Connecting to TV with VGA vs. DisplayPort

Hi there
I have a brand new TV with USB, RS232, HDMI connections and of course with a screen in16:9 aspect ratio. I want to use my existing RS232 cable to connect my T430 to the TV and display videos/movies that I want to view with others. HOWEVER, the video output always gets a black bar top and bottom from the T430 when the TV is connected. As a result, the image is stretched side-to-side both on the TV and on the T430 simultaneously showing the video. It is ugly. If I watch a movie in the very wide movie format 2.35:1, the bars are of course even larger and the movie is simply unwatchable it's so thin, top-to-bottom.
This is true regardless of the video source on the T430, either a movie via VLC or MediaPlayer off the hard drive, or streaming.
Two odd things: it does not happen if I play a movie on the TV directly from a USB key - it has a USB port and that works just fine. Also, if I simply unplug the RS232 from the TV then everything gets restored and the image on the T430 is perfect without any bars top and bottom.
In summary, a 16:9 video source connected to a 16:9 TV via RS232 is given black bars top and bottom, and there is no control on the TV that can correct this (TV has two settings for RS232 display, 4:3 and 16:9. 4:3 actually displays the 16:9 ratio correctly, but with a large black frame around it. And 16:9, the "auto" setting, gives the problem above).
So I have two questions:
1. Is there a setting on the T430 that I can adjust to resolve this issue so that the black bars are suppressed for 16:9 video replay?
2. If I switch to using the more expensive T430 minidisplay output (via an HDMI adapter) and connect that way, is it likely to fix this issue? I don't want to go to the expense of the adapter and HDMI cable if it will give essentially the same result.
This only applies to videos. That is, when I close down the video, the 16:9 desktop that shows on the TV is identical to that on the T430 and aspect ratio is not squished on either display.
So it's something to do with how the machine sends out the video streams via RS232 that's screwed up somehow. Methinks!
All and any insight appreciated.
Moderator note: subject line corrected. References to RS232 should be read as VGA.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I found an answer myself from Microsoft Help under Change Display Settings.
Others with this problem may care to read on.
First, I can honestly say that this is the first time Microsoft Help has helped me.
It specifically said that added grey/black bands are a result of a resolution mismatch between the PC and the TV. Since it's a new TV, it has a "Native Resolution". Sure enough, I found that online for the model I bought. The T430 was trying for a resolution higher than the native one - a simple change to fix the T430 resolution to equal the native resolution of the TV did the trick.
Like much in the world of computers, it is easy enough when you know how!
regards

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