On Windows XP - Change monitor resolution based on which user is logged in?

Question

In Windows XP Professional, each of our family members are listed as icons at startup. Is there a way to have the system change the monitor resolution based on the family member? For example, if 'Dad' is clicked have it render 1028 x 768, if 'Mom' logs in have the monitor resolution set to 800 x 600. If 'Boy' logs in have the resolution set to 1280×1024 etc...

Answer 1

I found this program : "XP Keep per User Display Settings". I quote:

The program is launched for each and every user -- don't worry, it's rather small -- and monitors the following events:

• switching among active users
• users logging off

Each time such an event occurs the current user's display settings are saved in that user's part of the registry.
Conversely, each time a user logs in or becomes active, his/her saved settings are restored.

Answer 2

Use UltraMon's display profiles:

Display profiles make it easy to switch between different desktop configurations. A profile stores the display mode, position and state (enabled/disabled) of each monitor, as well as which monitor is primary (changing the primary is only supported on Windows 2000/XP and later).

If your computer is used by more than one person, you can use display profiles to set up custom display configurations for each user. Whenever a user logs in, his or her display settings will be applied. Windows XP Fast User Switching is supported.

Answer 3

Multi-monitor resolution change can be achieved for free by using MultiRes (115K when installed!) from a batch file called from user logon scripts.

For example, place the following in a batch file (adding users as necessary and call it something like MultiRes.bat):

if /I %USERNAME% == USER1 "c:\program files\MultiRes\multires.exe" /1:1280,1024,32,60 /2:1280,1024,32,60 /exit
if /I %USERNAME% == USER2 "c:\program files\MultiRes\multires.exe" /1:1024,768,32,60 /2:1024,768,32,60 /exit

Place this batch file in an accessible directory, such as:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\MultiRes.bat

Add this as a user logon script:

• Open the Group Policy Editor (Start -> Run, enter gpedit.msc)
• In the left-hand tree of the Group Policy window, open User Configuration
• Open Windows Settings
• Click Scripts (Logon/Logoff)
• In the right-hand pane, double-click Logon
• In the Logon Properties window, click Add...
• Click Browse... and select your MultiRes.bat file
• Click OK and then OK again and close the Group Policy window

Please Note: MultiRes is free for personal use only. See above URL for further details.