------+
| 70      | 46          | 
+-----------------------+
| 75      | 4b          | 
+-----------------------+
| 80      | 50          | 
+-----------------------+
| 85      | 55          | 
+-----------------------+

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdisplay kbenv 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTW400sp3 kbWinNTW400sp2 kbWinNTW400sp1 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400sp3 kbWinNTS400sp2 kbWinNTS400sp1 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP1,4.0 SP2,4.0 SP3,4.0 SP4
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.