Here’s a little walkthrough on how to setup dual monitors in Windows Vista. I figured I’d throw this together as I finally got around to purchasing another display after I prematurely sold off my Samsung 740N that I had setup as a secondary display.
If you’ve not tried a dual monitor setup before, then I highly suggest that you do. It makes work (or anything else for that matter) so much easier and more efficient. Instead of “window juggling” as I like to call it, you can simply have multiple things open on each screen and move back and forth between them. You can bet that I’m never putting myself into a position to where I have only one display again.
Here goes:
Right Click The Desktop and then left click Personalize following which click on the Display Settings icon.
You should then see the display settings dialog, obviously, and it’ll look a little something like this:
My monitor layout is different from the one shown, so a little adjustment is necessary. If yours differs from what it shows as well (My main screen is actually on the right) then simply drag one of the screens to its appropriate location in relation to your primary display.
Once done, and while the new monitor is still highlighted, check the Extend the desktop onto this monitor box, set the resolution to what it should be (for most 17″ or 19″ flat panels it’ll be 1280×1024) and then click Apply.
The desktop should extend onto the monitor at this point, and a dialog that says Do you want to keep these display settings? Reverting back to previous display settings in 15 seconds will pop up. Click Yes, assuming that everything looks correct, and you’re done! Your desktop background should duplicate on the new screen and you’ll now be able to drag programs over to it.
One thing to keep in mind is that games will only occupy the display you have set as the primary. So, for instance, you’re playing Fallout 3 whenever it comes out then it’d only take up Screen #1.
Not much to it, eh? If you decide to go the multi-display route as well, I would suggest getting two monitors that are the same size. Currently I have a Samsung 940bw as well as the new Hyundai L90D+. My Samsung is a 16:10 aspect ratio widescreen with a resolution of 1440×900. The Hyundai is a 19″ normal aspect ratio with a resolution of 1280×1024. Because the resolutions differ as well as the height differences dragging items from one display to the other looks a bit odd. The color settings don’t exactly match either as the Hyundai is a bit “warmer” which adds to the disparity. This isn’t a big deal, really, but I’m fairly OCD and just having two things on my desk that so completely don’t match is irritating.
Oh well, it’s nothing more than a stop-gap until I can get me a pair of 21.6″ Samsung 216BW displays.
Responses to “How do I setup dual monitors in Windows Vista?”
January 13th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Many companies like ATI have their own programs that you can use to set up the options as well. If you do not want to go through the vista or xp setup you can use the manufactures program as an alternate. Personally the above steps work great and that is the way I would go but ATI’s catalyst program does offer far more options.
January 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I’ve received a few questions asking what my background is set to. It’s the wallpaper that Gabe (Jeremy Holkins) made to go with his July 4th, 2007 comic.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/07/04
‘07 saw a lot of old 80’s properties get turned into movies, and this comic coincided with the release of Transformers.
If you grew up in the 80’s then you almost certainly remember Teddy Ruxpin*, a bear that you could insert a tape into and it’d move its mouth along with the sound. The thought of him being made into an action hero is… awesome.
Be sure to check out the follow-up comic as well:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/07/06
You can grab the wallpaper from the news section of the site for the 4′th.
*Remember My Buddy or Kid Sister? Damn I’m getting old…