XP reduced screen size display issue

[ronaries]

Hello. I must have hit some key combination by error on the keyboard during Display setup in the control panel, because when WinXP sp2 got displayed, only 70% or so of the screen size was used. When I rebooted, the entire screen was fine UNTIL windows xp took over, and then the screen reverts to 70% size.
I've looked for a setting to control this to no avail. Can someone help me here? The video display works fine ... until WinXP takes over!
ronaries

[EzyStvy]

Is this a notebook? If so, try hitting the FN & F?? key...

[glc]

If it's a laptop, you need to set the display to native resolution or enable display stretch in the bios.

[ronaries]

Thanks. I will try the solutions you mention. Yes, it is a Dell Inspiron/Celeron laptop - sorry , I forgot to mention it.

[glc]

It's also possible you haven't installed the video driver if you just did a fresh Windows install.

[ronaries]

No joy yet. I have tried various F & Fn combinations w/o success. I have not re-installed Windows or the driver... nothing different there. I searched thru the Control Panel's Display settings for anything that might make a difference, but nothing had desired effect. I saw nothing re: "native resolution" however; I did try the default settings. I have not gone into the CMOS since I haven't ever touched it on this laptop....so presumably it wouldn't have caused the problem? I specified 800 x 600 and 16 mb colors ... no change tho.

This laptop has been without problem for 3 easy years, but of course just went off Dell's warranty.

I continue to have only 70% of screen with Windows. At initial bootup, however, screen appears to be normal - prior to the windows logo - so I continue to think this is a Windows issue....

Dell Inspiron 1100 - Celeron, 256 mb
Windows XP Home SP2
Trend Micro PC Cillin Internet Security

[EzyStvy]

Try reloading the video card drivers.

[glc]

I think native is 1024x768 - whatever, run the slider all the way to the right. If 800x600 is as high as it goes, the video driver needs to be reinstalled.

[ronaries]

Things have gotten much worse. I could not find disk for video drivers.... and I figured that PC Cillin INternet Security was part of problem, so I did a system restore to earlier date hoping that would fix video issue. Didn't work.

Now the system will only boot into safe mode. When I boot into windows regular, I get folowing message:
"A problem has been detected & windows has been shut down" ...prevent damage, etc. ....Use safe mode, restart, press F8. TECH: STOP Ox0000007E, (OxOOOOOO5, OxFO9314DO, OFx96E8FC8, etc

Seems like my only recourse here is to revert to a new install. I saw that ther is a hidden 30-40gb data on disk 0, but I cant find a way to get to it ... I'm assuming this is the system re-install program for windows? I'm searching for original disks but have yet to find any.

Any clues here will be most appreciated!

[glc]

Call Dell, they will tell you the bootup key sequence to get into the system restoration. I think it might be F11.

[ronaries]

I eventually found the missing Dell disks, and did the full factory restore. The screen remained a problem tho -- fortunately, on the Dell forum someone came to my aid and suggested that I find the invoice and the screen type identificatiioon, and then set the screen size accordingly (xga = 11xx X 7xx) . When I did this the screen size reverted to its normal and full size! Fantastic.

Apparently the video adapter reduces the screen when other sizes are designated ... it is not uncommon for Dell notebooks, I was told.

Thanks for help.
Ronaries