Laptop screen dimensions

[Kryten.]

A while back I hooked up my laptop (a crappy old Lenovo 3000 C200) up to my TV to dual screen it for a bit. When trying to get it back off dual screen something went wrong and it messed up the display settings on my laptop. Now when it loads, most of the time (not all, but certainly 90% of the time) it will be too large to fit on the screen. It sort of cuts of most of the task bar, and a inch or so off the right hand edge.

 

Think what the vertical and horizontal sizing options on a monitor does. The only problem is that laptops don't have these options.

 

 

Now before you start telling me to repair windows, or update my drivers I have done both. Many times. I've even used 3 different operating systems to see if that has any effect, but to no avail. It seems there is some setting that messes up before it even loads up windows. Trying to access the BIOS settings proves fruitless as its fairly simple and has no real settings that are worth adjusting.

 

 

Anyone got any ideas of what I could try?

[Slamman]

I had a Dell LS with 12 inch screen, it also outputs video, as do most laptops, to NTSC and VGA dual screen, a trait of the LS is that the larger screen dimension it normally uses in Windows makes it so a mouse movement along the "cut off" side will actually shift the display in that direction, like the video game Pac Man Jr, as an example of what it does...Go into Display properties and makes sure there's a graphic representing "1" and "2", allowing for some adjustment between the two. Right click your mouse on the desktop, choosing Properties...should also get you there (or in Device Manager)

Make sure you set your Laptops' native display LCD dimensions and then any Hot Key for Video Out mode selection, cycle among that if you chose not to reboot while testing. See what you come up with, and provide a picture of your driver's displays properties if you need some better help with it

Edited December 5, 2011 by Slamman

[Kryten.]

I think there is an issue in identifying the native resolution. I'm quite certain that its 1024 x 768, and in the advanced settings for the Digital Flat Panel it states as such. However, the built in Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver, and the "default" or "recommended" setting within the screen resolution (using windows 7) states that it is 1280 x 800.

 

I'll try and get some screenshots.

 

 

 

 

Note that the pink lines in the top image represent the area I can actually see.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Kryten.

[Slamman]

Can you see the screen shift with a mouse move along the borders? Try dxdiag via the RUN menu of Windows, it can show what video setting you have, also see about using the FREE Astra32 utility online, it's been updated only months ago for new hardware and revisions. It can give you a run down under the left panel "VIDEO" section.

 

My Acer 4710 is a Centrino model, using GMA 950 for the graphics, I've got a 14.1 inch widescreen, check similarities

Edited December 5, 2011 by Slamman

[Kryten.]

No, I can't see the screen shift by moving along the border.

 

 

[Slamman]

I noticed the Intel chipset there, same as mine... I suppose it would tie in with your screen dimensions, Since you show an LCD listing in DxDiag and I got a blank one. Who makes an LCD replacement for example? Most all laptops have LCD suppliers on eBay and you can note the specs that way, without buying anything. Normally in the driver the two displays are supported since you have to adjust visuals on each independently that's why if you have the same as mine, it's odd. I just got a nice 19 inch Dell LCD that I plug in via VGA, not really using the laptops S-Video though I like having the option. Typically you do have to try different setting via the driver more then anything else, Otherwise the display itself (external) would make it's own self-adjustments, or something via the menu firmware.

 

Have the external handy to check how it's displaying things as you look for the balance to stick with. I'd use the ON/OFF hotkeys often, turn off the computer's own LCD and turning on the external physically (while a signal is being fed) One hotkey setting is for both displays, one for external, one for internal.

 

I'm looking at my DXdiag read out, it says my display is 1024x768 (32bit / 60Hz)

 

The driver is also HWQL tested and it's "igxprd32.dll"

6.14.0010.4926

 

Dated the year before oddly, 2/15/2008

 

Perhaps roll back the video driver and if nothing is showing, try downloaded the GMA950 one as I have spec'd since it works rather well with two displays and should still work I'd think. The chipset is a match, so that's one option, the other is via the OEM maker's site.

 

I've been running two displays myself, of course DELL offers a monitor driver, few others actually do, but it's highly beneficial to download for any computer you plan on using that LCD with. Try my driver if you're feeling up to it, I checked in Device Manager and it shows as TWO listings as it's supporting two display ports

Edited December 5, 2011 by Slamman