[Ripperdan]

You said that there was no dumb question but maybe this fits.

I bought a new widescreen laptop and the salesperson suggested a new 23" widescreen monitor. (ASUS VH235). I wanted a big screen as I do alot of CAD work. My problem is that everything is distorded in the width direction. Like in Word, an 8 1/2 x 11 page is almost square instead of rectangular and my CAD drawings are elongated sideways. Is there some setting that can get the width to height ratio inline with the real page?

[Triple6]

You need to set the resolution in Windows to match that of the new monitor. To do so, right click on the desktop and select Screen Resolution. Then select the external screen and set the resolution to that specified in the documentation that came with the new monitor.

[dlsayremn]

Checked ASUS site. Native esolution is 1920 X 1080. Ratio is 1.777+

[Noyb]

Did you install the drivers that came with the monitor ???
You'll need to find a driver setting that has the 1.77 aspect ratio .. Something like attached setting ..
If the attached Perfect Circle/Square doesn't look as such .. The setting is wrong

[Ripperdan]

OOPS! I forgot to mention that the new laptop is running Windows 7 but the monitor is presently hooked up to a Windows XP Desktop. Does any of that matter. I have my old monitor hooked up right now so I can't check the circle. I'll hook up the new one and report back. By the way, thanks you guys. This is the best Tech. Support forum I have come across.

[Noyb]

Originally Posted by Ripperdan

... Does any of that matter.

Maybe .. It may depend on the video card in the computer.
I just had to upgrade a video card in an older XP desktop computer to be able to run a new Wide Screen monitor with a ratio of 1.6

[Ripperdan]

It's fixed. I had to buy a new Video card. I also had to buy a new Power Supply as the video card required more power than this old machne had. At any rate, it works great now.

Tnx alot.

[Noyb]

I took a gamble .. got an El-Cheapo ...
Crossed my fingers .. and hoped the OEM 200W supply would hold it.

Got plenty of working resolution choices .. and so far - so good.
Also .. upped the RAM to 1GB .. (from ~370MB) ... And that old HP a810n really runs and looks good.