Dual Monitor Problems

I recently installed a second monitor to my CPU. I am using a Navidia 9500GT video card with dual video outputs. My main monitor works just fine. The second monitor displays only the background video and a taskbar at the bottom. Only problem is that when I access the task bar and click on anything it just activates that file on my main monitor. The second monitor doesn't display any desktop at all and if I drag a icon to the second monitor and activate it the program will run on main monitor. I would like to have a working second monitor and have installed utilities for dual monitors but have had no luck in getting my problem solved. Running Windows 7 -64bit.

 

Why not? It should work that way. I've been using a dual-monitor setup for 10 years and don't see how anyone can live with just one. I drag icons, open windows, open documents, gadgets, you name it, back and forth all day long - with no problems.

When I start my computers (W7 and W8) and apps I have stuff come up on both monitors - the way I want it. It is true that once an app has been dragged over, it will remember and start over the next time - but again, that is how it should work.

In Control Panel > Display settings, how do you have "Multiple displays" set? It should be set to "Extend these displays ".

Also, you may want to look into a multi-monitor utility. On my W7 systems, I use UltraMon "“ not free, but worth it. It adds a "smart taskbar" on your second monitor. There is also the free DisplayFusion.

Also, and slightly OT - you might want to look into Blatte's Backgrounds. He has a bunch for dual-monitors. My background is as a radio electronics technician for the USAF so I have "Waveform" across both my 22" widescreens - looks pretty cool.

 

Ah! Okay. I thought you were implying there were technical issues involved. We are on the same page!

 

Thanks for the replies. When I go to Display I show both monitors and extend feature. I also have UltraMon but all that did was add the taskbar to the bottom of second monitor. I still show nothing else on my second monitor other that the "webshots" background. When i go to the UltaMon taskbar and click show desktop, nothing happens. I do have the ability with UltraMon to move the page on #1 to #2 or stretch it across both but I still can't get the second monitor to act on it's own like I know it should.

 

By the way Bill, my background as a Radar Electronics Tech in the USAF, so I will definitely look into those backgrounds . . .although I have been hooked on Webshots for over 10 years.

 

Act on its own? Nothing on the second monitor? Maybe I don't understand what you trying to do.

The options let both monitors have the exact same image. I really see no reason for "home users" to want that. The second option lets you extend the desktop to the second monitor. This means if you are working on a Word document on your primary monitor, for example, you can use your mouse to drag the document over to the 2nd monitor and keep editing it there. If you minimize the document, it should minimize the 2nd monitor (depending on your minimize settings - minimize to tray will go to the primary monitor).

Is that not happening?

Edit add: 30474 (2E173) here - 71 to 95. Thanks for your service!

 

My primary purpose for the second monitor was to learn some of the Adobe Products such as Photoshop and InDesign, etc. I wanted to use one monitor for the instructions and the other to practice on. I was able to place my Adobe shortcuts on the second monitor as well as moving the programs to the second monitor. I now can do what I want but I don't believe that is the complete ability of using two monitors. I was under the impression that, like when you check to duplicate the monitors the same would happen when you extended them but you could work on each independently. I may be wrong in my thinking as this is my first attempt at using 2 monitors.

32352 56-60.

 

No, when you "duplicate" the monitors the exact same thing appears on both monitors. This is rarely (if ever) used in a home environment where a single user is sitting in front of both monitors. This is used in class and conference rooms so you don't have to have a bunch of people huddled around in front of one monitor. You can setup 2, 3, 4, 10 or more monitors, all showing the same thing - like in an electronics store show room.

 

Yes, I understood that. I was using it as an example. Like I said, my second monitor is still not as independent as I think it should be. Such as the desktop images change together but when the main goes into screensaver mode, the 2nd goes black with a NO CABLE ATTACHED message. Move the mouse and everything goes back to normal.

 

Right-click the UltraMon icon, select "Screen Saver" > "Configure... ". On the "Options" tab, set it to wait something like 5 minutes, leave the Background color set to black and uncheck any checked boxes (for now). On the "Screen Savers" tab select "Bubbles" down under the "Screen Saver" pulldown, deselect "preview mode" (if checked), click the "Preview" button then don't wiggle the mouse for a minute or so. The bubbles should eventually be bouncing around back and forth across both monitors.

When using "extend these displays ", you simply have one big monitor. Put whatever you want, wherever you want, on either screen. Just like you would on a single monitor.

 

Are these identical monitors?

Note when the system goes into screen saver mode, the video signal to the monitor is disabled. No signal is received and the monitor may see that as no cable and then go into sleep mode. In other words, that may not indicate a problem - just "awkward" verbiage.

What happens if you manually put the system to sleep via the Start orb button?

I might try swapping the two monitors and see what happens.

 

Help needed again. Something changed and now all the icons which were on the 2nd monitor are back on the main and I can only put one on the second. I believe I need to start from scratch and have some instruction on how to proceed. When I first connect the 2nd monitor it displays the same background (not stretched across but a copy of the main monitors background). Thus it's not extended like the setting says. The monitors are not the same but similar like both are 20 inch flat screens one Samsung the other Acer if that makes any difference. The screen resolutions are the same. Regarding SpywareDr remark about right clicking the UltraMon icon . .. don't have an UltraMon icon even though the program is running. Had taskbar at the bottom of 2nd monitor.

 

It looks like this:

 

Size does not matter as long as they use the same resolutions (at least initially for easier setup).

How do these connect? I note there are many 9500GT cards out there, some with 2 DVI, some with 1 DVI and 1 HDMI, some with 1VGA and 1 DVI. I have found that some cards with 1 HDMI and 1 something else don't play well in multi-monitor setups. In fact, I don't like HDMI in computer setups at all. HDMI was designed as a video AND audio interconnect "system" for the home theater environment and has NEVER been ideal in a computer system. It was jammed down on computer systems by monitor makers (who happen be the primary TV makers) not wanting to support several digital interfaces (DVI, DisplayPort, and HDMI).

How old is this card? With the number issues you are having, it might be easier to consider a new card. You can certainly get a card with a faster GPU and more graphics RAM for a cheaper price than the 9500GT initially cost.

 

@joe - sorry but I don't provide help through Private Messaging. The whole point of "forums" is, by definition, a place for "open" discussion where everyone can participate and have an opportunity to learn and share what we know.

I really don't know what more to suggest at this point. If me, since you have an NVIDIA card here, I would uninstall the drivers, shut down, and replace the card with a spare AMD/ATI and load all the drivers for that. The purpose of replacing the NVIDIA with an AMD card is to ensure ALL the associated drivers and files are replaced.

Then I repeat the process and reinstall the NVIDIA.

 

I understand about keeping these issues to the forum. I uninstalled the Nvidia Driver and then reinstalled with same results. I guess I just won't be able to use 2 monitors.

 

That is why I specifically said to install a totally different card with an AMD/ATI GPU to ensure ALL the drivers and files are replaced. That ensure any settings are reset too. When you simply uninstall and reinstall the same drivers, that does not happen.

Again, I would try a different card.

 

Went to Nvidia and got some good advice about install. After reinstall of updated driver everything seems to have worked itself out. As for the icon problem, it helps if you remove the auto arrange feature. Thanks to everyone who helped me through this crisis. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.