Comments for Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Comment from Randy Jay on 2009-09-25

2009-09-25T15:09:19Z

My laptop is displaying two same image in between a white horizontal line across the middle of the screen. It caused the image to appear smaller and the text difficult to read. Please tell me how to fix this problem.

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Matt Friessen on 2009-08-11

2009-08-11T20:03:33Z

I have an HP dv5035nr notebook pc with a monitor problem. The screen will freeze (the mouse will not move) , lines appear and the tool bar inverts. To unfreeze the monitor I have to move the monitor back and forth which clears the problem until I move the pc.

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from mike on 2009-07-02

2009-07-02T16:14:06Z

Why does my laptop monitor fade in and out?

Three possibilities come to mind: 1) the screen is defective 2) you're accidentally hitting the brightness key sequence 3) the ambient light sensor which auto-adjusts brightness is malfunctioning or obscured.

- Leo
03-Jul-2009

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from mark on 2009-05-06

2009-05-07T04:00:43Z

Although not done very often, I have also found it a good idea to also install the drivers for the particular monitor. This will ensure that the Display dialogue in XP only offers resolutions that that particular monitor can display. In the Display properties, ensure you change the monitor type from "Generic" to the driver that you just installed. Then reboot (required).(Display Properties > Settings > Advanced > Monitor)

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Jon S on 2009-05-05

2009-05-05T17:53:45Z

Reply to Ken Manning - Ken, I will answer your question assuming you are using a separate mouse and keyboard and not using your laptop’s.

Right click on your desktop and go to Properties. Next click on the Screen Saver tab at the top, now click on the button that says Power. When in here, click on the Advanced tab, now click the drop down box where it say “when I close the lid of my portable computer” and select Do Nothing. When you close your lid it should auto adjust to the 1280x1024 resolution you are seeking.

I know AskLeo doesn’t have a reply button in the comments so I hope you keep checking in.

Jon

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Ken Manning on 2009-05-05

2009-05-05T16:40:05Z

I have a similar but, different, problem: I connect a 19' Wisescreen monitor to my "Netbook".
It stretches the width to the maximum but, doesn't increase the height. Is there a way to increase the height?

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Jon S on 2009-05-05

2009-05-05T16:38:06Z

Leo, the answers and insight you gave were correct and helpful however you only partially answered the question. There are still several troubleshooting tips to try BEFORE purchasing a new graphics card.

I have installed about 50 22” – 28” widescreen LCD monitors over the last 2 years and I have found many helpful and successful tricks.

First off make sure you restarted your computer. Many computers will not show the desired resolution by default but will after a reboot.

Secondly, if you have an onboard graphics card (meaning the “graphics card” resides on the motherboard and not an added on card) go to the manufacturer of your computer’s website and download the latest drivers. Many companies like HP, Dell, Gateway, etc. have been making computers for many many years before the widescreen format really came out and became so popular. These companies did however update the drivers in recent years to accommodate for the new realm of monitors.

Thirdly, if you have a graphics card plugged into your motherboard in a PCI, AGP, PCIe, etc. slot, find out what company makes the graphics chip on your card (not always the card manufacturer) 99% of the time it’s going to be nvidia or radeon. Go to their website and download the latest drivers for your card’s series.

The tips I just gave you attached with Leo’s comments will solve the problem %95 of the time for FREE!

Hope this helps someone,
Jon

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Bill on 2009-05-05

2009-05-05T16:21:09Z

Just an amplification about "If you can, set the Screen resolution to the maximum native resolution your LCD monitor supports by adjusting the slider."

It is more important than just getting the aspect ratio right. If you set it to anything other than the native resolution or an integer multiple or division of it, your image will be "fuzzy" compared to the native resolution.
The other is you want to get every bit of resolution that you paid for.

The computer will output pixels in the locations set by what you told it to in the properties page. If that doesn't line up with the number of pixels on the monitor, the monitor will average part of up to 9 pixels from the computer to make one on the screen. That averaging softens the edges of lines or may loose part of a thin line.

This doesn't apply to CRT monitors because they can adjust the number and position of the pixels on the monitor. The pixel locations on an LCD or Plasma screen is locked in when it is made.

There is one more adjustment to add to do when you get a new LCD screen. In Windows XP, it is in the Appearance tab of the Display Properties box. It is called ClearType. Each pixel on your LCD monitor is made up of three colored pixels that get turned on individualy. Clear type uses this to turn on the sub pixels individually to improve the sharpness of the monitor.
After turning ClearType on, it is best if you use the tuner that adjusts it for the sub pixel positions on your specific monitor. For Windows XP, the instructions are at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306527
I am sure that there are similar instructions for other operating systems.

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from vincent on 2009-05-05

2009-05-05T15:56:15Z

I like how you drew those illustrations in Ms Paint ;-)

Microsoft Visio, actually.

- Leo
07-May-2009

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Just J on 2009-05-04

2009-05-04T18:16:02Z

For the benefit of your readers, I'm not the person who asked this question.

I would however, like to offer my praise on the answer given.

I thought your diagrams and explanations of aspect ratio were comprehensive and easy to understand.

Kudos to you Leo for an excellent article.

]]>

A comment on: Troubleshooting computer monitor problems: the sideways stretch

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.