Resolution i accidentally altered the resolution setting on my os 9.2 mac. my monitor cannot handle the resolution setting and just flickers now. is there a way to reset things like that using a function key or keyboard short cut without losing any data

Set them to system defaults.

Check the video/display settings in your OS.
System Preferences in mac os
Screen resolution in windows.
Use recommended settings.

Good morning, afternoon, evening or night; whatever time of day you are viewing this solution post. Thank you for choosing FixYa to answer and solve your problem. Your Compaq MV520 Monitor is always blinking every time you turn on your computer and you want to know how you can fix it? First, we need to troubleshoot the problem. I'm thinking you probably need to refresh the flicker rate on your monitor. The flicker rate is probably set on a low setting, which is causing you screen to blink (flicker). This can be bad for your health as well because it can cause eyestrain and headaches. Your monitor is a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) model. These types of monitors can cause a lot of screen flickering. Now that we've troubleshooted the problem, now it's time to solve the problem. There are two ways you can solve this problem. You can either refresh the flicker rate or you can buy an LCD monitor. LCD monitors flicker-free. My suggestion is that you refresh the screen flicker rate. To refresh the flicker rate, go into your System Preferences or Control Panel, click your operating system's appearance and display link and click your screen adjustment link. You may have to click your advanced settings link. Click your monitor tab and from there adjust you screen refresh rate. You may have to adjust your screen resolution before you refresh the screen rate. If you have to do this, make sure the screen resolution you choose supports you monitor's height and width as well as visibility. The higher the resolution, the higher the screen rate. The instructions I'm giving you may sound like this because I'm not sure what your operating system is. I'm not to familiar with Mac Operating Systems, but if you have a Windows Operating System and you need better detailed instructions, just reply back. I hope this decreases your screen flickering and gives you a better viewing experience.

Go into control panel, click display, settings on the top right, set the color quality at max and the screen resolution also at max, click okay to save settings and monitor should adjust accordingly, if not set monitor to auto setup.

Through your computer you can set numerous screen resolutions, but your monitor should also have one that is recommended as best for it.
To reset the resolution do the following.
Click on START, and on the menu that opens, find CONTROL PANEL and click on it. Then look for DISPLAY and double click on it.The Display Properties box will open. Click on the SETTINGS tab at the top right, and you will find the resolution adjustment is obvious.You can try different settings until you find one that suits. The higher the numbers, the more of the website you should see. If the text becomes too small for you, you can alter this separately. The zoom level control should be can be found at the bottom right of your screen, and 'nomal' is 100%
Olease note. When you alter screen resolution, you will be given a few seconds to confirm if it suits you. Instructions will be on the screen. If you do not confirm, your resolution will revert to what it was before you changed it.

The Monitor you are using cannot handle the new resolution you just set on your system. The only way to use the system with that monitor is to use a monitor that can handle the reolution and reset the resolution back to what the monitor can handle.
You need to take yours system to an experienced Technician who will reset the system resolution to what your monitor can handle. Althernatively if you are in an IT environment, use a more rescent model of monitor or a flatscreen monitor to reset the systems' resolution before connecting back your monitor.

flickering monitors normally mean the lamp is on its way out but this sounds like your PC has issues either with the graphics card or memory. Run a virus check and antispyware software. If you don't have this software try microsoft security essentials its free. and people tell me its good.
Also try changing graphics card settings like resolution and refresh rate changes it might have something to do with colour schemes. Update graphics card drivers and I recently had a similar issue and had to upgrade the graphics card to handle the resolution of my monitor

You may need to use the S-video cable for video. Make sure video mirroring is disabled on the powerbook. Also, make the external monitor the primary display by dragging the menu bar to it in Displays preferences (Mac OS X) or the Monitors control panel (Mac OS 8 and 9).

i think you have problem with your graphics card. restart your computer and then before starting to windows press F8 to set your settings to safe mood, after booting up to windows restart the system again.if the problem persist reinstall the software drive of your graphics card if you have it.

I assume you're using windows XP or Vista ? The OS uses data from the monitor to tell it resolutions and refresh rates supported. If you get flicker and cannot alter the refresh rate, it is because the monitor will not supprt a fatsre refresh rate. Your only option, unfortunately, is to get a new monitor, or the cheaper option, use a different resolution.