Graphics Card, Software, Hardware, Port, and everything else to get your dual monitors connected to laptop or desktop up and running
RSS:
Publications

Desktop Right Click Menu

The Right Click Menu in a Windows Desktop can be one of the easiest things to use in Windows. Default Desktop Right Click Menu provides various useful and easy to use Windows features such as to provide a way to create a new file or folder, paste file or folder onto desktop area, sort desktop icons and much more. From Dual Monitor or even Multi Monitor perspective, the area of windows desktop opens up really big area on which the Desktop Right Click Menu can be used. 

Screenshot of the Right Click Menu of Desktop

Desktop Right Click Menu with new options in Windows Vista

 

The Right Click Menu of Windows has improved with Windows Versions. The Right Click Menu of Desktop in Windows XP was fairly simple, whereas in Windows Vista a new Menu option was added named Personalize and this Desktop Menu trend has continued on Windows 7 as well. 

Let’s say you are browsing Internet using Internet Explorer on Secondary Monitor and you close the browser when it was positioned on secondary monitor. Internet Explorer remembers it’s last position and hence if you launch it again, it will be launched on the last monitor, which in this example is the secondary or second monitor connected to a dual monitor windows computer. Imagine how useful would it be if you could right click on desktop while your mouse cursor is on the second monitor and launch Internet Explorer or any other software without moving your mouse cursor back to the primary monitor. 

Using Dual or Multi Monitors with a Windows Computer is all about extending Desktop area and in fact with extended Desktop Area, the usability of Desktop Right Click Menu increases as well. Have a look at the screenshot the left which displays many extra menu options added to the right click menu of Windows Vistas’  Desktop. There are two options added to the top (which in this example provide quick and easy way to launch software application such as Internet Explorer, Windows Notepad, or any other application or document) and another two menu options can be seen after the Refresh button (which provide really quick way to change screen resolution). All the extra Menu Options added to the right click menu of desktop are customizable. The top two Menu options can be added to any Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 Desktop or Laptop Computer, whereas the extra options added after the refresh button can be added on Windows Vista and Windows 7. The Dual Monitor Software tweaks Windows features and allows to extract most out of the dual monitors connected to a Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 Operating Systems.

Second Monitor as Primary

When using Dual Monitors connected to a Windows computer, there may be times when you would like to set second monitor as primary monitor. Making the second monitor as primary would display your start menu and desktop icons to be visible on your second monitor.

Figure shows how to set second monitor as primary monitor

How to set second monitor as primary monitor

In Dual Monitor Windows Setup, both of the monitors are in a virtual space. Let’s say your primary monitor is in front of you and the second monitor is joined to the right hand side of first monitor in the virtual space. Also let’s assume for now that the dual monitors are placed on your desktop in the same manner, i.e. primary monitor is in front of you and the second monitor is placed to the right of the first monitor. With this setup when you move mouse cursor, you would move mouse cursor to the right to access programs or windows on the second monitor.

Let’s say now you set second monitor as primary, so your start menu and desktop icons will move to the right hand side monitor which was originally the second monitor and the windows or programs which were originally on your secondary monitor would be visible on the monitor which is in front of you as per the above assumption. An important thing to note here is that although the primary monitor has been changed, but still you will have to move mouse cursor in the same old direction. In case you want to change the monitors again, just initiate the change again and start menu and desktop icons will come back to the monitor on your front.

Windows Control panel does provides a check box which says something like This is my Main Monitor in Windows Vista. In other Windows Operating system such as Windows 7 or Windows XP, etc, you will find a check box saying the same thing but might be in different words. All you would need to do is open display settings, verify that you can see two black colored boxes depicting each of your dual monitors, one black box would be already selected, click the other one, check the check box saying This is my Main Monitor and click on OK to close the display settings.

There is an easy way as well as depicted in the figure here in this post to set the second monitor as primary anytime with only two mouse clicks. Click on the image and download the software and toggle start menu and desktop icons to any of the desired monitor with only 2 easy mouse clicks.

Screen Rotation

Monitor or Screen Rotation can be achieved in two ways. One would be rotate monitor physically using a rotatable monitor stand and second option would be to just rotate the screen contents and let the monitor screen be physically where it is currently.

