image stretched on widescreen monitor

AHAR

I'm pretty sure I can offer a solution to this problem...if the OP tells us what computer they've got. An actual model number would be good. The service tag would be better.

blackswan2

Dell Dimension 8300

blackswan2

right click : properties: settings:

Screen resolution is set to 1024x768 - there's only a linear drag button to change it going up to 1920x1200.

Tried to update two drivers GE Force FX5200 (v4.5.0.2) and 'Plug and Play" (v5.1.2001.0) - but was told both are at the latest levels.

roddydogs

But how does a graphics card alter the "Basic" 4 x 3 aspect ratio, without "stretching" or Black Bands?

NiVZ

The screen resolution being set at 1024 x 768 is the problem.

What happened when you set it to 1920 x 1200? To me that actually sounds a bit high (since you said the monitors maximum is 1920 x 1080) and could introduce 'desktop panning' . I'd look for the highest resolution that has 1080 as the second number, or stick at one of the slightly lower ones like 1280 x 768.

@roddydogs - it's not altering the aspect ratio, it's just stretching the square image to fit the rectangular screen to avoid having black bars.

eg the graphics card is set to 1024 x 768, but the monitor can display up to 1920 x 1080. So to avoid showing black bars at each side, it stretches the square picture to fit the rectangular monitor. On laptops this behaviour can be turned off by pressing function key and F4 (or the F key with two square boxes inside each other). Most widescreen TV's also have a button that lets you choose aspect ratio to force stretching, or show black bars (TV usually displays either 4:3, 16:9, zoom, automatic, etc when you press the button)

When you set the graphics card to use a true widescreen resolution, eg 1280 x 768, 1920 x 1200, 1920 x 1080 etc.

NiVZ

AHAR

Are you getting the driver from NVidia's site?
If not, try this one here:
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/winxp_175.16_whql_uk.html

The FX5200 isn't listed in the Supported Products but is there in the Release Notes pdf (under additional information) along with a mention of the 1920 x 1080 resolution so it should work.
If that still doesn't give you 1920 x 1080 it may be that the card isn't talking correctly to the monitor to find out its capabilities. You could try going into the Advanced options in the Display control panel, then clicking on Monitor and removing the tick next to "Hide modes that this monitor cannot display" then see if the 1920 x 1080 resolution is offered on the slider.

Actually, you could try that last bit first. Maybe the driver you've got will do the job if you change that option.

blackswan2

the box is already unticked - I'll have a look at the Nvidia site, thanks.

roddydogs

NiVZ wrote: »

The screen resolution being set at 1024 x 768 is the problem.

What happened when you set it to 1920 x 1200? To me that actually sounds a bit high (since you said the monitors maximum is 1920 x 1080) and could introduce 'desktop panning' . I'd look for the highest resolution that has 1080 as the second number, or stick at one of the slightly lower ones like 1280 x 768.

@roddydogs - it's not altering the aspect ratio, it's just stretching the square image to fit the rectangular screen to avoid having black bars.

eg the graphics card is set to 1024 x 768, but the monitor can display up to 1920 x 1080. So to avoid showing black bars at each side, it stretches the square picture to fit the rectangular monitor. On laptops this behaviour can be turned off by pressing function key and F4 (or the F key with two square boxes inside each other). Most widescreen TV's also have a button that lets you choose aspect ratio to force stretching, or show black bars (TV usually displays either 4:3, 16:9, zoom, automatic, etc when you press the button)

When you set the graphics card to use a true widescreen resolution, eg 1280 x 768, 1920 x 1200, 1920 x 1080 etc.

NiVZ

So it does "Stretch the picture"!!

blackswan2

AHAR wrote: »

Are you getting the driver from NVidia's site?
If not, try this one here:
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/winxp_175.16_whql_uk.html

The FX5200 isn't listed in the Supported Products but is there in the Release Notes pdf (under additional information) along with a mention of the 1920 x 1080 resolution so it should work.
...

Just done that and now seem to be screwed up!
I installed the driver from the above link and along with the 'restart computer' choice, a DLL box saying "Missing Entry: NvCpl Handle Display Change". I clicked okay and selected to restart the computer.

It gets as far as the Windows logo with the little panel with the moving blue box thing and then the screen goes black apart from a floating blue box saying "Input Not Supported".

Reset the PC and tried again same thing. Don't get to see the option of trying safe mode. I can go into the Recovery Console but no idea if that can help me or how to use it. It starts with:

1: C:\WINDOWS
Which Windows installation would you like to log onto
(To cancel, press ENTER)?

Help!

(posting from my work laptop)

blackswan2

just remembered can get into safe mode usinf F8 so have done that, system restore not working (says no restore points even though I created one a couple of days ago).

Going to Uninstall NVIDIA Drivers ...

and try to install NVIDIA Riva TNT2 4.5.0.2 - except it says system administrator has set ploicies to prevent this installation! Will try and get it from PC Pitstop.