Start Menu, default window size and sidebar got bigger!

[dannyb]

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.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

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.

 

[whs]

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

 

[dannyb]

Tried it!

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!

 

[dannyb]

Thanks again

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

No difference - this is killing me!

Thank you anyway!

 

[dannyb]

Control panel window is now empty!

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.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

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.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

 

[dannyb]

Thanks again

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.

 

[dannyb]

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/kk279/dannybye/skinnydesktop.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/kk279/dannybye/doubleclick_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

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

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

 

[dannyb]

Links

Thanks for sorting the links!

Some forums are funny about posting links; so, I put some star characters into the links and included a note saying delete the stars before clicking the link.

Now I know that I can just post the link, I won't do it again. Sorry for any inconvenience.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks for sorting the links!

Some forums are funny about posting links; so, I put some star characters into the links and included a note saying delete the stars before clicking the link.

Now I know that I can just post the link, I won't do it again. Sorry for any inconvenience.

No problem mate, if in future you need info just PM a member of the staff if you have any concerns what you can post, it may keep you in good standing.

 

[dannyb]

Extra info....

The start menu properties are set to show 10 items in the start menu and 10 in the jump lists; but, there are 12 icons in the start menu???? The icons are really small too.

'Resolution' is the same; 'make your screen easier to read' is set to 100% as before. Magnification is the same.

Wasted two days on this now at a critical time at uni - there has to be a way to put it back!

I give in!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

It's not making sense; maybe someone else will have some other ideas for you.

 

[dannyb]

Thanks

Thanks anyway.

I did post in a Microsoft forum too, hoping that a M/S expert may know what was going on - no response.

It doesn't make sense to me either. I have been using windows for nearly 20 years; I am a 35 year old BA computing student and no a beginner. Every possible option has been explored.

Repeating myself:

The crazy thing is that some aspects are bigger, while some are smaller; so, it cannot be magnification or resolution - they both change the screen proportionately and not one bit bigger and another smaller.

I still think it happened by miscuing key strokes late at night, hitting a short cut by accident - when I looked up at the monitor everything had changed.

Message understood anyway; I am looking no more. Now, I have two days work to catch up on - arghhhh!

I should have asked, 'is this worth it?' two days ago. Perhaps, that is the real lesson here?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I know the feeling also, once in a while something gets stuck in my thoughts and there's no "not doing it" until it's done.


Good luck mate!

 

[slekkas]

i had the same problem, control panel-appearance and personalization-display-resolution, then change it to the highest resolution and it should go back to normal

 

[pedaller]

A thought

I realize this is very late, but I wonder if you tried using another keyboard. I see that in your original post you "caught" your keyboard, so I'm wondering if maybe it keeps sending something randomly.

 

[dragonkid2]

To restore Start menu default settings
You can restore the Start menu to its original, default settings.

Click to open Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.

Click the Start Menu tab, and then click Customize.

In the Customize Start Menu dialog box, click Use Default Settings, click OK, and then click OK again.