ipendlebury
asked on
Dual Monitor problem
I have a customer who has bought a second monitor for his laptop. The problem is that he can't change the setting to have his desktop extended across both monitors. The same desktop is displayed on both monitors.
When he goes into display properties, the second monitor is there but greyed out. I got him select it and check the box which extends the desktop onto that monitor. When he applies the changes and clicks ok, nothing has changed. When he goes back into display properties, the box is unchecked again.
I thought perhaps this was happening because he doesn't have administrative priviliges. I got him to look at his user account. He is an adminstrator.
So why isn't the setting being saved when he changes it?
When he goes into display properties, the second monitor is there but greyed out. I got him select it and check the box which extends the desktop onto that monitor. When he applies the changes and clicks ok, nothing has changed. When he goes back into display properties, the box is unchecked again.
I thought perhaps this was happening because he doesn't have administrative priviliges. I got him to look at his user account. He is an adminstrator.
So why isn't the setting being saved when he changes it?
ASKER
Thanks for all that. I'll have to get back to you tomorrow. My customer is in China and has finished for the day now.
The average laptop can have the display on one or the other or both, but not in extended mode. This one MAY not be average ... What make/model etc.
Chris B
Chris B
ASKER
Good point, I'll find out...
lol missed that
The same desktop is displayed on both monitors.<< is normal. if he wants multiple monitors he will need two video card.
Windows supports using mutliple monitors on a single system right out of the box. And with most Tablet PCs or laptops, you don’t even need any extra hardware; just plug in the external monitor and you’re ready to go. However, there are ways to improve your multiple-monitor experience and UltraMon can help. Costs about $40 dolars.
http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/
Use your Laptop as a second monitor
http://www.maxivista.com/
http://www.neslosoftware.com/
example here of the Matrox TripleHead2Go
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/offhome/th2go/home.cfm
I think you get the picture now :)
The same desktop is displayed on both monitors.<< is normal. if he wants multiple monitors he will need two video card.
Windows supports using mutliple monitors on a single system right out of the box. And with most Tablet PCs or laptops, you don’t even need any extra hardware; just plug in the external monitor and you’re ready to go. However, there are ways to improve your multiple-monitor experience and UltraMon can help. Costs about $40 dolars.
http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/
Use your Laptop as a second monitor
http://www.maxivista.com/
http://www.neslosoftware.com/
example here of the Matrox TripleHead2Go
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/offhome/th2go/home.cfm
I think you get the picture now :)
ASKER
There is usually no problem doing this. I've done it previously on Toshiba and Sony laptops. You just plug a second monitor in and extend your desktop onto it. It works great.
I just don't know what sort of laptop my customer has yet.
I just don't know what sort of laptop my customer has yet.
If I understand you he is "not " getting the same dispaly or he is complaining he is getting the same dispay desktop on both.
just you say here>>The same desktop is displayed on both monitors. yep :)
I dont get it lol, ok I have an nvidia 6600GT card tv out> with clone mode activated right now, fair enough you cant do this right now but I can, I went to my display properties settings I have two monitors the smaller is greyed by default,
when I open my gforce 6600Gt from the advanced it has the settings for clone mode activated and have two displays my desktop exactly the same on both, I have set the dual display to change to full screen on the 2nd when playing movies so that I can use this one.
just you say here>>The same desktop is displayed on both monitors. yep :)
I dont get it lol, ok I have an nvidia 6600GT card tv out> with clone mode activated right now, fair enough you cant do this right now but I can, I went to my display properties settings I have two monitors the smaller is greyed by default,
when I open my gforce 6600Gt from the advanced it has the settings for clone mode activated and have two displays my desktop exactly the same on both, I have set the dual display to change to full screen on the 2nd when playing movies so that I can use this one.
ASKER
He is getting the same desktop cloned on both monitors. He wants to get two independant views so he can open a different program on each monitor. We have been doing this on other laptops for years without a problem
Perhaps on my customer's laptop there is a setting for this clone mode that he can go and uncheck. I'll get him to try it.
Ian
Perhaps on my customer's laptop there is a setting for this clone mode that he can go and uncheck. I'll get him to try it.
Ian
maybe his drivers are not updated for the video card.
Ok see how you go once you find out what his Laptop is.
One thing he can do is go to start /run /type in dxdiag and press enter maybe the directx can find out if he has any problems with his display drivers.
It will tell you if he is using the right drivers or xp certified or out of date.
Also find out if he has directx 9c and has performed a windows update.
See you tomorrow
Merete
Ok see how you go once you find out what his Laptop is.
One thing he can do is go to start /run /type in dxdiag and press enter maybe the directx can find out if he has any problems with his display drivers.
It will tell you if he is using the right drivers or xp certified or out of date.
Also find out if he has directx 9c and has performed a windows update.
See you tomorrow
Merete
ipendlebury
If you can find out what graphics card he has on his laptop then please post here.
One thing worth mentioning is that any Manufacturer software could be overwriting any changes made by the windows software. ATI & GeForce both have their own control panels which can also control Dual Monitor settings.
If you can find out what graphics card he has on his laptop then please post here.
One thing worth mentioning is that any Manufacturer software could be overwriting any changes made by the windows software. ATI & GeForce both have their own control panels which can also control Dual Monitor settings.
Merete's suggestions with Ultramon should do exactly what you want. Have you given it a shot? I use it for my dual monitors and programs can be placed interchangeably on either monitor you want.
ASKER
OK, the Laptop is a Gateway 200ARC. The Graphics Adapter is an Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller.
There is a S-Video socket for TV Out. But We've been all around and can't find any settings for it.
We are hampered by the fact that this machine is in china and is configured in the chinese language. So we are having to translate everything we see.
Everything we have tried so far results in the two displays showing identical desktops.
There is a S-Video socket for TV Out. But We've been all around and can't find any settings for it.
We are hampered by the fact that this machine is in china and is configured in the chinese language. So we are having to translate everything we see.
Everything we have tried so far results in the two displays showing identical desktops.
lol seems every laptop is not the same then,
Please look here
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel852gm/sb/CS-009059.htm?iid=graphics+852main&
Please look here
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/intel852gm/sb/CS-009059.htm?iid=graphics+852main&
ASKER
That looks useful. There is a button that I didn't get them to investigate. They've finished for the day again now. I'll speak to them tomorrow.
Ian
Ian
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ASKER
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. My customer has gone off on business. So I i've not been able to pursue this. I'll close this and award the points rather than keeping you waiting. Thanks for your help.
thank you very much ipendlebury well I feel confident that these will solve it one way or another.
Best wishes Merete
Best wishes Merete
one his default monitor and the plug and play monitor
his plug and play monitor should be the master (1) on the video card when you look under the settings display devices and the cloned monitor is on the default (2) on the video card.
Disable panning , does he have enable desktop on the other?
does he have a video card that supports tv out?
this has the option to clone or dual modes.
When you r/click the desktop properties do you see two monitors/
on the greyed out one click onit and attach it.
Does he have the correct plugs?
s-video out?
Merete