DVD Stretching Problem - HP Envy Beats 14.5

[mab85]

Hi,

First time on this forum and hopefully you can all help me.

Whenever I play a DVD the image stretches horizontally towards the left and right hand sides of the screen, so that the image almost looks like it is curved.  I usually use PowerDVD to watch my DVDs.  I'm not sure if it's the software or my screen resolution causing the problem - my resolution is set to the highest it can be 1366 x 768.

Thanks,

Mark

[DavidPK]

Hi Mark,

Try the following.

Open windows Control Panel, open Autoplay and in the dropdown box next to DVD movie, select Windows Media Player.  Click the Save button and then restart the notebook.

When windows has fully reloaded, insert a DVD and hopefully this should now open in Windows Media Player - do you still get the same 'stretching' issue in this software?

Regards,

DP-K

[mab85]

Thanks for the suggestion David.  I gave it a try but I still have the same problem.

I've taken a screenshot shown below to show the issue - you can see on Betty's shoulder / arm how stretched it gets towards the edge, whereas in the middle it's quite narrow.

Hope someone can help!

Mark

[DavidPK]

Hi Mark,

The screenshot you've uploaded will have to be approved by a moderator before I can view it.

In the meantime, can you post back with the following.

1.  The full Model No. and Product No. of the notebook ( from the service tag underneath your notebook ) - see Here for a further explanation.

2.  The full version of the operating system you are using ( ie Windows 7 64bit ).

3.  Open windows Control Panel, open Device Manager and open up Display Adapters - what is the name of the device(s) listed here?

4.  Have you always seen this 'stretching' issue or has it just started recently?

Regards,

DP-K

[mab85]

Serial: CNU1281FTR
Model: HP ENvy 14 Notebook PC LS499EA#ABU

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64bit

Display Adaptors: Mobile Intel HD Graphics, and Radeon HD 6630M

And yes, I think I've always had this stretching issue, I just haven't used my laptop to watch DVD's that much since I bought it until now.

Hope the above is what you asked for.

Mark

[DavidPK]

Hi Mark,

Try downloading and reinstalling your switchable graphics drivers from the link below.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp53001-53500/sp53276.exe

After the installation has completed, restart the notebook and check.

Regards,

DP-K

[mab85]

David,

I've given that a try and it hasn't worked. It only seems to affect DVD playback - online video through iplayer etc plays back just fine.

Mark

[DavidPK]

Hi Mark,

I can see the image you've uploaded now and can see what you mean.

Download and install MPC-HC on the following link.

http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/

Does this player also exhibit this stretching effect when playing a DVD?

Regards,

DP-K

[mab85]

David,

Yes, that software plays back DVD's fine. Any idea why Windows Media or PowerDVD are playing back DVD's in a stretched fashion?

Mark

[DavidPK]

Hi,

I May have a better idea after you try the following.

First, download the latest version of PowerDVD 10 from the link below and save it to your Downloads folder.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp56501-57000/sp56904.exe

Next, open windows Control Panel, open Programs and Features, right click the entry for Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 and select Uninstall - when this process has completed, restart the notebook.

When windows has reloaded, click the Start Menu and select Control Panel.  Open Programs and Features, Click 'Turn Windows features on or off', open up Media Features and untick Windows Media Player.  Click Yes then OK and then restart the notebook again.

When Windows has restarted, click the Start Menu and select Control Panel.  Open Programs and Features, Click 'Turn Windows features on or off', open up Media Features and tick Windows Media Player.  Click Yes then OK and when WMP has finished installing, restart the notebook again.

Open windows media player and run through the initial set-up, then leave the notebook to idle for 10 - 15 minutes before trying a DVD - if this plays Ok ( without the stretching effect ), close WMP, remove the DVD, open your Downloads folder, right click on the Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 installer and select 'Run as Administrator' to start the installation.

When this has completed, try playing a DVD in this software.

Let me know.

Regards,

DP-K