Wrong Monitor "installed" on Windows

[webrabbit]

I purchased an old used Dell laptop running Windows XP. After using in for a day, I noticed something strange. The full-screen windows, including the desktop, are all wider than the monitor! I went to "Properties" and found that the installed monitor driver was for a wide-screen monitor. All my efforts to convince Windows that the monitor is the old-style 3x5 ratio have been unsuccessful. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[TonHu]

Have you installed/updated the proper Video card drivers, it sounds like you haven't...

 

[kjv1611]

I'd definitely check Dell's website for your specific laptop, as they may have the correct drivers for your system there.

Or if you know you have an Intel video chipset, you can check for the correct drivers here:

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect/

 

[flyboytim]

Worse still, the XP OS may not be kosher for that laptop, if the Dell OEM drivers are not present. It may become an issue if you need to validate your OS for an update etc.

http://www.fxxxingcomputers.co.uk

 

[cdogg]

Let's be more specific. What resolutions are you seeing in Display Settings? In Device Manager, what is the "Display Adapter" called? What is the Dell model?

The more you give, the better your advice will be!

~cdogg
"All generalizations are false, including this one." - Mark Twain
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[LilBob]

The old owner may have added a 2nd monitor which was set as the default. As cdogg said, you need to be more specific about your system.
Bob