Windows Server VM Screen Resolution Fix

When you log into a remote Windows Server that is headless or within a VM/VPS, you will very likely get a very low resolution screen to work on.

Sometimes its 800×600 or 1024×768 but in the real world that is very difficult to work with – So here is how to set a reasonable 1920×1080.

1. Open Registry Editor:
   • On the target machine/server, run “regedit.”
2. Navigate to the Graphics Drivers Configuration:
   • Go to “\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration”
3. Identify the Correct “Virtual” Monitor:
   • Find the appropriate “virtual” monitor. In your case, it was labelled as NOEDID_8086_3E91_00000000_00020000_31013^53F8D5930757FC6478DA395B2023D3E0
4. Check Subfolder “00”:
   • If you’re unsure, navigate to the “00” subfolder.
   • Look for values PrimSurfSize.cx and PrimSurfSize.cy.
5. Resolution Adjustment:
   • To set your desired resolution:
     • The easiest way is to select the ‘decimal’ option and simply enter the resolution.
     • Calculate the correct value (in hexadecimal) using Windows Calculator in “Programmer mode.”
     • Alternatively, use 780 for .cx and 438 for .cy to achieve a modern 1920 x 1080 resolution.
6. Repeat for Additional Monitors:
   • If necessary, explore further by going deeper into the second “00” subfolder and repeat the process.

Remember to restart your PC after making any changes.