Windows Display Problems

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I recently reinstalled XP Pro on my Dell XPS 850t PC after trying
unsuccessfully to repair a corrupted registry (updates have all been
installed). My problem concerns the display of some menu items. For example
in this display (Window XP Basics) the left pane, listing the questions, has
letters so large that only a few words are visible (i.e., ERROR, Could not
ope...) for the current top post. The right pane has large letters as well.
When using IE to view some familiar web sites, the displays are large and
sometimes overlap. Sub menus sometimes have letters so large that only on or
two fill the viewing space. I set the text to the smallest and searched my PC
for media display controls, but have not been able to fix this problem. My
Video Card is a NVidia GeForce FX5200 and the Monitor is a Sylvania Proview
HD-972 19". I know there is a setting somewhere in the system, or a
downloadable fix, but I haven't been able to find it as yet. Any help from
the experts in cyber space would be greatly appreciated.


CinciDave
 
CinciDave said:
I recently reinstalled XP Pro on my Dell XPS 850t PC after trying
unsuccessfully to repair a corrupted registry (updates have all been
installed). My problem concerns the display of some menu items. For
example in this display (Window XP Basics) the left pane, listing the
questions, has letters so large that only a few words are visible (i.e.,
ERROR, Could not ope...) for the current top post. The right pane has
large letters as well. When using IE to view some familiar web sites, the
displays are large and sometimes overlap. Sub menus sometimes have letters
so large that only on or two fill the viewing space. I set the text to the
smallest and searched my PC for media display controls, but have not been
able to fix this problem. My
Video Card is a NVidia GeForce FX5200 and the Monitor is a Sylvania
Proview HD-972 19". I know there is a setting somewhere in the system, or
a downloadable fix, but I haven't been able to find it as yet. Any help
from the experts in cyber space would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

1. After you did the install (assuming a clean install), did you also
install all the drivers for your hardware, including the video card? If
not, you need to do so.

2. If you already installed the drivers from Dell's website (or Nvidia's),
then check to make sure you aren't using any Accessibility Options. Having
the display set on High Contrast can do funny things.

Malke
 
Thanks for your help. Let me respond to your suggestions -
My reinstall was performed on a formatted drive. I checked the video card
and the driver seems to be ok, I checked the accessability functions and
there was nothing exceptional checked.

Therefore, I am at a complete loss as to why this is happening. Before the
problem occurred the displays were fine.

I am still in a quandry and seek more help, please!

CinciDave
 
CinciDave said:
Thanks for your help. Let me respond to your suggestions -
My reinstall was performed on a formatted drive. I checked the video card
and the driver seems to be ok, I checked the accessability functions and
there was nothing exceptional checked.

Therefore, I am at a complete loss as to why this is happening. Before
the problem occurred the displays were fine.

I am still in a quandry and seek more help, please!
Click to expand...

"Checked the video card" didn't answer the question. If, after your clean
install of Windows, you did *not* install updated drivers from Dell and/or
Nvidia, then do so. It doesn't matter if the "driver seems to be ok" if you
didn't do this. For OEM machines such as Dells, get drivers for your
specific model machine from the Dell tech support website. If the GeForce
came with the Dell, use their drivers.

Malke
 
Malke - You are right! I did finally found and downloaded the latest video
driver from Dell and fixed the problem....I learned something today - ....to
stop whining until I have exhausted ALL my personal options......MANY
THANKS.....

Now if I could have figured out how and fixed my registry last week, I
wouldn't be suffering the susequent trauma of reconstituting this system
almost from scratch. Better yet....I'd have given a lot to just catch up to
the wretch who generated the virus that caused my PC to "deep-six".
--regards
CinciDave
 
CinciDave said:
Malke - You are right! I did finally found and downloaded the latest video
driver from Dell and fixed the problem....I learned something today -
....to stop whining until I have exhausted ALL my personal
options......MANY THANKS.....

Now if I could have figured out how and fixed my registry last week, I
wouldn't be suffering the susequent trauma of reconstituting this system
almost from scratch. Better yet....I'd have given a lot to just catch up
to the wretch who generated the virus that caused my PC to "deep-six".
Click to expand...

I'm glad you got it sorted. If you protect your computer properly and
practice "Safe Hex", you will not get infected. There will always be
wretches generating viruses but if you practice "Safe Hex" you will not get
them. I have quite a few heavily-used Windows machines and because they
have good av, firewalls, operating systems and major applications are
regularly patched, and educated users - the machines stay clean.

Safe Hex:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971 - So How Did I Get
Infected Anyway?
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://msmvps.com/blogs/harrywaldron/archive/2006/02/05/82584.aspx - MVP
Harry Waldron - The Family PC - How to stay safe on the Internet
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - Eric Howes on Rogue
Antispyware Programs
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp - Protect Your PC

Malke
 
I operate this PC from my home, but I am connected to the University of
Cincinnati system (I am a professor) with all of its filters and protective
software. In addition, I use Mcafee Enterprise, zone alarm, windows firewall,
ad-aware, spy blaster. All are kept updated and on alert. And still it
happened.....These bozos are clever. I will look at your suggested web sites
and be guided accordingly.
.....Again...Many Thanks
 
Just to add, whilst you have finally installed vid drivers from Dell did you
also install the mobo chipset drivers?
If not you could have further problems down the line, since currently you
will be using the default win drivers
 
It doesn't matter if the reinstall was done on a formatted drive. If you
reinstall windows, you must reinstall the video drivers.

Craig
 
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