Chapter 16. Video Configurations

Video is the most noticeable architectural component of Windows XP. It’s the underlying combination of hardware and software that enables you to see the graphics, dialog boxes, icons, and other elements that make Windows XP worth using. It’s little wonder, then, that video is also one of the more complex parts of the computing picture.

The problem isn’t simply displaying a picture onscreen; that would be easy to manage. The problem is communication between the various elements that create and manage the picture in the first place. The following list illustrates some Windows XP communications problem areas:

  • Compatibility supportWindows XP defaults to an 800×600 resolution and a minimum 16-bit (65,536) color display. ...

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