Computer help, lines beside curser, display messed up

[Mistel]

It's windows XP home edition. The kids mess with the computer and are not old enough yet to know what they are doing.

My display looks funny where my desktop is, like there are lighter and darker lines on the screen. I can still make out what everything is, but something is definitely wrong. I also have short lines on either side of the curser. To me, it seems like one of the plugs to the screen is not fully plugged in, but I can't find anything loose.

Ideas?

[KarTek]

What's the native resolution of the monitor? Is it LCD? If you don't know, give me the model number and I'll look it up. If the monitor has an "auto" button, you can press it to get the "clock" synced back up.

[Mistel]

it is an LCD monitor, but I don't know what the resolution is. It a few years old and 17 inchs, Hewlett Packard.

I tried messing with the display settings on the moniter, but I was not sure what I was doing. I will try again.

[KarTek]

17" is probably either 1024x768 or 1280x1024. Right click on the desktop and select properties then settings and try it on either of those two and see if it helps. You might also try clicking on the Advanced button and set the refresh rate to 60 hz.

I can give you more detailed instructions with pictures if you want.

[Medmech]

Always use XP's system restore points when little fingers are involved.