How to Play a DVD Without the Widescreen Aspect Stretching it
The market trend towards high definition media has resulted in many playback devices that are now set up to play the widescreen format by default. Although console DVD players and high-definition televisions have native functionality to prevent the stretching of full-screen video onto a widescreen display, computer monitors and some HD televisions do not because of their many resolution options. The stretching of full-screen DVDs across a widescreen monitor is preventable with just a quick change in the monitor's settings.
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Instructions
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Windows Media Player
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1
Launch Windows Media Player from its start menu icon.
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Click the "File" button on the toolbar and select the "Open DVD" option to open your DVD movie.
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3
Right-click anywhere on the viewing screen once the DVD movie has begun.
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Hover your mouse pointer over the "Video" heading and select the "Fit Player to Video" option. That will cause the player window to format itself around the video size instead of stretching the video to fit the player window.
Desktop resolution
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5
Right-click anywhere on the Windows desktop.
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Select the "Screen Resolution" heading from the context menu that appears.
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Set your screen resolution to a 4:3 compatible ratio. Common resolutions in this aspect ratio include 800 by 600 pixels and 1024 by 768 pixels. Changing the monitor resolution to one of those values will force the monitor into a full-screen mode which will negate any stretching of the video.
Televisions
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Locate and press the "Menu" button on either the remote control or television set itself.
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Locate and select the "Aspect Ratio" or "Resolution" options on the on-screen display.
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Change the aspect ratio to "4:3" or "Full Screen." That will set the television to render images in full screen resolutions that are not stretched by the DVD's native aspect ratio.
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Tips & Warnings
The specific menu headings for televisions may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Please check your equipment's documentation for specific menu options.
