Windows 7 has better support than ever for dual monitors.
As soon as you plug a second monitor into your computer, Windows 7 detects it and immediately starts using it.
Windows assumes you want to display the same image on both monitors. It attempts to make both monitors the same, so it adjusts the resolution to make the most of the lower resolution monitor, and then displays an image to fit within the larger monitor.
Although this does not make best use of the larger monitor, it prevents strange effects on the smaller monitor that might make it unusable.
Now you can adjust the monitor settings to make full use of two displays.
The easiest way to do this is to fist show the desk, then right-click it and select screen resolution from the context menu.
Screen resolution is not the most intuitive description of what this command does, screen resolution is only part of it. Anyhow, that’s the choice you select.
From here, you can control how your dual monitor setup is used.
The most powerful use is to extend the display over both monitors. Once you get used to having two screens with different windows on each, it is hard to go back.
If you unplug the external monitor, Windows 7 immediately reconfigures the display to single monitor support. This is a very nice feature, because it prevents your applications on the second display from getting marooned where you can’t see them or easily move them to where you cans see them.
Using remote access to a computer set up with two monitors sensibly reverts to single-monitor support for the duration of the remote connection. When you log on to the computer itself, it goes back to dual display.
What questions does this raise for you?
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Any Idea how to put a different image on each screen when using a theme. Are there any dual screen packs?
Good question Sam. I’ve not seen that, but I’ll keep an eye out for it, because that’s a really cool idea!
Here are my hardward configuration:
Laptop: Lenovo R400 laptop
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
Monitor: Samsung monitor 23″ Model 2333
I have been having issues trying to extend my Desktop from my laptop over to my Samsung monitor. I’ve tried installing and reinstalling the Video Drivers multiple times but no success. The Samsung monitor only display a black screen. Any suggestions?
-Thx in advance
Hi Quiin,
Most laptops have a way to send the video output to one monitor or the other, or both.
Windows 7 should take care of that for you. If you’re using a previous operating system, look for a video selection key on your keybord – usually you have to press the Fn key together with some other key on your keyboard.
Hey Doug,
Fn + F7 is the key combination to bring up the monitor setup, but it doesn’t appear to be working. Nothing happens after pressing Fn + F7. Am I missing a driver?
Thx again
It sounds like you are missing a driver. The correct video driver should allow for extending your desktop across displays, but you may also need additional drivers for Fn+F7 to work.
Maybe you can find a more recent driver for you computer.
Frustrating, these problems!
It appears Lenovo is not continuing to support the projector options.
http://lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=270
Discontinued Tools – Before anyone panics, know that the utilities listed below will continue to exist and be supported under Vista and XP. We simply are not porting them to work in Windows 7.
• Presentation Director – This is probably the most controversial of the tools we are not porting over to work on Windows 7. The reason is that Windows has much improved external projector/display capabilities and configures many things automatically. There are a few features that we wish Microsoft would have incorporated from our tool, but they aren’t enough to justify the development expense of continuing to update this tool.
Bummer!
Are you upgrading from Vista or XP?
Anything that works in Vista is supposed to work in Windows 7.
Maybe you found an exception?
I still think Windows 7 should be able to manage dual screen for you if you have the right drivers (Vista drivers are supposed to work).
I installed the latest video drivers for the Lenovo R400 multiple times, but they were Vista drivers. I think I just have to wait for the Window 7 video drivers to come out.
Looks like you’ll have to wait, Quinn. Rather disappointing. Probably Microsoft will blame it on Lenovo, and Lenovo will blame it on Microsoft.
I just hope they don’t keep you waiting too long!
fyi…. this OS is not an upgrade, but a fresh install of Window 7 Ultimate.
Best way to do it.
Hi, does Windows 7 support dual monitor setup for Non Linear Editing in Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. I used the horizontal span feature in Windows XP to enable the timeline to be viewed across 2 monitors as one long monitor.
Any advise would be appreciated.
I’m pretty sure Windows Key + P would do the job for you just fine.
I’ve been using dual monitors with Windows 7 and like the fact that you can now drag a maximized window from one monitor to the next, I just wish it would remaximize when you got it to the other monitor. Aero Snap could help with this, but it won’t work for me (more on this below)… Even with these few improvements dual monitor support is still too lacking and I have to use Ultramon to get the best out of my dual setup.
Now on to the dislikes… Windows 7 Aero is not supported with my Intel Q965 on board graphics controller which worked with Vista. Aero works fine when I only have one monitor installed, but as soon as I enable the second one it reverts to basic.
Too bad it doesn’t work properly on your hardware, James.
When it does work properly, it really is a joy.
I think Microsoft slipped up by being too aggressive with the video card requirements.
Sounds great doesn’t it… unfortunately there’s a flaw.
If you’re running dual desktops and you have some icons on one desktop, and some on another – If you remote desktop (mstsc) in to the machine, all the icons get moved to the main monitor and even after the remote desktop session has ended, they all remain on the one monitor.
