Monitor screen hides part of displays- WIndows XP

For quite a while now, My monitor has been hidding on the LH side the Start/Shut Down button– part of the Quick Launch Bar, the Windows active displays– and hides most of the Systems tray including the Time/Date. I have no idea how to make it "shrink" to show all I need in the display.

After searching this forum, I decided perhaps it might be related to my Graphics Controller– so did a diagnostic Video Card per directions in one of the posts. Several items fail in Full Screen bouncing.

I've saved that report and can copy/paste here, if this is part of the problem. I am using an old CRT Monitor 2237 C71 from an IBM 1999 computer – with XP of course. My report information also says I have installed an Intel ($) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller – with driver # ialmrnt5.dll dated 10-19-2005 listed as installed when I ran the diagnostic.

Also, when I open a full Window– I have to immediately shrink it by grabbing sides and corners– so that I can see the minimize, close & expand buttons. This has gone on for over half a year now– but today in trying to work on a new application (WINK) it just would not show me approx. 1/4 of the screen on either left on right. The top/bottom I can control better.

So, these are my hardware issues. I also just finished an entire Malware removal thread with TomK in the HijackYour COmputer forum – and could post the Scans if needed. I don't know the posting link ID– but will try to find it soon!

Thanks,

khaef

http://forums.whatthetech.com/Legitimate_e…om_t103642.html

Well I can't be sure how or why this has just happened, but what you describe appears to be simply a case of the monitor needing adjusting, it's not the card, but the physical monitor, how you adjust it depends on the monitor (assuming it is this), but ultimately it will be physical buttons\controls on the monitor itself, some have an auto adjustment, although this doesn't work if connected by a DVI cable, only VGA, otherwise there will be either individual buttons for each function, but more likely it will be a 4 button or so affair. You will probably have a menu button, then up\down or +\- ones and maybe an exit one, the menu will enter into the screen adjustments, and often requires multiple presses to select the function you require, then OK it then you can adjust that section, then exit (take a step back) and repeat to edit each area of the screen you need to get the display showing correctly, it's not easy to explain, and is quite confusing when you first use it, but have a play and you should start to understand these instructions, hope it does what you need.

Thanks for your reply. I've been on my computer for eight hours today! Stayed home to work on a presentation : But couldn't open it (WINK – a free tutorial creation software) I could not see the "beginning or end– two horizontal "sides" of wink to grab the file menu, etc. It was a nightmare today. Then I lost my regular Email access (I use COmpuserve through a Cable Modem– not the cable co. email). That's taken the last two-three hours. Seems to be working now.' In between I searched in my home for my old IBM Color Monitor Users guide. And followed the minimal directions. I've gotten the pages to sometimes show– but it really doesn't help a lot. Still everything is too wide. In the task bar– I've managed to make the Start menu & regular task bar go to the TOP of my monitor– but I still have a gray bar– residing on the bottom of my screen. It is showing my quick launch items– then next to it is a double wide strip) These are in Grey– no longer blue) and I've LOST my SYstems tray completely. I did try to reset these features through Windows– and guess I messed them up. I'd love to go back to a regular display? I did make the horizonal- vertical adjustments on my monitor much smaller, but they are still too wide. So all this is really confusing right? Perhaps I should send you a screen shot? And here it is: Opps That won't work- as the direct Email won't accept the screen shot, nor will the attachments– and I can't really make the picture less than 500K (at least I don't know how to compress it). So you''ll have to imagine this! I think something is amiss with my WIndows set ups for Display – and with the monitor possibly. But I have the directions, and executed reduced sizing and it didn't seem to help@! This has been like this for quite a while. Thanks for more suggestions. Khaef

You can sign up for free image hosting at Photobucket or ImageShack then you can upload the pic there and post the link back here.
Now we will come back to monitor settings in a bit, because I'm not sure what you did, but in the mean time try and install the drivers for the video card again, get the latest from the makers (eg ATI or Nvidia) and see if that helps, then if you still aren't sorted try right clicking on the desktop and select properties, then advanced, see what the monitor resolution is set too and reply back with the make\model of the monitor and we can try and see what may be happening, see if this helps.

Hello – Well, I thought I'd LOST my monitor totally after I closed my computer down last night. This morning, when I went to turn the computer on, it Clicked maybe 40 times, but the screen was blank. So, I thought– this is it! The computer monitor has indeed Died.

Then went off to a tutorials presentation meeting, where I had to do a presentation, which is why I SO needed my computer/monitor yesterday. It did work enough yesterday to allow me to view, create & save a set of favorites examples.

But, this morning, it would not bring up a picture. I tried twice, and all I got was a very long (3-4 min. series of clicks– like the montor was trying to turn a switch on.

This evening, though, I though– well what can hurt, I'll try to turn it on again! The montor will just "blow up" that would be the worst– but I'll try it once more. I did notice that when it tried to connect Num Lock light came on– so I turned that key off. Had to try to turn it off several times, and low and behold, up came the Blue windows screen, and as you see I'm now "back in business" with viewing a monitor.

