Sizing things on my desktop

With a bit of my last post at work here I did a search for information that might answer this question so I don't have to post it.

I'm using a new laptop purchased because my other laptop started acting wonky. If you followed a few of my posts the last week or so I mentioned that crazy little rectangle that just appeared a few days ago in the lower right hand corner of my screen.

I do not think that that rectangle has anything to do with this issue especially since this is happening on this new windows 8.1 Gateway.

I know that it is suggested and requested to list some basic things about the computer where the issues are happening. I am not sure that I want to download that Belarc program that I downloaded on my other PC to get all of the information that would fulfill the request to list make model, processor ram, os etc.

This laptop is so new that I am certainly not sure yet what the basics are in this Gateway. I have noticed a few interesting things: It seems that Acer purchased Gateway. This must be a laptop on the edge of that change. The box and laptop cover say Gateway In fact there is a tag on the hand rest part of this computer with a fair amount of the info that you guys want to see/know
This is on the tag:
Gateway CPU Quad Core M Disc ready Touch Intuitive
NV510P04u Intel Pentium Quad Core processor N3520 1000GB HDD
15.6 HD Multi-touch LCD 802.11b/g/n+BT Intel HD Graphics 4 cell Li-ion battery 4GB DDR3 L Memory DVD-Super Multi DL drive
Other paperwork says Acer including warranty and tech support.

While using the touch pad the size of the icons and fonts started changing. everything got smaller. I can't seem to get the touch pad to behave the same way again. Other computers with win 7 or vista have a way of going into settings and changing the font size 100% is usually good enough but 8.1 is something I did not expect. I rejoined a computer club in hopes of learning this OS. This has been the biggest challenge I've ever had learning how to navigate a computer OS.
I'm learning more from tutorials on-line than I am from the club but what clubs are about is people helping people so I might be the one who winds up teaching as I learn more about this system. But for now this one problem is dogging me. I am wearing two pairs of drugstore reading glasses so I can see what I am choosing and typing.

So for now can someone tell me how to change the size of the font and icons?

Thanks

 

Sounds like you have somehow changed the default screen resolution. Right click in a blank part of the desktop and check the available resolutions. One may be marked Default or Recommended.

 

If you use the vertical scroll function of a mouse or trackpad while holding the CTRL(control) key, you can change the size of icons and text displayed on the desktop.

 

Yep, that's another possibility, but in Win 8.1 it's very much easier to use Control Panel > Display to get this effect.