i don't think it will hurt anything no more than restarting would

if you happen to use firefox browser there is a very neat little add on that puts an icon down by the clock which you simple click on and select the resolution from a list. Makes it very easy to change resolutions.

Window Resizer 1.0

not sure if one exist for IE since I do not use it.

found this one that says it runs on xp and will do the same thing basically, I know nothing about this program.
Resolution Changer SX2 1.0.8
as always be sure you right click and scan all downloads with your security programs before installing and running any download

Thanks to both of you for your comments, and for the links.

Ravencajun, my main concern, even if I get the FF add-on you noted, is whether it would cause excessive wear and tear on the computer or the monitor to be changing the resolution more frequently than is normally done.

And while I'm on the subject, would anyone know of any way to have to different FF profiles set up to display two different screen resolutions ? That way, I would open my FF profile and have things displayed automatically at the resolution I like, while the other user would have things set up for the 800 x 600 resolution in the other (default) profile.

Thanks again !

Do you have only one account on your computer? If you each have your own User Account, then each of you can have your own Firefox profile, and have all of the settings for each of you to use however you want.

camp56,

As it stands now, we only have one user account, but we have two FF profiles, each with its own quicklaunch icon. I tried loading the Window Resize add-on to the other user's profile (since she uses FF all the time, while I use Opera most of the time). I thought I could set it up so that when she would open her FF it would automatically show an 800 x 600 resolution. But it didn't. The add-on doesn't really do what I'm looking for, I'm afraid. It resizes the window but doesn't change the resolution.

It may be that I will need to set up the two-user situation you mentioned, though, just fyi, the other user is a senior citizen who isn't that proficient with computers and needs the fonts AND pics a bit larger. And she plays Pogo games, which are better and easier to see in the 800 x 600 resolution.

Plus, I'd rather not do something (setting up a second user account) requiring her to do a lot of navigating and switching around just for her brief internet sessions. But I'll see if it works out. If not, I can live with the larger sizes of the 800 x 600 if necessary.

Thanks !

have you tried simply changing the dpi on the pc to a larger number? try that and see if you can both simply live with that result. Right click desktop, go to the display settings tab, then at the bottom click on the advanced button and change the dpi setting to larger, apply ok.

Good idea ! I'll see if it works out !

Scott

Unfortunately, the dpi change wasn't what I was looking for, but I did find mention of some software that helps change such things relatively quickly and easily.

Here is a link that might be useful: 1st QuickRes

sounds very much like the one I mentioned earlier the Resolution Changer sx2

if it works for you then good deal.

Yikes ! I don't know how I missed that ! I saw the FF add-on you mentioned, but missed (or forgot) about the Resolution Changer. I just downloaded it and like it better than the one I found ! A belated thanks for the link !! :-)

you are very welcome glad it helped you