Windows updated breaks screen smoothing of text and graphics.

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Oleg Volk

I found plenty of notes on the problem but not a clear solution. Any suggestions how to deal with the fuzzy text and non-antialiased graphics that just cropped up this morning? Is there a simple way to roll back Windows updates?

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10 Responses to Windows updated breaks screen smoothing of text and graphics.

    • Oleg Volk says:
      February 28, 2013 at 2:39 pm

      Turns out I didn’t have that feature enabled. The computer just got re-built and that wasn’t set.

  2. William says:
    February 28, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    The easiest way to roll back your updates is do a system restore. (Using Windows 7) click on the start menu, and type in restore and runt the system restore program. It will launch the System restore wizard, make sure you use a restore point prior to the Windows update that messed stuff up. If you have windows 8 it might be slightly different, but should be similar.

  3. Scorry says:
    February 28, 2013 at 2:41 pm

    Windows updates usually create restore points before applying. Rollback to that point.

    P.S. Where this fuzzy text and antialiased text? My two systems accepted all updates in usual manner and I cannot see any problems on screen.

    • Oleg Volk says:
      February 28, 2013 at 3:03 pm

      Some but not all text in web browsers is fuzzy and unreadable — usually just part of the screen. After a while, it clears up.

  4. John Blystone says:
    February 28, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    I have noticed no such problem today. Have you “auto tuned” your monitor since? I have had Windows Update swap a video driver before, and the new driver was set to a resolution/color depth/refresh rate combination my monitor didn’t handle well, which is why I ask. Auto tuning your monitor, or adjusting the above settings, may help if that’s the case. Good luck!

  5. RabidAlien says:
    February 28, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    You can uninstall individual updates by going into the Control Panel and Add-Remove Programs (or Programs and Features, depending on version). Make sure to check the box to “show updates”. Remove them one at a time until you get back to where you want to be. First, though, I would check your Device Manager (Right-click on My Computer, Properties, then either the “Hardware” tab or select “Device Manager” on the left, again depending on version), get the manufacturer and model number of your video card, and hit their website (not the computer manufacturer’s) to make sure you have the latest and greatest drivers for your video card. That usually does the trick.

    • Oleg Volk says:
      February 28, 2013 at 3:24 pm

      That did the trick. Thank you!

      • RabidAlien says:
        February 28, 2013 at 6:51 pm

        No prob! Which did it turn out to be, an update that you uninstalled, or updating the video driver?

        I slav….er….work in IT, and I’d have to say that the vast majority of the time, it turns out to be a driver issue. Computer manufacturers put up the drivers that work when that computer is made, and don’t tend to update them as the device manufacturer does…all they’re concerned about is getting the computer back into factory condition. Understandable. Windows has a bunch of drivers available on catalog.update.microsoft.com (AWESOME place to find drivers for devices in custom-built PC’s, or drivers for devices that were not *intended* for a version of Windows, such as running a card in a 64-bit OS), but they’re not (usually) part of the regular updates. So I always hit the manufacturer’s site, if I know who made the card (usually stamped/printed on the card).

  6. Paul Koning says:
    February 28, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    Along those lines: unlike CRTs, flat panel monitors should always be set to 60 Hz refresh, not a higher number. There is no value in anything higher (flat panels don’t flicker) and it only causes blurring.
    You should also make sure the PC’s video resolution is set to exactly the “native” or “optimal” resolution of the flat panel. In that setting, each PC pixel corresponds directly to a panel pixel. Anything else means the machinery is turning PC pixels into some mix of panel pixels.
    Oh yes, and use a digital connection (HDMI or DVI), not VGA, if you have the option. VGA will make for a much worse image quality, especially at high resolution. (Along those lines, a flat panel that only supports VGA, not digital, is guaranteed to be so low quality that it isn’t worth buying no matter how low the price.)