Dual Monitor Setup...

[debra8898]

I have my laptop and my daughter's left over flatscreen and I've hooked the flatscreen up.. I've downloaded that program Ultramon...but I still can't get it to work.

What I want is to be able to read tutorials on the flatscreen and do the tutorials on my laptop... Anyone know how to get this to work? Also, I'm on XP -

Thanks for any help!!

[honeymoon]

DH says it depends on the age of your laptop, but this is what I do.

Click on Start, Control Panel, Display.

Click on the Setting Tab, hopefully you should see a display showing 2 rectangles to indicate 2 screens. The 2nd one is probably greyed out a little.

Click on Number 2 and then tick the box "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor".

This should hopefully activate the second monitor.

I use mine with my doc's open on one and drag the files across to open in Photoshop.

When you want to take your laptop away, just remember to unclick the second monitor box in the Display settings, otherwise sometimes things can go a bit strange and not open properly.

Hope this helps. Have fun.

[MommySpice]

On my laptop all I have to do is click Ctrl+F8. Then it moves to the dual monitors mode. When I'm done, I have to click Ctrl+F8 twice to get it back to my laptop monitor (the first time it moves to the second monitor, and then the second it comes back to just the laptop monitor). I'm not sure if my husband did something to make it that easy for me, but try it and see if it works. If not, I'll ask him. I have XP as well.

[Stacey42]

The Ctrl-F8 doesn't work on mine. Ctrl-F4 sort of works to switch between monitors but it won't extend them, it just flips between them. Pleaseasj your DH how he did that because I would love it! :)

I set mine up through right click on teh desktop Properties - Settings. You may have to under advanced - Displays to make sure your laptop monitor is 1 and the flat screen 2. Then in the settings box, drag your monitors to the set up you want and check the extend onto this monitor box. After that you just use it like one giant desktop. I've found if you want to go back to just one monitor the best thing to do is reboot the computer & unplug the monitor while it is off, that way nothing tries to open in the unseeable space where the 2nd monitor should be.

[MommySpice]

I guess he didn't do anything...he said the capability came with my laptop. Evidently if you have an older laptop you might not be able to do this. I do love this capability, as I use powerpoint a lot for my teaching, so I can have the slideshow on the projector, and my notes on my laptop.

As for the Original Poster...Try what Stacey suggested...if when you get to that screen, you see only one monitor, then your videocard does not support 2 monitors. If it does have the two monitors showing, and it still doesn't work, then you need to check your drivers (go to manufacturer of your laptop and check for drivers there under support or downloads...you could also call tech support for your laptop, as this is a common question and they can walk you through it step by step).

Good luck to you!

[Emma]

I don't do this with my laptop because the card doesn't support dual monitor and we can't upgrade it, but on our desktops we had to buy new video cards.
UltraMon is great. Whenever I work on the laptop I feel like I got half of my brain removed, LOL! I'm always running out of space.

[Stacey42]

hhmmm...I just got my laptop in June. I wonder what I am doing wrong?

[kompressor]

I have my laptop and my daughter's left over flatscreen and I've hooked the flatscreen up.. I've downloaded that program Ultramon...but I still can't get it to work.

What I want is to be able to read tutorials on the flatscreen and do the tutorials on my laptop... Anyone know how to get this to work? Also, I'm on XP -

Thanks for any help!!

I have to agree with others....
If your graphics card in your laptop doesn't have dual monitor support, you are out of luck (dual monitor support is like having 2 graphics cards in one....well sor of :) )

randy

[debbers]

Dual monitor cards aren't that expensive anymore. I've got an All-In-Wonder Card on my new computer with pretty much the MAX Video Ram.

But I haven't hooked up a second monitor yet - my hubby has two different monitors on his setup and the different colors from them drives me nuts!!

So I'm waiting until Santa or the tooth fairy or SOMEONE can get me two monitors that match.

deb

[Hattitudes]

Dual monitor cards aren't that expensive anymore. I've got an All-In-Wonder Card on my new computer with pretty much the MAX Video Ram.

But I haven't hooked up a second monitor yet - my hubby has two different monitors on his setup and the different colors from them drives me nuts!!

So I'm waiting until Santa or the tooth fairy or SOMEONE can get me two monitors that match.

deb

the only way that 2 monitors will ever match colours is with a colour calibrator. very inexpensive purchase if you figure how many years you want to do digital scrapbooking....besides, once your monitors are calibrated, you will be able to see EXACTELY the colours everyone else in the world sees!

cheers