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Windows XP vs. Vista - Terrible Eye Strain

I have a Dell 30" monitor. Long ago, I was running it with XP. It was very hard on my eyes, I found that even after a couple minutes I was getting headaches. I upgraded to Vista, the problem went away. Now, I've been forced to install XP again for some applications and the problem is back. What could be causing this? It's driving me NUTS!

McKnife

What's the native resolution of that monitor? You have to use it along with the recommended refresh rate (mostly 60 Hz). If your panel is not connected via DVI, it might be necessary to use the "auto adjust" button on your monitor.

tmccrank

ASKER

2560 x 1600, 60Hz. That's also what I'm running. I've tried messing around with other refresh rates, but nothing. How would Vista be any easier on the eyes than XP? IT's connected via DVI, as that's the only input it has, there isn't an auto adjust on it.

McKnife

Vista has cleartype enabled by default. Is it turned on on xp? (Display properties- appearance - effects - second option from the top, set it to clear type.

tmccrank

ASKER

Tried it on, off, standard, none, etc.

McKnife

Yesss ....and? It has to show a difference - did you click ok ok and so on? Because it only applies this setting after choosing apply/ok twice.

tmccrank

ASKER

Yes, sorry. Applied every change. Cleartype looks best, but still strains my eyes. Is there anything different in the Vista GPL?

McKnife

I got no clue what could cause this. Vista uses a different system font but apart from that - no idea.

jennyleetee

I experienced a similar thing, but may I ask if the toolbar buttons look pixelated? If so, and I don't know if you've already done this, check that you have the advanced properties tab of the display settings to have normal DPI. If it has a custom or increased DPI it can make the buttons and text look pixelated and cause eye strain.

Fatal_Exception

What applicatiions were you having trouble running? Perhaps we can help you with this and get Viista back on that machine?

jennyleetee

Also, I had the same prob with DELL monitors. The techs there suggested put the resolution to the max, then, if you need to, alter the theme/appearance settings for comfort.

nobus

can it be xp and vista do not use the same brightness and contrast levels? try changing them too

tmccrank

ASKER

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Nothing looks pixelated on the screens, it almost looks as though the refresh rate isn't high enough, but it'll only let me set it to 60Hz. The DPI is set to Normal. The applications I had troubles with are all in house custom apps, I've already talked to the designer about running Vista, he outright said no.

I think it very well may be the brightness / contrast levels are contributing to it, but on the Dell 30" I cannot change the contrast.

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Fatal_Exception

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nobus

why not contact dell with your problem ? http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/contact_us?~ck=ln&c=us&l=en&lnki=0&s=gen

tmccrank

ASKER

You're right, screw the designer. I'm back on Vista and all is well. I'll run VMWare if the apps don't work. Thanks.

tmccrank

ASKER

Well I have decided to tell the designer to screw off (so to speak). I'm back to Vista, everything is well again. As for the apps that "won't work", VMWare can take care of it.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Fatal_Exception

Well done! VMWare is a powerful resource, and this is exactly the way to get around the problem!

And, just to add to the thread since we did not actually solve the problem: Many might have already seen this column of 99 Vista Tweaks, but if not, I found it interesting, and discovered some configurations that I had overlooked..

Beginners Guides: 99 Windows Vista Performance Tips and Tweaks

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2238&page=1

Thanks