[prowler3]

I've just completed, and put to use, a long search of ways to get my 4:3 aspect games to play without the stretching, on a widescreen LCD. I don't mind the "pillar box", the black bars on the sides. The answer was (for me) the nVidia Control Panel. I've created a seperate Hardware Profile, named "Gaming43". Now, when I boot, I have a choice of using "Profile1" (the default with a 16:10 aspect) or Gaming43. For those with nVidia, here's the steps:

1> Set your resolution to your monitors NATIVE RESOLUTION (In my case, 1920X1200 @ 60Hz). Look at
your monitor's specs for what yours is.
2> Open up NVidia Control Panel.
3> Turn on ADVANCED SETTINGS (If not done already)
4> Click on "Change Flat Panel Scaling" and select "Use NVIDIA scaling with fixed-aspect ratio".
Click Apply.
5> Click on "Manage Custom Resolutions". Click on "Create".
6> Click on "Advanced>>"
7> Change the drop down box for "Timing Standard" to manual. *It is important to do this *BEFORE*
changing the resolution settings.
8> At the top next to "Horizontal desktop pixels", "Vertical desktop lines", and "GDI Refresh rate"
insert whatever values you need.
EXAMPLE: In my SHIII game which runs at 1600X1200 @ 60Hz I had to insert Hdp:1600 Vdl:1200 and
GDIRr:60
9> Click Test
10> Repeat steps 5-9 for each resolution setting you plan on using.

To use these resolutions you now have them available in the NVidia CP under "Display/change resolution" in the left side menu, using the slider. Note that on my machine, before doing this, selecting 1600x1200 resulted in weird stretching and not a true 4:3 desktop...that is now gone. I use this for FS9 also. I could not get FS9 to stay at 4:3 in Windowed Mode, before this change...now all my 4:3 games are perfect!