I posted in my first posting the Monitor make/model etc. and the Graphics Controll er (But I guess that's not the Video Card-right).

Do I have to go into MY COMPUTER – Hardware to find what my Graphics card is? Not sure where to find out that info. But I'll try .

In the meantime I found my Color Monitor IBM Users Guide for my old Montor (It is: CRT Monitor 2237 C71 from an IBM 1999 computer – with XP of course. My report information also says I have installed an Intel ($) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller – with driver # ialmrnt5.dll dated 10-19-2005 listed as installed when I ran the diagnostic.))

I just found my Dell Dimension Drivers & Utilities Resource Disk– to check for Graphics Controller Updates. It reported that everything was fine– but I can tell you I'm typing off the screen right now. Unless I have success with my mouse pointed– to hit the Reduce size (middle button) – minimizing the screen somewhat, about 5 words are typed without my seeing them. When this screen opened, it just went "way off" the visible portion of the monitor.

Anyway after running my Dell tool it reported that both Montor and Adaptor are "working fine".

I also just went to Firefox & searched for Dell Dimension 2400 Monitor Drivers– and came up with this website? http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-…cs-Driver.shtml What do you think about using this to try & correct my problems?

That's it for now. I'm just going to keep stabbing in the dark with my mouse pointer to try and reduce this rediculously wide display page. About an inch must be off the screen right now!

Thanks for more help & suggestions. Will just keep "at it." KH

PS: Please let me know if I can send my Screen shot via MS Word attachment in an Email?



I also clicked on a portion of the Desktop page & got two options– one goes to the Graphics Controller wher4e it reported on the DIsplay Mode size. I just tried to change it – and it made everything even larger– so maybe that's what is amiss. The Monitor directions indicates that one should look to the Computer Manual for optimal Display Mode size (addressability as they call it).

So perhaps that is what got messed up.

I will go to Dell help for that specification: and get back to you.

In the meantime I made a Word file of my Print Screen – with the notation above that what is shown there is NOT what I see. I thought I could email it to you as an attachment? Rather than open up Photobucket. Would that work? So that's where I'm at: Will keep you posted after I check out Addressability/Refresh Rate etc. from my Dell computer (It's from ca. 2004– so much more up to date).

Khaef, just verify that a couple of display resolution settings are correct. Right-click a blank area of your desktop, and then click properties. Click the "settings" tab when the display properties window opens. Click the "advanced" button. Click the "Monitor" tab. Make sure your screen refresh rate is set to 60Hz. Click Apply and then OK. You will be back in the settings tab of the display properties window now. Adjust your screen resolution to 1024x768 and click Apply and then OK. At this point, if your monitor is not displaying the picture correct, it is no longer a computer problem, it is a monitor problem. Try adjusting the monitor controls to shrink or move your screen size so that it fits in the entire viewable portion of your monitor. If you can not get the correct results, shucks, buy a new monitor! EDIT: A screenshot is worthless, because as you already found out, the screenshot is NOT what you see. The reason why it is not what you see, is because the entire problem lies with your monitor not displaying the picture properly.

Hi, I just quickly did what you suggested – which I also discovered are within the suggested specs for the computer (found an advanced screen about my Dell Dimension and what settings for the monitor). But, I did not like the 1024 x 768 setting– it made my screen expand even further (meaning the icons got larger and I saw less of the entire picture. So I switched it back to the 12++ which it was set at (forgot to note that exact setting– but the first # is a 1200 number). Left it at 60 Hz though. Perhaps my monitor controls and going bad as you suggested., Thank You for the help though. And, once again this a.m.– I had to turn off the "num Lock" button when I turned on my computer to allow the monitor to connect and bring up the screen. Don't know why Num Lock comes up when I fire up the computer now, but it does. At least, I figured out my own fix for that one– so I can see the picture!! Thanks again khaef

And, once again this a.m.– I had to turn off the "num Lock" button when I turned on my computer to allow the monitor to connect and bring up the screen. Don't know why Num Lock comes up when I fire up the computer now, but it does. At least, I figured out my own fix for that one– so I can see the picture!!

Khaef, thats the weirdest thing I have ever heard of and makes absolutely no sense to me.

You better hook up a different monitor to your computer and see how it works, before investing in a new monitor. You may have something else wrong with your computer.

If you like the higher resolution, it should be set to 1280x1024. Be sure that is correct. If you have it in a widescreen format or something it may not show right on your monitor.

Can you please verify, for sure, that your num lock is actually having to be pressed to bring your monitor up. The next time you turn your computer on, and you don't see any video, and the num lock light is on, don't press anything for a few minutes. Just see if the monitor will come up. I am just having a really hard time believing that this is nothing more than a coincidence, it makes absolutely no sense.

