Windows 7 will not allow me to pick 1680x1050 for the resolution. It defaults to a lower resolution with no option to take it higher.

Just change resolution to 1680x1050. On Windows 7 right click on desktop and click screen resolution and change there...

The resolution you should be getting is 1680x1050. Under Windows 7, right click on your desktop then open 'Screen Resolution'. If the resolution is set to anything other than 1680x1050, set it to that. If that setting is not available then it is possible that your video card does not support that resolution. This would only effect old computers. If the resolution is set to 1680x1050 but you don't have the proper resolution onscreen, try adjusting the monitor settings using the buttons on the bottom of your monitor. Hope this help and have a nice day!

why dont you disable hibernation as it seems the dynadock is outputting a signal that is the maximum that your external monitor / tv is capable of showing

The resolution 1680X1050 is the native resolution for your monitor. This means that the best view for your monitor is for this resolution. Your problem in not at the resolution, it's at the refresh rate. How to fix this? Go to the settings for your screen. At the lower right corner you will locate "for advanced users" button. Click on it and choose the "screen" tab. At the lower part of the window you will locate the "refresh rate". Click on it and change it at the lower setting (about 60 - 70 Hertz). Click on aplly - OK. You will be back to the resolution settings page. Set the resolution at 1680X1050, apply - ok. Go back to "refresh rate" window and change the setting to a higher setting STEP BY STEP. In case of an "out of range" and blaack screen DON'T DO ANYTHING, at 15 seconds you will come back to the previous settings. With this procedure you will get the native resolution for your screen with the higher refresh rate.

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my aoc v22 led monitor osd function has been locked. how to unlock it?

u need to check if ur monitor is capable of handling 1680x1050...resolution
go to Desktop/right click on desktop/go to properties/settings.../in the screen resolution optopn/do u c a slider than has option to select ur 1680x1050
if it has then chose that and click OK....
if ur monitor can show that resolution it will give ua msg else u wont..
mind it...a higher resolution and change regresh freq rate can spoil ur monitor....
so be careful while doing this

Windows 7 official release is in Oct. The Windows 7 version you have is probably the Release Candidate version, this is the last Beta version before its offical release. This version does not have drivers for al lot of devices and if you cannot get the driver from ATI at this stage then you have to wait until it becomes available.
The release Candidate will shut down every hour early next year and will stop working completely in June. You will be forced to buy Windows 7 or go back to XP or Vista.

more powerful video card. a video card with higher resolution.

In your original question you say your max is 1280x1024 and in your second you say it is 1680x1050. The video card drivers are what determine your maximum resolution, not your operating system. If Dell has no drivers that support higher resolutions you'll have to change the video card.

Sorry about the delay. I also just purchased an Acer x213w and had some trouble setting up my computer in order to achieve the optimum resolution of 1680x1050.

I'm using an HP Pavilion m7170n, so it's a bit old and thus could not support this widescreen resolution. However, my computer comes with an ATI Radeon graphics card and, upon contacting HP Support, was allowed to download ATI's "Catalyst Control Centre". After installation, these drivers added the option of selecting a screen resolution of 1680x1050 from Desktop properties.

So this is my solution to you: simply google your graphics card along with 1680x1050 driver and hopefully you'll be able to download a driver update which does the same for you as it did for me.