Everything is stretched with new widescreen monitor

[cornemuse]

I recently bought a new 22" Acer WS monitor after my Microtek 19" passed away. (<-was then replaced with 21" Eizo 1.33:1 monitor),
On Another computer, I installed drivers & control panel for Invidia/MSI GeForce 8400GS card.but everything is stretched to fit the new monitor, (DVI connection), ie. even icons on desktop are stretched. All images not 16:9 are stretched. I am sure I am overlooking some simple setting but I am at a loss as to figure out where it is. I have Graphics Workshop and even their thumbnails are stretched.

Help!

-corne-

[newpball]

When you go into Screen Resolution is it set at the recommended resolution, e.g. the native resolution of the monitor?

[cornemuse]

When you go into Screen Resolution is it set at the recommended resolution, e.g. the native resolution of the monitor?

There are 2 (16:9) settings out of ten. Right now I'm using 1600:900 & this works fine.

Thanks

I have looked everywhere in the Acer lit, they dont give a native screen res, so I picked the (above).

I am 68 & my vision needs a lower res, everything is sooo small, on the new (21" 4:3) monitor, I have res at 1024:768. (it goes to 1600:1200) (800:600 actually almost too big!)

Any way to make text larger? (in 'properties' I increased the windows text size, but menu & dropdowns are still very small). Images are great, tho.


-corne-

(thanks for putting up with a cranky old man!)

[newpball]

21inch widescreen is not too big.

I think with your eyesight you would be better off buying a 32 inch 1080p TV and connect that one to your computer. You should be able to buy such a device for $220+

[jagabo]

Any way to make text larger? (in 'properties' I increased the windows text size, but menu & dropdowns are still very small).

Using this dialog?



Yes, some screen text isn't enlarged by that. Do you know about the Magnifier? Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Ease of Access -> Magnifier. I have my middle mouse button set to bring that up. That lets you zoom in by a chosen amount.

You can also try setting the graphics card to a lower resolution. The monitor will usually zoom or stretch the incoming lower resolution to its native resolution. In the Advanced section you will probably see a "List All Modes" button. That may show more options than the standards. Selecting a resolution that's have your monitor's native resolution often works well in terms of readability (not so well in terms of things fitting on the screen). But with a 1600x900 monitor that's probably not possible. Try 800x600 and look for a setting on the monitor that tells it to zoom (thereby keeping the correct aspect ratio), not stretch.

[Cornucopia]

1600x1200, 1024x768, and 800x600 are all 4:3 DAR rez settings, and so would NOT work correctly for what you want if your monitor is truly WS.

I would think you should be looking for:
960x540
1024x576
1024x600
1280x720
1366x768 or
1600x900

Hopefully one of those middle ones would be available to fit your needs.

Scott

[El Heggunte]

GeForce 8400GS

The drivers should allow you to define and choose a custom resolution
(which, as jagabo pointed out, will be automagically upscaled by the monitor itself).

Besides: if you choose the "Windows Classic Style" in the respective Control Panel applet (or elsewhere),
then you'll be able to change the font /sizes /faces /colours, according to your preferences/needs.

[jagabo]

Besides: if you choose the "Windows Classic Style" in the respective Control Panel applet (or elsewhere),
then you'll be able to change the font /sizes /faces /colours, according to your preferences/needs.

Unfortuantely that doesn't work very well if you enlarge the fonts by much. You'll find applications and dialogs where the text no longer fits in the window (and there are no scroll bars). Buttons sometimes don't appear because their position is calculated based on the text size and they fall outside the dialog box. Menus and task bars overlap, Etc.

The best solution is to return the monitor and get a bigger one. Like a 27" or 32" 1920x1080 monitor.

[cornemuse]

I got the calculator & figgered out the various rez dimensions, This Acer (actually listed as 22 1/2" lcd) has 10 diff sizes,3 @ 4:3, 3 @16:9, 4 @1.66:1, & 1 @ 1.25:1.

I discovered that the 1280:720 (lowest 16:9 rez) works pretty good for me. (only realized this was 16:9 when doing 'above')

Any way to scale UP the size of desktop icons??

What uses for a 1.25:1 resolution? (just curious)

thanks, -c-

[usually_quiet]

Any way to scale UP the size of desktop icons??

Yes. http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-resize-desktop-icon-in-windows-vista/

[Edit]I used the mouse scroll wheel method. It worked for most icons. It did not work for one program that did not have a large icon available

[El Heggunte]

What uses for a 1.25:1 resolution?

Unless you have a 1280x1024 monitor, the purpose of that option is simply annoy the end-user
(in my stupid opinion, at least --- just as an example, my Vista laptop has a 16:10 screen, however it supports 800x600, 1024x768 and 1280x720 as well, even though the available video drivers DO NOT offer an option of adding black borders to the *unsuitable* resolutions).

On the ancient 4:3 CRTs, 1280x1024 required some pillar-boxing, of course.

[newpball]

I discovered that the 1280:720 (lowest 16:9 rez) works pretty good for me. (only realized this was 16:9 when doing 'above')

You just wasted 36% of the resolution of your monitor.

I still think you would be better off returning it and to buy a bigger monitor.

[ndjamena]

Yes, some screen text isn't enlarged by that. Do you know about the Magnifier? Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Ease of Access -> Magnifier. I have my middle mouse button set to bring that up. That lets you zoom in by a chosen amount.

The middle button on the Logitech G9 can be pressed down, left or right. I've set the macros to zoom IN (Window +) when I press it left and OUT (Window +) when I press it right. The down press is free at the moment but I could set it to exit the magnifier (Window Esc).

Of course, you need at least Windows 7 for any of it to work.