When I Access The Internet My Screen (Window) Is Compressed

About a week ago my father's PC started displaying compressed screens when accessing the internet. The screen looks fine with the desktop view or if I go into Excel or Word, but every time I access the internet the windows all have extra wide margins (with no printing) and the content is compressed into the middle of my screen (see attachment). It does the same thing whether I am in Internet Explorer or Firefox, so I don't believe it is a browser issue. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

 

Hi Karpata and welcome to Computer Help Forums, sorry about the delay in replying however that looks to me like the magnification setting has been changed, if so the answer is simple press CTRL and the 0 key together and if all goes back to normal then I have just let you into one of the most well hidden windows secrets, that no one else knows about

 

I pressed CNTL + 0 (zero) and nothing happened. Any other suggestions?

 

Hi Karpata. Try these 3  options, and see if there is any difference.

When on the Net, click on the square Icon, in top right hand corner of your screen.Should decompress.

Check recommended Screen resolution, hasn't been changed.

Go to Graphics Card manufactures Website,and download latest Drivers to Desktop.

Go to task Manager and uninstall Graphics Drivers.

Install latest  Graphics Drivers.

 

I tried deleting and added back the updated graphic driver, but still no joy. Man this is an annoying problem.

 

Hi again.What size Screen,and what Display resolution, is it set at?

 

Try This: Open Internet Explorer, click on Tools then Advanced tab then click Reset Internet Settings

 

I have a Viewsonic VX2439wm LCD Monitor - 23.6". The resolution is set at 1920x1080 (which was the recommended setting). Also, I did try hitting the Reset Internet Setting (although since I have the same issue whether I use the Internet Explorer or Firefox browser, I don't believe it is a browser issue).

The most frustrating part is that it was working just fine, then one day my dad turns his PC on and the screen was compressed. Weird. I really do appreciate all your suggestions.

 

Disable javascript and see if that cures it.

 

I was chatting to DSTM earlier on and he'd been trying to work out what the problem was here. It would seem that DSTM himself had the same or similar problem, and he found a cure for his computer. He's been a little busy today, and has suggested that I post the fix that worked for him.

If you want Internet Explore to open full-size when you start it up, you must first start IE. Then maximize the window. Now click File, then Close. Now restart IE, and it should start up in a full-sized window. If half of the window is off the screen when you start a program, bring the window to the location you want and then click File and then Close, and it will re-open in this position the next time.

Changing the size of windows that appear when you click on an Internet link takes a few more steps.

Open Internet Explorer. Now open another instance of Internet Explorer so that you have two running at the same time. In the second one, right-click a link and select Open In New Window. If the new window does not start in full screen, simply resize the window by dragging the edges out to the sides of the screen. Do not use the max button.

Close the first window by selecting File, then Close. Now close the window you just made full size. But close it by holding down the Control key and selecting File, then Close. Do not release the Control key until the window is closed.

Now close the last Internet Explorer window. If you do this right, the settings will stick. You may or may not have to reboot, depending on your operating system.

 

 Thanks for posting this Fix for me,PseFrank. I was indesposed.

Like Karpata, I have a Computer, that windows would not remember settings.This has been annoying me for around 3 mths.

Came across this fix,and it works a treat.

 I also had the problem,when I open  any of my Documents,the pages were small.

I would maximize, stretch,and every time I opened my pictures, IE would not remember the settings.

Applied same fix to my Documents,and now they always open the size I set them at.

When applying settings, don't close with Red X.

Try this fix,Karpata.Should work for you too.  



 

 

I am afraid there has been a slight misunderstanding as to the problem I am experiencing. It's not that windows explorer won't open the windows to their full size, that hasn't been an issue, instead it is the way the screen looks - the content is compressed to the middle of the screen. Look at the attachment I submitted with my first posting.

 

From what I see looking at the two images

The top Image is

Windows 7, displaying a page to the normal magnification

The Bottom Image is

XP, displaying a page Magnified.

On my First post I got it the wrong way round, if you press CTRL and + together you will increase the Magnification, same as CTRL and - Will reduce the magnification and my first post explains how to reset the magnification.

Hope I've got it right this time and haven't misunderstood your post this time :unsure:

 

Hi karpata!

I am so so far from being an expert with computers it's down right embarrassing but how I hope your screen has gone back to normal by now. But if not ... wonder if I could ask our Experts here if updated the video drivers may help?

Am only asking because I remember a friendly having a similar problem where everything on her screen looked like it had a blank frame around the outer edges of what was displayed and it had something to do with the video drivers. Anyway, if it's felt this may work, I am sorry that I've no idea who video drivers are updated - but I know our Experts will know the steps involved.

But would you please let us know how you're getting along with this pesky computer woe, karpata? Thanks so much. And a truly happy welcome to you here at our Computer Help Forums!

Mara

 

If you start Firefox in safe mode is it the same?
(Start/Programs/Mozilla Firefox/Safe Mode)

 

Problem solved. It was just a magnification issue. When I hit Cntl+ a couple of times the screen is now back to how it used to be. My dad is very happy, it was very hard for him to read the screen the other way. He must have accidentally hit the Cntl- keys a couple of times to shrink it in the first place.

No matter, every thing is now good. Thanks for everyone for all your suggestions.

Karpata

 

Hi Karpata- so glad everything is good once again! And how very kind of you to let us know - really do appreciate it.

Happy smiles,
Mara