Live Chat & Podcast Sunday at 12:00PM Eastern!
There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
Search
 
Windows Vista
Tag Cloud
acer audio bios boot bsod compaq computer connection crash dell driver drivers error firefox freeze game hard disk hard drive hardware install internet laptop linksys macro malware network networking outlook outlook 2003 outlook 2007 problem realtek recovery redirect router server slow toshiba trojan usb video virus vista vpn windows windows 7 windows vista windows xp wireless youtube
Search
Search for:
Tech Support Guy Forums > Operating Systems > Windows Vista >
Solved: Windows Vista Fullscreen Problem

Tip: Click here to scan for System Errors and Optimize PC performance
[ Sponsored Link ]

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
19118219's Avatar
Junior Member with 7 posts.
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Experience: Advanced
05-Jun-2008, 02:14 AM #1
Unhappy Solved: Windows Vista Fullscreen Problem
I am using a Windows Vista laptop, and I face a strange problem. When I run a fullscreen application (like a video game, not Windows Media Player) where the resolution is smaller than my monitor's resolution, it will not stretch the screen, leaving a black rectangle around the screen which I cannot move my mouse pointer to. My monitor is 1280 x 800 widescreen. So if a run a, say, 800 x 600 fullscreen program, the program loads 800 x 600 pixels into the center of my screen and leaves the rest of the screen black. How do I have such applications stretch their screens to the edges of my monitor (like it did on a Windows XP)?
pillainp's Avatar
Computer Specs
Senior Member with 150 posts.
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Experience: Advanced
05-Jun-2008, 01:07 PM #2
Go into your monitor's options and change the Scaling Ratio to "Fill".
19118219's Avatar
Junior Member with 7 posts.
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Experience: Advanced
05-Jun-2008, 02:06 PM #3
Thanks for your reply, but I have been trying to find out how to open my monitor's options so I could do that. Could you be more specific?
DaveA's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 5,151 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Experience: Advanced
05-Jun-2008, 03:26 PM #4
Is this "Black border" all around or just to the sides?
If it is just on the sides I would say that it is then the ratio difference.
800 x 600 = 1.333
1280 x 800 = 1.6
19118219's Avatar
Junior Member with 7 posts.
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Experience: Advanced
06-Jun-2008, 03:11 AM #5
800 x 600 was just an example.
Anything that is less than 1280 x 800 appears like a desktop background set to "Center", as opposed to the normal "Stretch".
Rollin' Rog's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 45,775 posts.
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: North of Hollywoodland
Experience: I know when to fold em'
06-Jun-2008, 06:32 AM #6
What is the laptop model and have you installed the drivers from the vendor's site for the model?

Sometimes FN keys can affect this -- for example Fn+F7 on some Lenovo models.
19118219's Avatar
Junior Member with 7 posts.
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Experience: Advanced
06-Jun-2008, 06:46 AM #7
It's an Acer Aspire 4920.
I haven't installed the drivers but I doubt that's the cause.
When I first got the computer, the fullscreen worked fine, then it suddenly became what it is now.
DaveA's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 5,151 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Experience: Advanced
06-Jun-2008, 10:20 AM #8
What is your standard res and what is this "Full screen" res while in a game?
19118219's Avatar
Junior Member with 7 posts.
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Experience: Advanced
06-Jun-2008, 01:01 PM #9
Standard = 1280 x 800
Fullscreen = the resolution of whatever game open (mostly those games like CounterStrike, Half-Life, Portal etc.)

The problem is that the game is supposed to stretch its screen to fit my monitor, but it doesn't and simply leaves a black border there.

The black border is a void: when I press print screen, it only prints what is inside the border. As mentioned earlier, I also cannot move my mouse into the border.

Lets say I got a program whose resolution is the size of the red border here:



I want the program to show like this:



Both images represent what is shown on my monitor. How do I do that?
DaveA's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 5,151 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Experience: Advanced
06-Jun-2008, 02:25 PM #10
I would say that you have a REAL driver issue.
Do any of these Games install drivers?
19118219's Avatar
Junior Member with 7 posts.
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Experience: Advanced
06-Jun-2008, 02:37 PM #11
No, none of them have drivers.

Oh by the way, do you know what pillainp is talking about in the 2nd post? It would be a lot simpler. He was quite vague has hasn't posted since.
(pillainp, if you are reading this, please explain)
DaveA's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 5,151 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Experience: Advanced
06-Jun-2008, 03:07 PM #12
No, I have never seen this "Fill" option.
Rollin' Rog's Avatar
Computer Specs
Moderator with 45,775 posts.
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: North of Hollywoodland
Experience: I know when to fold em'
06-Jun-2008, 05:10 PM #13
Go to Acer's site for the model, get the drivers for display and install them -- you may have lost or corrupted them in some way.

You could also try a "system restore" to a date when they worked. Or if there has been an automatic update of some kind to the drivers -- look for a "rollback" option in the Device Manager for them and try that.
19118219's Avatar
Junior Member with 7 posts.
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Experience: Advanced
07-Jun-2008, 03:47 AM #14
Thanks for all your help, but I just found pillainp's "Fill" button.

Right Click > Graphics Properties > Display Settings > Aspect Ratio Options > Full Screen (No Border)
DaveA's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 5,151 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Experience: Advanced
07-Jun-2008, 10:40 AM #15
Don't have that on my Sony's
Closed Thread Bookmark and Share   techguy.org/718613

Tags
fullscreen, monitor, resolution

THIS THREAD HAS EXPIRED.
Are you having the same problem? We have volunteers ready to answer your question, but first you'll have to join for free. Need help getting started? Check out our Welcome Guide.

Smart Search

Find your solution!



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
WELCOME TO TECH SUPPORT GUY! Are you looking for the solution to your computer problem? Join our site today to ask your question -- for free! Our site is run completely by volunteers who want to help you solve your computer problems. See our Welcome Guide to get started.

Thread Tools


You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:31 AM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2010 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.