How to Display Black Bars on Only One Side of Your PC Monitor After Hardware Damage
Experiencing a damaged monitor can be challenging, especially when the display is partially unusable. If you find yourself with a monitor that is only displaying a small portion of the screen—say, about one-sixth—and you want to mask the broken section by adding black bars exclusively on one side, this guide will walk you through possible solutions.
Understanding the Issue
Accidents during transportation can damage monitor screens, resulting in dead or unusable sections. In this case, the monitor’s left side is completely non-functional, showing only a small functional area. While you can still use the monitor, the damaged zone is distracting, and you may prefer to hide it visually by adding black bars on that side.
Is It Possible to Add Black Bars on Only One Side?
Yes, with some configurations, you can create black bars on just one side of the display. This involves adjusting resolution settings and display modes to intentionally obscure the damaged area without affecting the rest of the screen.
Methods to Achieve One-Sided Black Bars
1. Using Custom Resolution Settings
Some graphics card control panels allow you to define custom resolutions or aspect ratios:
- Access Your Graphics Settings: Open your graphics card control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Settings, or Intel Graphics Command Center).
- Create a Custom Resolution: Define a resolution with the same height but reduced width that corresponds to the visible, functional part of your monitor.
- Center the Display: Adjust the positioning so that the functional area remains visible with black bars on the damaged side.
Note: This method may require trial and error and depends on your graphics hardware capabilities.
2. Adjusting Display Position with Windows Display Settings
Windows includes basic options for screen scaling and positioning:
- Open Display Settings: Right-click on the desktop and select “Display Settings.”
- Identify Your Monitor: If using multiple monitors, select the affected display.
- Rearrange or Offset the Display: Use the “Display Orientation” options or “Advanced Display Settings” to tweak positioning; however, precise one-sided black bars may not be directly configurable here.
3. Using Third-Party Display Management Software
Advanced screen management tools can allow for more precise adjustments:
- Apps like DisplayFusion or NVIDIA’s Desktop Image Scaling: These tools can create custom wallpapers or overlays to mask parts of the display.
- **Creating
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