Screen Resolution Dell latitude d800

1280X1024 is SXGA - you have a widescreen display, which will be 1280X800 (if WXGA) or 1680X1050 is WSXGA.

The screen will only display its native resolution properly.

I don't have an option on here to set it to 1280x800 resolution.. the only thing closest to it, is 1064x768, that's stretching everything.. obviously. Is there a way to get it to that resolution? I feel like it's a pretty obvious thing to grasp, but I'm just not getting it at the moment.

You need to install your video drivers.  The system came with options for a number of different ATI and nVidia cards - figure out which (support.dell.com, by service tag) and download and install the corresponding driver.  

I can't get anything to download or install.. there wasn't an option for Windows 7 in the drop down, only XP, which was the previous OS on here. I'm pretty lost with this whole thing.. about to lose my mind! I can't disable this tap to click thing either.. there's no option for it in the mouse properties.

Check with nVidia or ATI for video drivers - but you may not find any for Windows 7 and a system this old.

I think I'm just going to give up on this.. it's an old laptop anyway, I see no use in getting all frazzled over it. Thanks for your responses anyway.. I appreciate it.

MY SOLUTION: Drag the taskbar to the top of the screen! Now i can use it without the too-wide distortion of the lower setting.