Kinda frustrating.
Any chance Microsoft could sort this issue out?
Thanks guys
Amit
Hi,
I just upgraded from XP to windows 7 an have always use dual monitors with an nvidia ge-force 8400 gs card.
Well my problem is that my second monitor is plain black just like its turned off although my system does recognize my 2 monitors and it is also in extended mode and the cursor can move from one monitor to another…i really do not know what is going on!!if i was helpful enough can i please get a logical explanation??THANX!!!
The problem i have with this new feature is; I have dual display my main dispaly is my TV via HDMI my second is a touch screen that runs a juke box program, all good so far.
I then decide that i only want the juke box screen on as we are only listening to music, so i turn off the TV, at this poing windows detects theat the main monitor is now gone, it then procides to move the whole desktop onto the small touch screen and thats whre it stays.
The only way to get it back is to turn off the touch screen and reboot, this then sets the main output back to the TV, i then have to drag the program i want to use back to the touch screen.
Its driving me mad,
Any help would be great!!!
I upgraded my Dell Latitude D600 laptop with Windows 7, and it works great, and fast. I have one problem:
I can’t seem to Dual Monitor anymore!
Used to, I could, plug the VGA cable into the back of my laptop, and BOOM dual monitors achieved. Now, that I have Windows 7, I cannot seem to do it anymore. I have tried to update the video drivers, and it does nothing, but tell me that the drivers are up to date. >=(
This is very frustrating. Any ideas?
My old operating system was Windows XP Professional SP3, if that helps any…..
I have a similar problem as some others. I just installed Windows 7 and am unable to drag images from one monitor to another. The cursor simply stops at the edge of the screen. I used to be able to work with dual monitors in this way previously on Vista. I use a docking station/tower, but that shouldn’t be the issue b/c I’ve updated the drivers for it and it used to work on Vista. Any ideas? Thx.
I am also facing the same problem
I have an updated Windows 7 ulitmate (fresh installation)..
I have connected two monitors using my Nvidia 9800GT graphics card. I have two displays with the same walpaper displayed, but i am unable to drag any windows from my primary display to my secondary display. Please help.
I am using compaq nx6120 but external monitor doesnt work. I have updates the vid drives but no luck…. tried fn + f4 but no luck. any suggestions please? Thxs
This information was very helpful. I am still not sure how you can see different windows ie one on main laptop and other on external monitor.
Thanks.
I have a dual monitors set up and working just fine, then we get a power surge or drain when the heat kicks in, and windows 7 reconfigures me back to single monitor mode but displayed on both like you described. Nothing was unplugged, nothing changed except a decrease in power. I upgraded from Vista, and I did not experience this problem. It is getting old quick to have to redo my monitors. Is there a solution you could help me with? Thanks in advance.
Julie
I’m having the same problem with the dual monitors. I had XP before working fine and now with W7 I’m stuck on the single monitor. Any ideas?
Thanks!
I just solved my problem installing the driver for the Graphics Card o my laptop. Check the Device Manager and see if your W7 detected the driver for your interface card automatically or if it appears Generic or something like that.
Good Luck!
Glad you found the problem, Danilo.
So you’re saying if the driver is generic it won’t work, but if Windows 7 detected the driver it will work properly?
my roommate got a new computer and we are trying to get our tv to run as a second monitor. we had the old computer with the same video card with xp running svideo to it and it ran fine. now we cant get it to work, just black screen. any ideas?
Okay, got it.
I had the problem of updating to Windows 7. Then the same screen was on both monitors and only one display was listed under appearance so I couldn’t change it to the extend desktop option.
Danlio was right. My video card driver said: Standard AVD driver. I had to download a specific driver for my video card from the Radeon website and then choose it with the Browse my computer for driver software settings instead of automatically letting W7 choose the generic driver.
I hope I save someone some time with this.. Thanks for the previous posts.
I am having a dual monitor issue. I have a new Lenovo T500, which is in a docking station when I am in my office. Unfortunately, the dock only has one VGA plug. I purchased a splitter and have plugged in two LCD monitors, which I would like to extend. However, the display settings are recognizing only one monitor, and thus giving me mirror images rather than an extension.
Anyone know of a solution to this – or did I waste money on a second LCD monitor?
In most OS(s), playing a game and with duel monitors will hinder you from using the second for other uses. Does win7 fix this? I haven’t gotten a second monitor, but I was just curious.
Amit Sehgal, I am running into this too, however, I’ve done some testing. If I connect to my dual monitor machine, with a single monitor source, the remote desktop sesson moves everything into one monitor (for the remote client), and I’m logged off my desktop. However, if I just end the session, and don’t ‘Log Off’ from the remote desktop session, when I log back into my desktop, it puts all the stuff back. If I log off from the remote desktop session, and then log back into my desktop, everything is scrunched onto one monitor.
Trying to find a way to switch the default power button in the start menu from Logoff to Disconnect, for a remote desktop user, cause this is going to be for a client user.
Drew