I've had this laptop for a week and I cant take it anymore

JCC530

New Member
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10
I'm trying TRYING to work from home today but the screen fonts are making it unbearable for me. In Firefox/IE they appear blurry/distorted and it doesn't look right and hurts my eyes. I can't keep fussing around with settings(clear type/brightness/resizing) because it seems to make things worse. I don't know what to do, my dad's laptop works just fine and it's over a year old but he has Windows 7.

Dell Inspiron 15R 5537
I have Windows 8.1
Processor: Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-4500U CPU @ 1.80GHz 2.40GHz
Installed memory RAM: 8 GB (7.88 GB usable)
System Type: 64 bit operating system x64 based processor

All I want is to go back to what my computer looked like when I got it 2 weeks ago. I haven't even had this thing for TWO WEEKS! :( Any way I can fix this before my eyesight is shot to H-E-double hockey sticks?! Here are a few screen shots:
Yahoo Font.png

Font Issue.png
Firefox Font.png
Another font shot.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15R 5537
    Browser
    Firefox 28
    Antivirus
    ESET NOD32
I hate to say it but your screen shots look clear to me.

Have you tried getting an update to your video drivers from Dell or speaking to their support?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 with Media Center, Windows 10 Pro x64, Windows 7 x64 Ultimate SP1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom System
    CPU
    INTEL Xeon E5-2670 LGA 2011
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    Gigabyte GA X79 UD5 v1.0 F13s
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    7.0 Mb/s
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    ASUS RT-AC68U router
I agree with pbcopter, your screen shots are clear. So, it is either video driver updates...are maybe you need glasses??? Now don't go and get upset, it happens to all of us at one time or another in our life. As I'm fond of saying, "if my arms were longer I would not need glasses!"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASRock 990FX Killer
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    ASRock 990 FX Killer
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX 750i
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    Realtek (Stock on MB)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 27 HD Monitor & a 37" LCD HD TV Screen (For movies)
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    1920 x 1080
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    1 250 GB SS hard drive for OS
    1 1TB hard drive for data / mirrored to a second 1 TB hd.
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    650W
    Case
    No name tower
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    Logitech
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    Logitech
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    Dnload 10.48 Upload .48
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    IE 11 and Chrome when IE doesn't work
    Antivirus
    F-PROT
Thanks for both of your replies! I did have someone else look at my screen they also said the fonts looked blurry/odd. Maybe I will try updating video drivers. It's just weird how everything looks bright and blurry compared to my dad's Windows 7 computer. Something is up! I keep looking at my screen I'm going to need glasses play2me!

Also, there are 2 optional updates for Intel on Windows Update. I'm pretty sure I remember reading here that you shouldn't install those and do it from the product website. Is that correct? I like to run things by someone with more computer experience than I have because I don't want to mess things up. Thanks again for the recommendations!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15R 5537
    Browser
    Firefox 28
    Antivirus
    ESET NOD32
All I want is to go back to what my computer looked like when I got it 2 weeks ago. I haven't even had this thing for TWO WEEKS! :( Any way I can fix this before my eyesight is shot to H-E-double hockey sticks?! Here are a few screen shots:

As the other responders said, the screen shots are clear to me too; not as clear as I'd like, but Microsoft has for some dumb reason given us more pastels and gray text rather than true colors and black text. It's something I've learned to live with.

You say "what it looked like 2 weeks ago". Maybe you should go back into settings and select default. It's possible that may solve your problem. Also, as pbcopter suggested, go to Dell and update your video drivers. I see you have the Intel HD Graphics 4400 card. Go here to learn more about it: Intel HD Graphics 4400 - NotebookCheck.net Tech

Also, you may find some help here. Support for the 4th Generation Intel® Core? Processors with Intel® HD Graphics 4400
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Thank you Wynona! I will check both of those links out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15R 5537
    Browser
    Firefox 28
    Antivirus
    ESET NOD32
All of that looks fine to me. Of course the information that you capture in a screen shot. Will be changed by those computers that are viewing it. What we see as something that looks good on our end, does not mean that it does on yours.

As long as you use stock settings for the browser & OS. There should be no problem seeing things. Now the big question is. You are not by chance using a LCD TV as a monitor, vs. the built in display on the Laptop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
have to ask ,how would a [print screen capture image]bad looking screen display correct itself and look good on out computers ,as it all looks good to me to ,

personally I would do a system restore back to the closest one to the time the laptop was first setup
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
broe unfortunately I'm using the laptop screen.

caperjack, Before I do what you suggest, I have one concern. I installed Microsoft Office 2010 and uninstalled the Office program my computer came with. Since I entered a product key, I assume that means I lose one license entry of the 3 in order to restore my system to the time I first turned on my new laptop?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15R 5537
    Browser
    Firefox 28
    Antivirus
    ESET NOD32
broe unfortunately I'm using the laptop screen.

caperjack, Before I do what you suggest, I have one concern. I installed Microsoft Office 2010 and uninstalled the Office program my computer came with. Since I entered a product key, I assume that means I lose one license entry of the 3 in order to restore my system to the time I first turned on my new laptop?

If System Restore takes out Office 2010, you can use the same product key to reinstall it. In fact, you can install Office 2010 on a desktop and a laptop using the same product key; it's in the licensing terms.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Did you ever look at your own screenshots on another PC and do they appear different than what you see on your system. If yes, then it's clearly a problem with your display and not the graphics chip.

