Sudden screen ratio change

I have been using my current system with Windows Vista now for a couple of years. I have always run it with a 22 inch widescreen monitor and have never had a problem.

I watch a lot of TV through my computer and when I switched on the other day I noticed that everything looked a little squashed.

TV programmes that once filled the screen top to bottom and left to right, now have a big black band top and bottom. They appear squashed.
It doesn't just affect the TV either. Any site I go on on the internet also appears squashed. All photos are squashed.

I have tried adjusting the screen settings with no luck. I just can't seem to find the reason for the sudden change.

Any ideas?

 

Hi,

Ok by "squashed" you really mean the screen changed to a lower resolution.

So to first be clear on the problem you went to "display settings" and you changed the monitor resolution, clicked apply and nothing happened? Or it won't let you change the resolution at all?

 

If it is a Windows setting I would just try a System Restore >>

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-windows-vista-system-restore/

Also the monitor itself should a reset button -- try that.