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Normally it's the worst possible idea to create a program which doesn't check its input parameters. No matter if this takes the form of a data file, network buffer, command line parameter, registry setting, or user input: you should never trust it, and instead always verify it! But you already knew this.
But ... there is this nice little tool on IBM notebook called "Access IBM - Presentation Director" which allows you to define various display setting profiles so that you only have to press two keys to switch between thing like
- 1600x1200 internal
- 1600x1200 internal plus 1280x1024 on DVI. Dual screen, extended desktop.
- 1024x768 internal plus 1024x768 on analog beamer. Same desktop.
- ... define more ...
This tool is as simple as it is perfect, because I usually either use my notebook on the road, or on the docking station with external screens, or at a conference with a beamer and I can now switch the settings without going through 16 menus. This is what I like to call solution-oriented thinking (and IBM has some more of this which make mobile life just a little bit easier.)
However. The program doesn't allow you to set the DVI output to anything higher than 1280x1024. IBM designers also didn't think that somebody might actually want to connect TWO external screens to a notebook, displaying 1600x1200 on DVI and 1024x768 on analog, for example (even though the hardware supports this without any issues). Fortunately, this application stores all its data in registry settings so that you can tweak your display settings to whatever format you like, even if the GUI wouldn't allow you to do so. It took me a while to play with the settings, but I can finally run 1600x1200 on DVI plus 1024x768 on analog.
To the developer of this application: Thank you for not verifying your input parameters, you made my life easier by allowing me to use this application in ways you didn't imagine.
Update: It's a Thinkpad R50p. The DVI port is only available with a docking station/port replicator. The base registry key is HKCU\Software\IBM\NPdirect\Data\Common\Presentation Schemes. (And as always: changing registry might destroy your system, etc.)
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