Connecting my laptop to an external monitor issues..

Well I had a samsung syncmaster 2233sn lcd monitor on my desktop and decided it would be cool to try it out on my laptop (vga cable) image quality, screen size, everything works perfectly on the desktop but when i connect the monitor to my laptop, it lets me change the resolution to 1920x1080 which is good, since my laptop got a max of 1440x900 and monitor got 1920x1080 is a sign that its working..but...the image on the monitor doesnt use the full screen..there are like black bars both on the left and right side of the monitor as if they were limiting the display somehow..ive tried changeing res, adjusting vertical and horizontal size but nothing works..its like when u play games that only go up to like 1280x1024 on a 1920x1080 u will get those black bars on both sides limiting the display since the program isnt using the full display..anyways its pretty lame not to be able to use my monitor's FULL screen size...any ideas?

 

Is there something in the NVIDIA control panel about scaling?

 

Yes, there is, but it only lets me change my laptops display scaling options..and it doesnt even work, when I choose use NVIDIA scaling and apply it just reverts back to use laptops scaling..even though i accept on keeping the changes..any other ideas?

 

Is there an option on the monitor to Auto calibrate itself to the signal?

 

Yes, but it adjusts the image taking those 2 black bars as limits..ive tried, please help me

 

Am I understanding it correctly that you are playing a game on a 1920*1080 monitor and you only get 1280*1024 ? - if yes, check the game's display settings, they can be (and have been in my experience so far) independent from the monitor/display settings.

 

no, the game was just an example so u could get the picture of what my problem was

 

This only has me more confused... you your monitor is 1920*1080 and your output doesn't "cover" the whole screen?

You could right click the desktop - Under Vista "Personalize" - under Windows7 "screen resolution" - and adjust it there?

Or am I still missing something... ( )

 

thats what I do, it works on my desktop but on my laptop the output doesnt cover the entire screen...this happened on my desktop when I formated it but only until I installed the video driver..and my laptop has the lastest video driver but i get that problem..its just wierd..

 

OK - what are you using to Connect?
I don't think its the reason, but what is the maximum output for VGA?

(I think you are possibly using VGA)

 

Pretty sure it's 1920 x 1200, or something along those lines. Maybe 2048 x 1152.

EDIT: Technically, it's unlimited, but something to do with bandwith of the cable or graphics card will prevent the quality from being good at higher resolutions. I'm not quite clear on the facts, but it's something along those lines.

 

I'm wondering if this is the issue here, that's why...

I doubt its unlimited, but there is a limit - I just don't know how high...

 

Take a look at this:

http://www.wirelessforums.org/alt-comp-hardware/max-resolution-vga-connector-22437.html

4th post down explains it rather well.

 

OK - Thanks

Well, then maybe its his laptop?

 

Could be. Drivers maybe?

To the OP, have you tried updating your drivers?