Windows Media Center Displays Overstretched Picture

Topic

New Reply

The picture is too wide when viewed on Media Center. It happens on both live TV and on TV programs we have recorded. Details:

Windows 8.1 Media Center on PC with Nvidia GTX-1050Ti graphics card with HDMI-out connected to HDMI input on Pioneer plasma TV.

Media Center has worked OK until two days ago. We turned on Media Center, selected a channel to view and immediately noticed the display is stretched too wide. You could describe it as excessive overscan. No picture/image problems before then.

The same stretched-too-wide picture is displayed when we select a recorded program to watch. Both older and recently recorded programs display too wide. The older programs displayed normally until two days ago.

For the record, I checked every possible setting and setup option in Media Center, but no improvement. Also checked graphics card settings and all options on the TV itself, no improvement.

BUT, when we view live TV using a different app (called HDHomerun) the picture is displayed correctly, no unwanted stretching. Also, when we view recorded TV programs using VLC (VideoLan) media player the program is displayed correctly, no unwanted stretching.

Thus, the problem must lie with Media Center. It seems to have lost its Dot-by-Dot and Full display options, and will only display in a Wide/Zoom mode.

Can anyone suggest how to fix this problem, please?

Reply | Quote

Replies

Marvin, see if any of the results listed on this page address your issue.

This page may also provide useful information.

The Green Button (a reference to the button on the Media Center remote to launch WMC) is my go-to place for Windows Media Center issues.

Good luck!

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

Reply | Quote

Best way to solve the problem is eschew WMP and install VLC Media Player.  Many more features, more versatile and the default screen size can be locked.

"War is the remedy our enemies have chosen. And I say let us give them all they want" ----- William T. Sherman

Reply | Quote

Thanks for your reply.

Part of my original post was this: “Also, when we view recorded TV programs using VLC (VideoLan) media player the program is displayed correctly, no unwanted stretching.”

I like VLC just fine, yet the ol’ Windows Media Center (not Windows Media Player, although they are related) has certain functions which are convenient to use with our remote control; thus, the best way to solve the problem is to fix the WMC problem if possible.

Reply | Quote

OK, fixed it!

After checking what I thought was every possible setting on the TV, PC, and WMC I stumbled onto something on WMC which only shows up when you tap the “Info” button on the remote. “Info” mainly displays a brief plot synopsis, but in smaller print to the right are more options including “Zoom”. Someone accidently set this to “Zoom 3 – wide angle”, thus causing the overstretched picture I’ve complaining about. It’s now reset to “Zoom 1 – normal aspect ratio”.

Now, justice must be served. I’m blaming the cat who, of course, has access to the remote all night while we are sleeping. The lady of the house is vigorously defending the cat by claiming that the remote is in or near my hand nearly all the time. Pshaw, I say, pshaw!

1 user thanked author for this post.

Cybertooth

Reply | Quote