Fonts and Icons

I have a brand new Acer PC with W 7. I also have a 19 inch LCD monitor.

Problem, not sure if this is with Windows 7, computer or monitor.

All internet sites including my blog, Google reader and e-mails have extremely small fonts and icons with plenty of empty space on each side of the screen. I have tried to adjust the fonts and icons in my PC as suggested by W7 and when I do this icons and fonts are large but pictures and side bars still the same problem.

I used the same monitor in my previous PC which I had Windows XP. Things didn't look anything like they do now with the PC and windows 7.

I have downloaded Firefox, AOL, and now Google Chrome to make sure it wasn't a browser issue, only to find out they all look exactly the same, "small fonts, pictures and enormous empty space on each the side of the screen. I also tried using IE which is my least favorite, and the same exact problem with it too.

If there are threads on this already could you please lead me to some links, I am finding my self lost with the many threads on this forum, any help on this will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Katia

try a lower resolution setting. right click on your desktop and you will see"screen resolution. Try a lower setting and your icons,text will be larger

Also look above the clock and date in the notification area. There should be a + sign with a 100% and a arrow. click on the arrow and select a different zoom level. If it's not there click tools, then click tool bars, then check the status bar. This will display your status bar. Then proceed with above. Your monitors resolution should be set at it's native or recommended resolution, meaning the highest setting usually.

Katia it's not your PC, W7, or your monitor, it's your settings like Jimbo said in his post right after yours.
The suggested screen resolution for a 19 inch screen is about 1280 X 800 to 1024, depending on your screen design.

I'd start there, then adjust the resolution lower by just a notch or two and try it. A lower resolution might fill the screen but will also degrade the sharpness of your text a little bit, so you need to either set it to the suggested resolution , or experiment to find a happy medium setting.

Like Jimbo said, right click the desktop then click screen resolution and click on the "Resolution" box for your options.
Let us know if that fixes your problem.

Thank you so much everyone for your reply.
I did try to adjust resolution, it did help some. I could only go one notch down, for anything lower than that fonts and icons were large and distorted. So for now, I am keeping the resolution down.
I was told resolution being set lower than it should be affects movie watching in your PC, Is this true?

Bassfisher6522, I didn't understand your directions, so I was not able to try your suggestions, maybe it's because I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to computers and their setting.
.
Katia

1. Open up IE
2. click the tools tab, next to page, safety
3. In the drop down menu click on toolbars
4. In then next menu window make sure the status bar is checked, if not check it.
5. You should now see the status bar above the task bar
6. In the status bar you should see Internet|Proteced mode; a lillte lock; zoom arrow with a percentage # (mine is at 100%)
7. Click the arrow next to the number, you should see a popup menu with more numbers.
8. Select a different value (number) for the zoom settings. Try 125 or 150

See the attached photo with the highlights.

Hi, I did the steps, until i get to status bar, there is no task bar above it. I am now wondering if it's IE not being set up right into my new PC.

Bassfisher6522 - I did figure it out after I posted the reply above. On my IE, I have this function located on the bottom right hand side of my screen. It works, it brought the view to exactly the size of things as in my previous PC with XP.

Problem, I don't use IE, I can't stand it, please no offense for those who love it, it's just a matter of preference. I am currently suing Google Chrome, and love it, but it doesn't work there. I took a pick at FF and same problem there also. So your solution is only for those who use IE, right?
Adjusting the resolution is only a very minor help. So I am wondering could it be the computer? Windows 7? Back to the original question
Katia

First, It wasn't the computer or W7 before, and it still isn't.

Second, go into the page where you set the resolution, and there's a box there to choose Landscape or Portrait. Make sure Landscape is selected, not Portrait.

Next, Click your START button, click CONTROL PANEL, then DISPLAY, and you'll see 3 choices for text size, Small, Medium, and Larger. The default size is SMALL. Try the other two sizes.

If you're not set up to access your Control Panel that way, do it this way:
Right click your desktop, click PERSONALIZE. At the top left of the page, click CONTROL PANEL HOME.

Then click DISPLAY and set your text size.

Hope that works for ya, let us know Katia.

My monitor is set for landscape.

Screen resolution is set for 1280X960, I had at the orginal default, but things do look a little better at this lower setting.

Font size - small is way too small, Large everything is distorted.
So I played with the setting as far as the DPI going from 125 to 135. 130 was the best, everything looked like the size I had before with old PC, however fonts weren't as clear.
I have adjusted back to 127, it's OK for now, I guess this is the best I can come up with; at least fonts are not extra small. Still bugs me how much space there is on the sides or bottoms of things, like my g-mail and blog.

I don't know if there is any other solution, if there is let me know. Thank you so much for all who has responded to my questions.
Katia