resolution changes

my desktop and offline resolution is 1024x768 but changes to 800x600 online.
restore back one day and it corrects for a few days.
can this be corrected 'on the fly'? and what is changing it?

TIA
gubba

Your hardware specs, especially your display adpater/video card?  How much video memory?  What driver version is installed for your video card?

Does this change happen when you're visiting a particular website?

[Moderator]

Sounds like some app is calling for a different resolution when it loads. And have you done a full scan with your av and MalwareBytes just to be safe?

Your hardware specs, especially your display adpater/video card?  How much video memory?  What driver version is installed for your video card?

Does this change happen when you're visiting a particular website?

Not trying to give you a hard time, but what difference does it make what his hardware is? And I don't see how a website could change the desktop resolution.

And I don't see how a website could change the desktop resolution.

Honestly, I don't either.  But, he said his resolution changes when he goes online.  I suspect, as you say, some app is calling for a different resolution when it loads.  So, I'm just trying to clarify exactly when this happens.  Maybe it's not really related to going online, he just perceives it to be happening then.

[Moderator]

It would more likely be related to the browser than where he's browsing to

Ok, would like to ask what browser he's using then?   

[Moderator]

No - it doesn't matter  . The problem is almost certainly one of three things:

1) A piece of software is calling for a resolution change when it loads or
2) Malware or
3) Defective driver or video card

i will repeat.....

when it changes it effects ALL online sites.  i'm using ie8.

desktop, 'word', applications, games, explore, search, all stay in the higher resolution.

when i use 'restore' and go back one day all is ok again for about a week.

when it changes it effects ALL online sites.  i'm using ie8.

desktop, 'word', applications, games, explore, search, all stay in the higher resolution.

So, you're saying you have two resolutions when this happens, one for everything but IE and another resolution for IE.  And, to reverse the undesired change in IE, you use 'restore'. 

First, let's get our terminology and concepts straight.  At any given time, your computer has ONE resolution setting, only ONE.  And the normal way to change resolution is to open Display Properties and set it there. Display Properties can be opened by right clicking on the desktop and selecting Properties. Here's a reference: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/personalize/resolution.mspx

What I suspect is happening, which is what you're calling a different resolution, is that you're inadvertently changing font size or zooming in/out in IE. This can happen if you have a wheel mouse and move the wheel while the Ctrl key is pressed. Try it. You can also change text size in IE by clicking View on the menu bar and selecting Text Size. Zoom can be set from the View menu by selecting Zoom.

[Moderator]

I agree - now that you're explaining it better it sounds like nothing more than the font size needs to be adjusted.

I also agree. And my vote counts twice because I have a parrot.

At least, it counts twice until somebody points out that parrots can't vote

[Moderator]

Parrots can't vote.


 

Check the zoom rate on IE as well.

[Moderator]

Check the zoom rate on IE as well.

The zoom rate?

The zoom rate?

Err, that should actually say zoom setting.

Darned brain farts