Sorry it's taken a while to get back, been manic here, anyway from those details you have a 17" CRT monitor, the spec says your resolution should be 1024 x 768 at 85 Hz for best viewing, the refresh rate should be set as high as it will allow you to, 100Hz is great if you can manage this, I realise this is the direct reversal of what was suggested, but different monitors require different settings, the rule of thumb is TFT screens (flat ones) should be run at the lowest they allow, 60Hz is the usual setting available, but CRT monitors need to be on the highest setting for best results.

The reason for this is due to the technology, and CRT monitors have a flicker, LCD do not, and the flicker can be noticed depending on the circumstances, more so if the user is very sensitive to such things, epileptics especially can be set off in a seizure by not using a high refresh rate, some can physically see the flicker at lower rates, some can even become physically sick due to it, others will never notice it, but by having the setting at the highest possible setting means it's easier on the eyes for the user, and is essential for those who are affected by it, mild symptoms are headaches, upping the rate usually cures this, but epileptics are at serious risk at the lower rates, so they should always use the highest possible.

Right I apologise if I missed anything above (heads all over the place ATM), but as above I need to confirm your settings are correct, so if you can confirm the resolution settings are the same as I have given here then thats one thing off the list, next is check you have the latest driver(s) for the graphics, going by the info above This should be the graphics driver you need, so try that.
Next Here is the spec for what appears to be your monitor, and here is a snippet from it to check your hardware is compatible with it:-

The C71 color monitor is designed to operate with system units or video adapters that generate a video output signal that falls within the specifications below:

Maximum addressability (pels): 1280 x 1024
Maximum pixel rate (Mpels/sec): 110
Horizontal frequency (kHz): 30 - 69
Vertical frequency (Hz): 50 - 120

Then have you identified the monitor controls to physically adjust the screen ? and have you adjusted these to get the picture to be displayed correctly ?
Here is a download that is hopefully for your monitor, it may help with setting it up, but I suggest setting a restore point before running this to be safe, but I can't foresee a problem, it's just a safety net really and see if this helps set it up, let us know how you go, and most importantly if you have identified the control on the monitor to physically adjust the screen, and if they work\help.

But a quick last thought as a long shot, you mention your num lock light, often this can be enabled\disabled in the bios, so if your comfortable entering this check that out and set to disabled if possible, next take a note of the time and date on the clock, have you noticed it being wrong or slow\fast ? or is it completely wrong ?
If so your CMOS battery is probably on the way out, and that can throw some pretty funky curve balls at you, so it may be worth checking that as well, hope something here helps, otherwise the above suggestion of borrowing a monitor, and even testing your one on another system is a wise move, then it may help identify the monitor or the system being at fault, good luck.

@8210GUY - I totally agree on the refresh rate.. I only recommended 60Hz because I did not know what his monitor supports, and this is the lowest possible setting, guaranteed to work.

Yeah I appreciate and figured that was the case, I just added that because I found the details so knew what it "should" be capable of, and also to clarify what the usual practise should be for these settings on healthy systems, but your quite right, while troubleshooting it never hurts to stick with basics so you can deal with 1 thing at a time.

I am replying in general to 821guy and appleoddity. I've been out of town for three days, and won't get a chance to try your suggestions until tomorrow evening And yes, to get my monitor to turn on again this time, I had to forcefully press the NumLock button off. When num lock is lighted when I turn the computer on (new default) I get no picture– and hear a repeated click– like a switch inside the monitor is trying to turn on. I can also tell you that "no" I am not comfortable with going in and changing something in the registry BIOS settings (unfortunately). I'm not much a computer geek– although I've learned and try hard to keep my computer up to date and safe. I did take a M.S. in Instructional Technology, but we did not learn much about the hardware of the computer– mostly how to create, teach and manipulate programs. So, I'll try suggestions tomorrow. And, to the person who asked; Yes, I've located not only the monitor controls, but the original Montiro0 booklet I received in 1999! But, it really doesn't give much help; it does tell you how to manipulate those rather primitive (for computers) controls though. Nothing I've tried has helped to pull the Start Button – and Systems tray (each horizon side of the operating bar) so that I can see them. So, I don't know any longer about the clock– unless I take a "screen shot" and freeze the clock in time, and compare with the present time! Yes, this is very weird. I agree! Will get back to this soon. Best, khaef PS: I'm not a "he", but a "she"!

You can launch the time\date box from the control panel, it's one of the ways to set the time, so don't click anything except Cancel when your done and nothing will be changed, but should it need changing then set it to the right details then save\exit. But from what you have said now I'm pretty sure you simply need to adjust your monitor's settings and then you will see the full picture, I appreciate the controls are near impossible to use when you don't know how to use them, but I'm confident you should be able to figure this out with a bit of experimenting. What names are given to the buttons on the monitor to do with these settings ? Once I know what these are I will try and guess what you need to do, but it will be along the lines of what I have said previously, but if the correct drivers and resolution are being used, it can only be an adjustment of the display itself to sort this.