Try checking your resolution setting, a 17 inch usually can run at 1024 by 768 60-75hz. Lower the contrast, if the white background is too bright the letters can defocus. Also check if the "cleartype font smoothing" is off. The fonts will look blurry oddly enough if that is on. Look in:Display properties/appearance/advanced.

Thanks for the reply however,the problem has been solved. At my wife's suggestion,I clicked on view in the toolbar and text and found it somehow was set on smallest! After setting it to medium. All is well.