xp screen size shrunk in width - how do I restore? 1

[raygg]

My primary laptop is out for repair and I was using my backup - which is a 3 or 4 year old Dell Latitude X1 running xp pro. I have not used this laptop for several months and I fired it up and my XP window size is not using the whole screen. The physical screen size is 10 1/4" W x 6 1/4" H, 12" diagonal. Normally the xp window would fill the entire screen. But now it is shrunk so I have a 1" black bar on both sides of the window so the window height is still the same but the width is 8 1/4". Obviously some internal widow dimension size has been altered in the OS, but I have no idea what was changed. I have not been messing with the OS or the registry so I am at a loss.

 

[goombawaho]

Control Panel >>> Display >>>> Settings tab.

Adjust Resolution until things are Kosher. Try 1024 x 768 and then one above/one below if that's not "normal".

Why did it change?? Unknown - gremlins???!!!

 

[vacunita]

Are you sure its not botting into Safe mode?

Safe mode tends to use a lower resolution as it doens't load video card drivers instead it loads generic ones that do not cause issues.

If its booting into safe mode instead of normal mode there may be a driver issue causing it.

Also can you maybe reinstall the video driver see if it works again?

----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[guitarzan]

Are you sure it's not just setting on the monitor itself that needs to be adjusted?

 

[goombawaho]

I think he would notice having to click on the "you are now in safe mode - press OK button" message, but maybe not.

This is a laptop - not a desktop, so there are no buttons/settings on the monitor itself.

 

[guitarzan]

Oops, I missed that it is a laptop

 

[raygg]

Thsnks guys - having read all that (safe mode no, adj buttons no)is the consensus to reinstall the video driver?

 

[Tatertot45]

Never hurts to update the drivers. If you can't adjust the display settings, and it is not in Safe Mode, then update the drivers. I know that worked for me on a couple of old Dell Lappy-toppies that i had laying around.

Tatertot45
CRCP
Network+
A+

 

[goombawaho]

That would be a good step (reinstall driver) if you can't adjust the resolution and have it function normally. Should have mentioned that as step 2 in my post, but I didn't so I'm a putz.

 

[kjv1611]

I'm assuming it's most likely Intel graphics. However, I want to point out that if it is nVidia graphics, based on some VERY major issues with one of the recent graphics drivers, I'd tread with caution, and make sure you don't upgrade to a problematic driver when updating.

Also, if you were to use Windows Update to change/update the graphics driver, you can occasionally cause more issues than you solve.

So, You CAN go wrong in upgrading drivers. Typically, that goes fine, but there are exceptions. If it were me (and I remembered), I'd double-check for any issues related to the specific driver before updating. I've not known of any major issues with Intel drivers, but I have known of some for nVidia - just in recent history.

 

[raygg]

How do I tell if its nvidea or intel driver?

 

[kjv1611]

Easiest way in Windows:

1. Start - Run
2. Type dxdiag
3. Press OK or hit <Enter> on keyboard.

Say yes if you get the screen asking a question about checking for digitally signed drivers..

On the next window that pops up, click on the Display tab. It'll tell you what you have installed for your graphics adapter.

 

[raygg]

A star to goombawaho - I increased the display to 1280 x 768 and the window expanded to fill the screen.

Problem resolved - thanks everybody.

 

[goombawaho]

The easiest solutions wins for once. Seems like that's becoming a rarity. Thanks for the STAR.