Setup Multiple Monitors In Vista - April 6, 2008
If you are running Windows Vista on a Laptop and wish to utilize dual displays, this is just the article for you. Instead of replicating the content on your laptop screen on to your external display, you’ll be able to extended your desktop across both. By doing so you’ll gain extra screen real estate meaning more space to work in. Once you have a successfully functioning dual display setup, windows can be dragged across from one screen to another and you can have two fully maximized applications visible at once!
Some Small Requirements:
- Decent Laptop with VGA or HDMI output
- A monitor with VGA or HDMI input
- A VGA or HDMI cable to connect both together
Getting To The Settings:
- Connect your laptop to your external monitor
- Right Click on your desktop and select Personalize
- Open the Display settings window (at the bottom)
Next arrange the two monitors to the setup you have. Monitor 1 would be your laptop’s display and Monitor 2 is your additional display. So, for example, if your laptop is on the left and the monitor is on the right, drag the two boxes around so that Monitor 1 is on the left and Monitor 2 is on the right.
Extending The Display:
- Select Monitor 2 in the visual or from the drop-down menu
- Check the box besides “Extend the desktop onto this monitor”
- Just hit Apply. The screen should flash and you are done!
You should now be able to drag a window, this web page for example, from one screen onto another. If you would like to move your Start Menu onto the other display, just drag it onto the other screen. (Right-click and unlock the Taskbar first!) Also note that sometimes Vista messes up the resolutions, so if one of the windows looks horribly wrong go back to the Display Settings and manually drag the bar to the correct resolutions for each monitor. If your machine is using either the NVIDIA or ATI control panel, I suggest using that to configure your setup instead of using the default Vista Display Settings.
If you have any problems, questions, or suggestions feel free to express them below!
Related Article: Setup Multiple Monitors In XP
Tags: display, dual, hdmi, monitors, screen, tutorial, vga, vista
Search
Share This
Recent Posts
- CES 2009: Shure SE115 Headphones
- CES 2009: Haier Ibiza Touch “Sneak Peak”
- CES 2009: Sony VAIO P Series Notebook
- MacWorld 2009 Keynote
- November 2008 – Wii/PS3/360 Games
- Microsoft Updates The Zune
- Logitech MX 1100 Mouse Reviewed
- Acer Aspire One Review
- Nvision 08: A Future Of 3D Gaming
- Nvision 08: Audi Navigation
Categories
- News
- Site News
- Software
- Tips & Tweaks
- Deals
- Podcasts
- Hacking
- Reviews
- Business
- Entertainment
- Hardware
- Gaming
- Autos
- Mobile
- Internet
- Accessories
Archives
- January 2009
- November 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- View All +
Subscribe
Write a Comment.
34 comments.
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Sahas Katta says
@Johnny
Go to the Display Settings window. There you should see two boxes with the numbers ‘1′ and ‘2′. Click and drag them to the position your monitors are in. So in your situation, I think you’ll have to drag the number two box to the left of the number one box. Just hit apply and hopefully that should work!
Sunny says
I followed your instruction but both monitors were acting as two instead one, which means they both are displaying the same it. If I click start in the first monitor, the same thing will happen in the second monitor. Please advice
Yves says
Hi there,
I am having a problem with my 2nd screen that is completely out of X-Y alignment. The bottom left of the screen actually appears close to the top right of my 2nd monitor, leaving the rest completely black. I have tried deleting the settings and the TMM string in the registry, but that did not help the alignment. I tried with another 2nd monitor and that also gave the same problem. Anybody an idea?
Tony says
Hi. Have you tried to run a slide show, dvd etc extended to full screen in the secondary monitor only? yup it only displays in the primary!!!! Unlike XP which does behave. Also Media centre opened in the Second screen when expanded does not allow the use of the mouse in the primary screen unlike XP! This is true of both a laptop and a pc I have using different hardware and drivers. Its driving me up the wall, anyone else experienced this?
Tony
Don Traut says
Can you extend to 3 external displays?
Dwayne says
I use Vista and would like to use two external monitors (not my laptop monitor). I have a Tosiba Portege M400, with a port replicator that allows an analog and digital connection simultaneously. Each of the monitors works properly when I unplug the other, however I can’t seem to get both of them working simultaneously. If anyone can assist, I’d be most appreciative. Thanks
ky says
I have 2 monitors set up, one on my laptop and then another monitor. My problem is that my external monitor’s screen is really dim with bad contrast. I tried adjusting the settings on it but so far haven’t fixed the problem.Right now in the Nvidia settings, i have it set as laptop display+viewsonic and have my laptop set as the primary. If i change these settings to the opposite (viewsonic monitor+laptop display with the viewsonic as the primary, then the problem is the opposite, the external monitor is normal color and contrast and the laptop display is messed up. I know this is a long explanation but hopefully someone understand what i am saying…thanks for any help.