In case you are looking forward to rotate screen physically, you can look for dual monitor stand which will allow you to physically rotate screen and yes they can provide more physical stability to the computer screen. Do spend some time on Internet to look for the ideal monitor stand as there are plenty of them available in the market out of which few allow only to fix the screen at a single place and other allow you to rotate the screen physically easily.

Rotate Screen in steps on 90 degree with keyboard or shortcut

Screen Rotation options

However in case you are looking forward only to rotate the screen contents, you might wish to have a look at the software screenshot on left which provides option to create a keyboard shortcut key combination to rotate screen content in step of 90 degrees. The Screen Rotation using the shortcut keys can be done clockwise or anticlockwise. So let’s say you have Task Bar on the bottom of the computer screen and you rotate the screen by 180 degrees clockwise or anti clockwise, you will get an upside down image and your task bar would be visible on the top of the screen, also note that your mouse cursor movements will still be in context of the new screen display. Other Screen Rotation options you can have with dual monitor software are shortcut on desktop, a new menu in right click of Vista or Windows 7 Desktop and in case you do want to have any other option as well, shoot an email to the support team.

In case you have dual monitors connected to your windows computer in extended mode, then you can just move mouse cursor to the monitor whose rotation you wish to change and press the shortcut key to change screen rotation of the monitor. You can always revert back to the original screen orientation by rotating the screen in the opposite direction.

Secondary Monitor Not Working

This post may be helpful if you do have dual monitors connected to your desktop or laptop computer. There may be many issues due to which secondary monitor may not work and hence this post will give you an idea on how all the dual monitor setup works and how you can figure out what may be wrong and possibly fix it as well. Also an important note here is that as the author is not aware of your operating system, physical things about your computer such as cables connecting computer to monitor, actual monitor state, etc etc, the information given below must be taken for reference only and do anything only and only if you do fully understand and take responsibility for your actions. In case you are not sure of the information provided here, ask a friend or post link of this post on other website to understand the information given here about dual monitor.

The Computer works with two programs, one is called BIOS and one is called the Operating System. A Computer starts with a program in BIOS and then hands the control over to Operating System. Now in case you do have a dual monitor graphics card connected to your computer and your secondary monitor is not working, there is something wrong somewhere and broadly speaking there can be a hardware or software problem.

  • Power Connection from Power Supply to Monitor : Hardware Problem as Power Cable may not be well connected to the Secondary Monitor, does your monitor has a LED displaying power state?
  • Data Cable connection from Computer to Monitor : Hardware Problem as the cable from computer to secondary monitor may be loose or any of the two ports of the data cable or port of graphics card may be loose or broken.
  • Something wrong with BIOS Settings : Can be categorised as Software Problem as the BIOS settings can be changed easily by a person who fully understand the BIOS setting to be changed. The BIOS settings may have an option to select the display device, also remember that if you have connected  an extra graphics card to your desktop computer’s motherboard, then the mother board’s port would be disabled automatically and you will have to connect the monitors to the ports of graphics card.
  • The Monitor itself may be broken : This can be categorised as Hardware problem. Is your Monitor Powered ON ? Does it has indicators to show monitor power state and whether it is connected to computer and receiving data? On Computer Startup, does it displays the boot sequence?
  • The Graphics Card may be non functioning : In case the graphics card is broken you may not get display on any of the connected monitors or you may get display on primary monitor and no display on secondary monitor, it is really hard to say.
  • There can be some settings issue or driver related issue in the Operating System : This Software problem can be figured out by asserting whether the problem is really due to a display driver or something like that. In case you have a Windows computer, power on the secondary monitor, make sure that it is well connected to the computer and start your computer in safe mode (by keep on pressing F8 when the computer starts) and check whether you do get display on secondary monitor or not. If you do get display on secondary monitor (might be in clone mode), then there may be some incorrect display setting or some display driver causing the issue.

