How to Change Screen Resolution and Display Colors Quality in Safe Mode of Windows

Whenever there is any system problem, especially the dread BSoD (Blue Screen of Death), most users first reaction is probably to go into Safe Mode to try to troubleshoot Windows. Safe Mode loads and starts just basis files and drivers necessary to run Windows.

Most drivers, including manufacturer’s driver to display adapter (graphic processing unit or accelerator GPU) is not been loaded. Thus, by default, Safe Mode normally has a screen resolution of just 800×600, causing a lot of components cannot be displayed and shown completely on screen, including the Start Menu and desktop icons, which has been realigned.

The worst part is that it seems like there is no way to change the any display settings such as desktop resolution and color quality at all. When user goes to Display Properties (in Windows XP) or Display Settings (in Windows Vista under Personalization), and try to change the screen resolution to higher resolution such as 1600×1200 or 1280×800 which is commonly used as native resolution in today’s modern LCD display panels, the Windows in Safe Mode simply does not respond to the OK or Apply button, and does not apply the change made.

Here’s a trick to change the screen resolution and color quality display settings in Safe Mode of Windows, with any registry hack or third party program.

Go to Display Properties (Windows XP) or Display Settings (Windows Vista) by right click on empty blank space on Desktop, then select Properties (Windows XP) or Personalize (Windows Vista).

Then change the resolution by sliding the Low to High slider bar. Do not press “OK” or “Apply” at this time. Instead, click on Advanced Settings, and then click OK. Windows in Safe Mode will change the screen resolution according to new settings, and prompt a “Monitor Settings” dialog box prompting that desktop has been reconfigured, with countdown timer. Click on Yes to keep the new settings.

Change Screen Resolution in Safe Mode

Alternatively, simply click on Advanced, go to Adapter tab, then click on List All Mode. Select a mode with screen resolution size and color mode that you prefer, and click on OK. Windows will apply the new resolution size and color quality on Safe Mode too.


This entry was posted on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 at 4:33 am and is filed under Operating Systems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

16 Responses to “How to Change Screen Resolution and Display Colors Quality in Safe Mode of Windows”

  1. Stan
    October 20th, 2009 21:40
    16

    I tried on safe mode Windows XP Pro and I wasn’t able to move the slider so I wasn’t able to get the screen resolution to change. Thanks for your post this would be great if it works for sure!

  2. Edward
    September 11th, 2009 01:18
    15

    Great job! Thank you!

  3. Ben Dover
    July 31st, 2009 02:11
    14

    Thanks soooooo much

  4. Robert
    July 15th, 2009 17:59
    13

    thanks alot this really helped me

  5. Jonathan
    July 2nd, 2009 21:52
    12

    Great info – THANKS!

    I need to rebuild my laptop – but don’t have time right now…. Safe mode provides TOP SPEED in the os until i can get the rebuild done.

  6. Aniket
    June 25th, 2009 12:40
    11

    Awesome trick!!!works instantly…i was thinking and thinking how to run windows in higher resolution in safe mode and your suggestions solved it!!!

  7. rich
    May 20th, 2009 04:30
    10

    i have simular problem except that the system wont let me even use the resolution slide bar at all, its disabled. the pc shows a warning box when windows has started which says to install the display driver. i have windows XP. would appreciate any help. it was all fine last time i switched it on but for some reason is now caputt.

  8. Ron
    May 16th, 2009 11:53
    9

    Thanks for the help!!!

  9. Zeth
    April 24th, 2009 10:59
    8

    Ha!!! Who would’ve guessed? Thanks so much for the post. No more browser zooming on safe mode

  10. Aldo Echeverria
    April 22nd, 2009 09:02
    7

    You are awesome!, i used to uninstall and reinstall the drivers, but now its diferent!

    thanks!

  11. Jason
    February 12th, 2009 23:47
    6

    THANKS!!!!!!!!

  12. Abraham
    December 31st, 2008 01:31
    5

    nice awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    this is great!!!!!!!!!!!
    it is now on my bookmarks YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  13. Iean
    December 27th, 2008 13:37
    4

    Thank you very much, this will help a huge amount in with my admin needs. Certainly helps with those tricky setup windows that won’t size down!

  14. Nick
    December 21st, 2008 17:31
    3

    WOW, This is the best thing, THX

  15. Chris Heath
    December 12th, 2008 08:59
    2

    Thanks for this… really helpful for screens that go to 640×480 (like Nathan noted)

    i showed some people today and they responded with a kind of indifferent ‘meh’. I guess they don’t use safe mode enough to appreciate the feat

    thanks again, whoever you are

  16. Nathan
    August 14th, 2008 06:47
    1

    Thanks! I am a computer consultant and I get a lot of computers that I have to startup in safe mode. Usually we hookup the computers to large LCD’s but when they run in 640×480 then it’s just plain irritating. Now I can run in a big resolution without having all the icons cluttered.

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