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Can't imagine where this computer setting is....
This thread has 21 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Saturday December 22, 2018 at 16:06
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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EDIT: Modified the title of the thread. It used to say "Windows 7 setting" but it's not a Windows setting.
Back to the original post:

So....
I'm taking the VGA output of my Lenovo T420 and feeding it via a six foot VGA cable into a Roland V-40HD video switch.

The moment I connect to the switch (even if the input I'm connecting to is set up to accept an HDMI input), the 16:9ish image on my ThinkPad changes to 4:3. After it comes out of the Roland switch via HDMI, it is letterboxed -- nice black bars above and below the image, and of course the image is stretched horizontally.

We're going to play this tomorrow, regardless, but it would be nice to fix this for later use.

Anybody know how to make a VGA connection (apparently) modify the aspect ratio of a source, and better yet how to make it stop?

Last edited by Ernie Gilman on December 23, 2018 10:36.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 2 made on Saturday December 22, 2018 at 16:31
Brad Humphrey
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This is not a Windows issue, it is a graphics issue. That computer shows it was using Intel integrated graphics, so this is specifically an Intel graphics issue.


First, need to make sure the graphics driver for the 'Intel HD Graphics 3000' is up to date. Latest shows version: 15.28.24.64.4229 (assuming Windows 7 64 bit).

Next, need to go into the menu for the Intel graphics and make changes. There maybe software missing that needs to be downloaded as well.
Link for all the support:
[Link: intel.com]
Post 3 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 00:08
tomciara
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**Brad is amazing**
There is no truth anymore. Only assertions. The internet world has no interest in truth, only vindication for preconceived assumptions.
Post 4 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 00:47
Brad Humphrey
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Thank you. Thank you very much.

But I would like to point out, if I was amazing, I would be able to tell Ernie exactly where to go in the Intel Graphics software and what changes to look for. I'm sure some real IT/PC guys that mess with that on a daily basis would be able to do just that for Ernie. But I don't think we have regulars on here, that are that deep into the IT/PC market.

Ideally anyone else would have little trouble using the info I gave and digging around in the settings to get it resolved. But I have a feeling Ernie might need a little more hand holding, as he is more a process person. He needs to have a clear instruction set on how to accomplish what he wants.

[edit]:
Just went and looked on one of the son's laptop (I remembered he has a computer running Intel integrated graphics). The program that should be running Ernie is 'Intel HD Graphics Control Panel'. It should be a bluish colored box in your notification tray (lower right bar). Going into this, you will see a section entitled 'Display'. Under that section: Under General settings (from the left) you will see at the top a drop down list for 'Select Display'. With nothing else connected to the computer, you will only have 'Built-in Display' available to select. With the external VGA cable connected to the matrix and running, you should have a 2nd selection on that drop down box. Selecting that, will allow you to change the properties for that connection on the settings below. Including 'Resolution', 'Refresh Rate', 'Rotation', and 'Scaling'. Once you have the top 3 settings where you want, you can play with the 'Scaling' settings to get the picture you want.
Post 5 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 08:59
highfigh
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If the blue Intel box isn't at the lower right, I would guess that clicking on Start, Control Panel, Display would get him where he needs to be- the computer I'm using has a 'Connect to a projector' option, but it was used for digital signage before I got it. If it's not a native option, maybe it can be added.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
OP | Post 6 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 09:25
Ernie Gilman
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Many thanks. Something new to look into.

You can say whatever you want about what kind of help I need, especially if you can answer this: since I did not know AT ALL about the Intel settings, how could I have possibly imagined to look there? Coming up with a google search description is an art, and I'm not quite the artist who would have been able to ask the right question.

I've wondered for years where "the instructions" are for so many computer things. Apparently they're nowhere and everywhere.

Unfortunately for today's adventure, we're showing that video in about three hours, and I'll have fifteen minutes on site with which to mess with things... so I'm not going to mess with it at all.

And I bought the computer used, so it's possible that someone else made this setting and I just need to clear it. We'll see.

Thanks again.