There can be any other issue as well if your secondary monitor is not working. In case it was working previously, try to remember what changes you have done to the computer (if any) or you can even look for the problem in sequence at all the above said places. Also you may consider checking given below things with your computer

  • Does the Secondary Monitor displays the boot sequence when it starts up? In case yes it does shows up the booting sequence (information about computer manufacturer, etc), then probably there may not be any hardware problem with your secondary monitor or associated hardware such as cable connections, graphics card, etc. In case the secondary monitor does not shows up the booting sequence, then you might need to make sure that the monitor is powered on and well connected to the computer at the appropriate port to the computer or if you are well versed with the cable connections and you do have an extra monitor or laptop to which you can connect the monitor and check whether there is any issue with dual monitor graphics card or monitor, it might save you a lot of time finding the problem due to which your secondary monitor is not working. Do not do change to your computer, cables, monitor or anything else if you are not sure and fully confident about the changes. In case you do have a friend who knows about computer’s cable connections to monitor and has done already, ask him / her for a hand.
  • The Software issue can be solved with understanding of the problem and then finding the solution itself. Have a re look at Display Settings of your computer. In case you can change the display mode to clone mode, give it a try. In case the secondary monitor does not work even in clone mode, find out whether the secondary monitor is detected by the operating system in display settings or hardware list, you might need to update display drivers.

All above information is for reference purpose only. Do not make any software or hardware change to you computer unless you are really sure and confident about the change.

Change Screen Resolution

In order to change screen resolution, now there is really easy to use 2 mouse clicks solution and even screen resolution shortcut available. Changing Screen Resolution can be made temporary (so that when you log off and login again, the original screen resolution would be effective) and permanent change in screen resolution (even after logoff and login the new screen resolution would be effective untill changed again).

Change Screen Resolution with 2 Mouse Clicks

Change Screen Resolution in Vista and Windows 7 with only 2 Mouse Clicks

In Windows Vista and Windows 7, you can change screen resolution easily and quickly with only two mouse clicks. One mouse click on Desktop ro display the desktop right click menu and the second mouse click to select the resolution of your choice. The Screenshot displays 2 custom screen resolutions have been added to the right click menu of Windows Vista Desktop. The options can be added to Windows 7′s desktop as well.

For Windows XP and other Operating Systems including Windows Vista and Windows 7, you can create a Screen Resolution Shortcut and change the screen resolution easily.

How to connect Dual Monitors to Desktop

In Order to connect dual monitors to a desktop computer, you have broadly two options depending on what do you wann do with dual monitors.

In case you want only to duplicate display of your main monitor to another monitor, you would need an extra monitor, connecting cables with appropriate port and a video splitter. The Video splitter is an external hardware device which can be used to duplicate your computer’s output to dual or multiple monitors. The data cable connections from computer to monitor will be so that a data cable will connect your computer to video splitter and all monitors will be connected to the Video Splitter.

You can also visualize it as one to many connections. In order to look for a video splitter, you can even use the word Display Switch, although display switches can be real complex and costly as well, however a simple one to many video splitter should be really cheap and readily available.

In case you would like to control dual monitors by extending your desktop area to the other monitor, move window to second monitor and even duplicate output of your computer to both monitors, you would need a dual monitor graphics card, required monitors and associated cables. You can browse to the post named as Hardware for Dual Monitor Computer to know more about this option of connecting dual monitors to a desktop computer.

You can even have a look at the Dual Monitor Software to know what options you can have to control and manage dual monitors. Once you have got 2 Monitors connected to a Desktop computer, the one with Start Menu would be referred to as Primary Monitor and the other one would can be referred to as Secondary or Second Monitor.

Full Screen on Secondary Monitor

When using a Dual Monitor Computer, you may wish to run some specific program or a video game onto secondary monitor in full screen mode. This post talks about few possible options and depending on the program you are looking to be launched full screen on secondary monitor, you can select any of the given below option.

  • First of all enable both monitors in extended mode and then launch the desired program or video game and look whether it provides the option to be started onto secondary monitor in full screen mode.
  • Launch the application, move it to the secondary monitor, switch the application to full screen and then close it. Now start the application again, does it starts in full screen mode automatically on secondary monitor?
  • Can a Maximize Shortcut Key combination serve the purpose?
  • In case you are looking forward for a solution for an applications or software with window, it might be worth to give a try and force a window to open on secondary monitor. Full Screen Video games work differently and may not have a window and hence this option may not work for games.
  • You can open Windows Media Center in full screen mode on secondary monitor irrespective of the monitor on which you close the Media Center application.

