Topic: Is it possible to 'unstretch' a new monitor?

[Squash64]

I've just installed an LG E1940 monitor and I just can't believe how sharp and colourful everything is.  :)

But...... I know it's a widescreen, but is there any way of making it look not quite so 'stretched'?  (hope that makes sense)

[goodlife]

Have a go with the buttons on your screen..is there screen size/display options in the menu?

[Squash64]

I've tried the screen buttons but can't find a screen size/display setting.

Also tried right-clicking on the desktop, then 'properties' and 'settings'.  There is an option for screen resolution but decreasing that just makes the words bigger.

If it can't be done I suppose I'll get used to it but it seems a bit strange at the moment.

[BarriedaleNick]

You need to select a widescreen resolution to match the monitor.

Depends what you have but xo
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/display_change_screen_resolution.mspx?mfr=true

Windows 7
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-your-screen-resolution

Basically your old monitor was 4/3 and your resolution matched - so you were on say 1280 by 1024.  Your new monitor is 16/9 or 16/10 so you need to select a resolution to match say 1920 by 1080 which is full HD.  If your PC has not recognised the monitor then you probably wont see widescreen resolutions and you may have to load up a driver for the monitor but probably not...

[djbrenton]

Your new moniter requires 1360 x 768 for the appearance to be right.

[Bugloss2009]

actually i got used to the full screen stretched look for browsing. If you go to 4:3 you obviously get dark bars down each side of the screen. Where it looks odd is if you are looking at pictures full screen, where you need to go with 4:3

also if you watch films stick with the telly on full screen and change the aspect ratio of whichever software  you're viewing with. right-click, Video, Aspect Ratio or somesuch

[Squash64]

I went back to the menu on the monitor and found 'original ratio' which has un-stetched it.  It does have black bars down the side of the screen but I can cope with that.

thanks everyone for your help.

[djbrenton]

There are two settings. One is the ratio and the other is the PC display settings. Change your display settings ( Control panel/display/settings) to 1360 x 768 ( the native resolution of your monitor) and then the monitor and the PC will be using the same resolution. Voila - black bars gone and everything is in proportion.

If your PC isn't sending in the right resolution then your monitor can't display what the PC is sending correctly. 4:3 and 16;9 are NOT PC display settings.

[Squash64]

In control panel/display/settings there is a slider bar which gives the options of either 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600.
I can't see how to set it to 1360 x 768.
 ??? Sorry for being thick!

[djbrenton]

You're not being thick. The problem would seem to be that you're not using a separate graphics card so you don't have the ideal option for your monitor. I suspect you'll need to install a graphics card if you want to set your display up correctly. Alternatively ou could try downloading the drivers from here if you weren't supplied with a disc
http://www.pcpitstop.com/drivers/download/LG~E1940%28Analog%29.html

[BarriedaleNick]

Squash - this means either that:
Your PC has not detected the monitor as a widescreen monitor.
Your PC is not capable of displaying widescreen.

Its unlikely to be the latter unless your PC is pretty old.. or you dont have the right graphics drivers installed
I take it you have rebooted?  This will force your PC to look for new hardware.
Did you use the cable that came with the monitor?
There doesnt appear to be a driver for this on the link below - or any where else for that matter

[pumkinlover]

One of the computers at work is widescreen I do not like it but only use it rarely!
I agree it looks most odd! ::)

[Bugloss2009]

Squash - this means either that:
Your PC has not detected the monitor as a widescreen monitor.
Your PC is not capable of displaying widescreen.

Its unlikely to be the latter unless your PC is pretty old.. or you dont have the right graphics drivers installed
I take it you have rebooted?  This will force your PC to look for new hardware.
Did you use the cable that came with the monitor?
There doesnt appear to be a driver for this on the link below - or any where else for that matter

surely it's the other way round - Squash has the wide screen, but doesn't like it

[goodlife]

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I agree it looks most odd!Yes... ;D I have to change my widescreen telly into 'normal' view..I just think peoples faces look horrid when they are stretched..and that's before the face lift.. :-X ;D
On puter is not too bad.

[BarriedaleNick]

Squash - this means either that:
Your PC has not detected the monitor as a widescreen monitor.
Your PC is not capable of displaying widescreen.

Its unlikely to be the latter unless your PC is pretty old.. or you dont have the right graphics drivers installed
I take it you have rebooted?  This will force your PC to look for new hardware.
Did you use the cable that came with the monitor?
There doesnt appear to be a driver for this on the link below - or any where else for that matter

surely it's the other way round - Squash has the wide screen, but doesn't like it

No - Squash has a widescreen monitor but cannot display a widescreen resolution.  Widescreen monitors do not stretch the picture unless they are wrongly setup.  The image will only be stretched if you are viewing 1024 x 768 (4:3) or similar on a widescreen (16:9) monitor.  You need to be able to pick a resolution that matches the aspect ratio of your monitor to avoid stratched images (or black lines).
It's geting harder to buy "standard" monitors now - widescreen is now the default for TVs and computing - they should never look stretched if setup correctly (with the exception of old TV progs)..