Everything on computer screen magnified, how do I fix this?

Anonymous
2009-07-28T17:43:50+00:00

I accidentally hit the keys on my laptop and the screen went dark. When it came on again a few seconds later everything it displayed was magnified. Web pages, toolbars, the desktop, everything. I think I accidentally hit some sort of hot key command that resizes how everything is displayed. This is a real nuisance and I'd like to fix it ASAP. I've checked my screen resolution and it's normal, at 800 x 600. I read an article that said the problem can be eliminated by hiding or showing desktop icons, but that didn't work either. I looked through the Microsoft Help database and this forum and Windows Help and Support and couldn't find anything that helped or even identified exactly what my problem is. I am running Windows Vista and all my graphics settings are on default. No matter what I try to display on my monitor-- the desktop, web browsers, and any program-- everything is magnified. When I try to adjust my browser magnification by using Ctrl - or +, only the content in the web browser window changes size and border of the browser (all my toolbars and searchbars) remain magnified. How can I put my screen back to normal?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-07-28T18:13:14+00:00

Hello dude_read, welcome.

1024 x 768 is actually the lowest accepted standard for viewing content. If you are running the system at 800 x 600, you will have visual problems displaying content that's designed for larger resolutions.

If you change it up a notch to 1024 x 768, that should do the trick. Alternatively you could change your DPI settings but it's most likely the low resolution you have set.

Let us know,

Thanks!

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-11-29T17:29:58+00:00

    Keep being told need driver updates. Having trouble getting any Microsoft updates. I need all of the updates. Am being told all Microsoft programmes have crashed. Any answers apply to a laptop. I am using a desktop computer with Windows 10. I think Bing is in conflict with Microsoft. They have all my friends on their site so cannot delete it. Please help, also I do not have a smart phone. I am too old to cope with all these problems. Thanks June.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-29T17:05:37+00:00

    I accidentally hit the keys on my laptop and the screen went dark. When it came on again a few seconds later everything it displayed was magnified. Web pages, toolbars, the desktop, everything. I think I accidentally hit some sort of hot key command that resizes how everything is displayed. This is a real nuisance and I'd like to fix it ASAP. I've checked my screen resolution and it's normal, at 800 x 600. I read an article that said the problem can be eliminated by hiding or showing desktop icons, but that didn't work either. I looked through the Microsoft Help database and this forum and Windows Help and Support and couldn't find anything that helped or even identified exactly what my problem is. I am running Windows Vista and all my graphics settings are on default. No matter what I try to display on my monitor-- the desktop, web browsers, and any program-- everything is magnified. When I try to adjust my browser magnification by using Ctrl - or +, only the content in the web browser window changes size and border of the browser (all my toolbars and searchbars) remain magnified. How can I put my screen back to normal?

    Quickest fix I've found (if none of the other solutions work for you) is to uninstall the display adaptor then reboot when prompted. Windows should hold the display drivers for you and reinstall them automatically but make sure you have your driver available first just in case you have to reinstall manually.

    I have no idea what causes this bizarre fault - I've seen it a couple of times now and I thought at first it may have been an accessibility option accessed in error with some weird hidden key combination, a resolution error (as many others have suggested), a monitor utility setting - none of which was the case. Hope my fix helps somone out there.

    I have explored all the other options without any change in magnification except uninstalling the driver.  When in device manager, there is a menu in properties that should allow you to roll back, disable or uninstall, these are not active in my version.  Have even done a recent Windows 10 update with no change in magnification.  My magnification doubled without warning.  My adapter driver is ATI Radeon HD 4200.  Original operating system was 8.1 updated to 10.  Driving me nuts, especially since I work remotely.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.  I am "challenged" when it comes to technology, so please speak English. Thanks.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-11-26T19:09:17+00:00

    I have checked the correct/recommended size in settings but the screen does not correct.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-24T23:19:54+00:00

    I did not hit any buttons.  I clicked on a game and was waiting for it to come up- did not have my hands on keyboard or mouse.  The screen went blank and when it came back up the size of the contents on the screen were way to large for the screen.  I checked the resolution and it was set on the recommended setting.  When I changed the resolution to fit the screen, the contents are blurry and everything moves in slow motion.  The reaction is really slow.

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