Horizontal linearity issue

CHANGING THE SCREEN ASPECT RATIO: ( From Manual )
The TV can display images in four different modes: Wide, Zoom, Panoramic, and Normal. Each mode displays the picture differently. To change the screen aspect ratio:
1. Press the MENU button on the remote.
2. Use the Arrow buttons to highlight the Wide icon. Press OK.
3. Use the Arrow buttons to highlight your desired screen mode and press OK:
• Normal preserves the content's original aspect ratio. Since the 4:3 aspect ratio is not large enough to fill the TV's screen, black bars are added to the left and right of the display image.
• Wide stretches a 4:3 aspect ratio picture to the edges of the screen. Since the picture is being stretched, the display image may appear distorted. If the program is already formatted for widescreen viewing (1.85:1 or 2.35:1), then black bars will appear on the top and bottom of the display image.
• Zoom expands images with black bars to fit the screen.
• Panoramic expands the display image to fill the screen.
images may appear wider than intended.
If you are watching widescreen (1.85:1 or 2.35:1) content, black bars will still appear on the top and bottom of the display image. This option is only available when the TV is displaying a 480i/480p source.

you need to change the 'zoom' on the tv by the remote.
Normal mode frames the 4:3 video to the 16:9 picture area by displaying it in its original aspect ratio, with vertical gray or black bars on both sides of the screen. The disadvantage of this method is the fact that the image is small by virtue of not using the entire width of the screen. This is also known as the 4:3 mode.
Full mode Full mode horizontally stretches the 4:3 video evenly across the entire width of the screen. This is the proper mode to display anamorphic video. If used for standard aspect ratio video, everything on the screen will appear wider than normal. Contrast this with anamorphic video displayed without processing on a 4:3 display, in which people on the screen will appear taller than normal. This is also known as the 16:9 mode.
Zoom mode Zoom mode evenly stretches the picture both horizontally and vertically, until the picture fills the entire width of the screen. This crops out the top and bottom of the picture. This mode is used for letterboxed and open matte video.
14:9 mode Main article: 14:9
In 14:9 mode, the picture is magnified more than in Normal mode, but less than in Zoom mode, while retaining the original aspect ratio.
Wide Zoom mode Wide Zoom mode, also called Just mode, Horizon, or Smart Stretch, progressively stretches the picture horizontally, less in the middle and more on the edges. This allows normal aspect ratio video to be displayed across the entire width of the screen, with minimal cropping, and with much less of the unpleasing visual stretching effect of Full mode.

Turn on your VIZIO HDTV. Press the orange button with the "VIZIO" logo, which looks like a letter "V" with a triangular wedge in the center. If there is no VIZIO logo button, press the "Menu" button. Press the "Right Arrow" button twice to highlight the "Setup" icon, which looks like a wrench.

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Press the "Down Arrow" button three times to highlight the "Wide" menu item. Press the "Left Arrow" or "Right Arrow" buttons repeatedly until the correct aspect ratio is selected. "Normal" is for a standard definition 480i signal, which has a 3:4 aspect ratio. "Wide" is for high definition signals, and has a 16:9 aspect ratio. "Panoramic" stretches the outside of the image while keeping the center at the normal aspect ratio. "Zoom" enlarges the image on the screen. Press the "Last" button twice to close the VIZIO on-screen menu.

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Watch the image on the screen of your VIZIO HDTV to ensure that the picture is at the right aspect ratio. If it still looks distorted, it's most likely because you chose the wrong aspect ratio setting, because your source device is set incorrectly or because you used the wrong connection method.

Hello
This is an issue because most television programming is produced in a 4:3 aspect ratio. The minority of programming is high definition, which is produced in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Because televisions are made in either a standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) format, there is always a conflict with an image being stretched vertically or horizontally. In the case of widescreen televisions, the stretching is horizontal.
Picture Modes
Luckily, most if not all widescreen televisions have a picture mode that allows the user to toggle between a wide (16:9) and standard (4:3) mode. This means that a person can watch non-HD programming in the 4:3 picture mode, and then go to widescreen when watching HD programming. Some TVs have a picture mode that will automatically adjust to the correct aspect ratio. Other people will watch all programming in the wide picture mode, and learn to adjust to watching a stretched picture.
A stretched picture is when a 4:3 image is pulled on the sides to fill the entire screen. People and images end up looking fatter/wider and shorter.
So, what's the big deal?
Some people don't like a 4:3 picture stretched or distorted because it does reduce the overall visual and picture quality. Some people don't like the bars on the side of the screen when a widescreen is in a standard (4:3) picture mode because it looks different.
Solution
There is no fix-all solution for this issue, unless you own a TV that will automatically adjust to the intended aspect ratio. The stretching of the picture is a side-effect, the price we are paying for the better resolution that is digital and high definition. This is definitely something to consider when buying a television, but keep in mind that there is no right or wrong within this issue. It is just the way it is, and there is no way around it unless you buy a 4:3 aspect ratio television.
Hope these lines will clear the issue, if so do rate the solution

Hello
Most of the telivision transmissions are comes at an aspect ratio of 4:3. Wide aspect ratio is 16:9. If you try to see a picture with aspect ratio 4:3 to wide 16:9, it will look like stretched. it is not the fault of the tv. Most DVD recording have the aspect ratio of 16:9 [Wide]. This aspect ratio will be displayed correctly when your tv is also set to wide mode. If you select normal mode at this condition, the picture will be displayed elongated. Ok Your Tv has no probelm.

