Multiple monitors: 2nd monitor stopped showing the Desktop or Start bar

So I bought a nice big monitor to plug into my Dell 8600 laptop. It worked fine at first but then I changed the display settings on it and now it won't show the Desktop or Start bar.
1 I can drag certain windows from the laptop to the 2 Mon, but only some.
2. I tried to make it the 1 Mon by dragging it to the left of the Primary but it remains the 2.
3. I have the Extend Windows onto this monitor checked
4. Something weird just happened. I opened Control Panel and it opened on the 2 mon. The weird thing is I am now unable to open the Display icon!.

Thanks,
Reilly

 

Start in Safe Mode with a logon as Administrator.

Start, Run, devmgmt.msc
Expand the Monitor section.
Uninstall the Monitor.

Reboot and let XP rediscover the Monitor.

 

Bill,
I tried that and there was no monitor listed! When I look at the Device Manager, after a normal boot, it lists two Default Monitors and two Plug and Play Monitors. Should I try to uninstall the two Plug and Plays and one of the Defaults from the Device Manager?

 

Do them all.

XP will run the new hardware wizard for what it finds on reboot and reinstall.

 

It didn't remove/uninstall them. Do I have to uninstall one at a time and reboot each time?

 

It wouldn't uninstall any one at a time either, now what?

 

The Device Manager lists only the NVIDIA Display adapter. The XP Troubleshooter says there should be another display adapter installed via the Add Hardware Wizard.

 

The default monitors comes from the Settings tab, Advanced, monitor and is usually if not always auto assigned by XP.

Some of the monitor entries are from the laptop itself, and likely cannot be removed.

If it will not let you uninstall the Plug n Play entries:

. Uncheck 'Extend desktop ..."

. Search the web for a proper monitor driver for your display. Apply it.

, I cannot imagine using dual or more displays without using UltraMon:
http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/

At least let the trial version sort the specific issues you are now having.

 

Bill,
Thanks for the help, I think I have it sussed out. I didn't realize I had to make a window smaller to drag it to the other monitor, doh!

Ultrmon looks cool, I think I will send them some money.

Thanks again,

Reilly