Buy Dual Monitor Video Card

Planning to Buy a Dual Monitor Video Card for your Desktop Computer? Given below are few factors which you might need to consider before making the purchase.

  • How many Monitors you need to connect to your computer ?
  • Are you planning to add more RAM to your computer ?
  • Do you have required Monitor(s) or other display device such as Projector? In case you do have the required Monitor or other display device such as Projector, then take a note of the port type of the display device. Port type referred to in the previous line refers to the type of connector which is connected to computer or laptop. Few Port types are VGA, DVI, S Video, DVI D, DVI A, DVI I, or any other port type.
  • Depending on the distance of Monitor from your computer, would you require extra cables (Power Cord or Data Cord)?

There are many other factors such as cost, availability, brand , purpose of the extra Monitor and much more. In case you are buying a dual monitor video card, be patient, do enough research with possible friends such as google, amazon and any other websites you can locate.

Download Wallpaper for Dual Monitor Windows Computer

Now a days there are many free wallpaper websites which offer free wallpaper downloads. The Wallpapers available can be used on a single or dual monitor windows computer. Depending on the Screen Resolution of your display or monitor, you can download a wallpaper from internet and set it as wallpaper.

Quick and Easy Way to Download a Wallpaper from Internet and  set it as Desktop Background Image is to locate the Wallpaper, Right Click on the Wallpaper Image and select Set as Background.

Now when setting the Wallpaper when using Dual Monitor, Windows will not allow you to have dual wallpapers for dual monitors and will display the same wallpaper on both monitors or display a single wallpaper on both of your monitors depending on your display settings.

Download Wallpaper for Dual or Single Monitor Windows Computer

Easy way to download wallpaper for single or dual monitor computer running Windows

Now there is an improved and better way for downloading wallpaper and setting it as Desktop background image. The Software  presented here will allow you to

  • Download Wallpapers to a Single Folder so that you can easily locate your downloaded wallpapers.
  • Will provide you a way to set any downloaded wallpaper image as Desktop background image on Dual Monitors (Option to have dual  wallpapers for dual monitor backgrounds or have a single wallpaper image to span dual monitors )

In Order to download a Wallpaper in the above described way, you will have to  just navigate to the wallpaper, right click on it and select the option which reads Download to MurgeeMon. The Wallpaper will be downloaded to a pre defined  folder which can be explored using Windows Explorer or a custom explorer provided by the software.

This way you will be able to keep track of all the wallpapers downloaded and will be able to have dual background images for dual monitors as well. Does it sounds good, give it a try and download the software now.

Turn Off Second Monitor in a Dual Monitor Windows Computer

When using Dual Monitors connected to a Windows Computer, there are many ways in which the second monitor can function. This Post will outline more about the ways in which the second monitor can be controlled on a computer running Windows Operating System such as Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP, etc. The Second Monitor connected to a Windows Computer can function in given below ways:

  • The Second Monitor can display the same display as displayed by the First or Main Monitor referred to as clone mode.
  • The Second Monitor or any other Display device connected as second display can display part of the Desktop Area and allow you to move application or document window onto second monitor. When a Monitor or other display device works in this way, it can be named as extended mode.
  • The Second Monitor can be turned off and effectively providing display output to only one monitor, even though physically there are two Monitors connected to the Computer.

Now when the second monitor is turned off, it will remain inactive untill it is turned on. The Monitor can have electricity connection and the Monitor will go into low power mode and Windows will display desktop or any application or program Window only on main monitor.

Turn Off Second Monitor on a Dual Monitor Windows Computer

Desktop Shortcut to turn off second monitor on a dual monitor Windows pc

Control Panel’s Display Settings can be used to turn off the second monitor. In Windows 7, you can right click on Desktop to display the Display Settings option and turn off the second monitor. However in Windows Vista or Windows XP, just open the control panel and look for Display Settings where you can turn on and off the second monitor.

In case you would like to have turn off the second monitor easily with various options such as Desktop Shortcut, System Wide HotKey combination or from System Tray, you can have a look at the inexpensive and free to try Dual Monitor Software. In the Software the term used to turn off second monitor is Disable Secondary Monitor and in order to turn on the monitor, the term used would be Enable Secondary Monitor.

« Older Entries Newer Entries »