Help: XP Home and sideways screen?

[Tony Sz.]

Here's one I haven't found an answer to. I built a P-4 based system running
Windows XP Home with latest patches, drivers, etc., for my sister and my
6-year old nephew. Sometimes I will get a call from them for help because
the screen goes sideways. IOW, the taskbar, usually on the bottom, is now
on the right side and the whole screen is oriented that way.....sideways.
Running random programs will have some appearing correctly on the screen,
but some will display sideways. How does that happen and is there a fix
other than booting into VGA mode and changing the settings back to how we
like them (1280x1024)? TIA.

 

[Sharon F]

Here's one I haven't found an answer to. I built a P-4 based system running
Windows XP Home with latest patches, drivers, etc., for my sister and my
6-year old nephew. Sometimes I will get a call from them for help because
the screen goes sideways. IOW, the taskbar, usually on the bottom, is now
on the right side and the whole screen is oriented that way.....sideways.
Running random programs will have some appearing correctly on the screen,
but some will display sideways. How does that happen and is there a fix
other than booting into VGA mode and changing the settings back to how we
like them (1280x1024)? TIA.

If the entire screen changed from landscape to portrait, the video driver
is capable of rotating the display. Usually can find settings in Display>
Settings> Advanced to rotate it back again.

If they have an nVidia adapter, I believe there is a keyboard shortcut that
rotates the screen without going into Display Properties. Don't know the
keys needed as I don't have this card, have just read of their existence.
It's possible that they are pressing these keys inadvertently and changing
the screen orientation.

If on the other hand, the taskbar only is moving around, have them get it
positioned where they want it. Then right click on the taskbar and check
the Lock option to keep it in place.

 

[Tony Sz.]

If the entire screen changed from landscape to portrait, the video driver
is capable of rotating the display. Usually can find settings in Display>
Settings> Advanced to rotate it back again.

Thanks for replying Sharon. I checked under the display settings and didn't
see anything helpful. I checked the desktop settings too, and again nothing.
I was told there's a key combination that my nephew is accidentally hitting
but I cannot find any info on that.
Thanks again.

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks for replying Sharon. I checked under the display settings and didn't
see anything helpful. I checked the desktop settings too, and again nothing.
I was told there's a key combination that my nephew is accidentally hitting
but I cannot find any info on that.
Thanks again.

Hi, Tony. I have an ATI card that has the rotate feature in Display>
Settings> Advanced. Can only go by memory of what's posted here of where
the nVidia settings are exactly.

Check also in Control Panel (using the Classic view so that all icons are
listed in plain view) for an nVidia control panel that might be separate
from Display properties. If not able to find this, nVidia should have some
info at their website about screen rotation.

To get Control Panel into classic view, click the link towards the top of
the blue common tasks pane. When finished, you can click the link again to
return to Category view.

 

[Tony Sz.]

To get Control Panel into classic view, click the link towards the top of
the blue common tasks pane. When finished, you can click the link again to
return to Category view.

It's not an nVidea chipset. In fact, I forget what it is but it's an
integrated chipset on an Intel 865GBF (I think) board. I'll check again
tonight when she gets home. I'll get it. Just gotta open the eyeballs a
little more. Thanks again.

 

[Nick]

Hit Ctrl & Alt and F12 go to ro tation and uncheck it...This should tak
care of your problem ...Nic

 

[Sharon F]

It's not an nVidea chipset. In fact, I forget what it is but it's an
integrated chipset on an Intel 865GBF (I think) board. I'll check again
tonight when she gets home. I'll get it. Just gotta open the eyeballs a
little more. Thanks again.

You're welcome, Tony and good luck with this!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

On my nVidia GeForce FX5700, I right click on the desktop, choose the
settings tab, click advanced, choose the amount of rotation I want from the
four radio buttons. I can also right click on the nVidia Settings icon in
the notification area and choose a rotation from the FX5700 flyout.