Windows 7 - Start Menu, default window size and sidebar got bigger!

Hello everyone,

Last night, I caught my keyboard by accident (I think!). Since then, my start menu and sidebar got bigger; in addition, when default windows open, they too are bigger than before, as are other menus like the drop down Norton menu which is accessed from the the Norton logo on my toolbar in Mozilla.

Today, I have literally spent all day investigating how to put it back how it was. I have tried: the resolution; the start menu properties; changing to small icons; accessibility options - nothing can return my menus to how they were.

Restoring to an earlier point did not work (which was concerning); after restoration, I got a dialogue window that said something like, 'files and settings could not be restored as an anti virus programme is stopping restoration'. So, I disabled Norton Firewall and Anti Virus - got the same message!

Now, I've managed to reset the icon sizes to how they were; the clock is still bigger on the side bar, the news feeds only holds 4 stories and the start menu is so big that with the fly out menu showing too, it takes up nearly half the 20 inch monitor.

My resolution is exactly the size that it has been for months. It is like the screen is magnified; however, when I start the magnifier, it only goes from 100 to 200%. Is there another way to magnify please?

Every time I try something new, it messes up my desktop and I am out of options now.

Help please! What am I missing?

Thanks.

d.

Hello dannyb, welcome to Seven Forums!


First, have a look at Control Panel, Ease of Access, Make Computer Easier to See, to see if that has been changed.

Check here: Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display whether display is set to 100%.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to reply; but, I have been right through all the options in the accessibility window.

If this helps - The frame of the Mozilla window is really thin since it happened; but, the favourite list and toolbars text is bigger somehow?

Since I posted, I have noticed that, as I move between this post and the general discussion forum list of posts - my monitor seems to be re-adjusting the contents of the Mozilla page. Like pressing control and + or -.

Now, I am wondering if it is the monitor again; as I did do earlier today. Have I hit a shortcut that is making the monitor adjust automatically? But, that wouldn't resize the thickness of the window frame?

PC is a Dell XPS and Dell monitor.

I am at uni and I have loads of work to do; but, I can't just ignore it; I hate being beat - it is driving me mad!

Yes - tried that about 6 hours ago too, on 100% and on 125%

No difference - this is killing me!

Thank you anyway!

I thought I would just check your path to make sure that we were talking about the same thing. Now when I open the control panel - it is empy. Just a blank window with the words:

"Adjust your computers settings"

This PC is brand new too! What is going on?

Going away for 5 mins to reboot!

d.

Have a look at the tutorial at the link below, be sure to restore to a date before the problem started.


It won't mess with your personal files.

System Restore

That is the exact process that I folllowed 3 times earlier:

- 1st time

- 2nd time with a/v and firewall disabed

- 3rd time undo

Thank you anyway!

I think that I am going to have to give in - and I HATE that!

Sometimes with help, I have beaten virus' and managed to sort everything PC wise in the past.

I have double checked the monitor settings while posting too; I have reset everything to default and there is NO zoom feature setting on the monitor!

And, I know that I am perfectly sane; although, these things can cause you to question your sanity (was it smaller before?) Yes it was!

It is like the magnifier is on, but set to 110%. Everything is just bigger!

Thanks everyone!

d.

Here are links to pics of the desk top and skinny window frame.

Please note the size of Norton safe site window and thin frame around Mozilla.

These links are for PhotoBucket.:

skinnywindow.png picture by dannybye - Photobucket

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...nnydesktop.png

The link below shows how the frame goes back to normal momentarily. Strange - when I double click the edge of the window frame - the frame goes back to the correct thickness, until the whole window is expanded - when it shrinks again!

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/k...ck_desktop.png

This shows that something is wrong! Any ideas? I will keep checking back - you are sure to get this issue again and again, and again ....

Thanks.

d

Hello Dan, the link doesn't work; you can fix it yourself by clicking the "edit" button at the bottom of your post.