Display Driver Issue with Widescreen LCD
 

Okay I got a new 19" Widescreen monitor, and I hooked it up today [just turned off the computer unhooked the old 17" standard monitor that comes with most desktop computers, and hooked up the new monitor]. Turned on the computer and then of course everything looks huge because of the resolution set. So I look at my options, and none of them fit a widescreen ratio. So basicaly im stuck with: 1280 x 1024, or 1024 x 768. So I choose 1280 x 1024 closest to what this monitor is meant for. What I end up with is great picture, but most of the font and everything is badly squished. I searched google, and read the 1 page, single sided instruction manual, nothing. My computer is exactly 2 years old today, and the display drivers have never been updated [that I know of].

The monitors max is 1440 x 900 [so that gives you an idea of the width height ratio]. Anyone have any suggestion of what I can do?

-The software included was a flash animation that gave you a language selection, linked to a .pdf version of the 1 page single sided instruction page -_-.

Update the drivers?

Yeah, you can update the drivers. I know this sounds obvious and stupid, but couldn't you set it to the closest resolution and then use the monitor's buttons and manually streach the screen out or compress it until it fits? You know?

LOL. Not exactly. You really need to update your graphics drivers and hope that your card isn't so terribly old it can't support 1440x900. The way LCD's work basically boils down to the fact that in anything but its native resolution (the highest it supports), it will generally look like ass.

Go to control panel, system, display driver. Find out what kind of graphics card you have, and update the drivers.

BinarySurfer: As far as I know when you select a resolution it automaticaly fits it to the screen. Streching and compressing would only make the image go out of view.

Would new drivers allow me to choose more screen resolutions though?

yes, it's probably your best bet.

Who is the producer of your monitor?

Acer, but updating the drivers fixed it. Thanks for the help, this 19" flatscreen is awesome, first flatscreen and 19" monitor Ive owned :D.