How to Set Windows Screen Resolution?

R

rbanks88

Bit poster
I've just downloaded the Parallels 4 trial and am testing a simple Windows PopCap game. I run my 24-inch iMac at 1920x1200 resolution, and when I run the game, it's considerably smaller than on my wife's Dell laptop.

Is there a way to have a lower resolution in my Windows virtual machine, so the appearance is more like the laptop? The video tab of the configuration menu doesn't offer this. However, the same window in v. 3.x did, according to the only downloadable manual I can find, which is for v. 3. On page 172 it shows how to set a "custom screen resolution."

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Russell Banks
Portland, Oregon

P.S. Is there a full manual for v. 4 somewhere?
 
Thanks, Saint.A-- I'll rephrase my question...

I apologize for not being more clear...

My Popcap "Bookworm" game has an option for "full screen" display. On our Dell laptop, when it's not full-screen, it's window is about 5" wide. In full-screen, of course, the game enlarges until it fills the Dell's 16" diagonal screen.

In the Parallels virtual machine, the game is about 6" wide when not in full-screen mode, and when I switch to full-screen mode, it doesn't get any bigger-- the virtual machine just shrinks to the 6" game width. If I resize by dragging the lower left corner, it snaps back to just 6" wide.

Is there a way to make the VM behave like the Dell? Is the Parallels Tools video auto-resizing interfering? If so, can I turn off that feature?

Thanks,
Russell Banks
 
Removed Parallels Tools, no change

I tried uninstalling the Tools, but the window continues to shrink to the size of the game when the game's set to full-screen mode. I'll email Popcap to see what they say.
 
If I'm understanding you right, then I'm having the same problem. I tried to play Cave Story (which is not a PopCap game) and when I try to go to full screen the game screen doesn't fill the screen--the game display remains the same size as windowed mode with the rest of the screen simply being black space. Other games that I've tried have the same problem. The issue only appeared after updating to Parallels 4.
 
Hello,

possibly, you are running the virtual machine in a non-standard resolution in the window. Be aware, that resizing the window with your mouse at any moment will most probably make your resolution non-standard. Please try setting the resolution to something like 800x600 in the virtual machine, and then try to launch the game in full screen right away. Does this make the game run in full screen in your windowed virtual machine?
 
What if I want a non-standard resolution. I make screen cast movies and being able to set my screen to be at the same proportions as the movies I produce would be great. Is there any way to be able to set new "standard" resolutions? Resizing by dragging just is not going to cut it!
 
I do not think I was clear. I am looking for some way to be able to set the screen resolution of the virtual machine to a "non-natural" resolution, say 1365 x 768 so I can have an almost exact widescreen 16:9 screen but still not be too big. I can resize the window manually to approximate the 1365 x 768 but cannot just "pop" to it. For now I just use 1280 x 800, but that is not quite what I really want.
 
Gave me hope... but it returns "The graphics mode is not supported."

I am able to resize the screen to match it though... sigh. OK... will keep looking. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
With a bit of playing – it lets me do 1360 x 768... and that should fit my needs just fine. I cannot imagine the 5 pixel difference is going to make any difference. Still, would be great to have this feature returned to the product. Any idea why it was removed?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top