Thinking a bit more about this...

Ideally anyone else would have little trouble using the info I gave and digging around in the settings to get it resolved. But I have a feeling Ernie might need a little more hand holding, as he is more a process person. He needs to have a clear instruction set on how to accomplish what he wants.

One of my points in being on this site is offering help to anyone who comes here. To that end, I rarely PM people, instead preferring for the questions, answers, and discussions to be available to everyone. So, sure, I want instructions, so anyone can use the information.

But I detect a putdown here, since the phrase "hand-holding" was used. A full set of instructions is often a good thing. Think of learning to drive a car. Handling weapons also comes to mind. Rappeling down a mountainside and sky-diving, too. I think we'd all prefer for clear instructions to be given before a person attempts either of those things!

I'm not saying that computer adjustments are life and death issues, but if you need to do something with your computer and you have a time crunch, you sure don't want to spend time floundering around in software you never heard about, looking for an adjustment that might have an arcane name that seems unrelated to the problem at hand.

Last edited by Ernie Gilman on December 23, 2018 09:56.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 7 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 10:06
highfigh
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On December 23, 2018 at 09:25, Ernie Gilman said...
Many thanks. Something new to look into.

You can say whatever you want about what kind of help I need, especially if you can answer this: since I did not know AT ALL about the Intel settings, how could I have possibly imagined to look there? Coming up with a google search description is an art, and I'm not quite the artist who would have been able to ask the right question.

I've wondered for years where "the instructions" are for so many computer things. Apparently they're nowhere and everywhere.


I'm not saying that computer adjustments are life and death issues, but if you need to do something with your computer and you have a time crunch, you sure don't want to spend time floundering around in software you never heard about, looking for an adjustment that might have an arcane name that seems unrelated to the problem at hand.

Click on the Start button at the lower left of the screen- you should see a column of options such as Users, Documents, Pictures, etc and at the bottom, it should have Help and Support. That's where you should be able to find the answers to the questions about display settings. Be literal in your search- you shouldn't need to know any secret terms or syntaxes for your queries.

I don't know if you tried this- close or minimize any open windows or pages and right-click on the screen's wallpaper- you should see a group of options, including 'Screen Resolution' and it will detect the display that's connected & its properties. If it can be matched to the video, you'll see that. If the aspect ratio is fixed, you'll see that, too.

Last edited by highfigh on December 23, 2018 12:29.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
OP | Post 8 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 10:34
Ernie Gilman
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Thank you!

I changed the thread title to describe the issue more accurately.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 9 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 11:05
tomciara
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When this board is working well, it really does work very well. Now I have little interest in the question so not only would I have ignored it, but wouldn’t have even thought of spending time to find out what kind of graphics card you have and what needs to be tweaked. Brad did all that, and he deserves a public high-five for Xtreme helpfulness and expertise. It is the blending of helpfulness and expertise in all areas that makes this place work well.

Merry Christmas to all, and many thanks to everyone who has helped me over the past 15 years.
There is no truth anymore. Only assertions. The internet world has no interest in truth, only vindication for preconceived assumptions.
Post 10 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 11:37
Neurorad
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Optimally, any GUI (operating system or otherwise) should be intuitive. That is, it shouldn't need instructions. Windows is still very far from that.

Sometimes it takes some hunting around to figure out what you need to accomplish a task.

Once you have used a 2nd monitor a few times, you know where to configure it. Trial and error, hard to actually break a PC (if you can manage to remember how to backtrack). Dont be afraid to click on things, to figure something out.

Most people who are 'good' with computers have a natural curiosity about what it can do. Go ahead, click on some stuff, explore.

Hope the presentation went well.
TB A+ Partner
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. -Buddha
Post 11 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 11:41
Brad Humphrey
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On December 23, 2018 at 09:25, Ernie Gilman said...
But I detect a putdown here, since the phrase "hand-holding" was used.

