Hmm, maybe I'm doing it wrong. I set my native resolution to a smaller one, and set scaling on. It didn't make a difference with 1600x900, but when using smaller in game resolutions, it got rid of the black bars on the side, but still had the taskbar on the bottom. The stretching didn't go away however.
This might be a stupid question, but how? When I check the graphics options, it doesn't display a scaling option for 1600x900 but offers a scaling option for smaller resolutions. I want my native desktop to be 1600x900 but my in game to be smaller.
I don't have that option as number 3 said. It's weird, because I can set my desktop resolution as something smaller and click scale, and run tf2 at a lower res without stretch, but I can't replicate the same process with quake.
if you're screen is 16:9 and you're running a 16:9 resolution, you can take my word for it that ql is not stretched, your hud might be, but i cant help with that, sry :)