Gadgets and desktop size keep getting messed up, help!

Hi All,

Recently I've run into a problem that I can't seem to fix and would appreciate any advice. I don't know what triggered it, but Windows seems to think my desktop is smaller (width-wise) than it actually is.

I have a Dell 6400 laptop, with an ATI radeon x1200 graphics card, and I'm running Windows 7 with Aero. The native resolution is 1680 x 1050. For some reason, Windows thinks my desktop size is something less (perhaps 1300 x 1050 or thereabouts). All of my desktop gadgets get moved to left, leaving 200 pixels or so unusable. If I try to maximize a windows, it won't use that far right region.

I figured this was a graphics driver problem, so I uninstalled (then reinstalled) the ATI driver. This seemed to fix it for a while. Then (usually after a resume from hibernation), the problem reappears.

I've tried googling around, but I don't know what exactly to search for.

The maddening thing is that Windows 7 has been working great on my laptop for weeks when this suddenly showed up.

The only clue that I have is that the problem seemed to show up after I accidentally hit the Windows-P button. I also had been playing with the magnifier a bit. Afterwards, I noticed this problem.

Note that the screen resolution is correct (1680 x 1050). I can change the resolution, but that seem to have no effect.

Any hints or suggestions on how I can get rid of this problem greatly appreciated...

I've attached a snapshot of the upper right section of my desktop. Note that the gadgets are all pushed left.

George

richc46 said:

Right click on screen and refresh. If does not work:
Remove Gadgets and then install again:

Try adjusting the DPI, as shown in our Tutorial

Note: my DPI settings were at default. I changed them to 125%, logged off. When I logged in again, I could use my full desktop again. I set the dpi back to 100% (repeated the process) and the screen was still good.

However, I forgot to mention that I had previously noticed that by logging off / in the problem seems to go away for a while (without changing anything).

Now that I've tweaked the DPI, I'll report back if the problem reappears (or is now fixed).

Thanks!

George

A Guy said:

You mentioned hitting Windows + P. That allows you to choose a presentation display mode. Press them again, and you will get 4 choices:

Display using the built-in screen only.

Display a duplicate image on the built-in screen and external monitor or projector.

Extend the desktop across both the built-in and external display.

Display only on the external screen.

Choose Display using the built-in screen only. See if that isn't the fix.

A Guy

Thanks! However, I tried that early on and it didn't fix it.

FWIW, the problem hasn't reappeared since adjusting the DPI per above. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

George

Well, it hasn't reoccurred since changing the DPI setting & logging off / in. I'm still scratching my head as to how it got messed up or why changing the DPI fixed it. But I'm much happier now!

Thanks much!!!

George