Btw: Wynona is right. You can install Office as often as you want with the same key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
have to ask ,how would a [print screen capture image]bad looking screen display correct itself and look good on out computers ,as it all looks good to me to ,

personally I would do a system restore back to the closest one to the time the laptop was first setup
Only if the output that it was capturing was bad to begin with. I imagine the problem with the OP, is that the laptop they have, was set for a Native Resolution that they are not used to.

My laptop is set to output at 1366x768. I am used to it being that way. A lot of people are not. My LCD's that I used for the State of Illinois, before i retired. Were always set at 1366x1260. Which was native resolution for the LCD's. Too some it looked small when looking at the display. Too me it looked fine. And I have Glaucoma on top of being Near Sighted. But I wear Tri-Focal's, so it just depends on how you look at things.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
Did you ever look at your own screenshots on another PC and do they appear different than what you see on your system. If yes, then it's clearly a problem with your display and not the graphics chip.

Btw: Wynona is right. You can install Office as often as you want with the same key.
Not anymore. Microsoft has started to lock the keys after around 3 installs. They go into a Black list after 10 attempts of reinstalling.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
I just looked at them on another laptop which has Windows 7 on it and took a screen cap of the msn page of IE like mine:

7 font.png

Fonts are much more smooth and easy on the eyes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15R 5537
    Browser
    Firefox 28
    Antivirus
    ESET NOD32
Did you ever look at your own screenshots on another PC and do they appear different than what you see on your system. If yes, then it's clearly a problem with your display and not the graphics chip.

Btw: Wynona is right. You can install Office as often as you want with the same key.
Not anymore. Microsoft has started to lock the keys after around 3 installs. They go into a Black list after 10 attempts of reinstalling.

HMM, thanks for telling us. I was not aware of this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I just looked at them on another laptop which has Windows 7 on it and took a screen cap of the msn page of IE like mine:

View attachment 41159

Fonts are much more smooth and easy on the eyes.

It does not matter what the screenshots look on our screens. We see the result of your graphics chip. But you see the result of the graphics plus the screen. And if there is something wrong with your screen, we cannot see that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Did you ever look at your own screenshots on another PC and do they appear different than what you see on your system. If yes, then it's clearly a problem with your display and not the graphics chip.

Btw: Wynona is right. You can install Office as often as you want with the same key.
Not anymore. Microsoft has started to lock the keys after around 3 installs. They go into a Black list after 10 attempts of reinstalling.

HMM, thanks for telling us. I was not aware of this.

Nor was I, whs, because I had previously read the EULA and didn't remember anything of the sort. So, to be sure, I downloaded and reread the complete license on Office 2010 and here's what I found:

"2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Device. You may install one copy of the software on device. That device is the “licensed device.”
b. Licensed Device. You may only use one copy of the software on the licensed device at a time.
c. Portable Device. You may install another copy of the software on a portable device for use by the single primary user of the licensed device.
d. Separation of Components. The components of the software are licensed as a single unit. You may not separate the components and install them on different devices.
e. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may install and use only one version at a time."

There was no reference limiting the number of installations of Office 2010 to the same device. Nor was there any mention of locking keys after any number of installs.

I also found the following:

"19. REASSIGN TO ANOTHER DEVICE. You may reassign the license to a different device any number of times, but not more than one time every 90 days. If you reassign, that other device becomes the “licensed device.” If you retire the licensed device due to hardware failure, you may reassign the license sooner."

Stands to reason that if we can reassign the license to a different device any number of times, that it can be reinstalled on the same device the same number of times. :)

Licensing for Office 2013 is much more restrictive than Office 2010, though. You can't install it on more than one device; no more installation on both the desktop and laptop.

And forget about reassigning to another device! Once it's on a computer, even if that computer crashes, tough luck.

So, can you tell me why I am abandoning Office 2010 for Office 2013?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
I just looked at them on another laptop which has Windows 7 on it and took a screen cap of the msn page of IE like mine:

View attachment 41159

Fonts are much more smooth and easy on the eyes.
so did you play around with changing your screen resolution to see if it changes things to sometime you like
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
Make sure your graphics resolution is set to whatever the screen's native resolution is set at, anything else will be blurry or distorted.

Right click over the non-metro desktop and select "Screen resolution". The resolution setting should be set to the one that says "Recommended". If none are recommended, look up your screen resolution in the manufacturer specs and select that one.

FYI - Screen captures will not show screen problems like this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 consumer 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire M5 481PT-6644
    CPU
    Intel Core I5
    Memory
    6 GB
    Hard Drives
    Spinning/SSD hybrid 500GB/20GB
    Mouse
    ELAN Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    18mbs/5mbs
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
JCC530, you are not dreaming, a zillion posts and complaints on the net about this. On some (many) displays MS's new font rendering makes things blurry. It's a feature lol+++ Am afflicted with the same here, on 4 different laptops.

And how it messes up fonts is purely random, example, see attached snip (taken from your 1st post), look at the differences in sharpness with p's and k's (this is not some artifacts of snipping or uploading, it's exactly how I see w8 fonts behave on my laptops as well).
 

Attachments

  • fonts.PNG
    fonts.PNG
    3.2 KB · Views: 143

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1, W7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP \ Toshiba \ Lenovo \ Dell E7440
    Browser
    FF
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