Windows 10 Graphics Rendering Aspect Ratio Issues

Question

Just updated from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. I have noticed that games no longer stretch out to fill the entire screen and there are 2 black bars on both sides. This appears to be an issue between Intel, Nvidia, and Windows. In order to find a solutions I will explain what I have already done and the specs of the laptop.

Specs

A. Laptop

B. Graphics - Intel HD 4000 and Nvidia Optimus GT 630M  (Driver version for Intel 10.18.10.4242, Driver version for Nvidia 10.18.13.5362)

C. Windows 10 64 bit

D. Intel Core i7 -3630QM 2.4 Ghz

E. 8 GB RAM

The recommended display for Windows is 1366 x 768. It is widescreen and before upgrading to Windows 10 games would fill the entire screen and get stretched, which is what I prefer. I have googled the issue and came up with no lasting positive results.

Here are the proposed fixes which did not work

A. Update the drivers - I went to device manager to the graphics and tried to let windows search for the right driver since win 10 is new. No new updates.

B. Searched on Intel website - They recommended letting Windows update do the updating and the Iris beta driver it mentioned, the download link would go back the microsoft windows update.

C. Tinker with display settings in Nvidia control panel and Graphic Properties control panel for intel. Stretch aspect is no longer listed as an option and won't allow for custom resolution.

D. Let Geforce experience software update the nvidia driver. Appears Nvidia driver already up to date.

E. Tinker with Run in Compatible mode for specific games such as run compatible in Windows XP. Did not make a difference, still black bars on side.

F. Set a lower resolution for Windows 1024 x 768 for Windows. Some games run stretched then but windows looks more blurry and distorted now. I would have to switch back and forth everytime I want to play an older game to a smaller resolution. Very very inconvenient.

G. Disabled Display Scaling on each game. Did not make a difference.

I concluded that the drivers are still in beta mode of whatever Windows 10 downloaded and uses for display adapters. Drivers need updating to allow older games with lower resolution to stretch and fill the screen, or Windows needs to recognize to allow screen to stretch for games. A permanent fix would be nice to get rid of the black bars. I did not have this problem for Windows 8.1 on this computer so it is related to Windows in some form.

Answer 1

As an update since I got an email saying "Your question has not been marked as answered". As already mentioned in a previous post, it has NOT been answered nor resolved. The problem as mentioned was the drivers and the software no longer offers "Scale Full Screen" option.

The problem is between Microsoft Windows 10 and Intel Driver Software. The issue is when a game starts no matter the time it was made or DirectX used, it keeps the aspect ratio in Windows 10 1366x768 inserting black bars on the left and right side, rather than stretching games to full aspect of the screen.

Already tried numerous tips, tricks, and suggestions from Intel website, NVidia Website, community forums, and here on Microsoft forums. All suggestions failed. Simple answer I suggest Microsoft Technical Dev team is

A. Collaborate with Intel on HD 4000 drivers and software to resolve compatible issues

B. Focus on aspect ratios in the development

C. Allow aspect ratios to change when programs start not requiring the native resolution to rule.

Will continue working with Intel Community Forums, Windows Forums and NVidia.

Answer 2

As mentioned in my first post on option F. I set the screen 1024 x768 then games will fit entire screen, but very inconvenient for every game to do that on. There are a few games that don't completely stretch even at 1024x768 such as the The Sims 1 Complete Collection. The games when black bars do disappear at the 1024 x768 but windows itself is extremely distorted. The issue is the drivers and windows. Before in windows 8.1 I could have higher resolution in windows but would stretch once a game starts. After leaving the game I would return to the Windows resolution it had originally. Tinkering with the properties of each game didn't solve it with Windows 10 but did with Windows 8.1. it did. Before windows 10 I could "Disable Display Scaling" and other settings to find the right outcome. Windows 10 settings for each file doesn't do a thing.

I have posted this on Intel website and people are getting the same problem so it is not an isolated incidence. It has to do with the drivers for the graphics which are very much underdeveloped at the moment for Windows 10. In simple terms Windows 10 team and people who write drivers released their product without having every kink worked out, which isn't surprising.

Answer 3

try turning down your resolution. pressing stretch to full screen then going back to your original resolution. this fixed it back in windows 8. Personally i'm having this problem too but even when I set my display to 1024x768 and do the same in game  I still get black bars. so tell me if my suggestion works. I want to know if it's just me or not

Answer 4

Thanks for the suggestion but that did not work. Each time I download the latest Nvidia and Intel HD 4000 driver for 8.1, I put it on compatible mode of 8 in the settings, I get a generic response of "Driver being installed was not validated for this computer etc. and Setup will exit". I tried to alternatively force installation by going to device manager and doing the "Update Driver" and "Browse Manually". But I come up with Windows has determined this is the most up to date driver.

Also mentioned before that rolling back the driver does not solve it either. From my understanding the stretch aspect seems to be removed now.  I still wish to get rid of the side black bars from my games and get back to a full screen as I had in windows 8.1

Answer 5

Hi,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Since you did not have an issue with Windows 8.1. The better we could do here is install the drivers in Compatibility mode for Windows 8.

Follow the steps to install the drivers in Compatibility mode:

• Download the latest drivers of Windows 8.1.
• Right click on them click on properties
• Select Compatibility tab
• Check Run this program in compatibility box
• Select Windows 8
• Click Apply and OK.

Hope this helps.

Regards,