Thinkpads Forum

I'm running my ThinkPad T60P on an external monitor, and for some reason the desktop is not centered. There is a 1 inch black bar on the left side of the screen, and one can see that the entire desktop is not centered. I have the resolution in display settings set to the proper resolution of the monitor. I also have it set to the proper color bit. I'm connecting via the VGA port to the DVI port of the monitor.

I went into bios to make sure that the screen stretch was enabled. Anyone have any ideas?

Check the "Monitor" and "Displays" settings in the ATI display settings. There should be adjustments for both the T60p's LCD and any external monitor connected to it. You can adjust the refresh rate for the external monitor in the monitor tab and customize the external display settings in the displays tab. Another thing is that the DVI port is usually a bit fussier than the VGA port. If nothing else works, try connecting to the VGA port.

Open up a maximized Explorer / Notepad window and activate the Auto-adjust feature on your monitor.

dr_st wrote:activate the Auto-adjust feature on your monitor.

I agree with this step.
An alternative is to adjust the refresh rate. It's hidden in the Advanced settings of Control panel's Display applet.

Auto adjust is often disabled for DVI and HDMI ports but works on the VGA port. You will also have direct adjustment of horizontal, vertical positions and clock rate and phase on analog VGA signals.

MisterB wrote:Auto adjust is often disabled for DVI and HDMI ports but works on the VGA port. You will also have direct adjustment of horizontal, vertical positions and clock rate and phase on analog VGA signals.

I had seen auto adjust on the on screen monitor controls, but was trepidatious about trying it (as well as dabbling in the other settings you mentioned, which are there as well). But auto adjust worked just fine.

Thanks for your help, and all the previous suggestions.