Why does my laptop do this?

[Guest db99wj]

Work laptop, when I am plugged in at the docking station at work, not working with battery, on the company network (direct connected, not wireless) everything is tiny. Like this site, very small, I try to make it bigger, it works but the window itself gets bigger as well and I get a scroll bar along the bottom. BUT,,,, when I am running off battery and am on wireless at home, the fonts are bigger and more normal, not tiny.

A little about the laptop, it is a Dell Latitude D830, Winders XP. Brand new.

Thanks, but I will be back later, Bionic Woman is coming on in a few:cool:

[Guest canynracer]

2 things

1. reboot, go into setup during boot

locate your video card and make sure it is set to "System" or something like that, make sure it doesnt say "use docking station" if it already says that it is using the system board, leave it like that...

I will give you step 2 after step 1 is done ...

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

Do you log in a different account at work? Could have profiles with different screen font sizes.

Or

It could have different video settings if the docking station is seen as a separate "video card" as mentioned above.

Also, is this on a separate monitor at the office or are you using the laptop screen on the docking station? (If you have a square monitor and a wide screen laptop or vise versa it won't automatically match up because of the different aspect ratios.)

I'm actually visiting Memphis on business until Friday, so if you still have problems. PM me and I'll send you my contact info. Should be a quick fix.

[Guest db99wj]

Ok, commercial break. Went into setup, it was set for dock video card, which happens to be the factory default setting, I changed it to Onboard video, which was the only other option. Anything else? I won't be able to check it until tomorrow when I get into the office.

[Guest canynracer]

ok...does your dock have a monitor connected, or do you dock, and use your laptop monitor?

[Guest db99wj]

No external monitor, I use the laptop monitor at this time, they are planning on getting me one in the future.

[Guest canynracer]

what you did might fix the issue...if not

1. right click desktop ->Properties

2. Select the "Settings" tab

3. under where it says "Display" you should have a drop down (this indicates two profiles)

4. single click the "inactive one" (smaller one labeled 2)

5.Check the box that says "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor", and "Use this device as the primary monitor"

6. click apply

let me know if this works...if not, we can go from there...

[Guest db99wj]

Ok, I will check it out and let you know.

[Guest canynracer]

oh, I know that you are going to give me the "well DUH" answer...but...when you go through those steps, make sure you are docked...I know, no kidding right...but you would be suprised.....

[Guest db99wj]

!!!

[Guest db99wj]

Ok, put it on the docking station this morning, still somewhat messed up, started jacking with the settings. I can make it bigger but the pictures loose their clarity, a little rough around the edges if you will. Went into "Settings" and found my DPI settings, I had the option of Normal (96dpi), Large Size (120dpi) or custom. Normal made it small, large made everything big, but fuzzy and I adjusted the customer to 101dpi and it seems to be working ok, I got my text bigger and I don't loose clarity in the pics.

So we will see, I will adjust as I see fit until I am happy with it:rolleyes:. Here is another bit of info about my system, it has a NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M. I don't know what the hell that is. I assume it has something to do with the vid card.

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

Woah? Quadro? That a graphics rendering chip (like for CGI). Thats a bit of a powerhouse. Not much for games though. Might be very useful if you do video rendering or CAD.

[Guest packnheat]

I actually work at Dell, and used a D630 with a docking station at work for a while. What it is doing is changeing to a different display profile when you dock it in. Mine had the integrated Intel video card, so I'm not sure if it will be the same, but there was a program in the control panel that controlled my display configuration. You could change the settings for resoloution, dual monitor cofig, etc. Its going to be a resolution setting not the DPI, so did you check your resolution both with and without the docking station? (right click on the desktop, properties, settings)

[Guest db99wj]

It is all working to my liking at this point. What I ended up having to do is change the resolution settings like was suggested above, I had to adjust some individual font sizes that I had changed, then I had to change the dpi due some of my pictures being fuzzy. With my multiple changes that I did, it has worked out not sure if they all contributed but....hey it's working!

I just have to remember where I changed all this so that I can adjust it when I get my dual monitor setup.

Dell has a pretty good size facility up there in Mt. Juilet. I was up there last week inspecting a property just off Mt. Juliet Rd and I-40.

I appreciate everyones help!