Screen Proportions are Distorted

Hi Phil,
That image doesn't seem "stretched" to me. I captured the same screenshot from the source website, which I found by Googling the headline (I always avoid politics at user sites like EE, as it always leads to ugly stuff...so all I say in this case is that it's a site I never visit...first time there). Your image and my image are below. The aspect ratios seem the same and I would say that they are in, to use your term, "proper proportions":


Why do you think there's a problem? Regards, Joe

Also, please post the exact resolution of your monitor (e.g. 1920x1080)  .  Mine is 1920x1080

We need more information to be more definitive, but in general  make sure you know for certain a few things.

1.  What is the native resolution of your monitor.  This is the target resolution you should try to implement.  
o     This should be on the monitor's box or spec sheet.   If not you cn Google the model number's specs.

2. Make sure the monitor is not in any special configuration or zoom mode.  This assumes there is some sort of menu capability on the monitor.  If so look for a "Restore Defaults" option.  Or look for a picture mode called something like "dot by dot".  

Once you know the native resolution and the monitor is set to defaults or dot by dot, the next step is to match Windows resolution to the monitor.    Depending on your graphics hardware, there can be more than one way to do this.   I'll describe the Windows method below.  If that does not work, then let us know, and let us know what sort of graphics hardware you have installed.  

To adjust screen resolution in Windows,  
o       Right click on any open space of your Widows desk top,.
o       Click on the screen resolution button
o       A window will open that has a resolution tab/button click on that
o       Select the resolution that matches your monitor's native resolution.

At this point you can click apply.  The resolution will change to what you selected for a minute or so (to make sure it works).  If it looks good select the OK button and you are all set.    Some issues can arise here.  

The display blanks out or becomes unreadable when you hit apply.  -- Don't panic, it will return to the previous settings automagically in a minute or so, because the OK was not selected (previous step).  Do not hit any keys as you could inadvertently hit the OK button that you can't see at the moment!  

The native resolution of your monitor is not listed in the options.  If your hardware should support the resolution, but its not displayed, you probably need to update your drivers.  The best drivers are usually found at the laptop or graphics card support sites.

Images are normal (non-stretched) for me also.

Likely best to take a screen capture of your desktop + attach this to a comment.

By the way, its probably not possible to post a captured image of graphics from your desk top, since windows will capture it in its correct orientation, aspect ratio and resolution.  So anything will appear just fine to us.  You need to take a picture of whats displayed on your monitor from a camera and post that.

Thank you all for your prompt reply.  Here is some additional information.  The screen resolution I have the monitor set for is 1024 x 768 (recommended), though I tried several other resolutions and nothing changed.  The two images below are "Snipped" from my screen, so they should come through to you the way I see it.
Stretch-Image-2.PNG

One more image:

Anything you capture using your computer is going to look fine to us.  Our monitors are set up for correct resolutions.  You need to take a picture of your monitor using your phone or a camera for us to see what is displayed.

Then, verify that Windows is set to the suggested setting of your monitor -- the two must match to see images without distortion.  It does not matter that your monitor is old, portrait or anything in between -- Window can display distortion free when the settings match.    It would be helpful to have the monitor make and model.  

There is one situation where the windows settings will not work for a monitor..  If you have multiple monitors and duplicate the displays, windows will adjust to the lowest resolution.  This can cause the higher res monitor to have a distorted image, on black side or top bars.

Thanks Phil.   Happy to help

Hi Phil,

It's extremely unlikely that "a new HP Monitor" would have 1024x768 "recommended" resolution. Windows normally recommends the best resolution available, which is almost surely not 1024x768 for a new monitor. However, the graphics card (display adapter) plays a role here.

What is the model of the HP monitor? What is the make/model of the computer? What is the make/model of the graphics card (display adapter)? Regards, Joe

Phil,
I see that you selected John's post. Are you saying that your "new HP monitor" has a maximum resolution of 1024x768? I'm really curious about that...what is its model number? Thanks, Joe

1024x768 is one of the standard windows recommended settings, when the graphics drivers don't support the reported (from the monitor) resolution.   In this case you need to know the properties of your graphics card/chipset.  We can help better, if we know make and model of your PC and monitor.

Joe, I think Fred's right about anything I snipped from the screen showing up right on your screens.  And I apologize ... the "new" monitor is NOT "new".  It's a backup monitor that I purchases a while back - but that explains why the "recommended" resolution is 1023 x 768.

> the "new" monitor is NOT "new"

Ah, that explains it. HP made 1024x768 monitors back in the day, but not recently.

The point is you should see the correct image aspect ratios, if windows and the monitor resolutions match.   Since we don't have the monitor model, we can't google the supported resolutions for you.