Software for 2 screens...

[puggit]

Using a Dell laptop at home with Win XP.

We have a flat panel monitor which I can plug in to the laptop - is it possible with this config to use both screens for different applications?

(ie one for work, one for Firefox and PH )

[gizard]

Yes should be able to do this - Just so long as the video card is capable - you should be able to plug in the screen boot up the laptop and 'extend desktop on to this display...

[puggit]

gizard said:

Yes should be able to do this - Just so long as the video card is capable - you should be able to plug in the screen boot up the laptop and 'extend desktop on to this display...

That is ticked and greyed out...

I'm able to use both screens, but they are mirroring each other

[annodomini2]

Right click on the main window, and click properties, this should bring up 'display settings'.

Its somewhere in there and called Dual screening.

[ATG]

Stuff below is from the Dell M50 laptop I'm using with two screens:-


Plug in second monitor

Right-click on the desktop and select "Properties" from the pop-up menu

The "Display Propoerties" window will open. Select the "Settings" tab.

The top half of this window should show a diagram of how your two screens relate to each other ... each screen in the dig. will have a big number in the middle of it; 1 or 2.

Click on "2".

The check box "Extend my Windows dekstop onto this monitor" should now be enabled. Click on it and then click "Apply".

>> Edited by ATG on Tuesday 28th February 10:07

[jamieboy]

I do exactly this with a Sony VAIO, but maybe the video setup in the Dell doesn't support it.

When you go to 'Display Properties' - 'Settings', how many monitor icons do you get? The checkbox gizard refers to will be greyed out for your primary monitor, but if you click the monitor with a '2' on it (if you see one) then it should be ungreyed and you should be able to extend the desktop onto that.

If there's a function key you can press to switch between the internal and external displays (Fn + F7 on the VAIO) then it might be worth flicking that a few times and see what happens.

edit - as ATG described, while I was typing...

>> Edited by jamieboy on Tuesday 28th February 10:08

[puggit]

Thanks ATG and Jamieboy - that kind of works...

I now see my background on each of the screens - but the desktop is only accessible on the laptop!

[puggit]

Well I somehow moved the cursor to the other screen (it won't drag there), then I couldn't do much apart from access the right click menu on the desktop.

Then somehow I got it back...

Edited to add...

I'm stupid! The screen is on the left, the laptop on the right... But windows thinks it's the other way around

Thanks all!

>> Edited by puggit on Tuesday 28th February 11:00

[pdV6]

puggit said:

I'm stupid! The screen is on the left, the laptop on the right... But windows thinks it's the other way around

Go back to the Display Properties -> Settings
There you can click on the "2" monitor and physically drag it to the left of the "1" and Windows will magically sort it all out for you!

[puggit]

pdV6 said:

puggit said: I'm stupid! The screen is on the left, the laptop on the right... But windows thinks it's the other way around Go back to the Display Properties -> Settings There you can click on the "2" monitor and physically drag it to the left of the "1" and Windows will magically sort it all out for you!

Magic - thanks pdV6