With every new Windows update, more & more older games are having trouble running in full screen mode. This is mostly due to resolution size. For example; when Microsoft Vista was released in 2001, it was designed to run at 800x600. So what does this mean for you and your favorite game that was released in 2008? Unfortunately, it means that it may not run at full screen as it did before, but it should run in windowed (a smaller) mode just fine.
For starters, the ALT + Enter keyboard shortcut is the quickest way to go to 'full screen' in a game. However, if that does not work, there are a few other things you can try:
Change the Desktop Resolution
One thing that could be causing your issue is if your Windows Resolution is set too high, and the game is unable to support it. You can use the information provided below to change your desktop resolution.
*It is recommended that you start with the lowest resolution available, and work your way up
- Right-click anywhere on the desktop
- Select Display Settings
- From the Display Settings menu, scroll down the page to the Display Resolution drop-down menu, and choose a different resolution.
- Click Apply or Keep Changes if prompted
Display Scaling
Windows allows you to use display scaling to increase the size of text and other items on the screen. When you use scaling in this way, Windows magnifies the size of text and UI elements to the scale you choose. Use the information below to change your display scaling.
- Right-click anywhere on the desktop
- Select Display Settings from the menu
- From the Display Settings menu, scroll down the page to the 'Scale' settings drop-down menu and choose 100% (if it is set to anything different)
Update Video Card Drivers
Not having up-to-date video card drivers can cause all sorts of graphical issues. Below are a couple of ways to update your video/graphics card drivers.
Windows Device Manager
If you're not sure who the manufacturer of your video card is, you should be able to update it using the Windows Device Manager:
- Type 'Device Danager' into the search bar on your taskbar, then click on 'Device Manager' from the results
- Click the 'Display adapters' arrow to expand the category
- Right-click the video card, and select 'update driver' from the dropdown menu
If the device manager doesn't find any new updates, you may want to try manually updating through the respective manufacturers support site below.
Manufacturers Support Site
If you know the manufacturer of your video card, you can use the links below to navigate to the respective manufacturers support site to update your drivers: