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How do I switch between two monitors?

Dual monitors and remote access. Not what you think.

  • Dual monitor/remote access/I'm a moronFILTER: Accessing a desktop machine that used to have a dual monitor setup but now has none. My desktop machine (Win XP sp2) has a NVIDIA graphics card with dual monitor support. I had it running for a few years with two monitors and it worked wonderfully. Now I have the desktop sitting by itself, with no mouse, keyboard, or monitors hooked up and am only accessing it remotely via logmein.com pro. Here's my problem: I didn't disable the dual monitor setup while they were still attached. I assumed that it would still output in a dual monitor display (remotely) even with the displays removed. I was incorrect. It defaulted to a single monitor display. But now, when I open certain programs that used to run exclusively on the 2nd monitor, they are 'off-screen'. I can force some of them onto my default display by right clicking the item on the task bar and hitting maximize. But if the program has a sub-window pop up, its gone forever. I have tried every option (I think) in the nView desktop manager that comes with the NVIDIA video card. I've even attempted to disable the nView controls. I cannot get it to work. I know the obvious answer is to hook up the two monitors for a minute and properly switch over to a single monitor setup, but as I am lacking the monitors at the moment thats not the best solution right now. >>>>>> If anybody knows how I can force my desktop machine to think its still outputting to two monitors, that would be awesome. I would love to get the added real estate on my remote connection without having to use a virtual desktop. If I have confused anybody, please ask and I will attempt to make my situation more understandable. Thanks!>>>>>

  • Answer:

    umm, where the >> are, it was supposed to say BONUS. Not sure how I screwed that up...>>

wile e at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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Can you uninstall the NView program?

odinsdream

You can't go to the Multiple Displays part of NView and set it to a single one? That's weird, always works great on mine. I'd try uninstalling nView if that's an option. Otherwise, I'm not sure what to tell you.

DMan

DMan- I've tried that, and it works with almost all programs. But where it doesn't, is when a certain program has a secondary window that pops up that originally was on the 2nd display. I would uninstall the nView program, but I want to wait to see if somebody has another solution before I do that. Thanks.

wile e

What about just downgrading the video driver to something generic? That should make it snap back to a single-monitor display. You wouldn't be uninstalling anything - just selecting a default video driver.

junesix

I think at this point I'd just uninstall the offending programs and reinstall them, assuming it isn't too many.

DMan

I'm pretty sure there's a way to gather windows to a single monitor -- googling for that http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nview+gather+windows&btnG=Google+Search (some ancient versions of) the manual so maybe searching in the manual will help you. Looks like you might have to set a hotkey...

advil

The keystroke(s) to move a window with the cursor keys is Alt-Space, then M. This works on the active window, so you'll first need to be sure you've Alt-tabbed to the off-screen program.

pmbuko

Is it possible to just go to your display properties (desktop context-menu > properties > "Settings" tab), disable the second monitor (deselect the "Extend my Windows...") and restart the apps?

kajj

Try to change the resolution of the screen in the control panel (high resolution = big screen, low resolution = small screen) to find the window that is now 'off screen.'

acro

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