[SOLVED] have large monitor - want smaller windows

hfreeman · 10-10-2009, 10:39 AM

I recently replaced a 14" LCD monitor with a 17" LCD monitor. This has the result of scaling up the size of all windows by what I assume to be 17/14ths.

But what I want is to have the windows be the same size (in INCHES, not pixels) as on the smaller monitor, with every letter in whatever font being the same size (in INCHES, not pixels) as on the old monitor.

This would be a great advantage, as then I could actually make use of the larger real estate and have more windows open. It may not be possible - I've tried all the display and system font settings. But if anyone has a suggestion I'd appreciate it.

Running XP SP2 with all patches installed. I have the monitor resolution set to 1024 x 768.

Dogg · 10-10-2009, 10:59 AM

Window sizes are measured in pixels (not inches). LCD size aside, screen size is determined by the resolution of the monitor. If you were using 1024x768 on the old monitor and are still using 1024x768 on the new monitor, then your screen size is still the same (it only appears larger because you are displaying it on a larger screen). LCP panels should be run at their native resolution. Look up the specs of your monitor to find the native resolution.

**koala** · 10-10-2009, 11:38 AM

What resolution were you using on the old 14" monitor? Was it 800x600?

To make the windows, icons and text on the 17" monitor at 1024x768 look the same size as before, go to Start > Control Panel > Display > Appearance tab > Advanced button to modify each setting in the Items menu.

For example, increasing the size of the Active Title Bar, Caption Buttons and Scrollbars will make them look bigger on your screen while allowing you to keep the larger native resolution of 1024x768.

hfreeman · 10-11-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogg

Window sizes are measured in pixels (not inches). LCD size aside, screen size is determined by the resolution of the monitor. If you were using 1024x768 on the old monitor and are still using 1024x768 on the new monitor, then your screen size is still the same (it only appears larger because you are displaying it on a larger screen). LCP panels should be run at their native resolution. Look up the specs of your monitor to find the native resolution.

Thanks for replying. The old screen size was also 1024 x 768, apparently the largest monitor size XP supports. I had already tried all the option settings before posting the question.

/hfreeman

**TheOutcaste** · 10-11-2009, 11:02 AM

1243x932 is 17/14th larger, so you should up the resolution to 1152x864 or 1280x1024.
If your video card can't run at that resolution, you should be thinking about upgrading it, or making sure you have the correct video driver installed.
Even my old Verite2000 card with only 4 MB of RAM can run those resolutions.

hfreeman · 10-12-2009, 11:08 AM

Thanks, and a big Duh! to me. For some reason, before I read your response, I just didn't see that a setting better than 1024 x 768 was available under display/settings/properties - in fact I would have sworn that the slider bar was all the way to the left with that setting showing.

But the moment I looked at it again after reading your note, the slider was actually in the middle at 1024 x 768, I slid it to the left, and got just what I wanted.

So thanks again, PROBLEM SOLVED!

10-10-2009, 10:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
hfreeman Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	[SOLVED] have large monitor - want smaller windows I recently replaced a 14" LCD monitor with a 17" LCD monitor. This has the result of scaling up the size of all windows by what I assume to be 17/14ths. But what I want is to have the windows be the same size (in INCHES, not pixels) as on the smaller monitor, with every letter in whatever font being the same size (in INCHES, not pixels) as on the old monitor. This would be a great advantage, as then I could actually make use of the larger real estate and have more windows open. It may not be possible - I've tried all the display and system font settings. But if anyone has a suggestion I'd appreciate it. Running XP SP2 with all patches installed. I have the monitor resolution set to 1024 x 768.

10-10-2009, 10:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dogg Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 2,016 OS: XP sp3	Re: have large monitor - want smaller windows Window sizes are measured in pixels (not inches). LCD size aside, screen size is determined by the resolution of the monitor. If you were using 1024x768 on the old monitor and are still using 1024x768 on the new monitor, then your screen size is still the same (it only appears larger because you are displaying it on a larger screen). LCP panels should be run at their native resolution. Look up the specs of your monitor to find the native resolution. __________________ Google is your friend !

10-10-2009, 11:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,342 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: have large monitor - want smaller windows What resolution were you using on the old 14" monitor? Was it 800x600? To make the windows, icons and text on the 17" monitor at 1024x768 look the same size as before, go to Start > Control Panel > Display > Appearance tab > Advanced button to modify each setting in the Items menu. For example, increasing the size of the Active Title Bar, Caption Buttons and Scrollbars will make them look bigger on your screen while allowing you to keep the larger native resolution of 1024x768. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

10-11-2009, 11:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
TheOutcaste TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 815 OS: MS-Dos 6.22 - Win7	Re: have large monitor - want smaller windows 1243x932 is 17/14th larger, so you should up the resolution to 1152x864 or 1280x1024. If your video card can't run at that resolution, you should be thinking about upgrading it, or making sure you have the correct video driver installed. Even my old Verite2000 card with only 4 MB of RAM can run those resolutions. __________________ Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Of course I know all the answers; I just don't always match the answers to the right questions. Rated R for Violence -- When your PC flies through a window, that's violent, right?

10-12-2009, 11:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
hfreeman Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	Re: have large monitor - want smaller windows Thanks, and a big Duh! to me. For some reason, before I read your response, I just didn't see that a setting better than 1024 x 768 was available under display/settings/properties - in fact I would have sworn that the slider bar was all the way to the left with that setting showing. But the moment I looked at it again after reading your note, the slider was actually in the middle at 1024 x 768, I slid it to the left, and got just what I wanted. So thanks again, PROBLEM SOLVED!