No, not a putdown at all. Just an observation that I have made over the years, that you have predefined parameters that work for you. Anything outside of those parameters becomes confusing and needs further clarification. An exact road map, that leaves little to no deviation to stray off of.
So when replying to you, in an effort to help, I try to put as much info in the hypothesis as I can.
OP | Post 12 made on Sunday December 23, 2018 at 23:45
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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On December 23, 2018 at 11:37, Neurorad said...
Sometimes it takes some hunting around to figure out what you need to accomplish a task.

How anyone could not know hat's going on with a 16:9 becoming a 4:3, and work out "Intel" as the starting place for an answer... is beyond me! Thank you thank you Brad.

Most people who are 'good' with computers have a natural curiosity about what it can do. Go ahead, click on some stuff, explore.

Yeah, about that... An hour ago I made a stupid typo and my Chrome was suddenly in Incognito Mode. So I entered "get out of Incognito Mode" in the URL line. I got instructions. I was told to click on something at the top right (forget exactly what) of the Chrome App and drag it to the left. Okay, fine. I've got the Chrome Browser open. Is that the Chrome App? I google "icon for Chrome App" and get no helpful answers. I try dragging the thing at the upper right. Nothing happens. THIS is how I get to asking for directions: I find directions for processes that send me to do things at places that don't exist, and sometimes, just mucking about, I find the answer. But rarely.

I was able to exit Incognito Mode by closing the Browser. They didn't mention that and it's probably not what I wanted to do anyway.


The presentation went well. The woman who was in charge of getting it put together by a student who works part time was very pleased it came off well and she was done with doing that. But wait, there's more.... this was for a church, and she's been thanked for the addition videos she'll be shepherding to completion in the future. I told her the story of the fifty soldiers in a row when the sergeant barks "Do we have a volunteer?" and 49 soldiers take a step backwards, leaving the other one hanging out in front.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
OP | Post 13 made on Sunday January 20, 2019 at 14:19
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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On December 23, 2018 at 00:08, tomciara said...
**Brad is amazing**

Yes, sir!!!

I just found the Intel program Brad was referring to, and yup, it was set to 4:3. It has been hard to get to this since the only time I'm connected this way is during a church service. Got it done, though!

Thank you!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 14 made on Sunday January 20, 2019 at 15:03
highfigh
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On December 23, 2018 at 23:45, Ernie Gilman said...

Yeah, about that... An hour ago I made a stupid typo and my Chrome was suddenly in Incognito Mode. So I entered "get out of Incognito Mode" in the URL line. I got instructions. I was told to click on something at the top right (forget exactly what) of the Chrome App and drag it to the left. Okay, fine. I've got the Chrome Browser open. Is that the Chrome App? I google "icon for Chrome App" and get no helpful answers. I try dragging the thing at the upper right. Nothing happens. THIS is how I get to asking for directions: I find directions for processes that send me to do things at places that don't exist, and sometimes, just mucking about, I find the answer. But rarely.

I was able to exit Incognito Mode by closing the Browser. They didn't mention that and it's probably not what I wanted to do anyway.

If you want to go to Incongito Mode, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen- the third option (below New Tab and New Window) is New Incognito Window and while it can be opened using keystrokes, it's probably better to just remember where you can go for this, rather than try to remember everything.

"When in Cognito, act like a Cognitian".
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 15 made on Saturday January 26, 2019 at 13:28
Anthony
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On December 23, 2018 at 11:37, Neurorad said...
Optimally, any GUI (operating system or otherwise) should be intuitive. That is, it shouldn't need instructions.

I completely agree and disagree with that. It completely depends on the situation.

For example (and to bring it closer to home) If someone sits down and says I want to watch ( TV, BD, Netflix....) it should be intuitive and a single press. A small number of stuff that are used daily should be easy access and intuitive through the GUI.

On the other hand if I add all the controls on all the devices it would make the GUI extremely heavy so those would need to be buried somewhere so the important stuff is easy and intuitive. Furthermore I don't want people to mess with settings and stuff, but I want to be able to access them on my system, so on my controllers full access to device buttons are behind a PIN purposefully created not to be intuitive and someone needs to have instructions (pin) to access it.
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