Stretched images on Dell monitor

What operating system and video card? Press the monitor 3rd button from the top to Auto Adjust. Press the Menu button. At the bottom of the OSD (On Screen Display), does it show Resolution: 1920x1080 @ 60Hz?

Thanks for the response. The operating system is Windows XP, 2003 version with all subsequent service packs but does not have Media Center. Video card is  Invidia GeForce FX 5200. You ask an interesting question about the screen resolution. From the first time the monitor was connected to the Dimension 4550, the 1920 x 1080 resolution would create a desktop image far larger than the screen and thus was a major problem. Many calls to Dell support failed to resolve this and I finally settled for a 1280 x 1024 resolution that produced an image that fit within the screen dimensions. I also called Invidia about this problem and they could not resolve it either. I could have lived with the 1280 x 1024 resolution, but I cannot live with the stretched-image problem that has now become apparent. All available resolution alternatives were tried repeatedly. Here's one possible source of the problem: the new monitor and video card both use DVI-D connections rather than the old VGA. The original monitor was VGA connected. When I press the 3rd button from the top on my monitor, as you suggested, the "Auto Adjust" is a dead selection. I cannot choose it and the monitor instruction disc says that Auto Adjust is available only for VGA connections, which I dont have, of course. Is it possible that the Dimension 4550 simply does not know how to adjust to a widescreen format? Or is it possible that 4550 needs a VGA connection to adjust images to the monitor? In other words, could the marriage of a new widescreen monitor and video card with the Dimension 4550 simply not be compatible?

It's possible. is there a newer PC and video card to test the monitor on?

Yes, that's a good idea. I will give it a try and let you know the results.

Have you tried installing the latest drivers from the nVidia web site (www.nvidia.com)?

Download the latest drivers from their web site and copy it to your desktop.

Go to add/remove programs and uninstall the old video drivers.

Reboot. After the computer reboots, install the video drivers that were copied to your desktop.

OK, I hauled the monitor next door and connected it to another Dell desktop, approx 1 year old, and the images were perfectly proportioned. No stretching. Since I have a new video card in my Dimension 4550, purchased at the same time I purchased the monitor, it would appear that the problem lies with the Dimension 4550, no? Or is it possible there's  some kind of bad marriage between the new monitor and my new video card?

Dell, Chris-M--

If you get a chance, let me know what you think about this situation. The new monitor and new video card both were purchased at the recommendation of the Dell salespeople as an add-on to my older CPU and it just hasn't worked. I have now spent many hours trying to fix this problem and Dell has offered very little in support. It seems to me that Dell needs to step up here and offer some solution, or perhaps I need to return the monitor and video card. Where do I go and who do I talk to about this situation?

Customer Care could give you details on return policies. The guys on the video card board might be able to help. Maybe they have tested this older PC with newer technology.