Windows Explorer problem

This problem just started after I rebooted my computer earlier. Whenever I click on Computer or any other Windows Explorer windows ue: Photos, Downloads, Documents or Videos this screenshot will show you the results I get. I haven't installed any new software today. No malware has been found by NIS 2011 or Malwarebytes free. The explorer windows look normal in full screen view. They just look like this in regular view. How can I fix this.

I.m not quite sure what view you are looking for, but do this.
Open "organize", - "Layout" and untick the "preview" option

The size for the whole Explorer Windows have changed. The Preview pane I want, but when I open any explorer Windows they come up like about half the size they were and for a wide-screen monitor layout. My desktop looks ok, so I don't believe it's the display settings.

Your desktop doesn't look ok from what I can see behind windows explorer. Do you have a wide-screen monitor or 4x3? Because I see a wide-screen display with both edges cut off in your picture.

Check if your screen resolution is correct for the shape monitor you have. Also verify you aren't running a virtual desktop (often done on netbooks it allows you to treat the desktop as bigger than your actual screen and then you can scroll around left and right and up and down putting just the piece of desktop you wish to see inside your view).

That's possible but it seems like to me he cropped the image before posting.

brkkab123,

Open up Windows Explorer and change the size of the window to whatever you want. Hold down the Ctrl button before you hit the red 'X'. When you re-open Windows Explorer, it should open back up to the size you just had it.

I don't have a wide-screen monitor. It's a regular 16:9 17" LCD. This popped up looking like this after a restart yesterday and I can't figure out how to fix it.

FYI: 16:9 IS wide-screen, 4:3 is full-screen.

Right-click on your desktop and select screen resolution, try Detect and make sure the picture you see is shaped like your monitor screen. Do you use ATI Catalyst Control Center? If so open that, as you can set screen resolution there as well. I believe the two are tied together but in the off chance they aren't, make sure they both have the same values.

Yeah, I wasn't thinking when I typed. The only setting I can find for double checking thhe aspect ration in Windows 7 Professional x64 is in Media Center. My monitor is set to 1024 x 768 with 4:3 ratio. Personalization only lets you change resolution which is set to 1024 x 768 which is what's recomended for my old Dell LCD.I'm eventually getting a wide-screen led lcd, but that's not haappening until early next year, unless good deals pop up for Christmas and I can afford it.Anyway the Personalization window appeared normal size and explorer windows still look like the screenshot I uploaded.

It's a old 4:3 Dell 17" LCD. How do I check the virtual desktop ? I didn't indtall VirtualPC or XP Mode. I don't really need them. I don't use anything that's like VirtualPC. No Virtual Box or anything on this pc.

I'm not understanding the question. It appears you are wondering why your window is now opening as a smaller window. Can you not resize the window by dragging the border across the screen?

I have had programs change in size while they were open during Windows Update or manually updating the graphics drivers. That is if your Graphics Adapter is one of windows updates. Windows must remove the old graphics driver to update with a newer one. Any open applications can be effected during a change in resolution which is often required in order to update.