Netbook screen too small for program windows...

peanutismint · 24 Oct 2013 at 13:58

I'm running into a problem over and over again with a small netbook that I'm using in that a lot of the programs I'm using have non-resizeable windows that are too big for the display. If only there was a way I could kinda 'zoom out' of the desktop to see them fully....

Does anybody know of a software-based way to achieve this?

Bongomike · 24 Oct 2013 at 14:07

I assume you've tried checking the individual programs themselves in case there's any "Display options" that you can set. If that's not possible then you could try creating a shortcut to the program .exe and adding "-w" to it as that should be a prompt to try and force it to open in windowed mode.

Otherwise a software based way might be Virtual PC but that's pretty clunky.

What kind of programs are you trying to use?

koolpc · 24 Oct 2013 at 14:10

Buy a bigger netbook. I had this issue myself. In the end I bought a bigger netbook.

peanutismint · 24 Oct 2013 at 14:29

Bongomike said:
I assume you've tried checking the individual programs themselves in case there's any "Display options" that you can set. If that's not possible then you could try creating a shortcut to the program .exe and adding "-w" to it as that should be a prompt to try and force it to open in windowed mode.

Otherwise a software based way might be Virtual PC but that's pretty clunky.

What kind of programs are you trying to use?

Thanks mate - I'm trying to use music plugins, in this case to use the netbook as a module for my electronic drum kit. The GUI of the plugin is pretty much set and can't be resized, so I lose half the parameters off the bottom of the screen. I've been in touch with the developer and they have no plans to make it zoomable.

I did consider the virtual PC route but yes, as you say, for that amount of bodging I may as well just buy a larger laptop....

koolpc said:
Buy a bigger netbook. I had this issue myself. In the end I bought a bigger netbook.

I had feared this might be the best course of action!

Thanks.

ttaskmaster · 24 Oct 2013 at 14:35

If you're just configuring and not gigging, just plug in an external monitor. 2nd hand 17" ones are about a tenner.

Hilly · 24 Oct 2013 at 14:50

Can you adjust the DPI settings?

peanutismint · 25 Oct 2013 at 15:05

I don't think so.... It's ok, I'm sure I can live with it, just wondered if there was an easy fix I was unaware of.... I can't be the only person trying to run large GUIs on tiny displays! :-)

ttaskmaster · 29 Oct 2013 at 12:28

I use a 10" Notebook and have done for years. Half the time I do have to to just plug it in to a monitor... mainly with peripheral config software (Coolermaster take note!!).