Press the RATIO button repeatedly to select the desired picture format. You can also adjust Aspect Ratio in the OPTION menu.

1. Set By Program. Selects the proper picture proportion to match the source’s image. (4:3 → 4:3, 16:9 → 16:9)
2. 4:3. Choose 4:3 when you want to view a picture with an original 4:3 aspect ratio, with gray bars appearing at both the left and right sides.
3. 16:9. Choose 16:9 when you want to adjust the picture horizontally, in a linear proportion to fill the entire screen.
4. Horizon. Choose Horizon when you want to adjust the picture in a non-linear proportion, that is, more enlarged at both sides, to create a panorama view.
5. Zoom 1. Choose Zoom 1 when you want to view the picture without any alteration. However, the top and bottom portions of the picture will be cropped.
6. Zoom 2. Choose Zoom 2 when you want the picture to be altered, both horizontally extended and vertically cropped. The picture taking a halfway trade off between alteration and screen coverage.
7. Cinema Zoom. Choose Cinema Zoom when you want to enlarge the picture in correct proportion. Note: When enlarging or reducing the picture, the image may become distorted. You can adjust the enlarge proportion of Cinema Zoom using D / E button. The adjustment range is 1~16.
   

This is normal if you're watching a 4:3 (full screen) broadcast or movie on your widescreen (16:9) TV. You can adjust the screen aspect by going into the Settings Main Menu and selecting System, then Aspect Ratio. I hope this helps!

For the Start menu, I assume you're talking about the taskbar that appears on the bottom of the screen. Press the Windows button on the keyboard (usually located between the Ctrl and Alt button on the left hand side).Right-click on the Start button. Click on the Taskbar tab and check the box that says "Lock the taskbar". Your taskbar should return to your desktop.

Wallpaper (desktop image)

In XP:
Right click on a blank space anywhere on the desktop. Click on graphics properties. You should see a window with your Wallpaper previewed in the top window. Click in the Settings. There should be a setting for "Stretch". Select Stretch and your desktop should return to normal.

In Vista: Right click on a blank space on the desktop, click personalize/display settings/advanced settings Click on your graphics card if available or graphics properties. You're looking for Aspect Ratio options From here you will see a setting with 2 options

1. Maintain aspect ratio
2. Full screen (no border)

Depending on your graphics card, this process may differ slightly, but the setting you need is Aspect Ratio

I hope this answers your questions. Best of luck.
Greg

Hi!

Found some relevant info on how to adjust your video settings... You might want to give it a try!

Thanks! =)

4.12 PC Input Picture Adjustment
The Picture Adjust menu operates in the same
way for the PC Input as for the DTV / TV input in
section 4.2 for Backlight, Contrast, Brightness and
Color Temperature.
4.12.1 Auto Adjust
When the MENU button is pressed, the On Screen
Display (OSD) appears on the PICTURE ADJUST
page. Press the button to highlight the Auto
Adjust selection.
Press the button for the LCD HDTV to adjust to
the PC signal timing automatically.
4.12.2 H-SIZE
Press the button to highlight the H-Size selection.
Press the button to start adjusting the horizontal size of the picture. Use the or button to adjust
the horizontal size.
4.12.3 Horizontal Shift
Press the button to highlight the Horizontal Shift selection.
Press the button to start adjusting the horizontal position of the picture. Use the or button to
adjust the horizontal position.
4.12.4 Vertical Shift
Press the button to highlight the Vertical Shift selection.
Press the button to start adjusting the vertical position of the picture. Use the or button to adjust
the vertical position.
4.12.5 Fine Tune
Press the button to highlight the Fine Tune selection.
Press the button to start tuning the to the PC signal. Use the or button to adjust the tuning

4.14.1 Understanding Viewing Features
Your LCD HDTV features four viewing modes and Picture-In-Picture (PIP)/Picture-by-Picture (POP) mode.
You can switch viewing modes using the remote control.
4.14.2 Viewing Modes
Normal Mode
The original 4:3 aspect ratio (1.33:1 source) is preserved, so black bars are
added to the left and right of the display image. Standard TV broadcasts are
displayed with a 4:3 Aspect Ratio. Movies in 4:3 Aspect Ratio may be referred
to as pan-and-scan or full frame. These movies were originally filmed in 16:9
(widescreen), and then modified to fit a traditional TV screen (4:3).
Wide Mode
When watching a standard broadcast or full-frame movie in this mode,
the display image is stretched proportionately to fill the TV screen.
When watching a widescreen (1.78:1 source) program or movie, the
display image fills the TV screen. If you are watching a widescreen
(1.85:1 or 2.35:1 source) program or movie, there will still be black
bars at the top and bottom.
Zoom Mode
When watching a widescreen (1.78:1, 1.85:1, or 2.35:1 source)
program or movie, the display image is zoomed proportionally to fill the
width of the screen. The top and bottom are cut off to remove most of
the source material’s black bars. This mode is good for programs or
movies with sub-titles.
Panoramic Mode
When watching a standard broadcast or full frame movie in this mode,
the 4:3 Aspect Ratio (1.33:1 source) display image is stretched
horizontally on the left and right sides to fill the TV screen. The center
of the image is not stretched.

Note: Viewing modes are saved based on input. For example, you lasted watched a DVD in widescreen
mode and then watched TV in standard mode. When you switch back to DVD input, the viewing mode
will return to widescreen.

There are some parts that have failed in the horizontal scan amplifier. You will have to have the set serviced by a TV service tech to determine the exact failed parts and have them replaced.


Jerry G.