Microsoft KB Archive/827540

= DVD Screen Is Stretched After You Switch Back from a Television Show =

Article ID: 827540

Article Last Modified on 10/10/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004

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SYMPTOMS
When you switch from a DVD movie to a television show and back again, the DVD screen is stretched, making the image appear taller and skinnier than expected.



CAUSE
This problem occurs when you view the DVD movie on a 16:9 ratio display screen and then switch between the movie and your television feed. When Windows XP Media Center Edition switches back to the DVD movie, the screen ratio is at 4:3, causing stretching of the DVD screen. This typically occurs when your Windows Media Center is using out-of-date DVD codecs.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, update the DVD codec that came with your Windows Media Center PC. Contact the manufacturer of your Windows Media Center PC for more information about how to update your Windows Media Center PC. For a list of Windows Media Center PC manufacturers, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/hardware.mspx



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use the Zoom feature in Windows XP Media Center Edition to zoom into the DVD screen and then to zoom out. This resets the screen ratio to 16:9 and unstretches the image.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



Media Center Technical Support
Because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition was included with your hardware device or system, the hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for this software. Your manufacturer may have customized the installation with unique components such as specific device drivers and optional settings to maximize the performance of that manufacturer's hardware. If you require technical help with Windows XP Media Center Edition, contact your manufacturer directly because the manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that the manufacturer has installed on the hardware.

You can also visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition product information Web site at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/

Additional query words: MCE2004 MCE squished squashed smooshed

Keywords: kbprb KB827540

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