Quick overview:
The graphics card is the component of your computer that is responsible for the visual events on the monitor. Click hereto find out more about this hardware and the technical terms now used. In many cases, Windows 2000 recognizes the graphics card and automatically sets the most ergonomic Resolution, Color depth and Refresh rateso that your eyes don't get tired at work. Unfortunately, 2000 only offers standard drivers, which cannot exploit the true potential of the card in terms of performance and functions. For this reason, it is advisable to use the manufacturer's specially tailored drivers.
In particularly hard cases, Windows 2000 does not recognize your graphics hardware at all and sets low default values. Here you can see an example with the meager resolution of 640x480 and sparse 16 colors at an eye-watering 60Hz:
You can only combat this condition with the manufacturer's drivers - only then will the loveless and harmful monitor image turn into a feast for the eyes. And this is how you proceed:
1. Select the appropriate manufacturer of your graphics card from this list and visit their driver pages to download the latest versions. Owners of Nvidia GeForce cards can download the driver labeled Nvidia Detonator 44.03 as it is the fastest and most stable driver in the large Detonator range to date. You can find this and many others at www.guru3d.com. If your card is running a Kyro II chip from PowerVR, I recommend the latest reference driver from www.powervr.com
2. In particularly convenient cases, the downloaded file is an installation program that you run directly by double-clicking. Sometimes a special obstacle is placed in the way: The files are available in ZIP format, which you can first download by right-clicking on the file and selecting the menu option Extract into a readable format. In order to use this extraction function, you must download the WinAce program from www.winace.com. You can find out more in the section: Programs that your computer really needs.
These should now be available in a folder. I will now continue in these instructions with this complicated example using a GeForce II GTS.
3. Once the files have been unpacked, right-click on any part of the Windows interface (desktop) and select Properties.
4. A new window pops up in which you can select the tab Settings and immediately click on Extended click.
6. Another window will open before your eyes. Now go straight to the tab Graphics card and click on Properties. You can start the driver wizard by going to the Select driver and Update driver to select it. The wizard welcomes you, which you acknowledge by clicking Next. Select Search for a suitable driver and in the next window remove the check marks in front of Diskette and CD-ROM drive and leave one in front of Specify other source.
Now select the folder for your drivers in the Explorer that opens and select it.
7. The drivers are recognized and sorted according to their OK Consent also until notification Finishwhich you confirm immediately. You should now restart your computer - you will receive a separate prompt to do so.
8. After a restart, your Windows 2000 interface shines in a brilliant splendor with high refresh rates and many colors.
Now that the installation of the graphics card is complete, we need to move on to the fine-tuning and optimized settings, which you can read about in detail in this article: The optimal settings for your graphics card - tips for the perfect picture
You can also switch directly from picture to sound: Simple setup of the sound card driver as well as facts, tips and quality tuning
NOTE FOR NEW PUBLICATION: This article was produced by Sandro Villinger and comes from the Windows Tweaks archive, which has been built up since the late 1990s.
On Windows Tweaks you will find time-saving tech guides for PC, software & Microsoft. For a stress-free digital everyday life. Already we have been "tweaking" Windows since 1998 and just won't stop!