John says
I’ve been using dual monitors with vista and now how do I change it back so that both monitors display the same thing?
I’ve tried to uncheck the box with “extend the desktop on this monitor” but it doesn’t work! plz help:)
daniel says
i set my laptop and monitor to dual screen, sucessfully. the problem i’m having now is my lap top blinks on and off causing the video that i dragged to the monitor to drop back to the laptop. would you know what would cause that?
venkat says
We will vga to hdmi results
brianZ says
thanks for the clean and clear information…
my pet peeve is that i use two dual monitor scenarios (one for home, one for work) and i’m tired of constantly having to remind Vista of the preferred location and the preferred resolution for my dual,extended display. do you know of a free or cheap application that lets you configure your preferences one time and then it automatically adjusts your displays properly?
Redame says
The only problem im having is that the external monitor is telling me that i need to turn hit a key or move mouse. which i dont understand can someone please tell me what i need to do next
frederick says
I re-iterate what John SAID, …. please give a solution
I’ve been using dual monitors with vista and now how do I change it back so that both monitors display the same thing?
I’ve tried to uncheck the box with “extend the desktop on this monitor” but it doesn’t work! plz help:)
Abby says
Just done this for the first time – everything works except the mouse right content menu. If I Right click in the left hand montor ( the 2nd one) I see the context menu in the far left hand side of my laptop ( the original monitor) Can anyone suggest a solution? Thnaks
ellie says
im just wondering how do you get you monitors to work on a laptop so thatthey both display the same so when you press start for eg it will also press on the second? i had succes achieving this in xp but not vista, any help will be much appreciated.
doug says
Setting up Vista with dual monitor for my laptop went very easy…but do have a problem. when my computer is idle and screensaver kicks in, when I log back in only one monitor comes back on. The only way to restore both monitors is to select the button where it put system in low power so the session is easy to restore….I do that and log in a second time and then both monitors respond. But that requires logging in twice etc. sure would be nice to know what or why it does not see second monitor when it comes out of screen saver mode.
Guy says
Using XP Pro, the setup works fine for a current session. However the monitors go back to mirroring each other after booting instead of #2 retaining the setting to be extended. Is there a fix?
geekc says
My laptop is operating on Vista. I would like to connect it to 2 or 3 external monitors of the same size. I do not intend to view from my laptop screen at all (much smaller screen). Think you can help? Thanks!
Michael Benin says
Thank you for this very informational tutorial but I am sorry to say that it does not solve my problem. I own a pc that is currently connected to a monitor via dvi to hdmi and an hdmi to hdmi on a toshiba 61″ hdtv. NVIDIA recognizes both monitors but does not give me the option to have multiple display, instead I can only select “Only use one display (Single)” under Set up multiple displays category on the right. However I can use either monitor as the primary display. Keep in mind my pc has one of the best video cards out. If anyone has any information on solving this problem it would be greatly apreciated.
Sincerely,
Michael Benin
High Def Webdesign
Raja says
Hi,
I purchased a HDMI cable today, because on my SL500 Lenovo have a HDMI port and my LCD LG 37″ have a HDMI port ! I have connected in both sided, but I my tv don´t catch any signal ?? I have tried in vista buisness to setup external monitor,but my computer do not find any external monitor/my lcd. What shall I do now ????
steven says
thank you this works good.
Nate says
On Vista, you should be able to get both monitors to display the same thing again by holding down the fn key and pressing f4. You may need to do this a couple of times, because this toggles between putting the display on one moniter, than the other moniter, than both. Hope this helps.
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
4 trackback / pingbacks:
Dual Screen Wallpaper In Vista | Skatter Tech (May 18, 2008)70 Beautiful Dual-Screen Desktop Wallpapers | Graphics | Smashing Magazine (December 10, 2008)
vlakonlinedotcom | 70 Beautiful Dual-Screen Desktop Wallpapers (December 16, 2008)
70 tolle Dualscreen Wallpaper / Hintergrundbilder für 2 Monitore (January 18, 2009)
Leave a Comment