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How do I shrink my cursor and icons in Windows XP?

HELP ME DAVE! Ok my computer broke you know. i went to the shop and had it repaired. when i hooked it back up the text and mouse and icons and everything etc. you know is HUGE! H-U-G-E! how do i fix this problem. where it is normal size and not huge! please help!


Dave's Answer:

Sounds like a big problem. :-) Seriously, my first thought was that you needed to go in and change your theme in Windows XP, but the more I read your question, the more I believe that they've simply adjusted your screen resolution. If you normally run at, say, 1280x1024 and they adjust it down to 800x600, then everything is going to be far bigger than normal because you're "stretching" less information to fill up the screen than you're used to.

This is pretty easy to adjust, however, so if you go to START --> Control Panels and choose Display, you'll find the following set of configuration options:

Windows XP: Control Panels: Display Settings: Themes

What you need is the "Settings" tab, however. Click on it and:

Windows XP: Control Panels: Display Settings: Display Properties

As you can see, there's a simple slider that lets you adjust your resolution: try moving it to the right and setting a higher resolution than you currently have on your monitor. Most monitors have a recommended setting too, by the way, often something like 1280x1024, which gives you the crispest text display. Make a change, click "Apply" and you'll see the change made (hopefully) and have a chance to confirm it:

Windows XP: Control Panels: Display Settings: Settings: Confirm Change

If you don't see that because your screen is wonky, don't panic. In 15 seconds it automatically reverts back to a functional setting and your change is discarded. When you get things back to normal, just choose "OK" and you'll be back!


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Categorized: Windows PC Help   (Article 7482, Written by )
Tagged: display settings, microsoft windows xp
Previous: Can I have Google Calendar send me SMS event notifications?
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Reader Comments To Date: 5

svx said, on September 11, 2007 7:55 PM:

OMG....you are another Einstein! TY!!

Dennis said, on February 18, 2009 8:48 AM:

Man ,what a laugh I got from the person talking about HUGE. What was funny is I had same problem when I updated drivers. Thanks Dave once again you came to my rescue and also thanks for the huge laugh !

Hope said, on October 25, 2010 4:32 PM:

Thank you so much! You are da man!!!!!! Totally worked.

Earl said, on June 9, 2011 6:46 PM:

In Photo Shop7 my text cursor is huge! how do I make it regular size again? thanks in advance. Earl...

steve said, on November 5, 2011 12:47 PM:

my computor will not change from 16bits to 32bits what do i do

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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