Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Dual computer monitors

This is topic Dual computer monitors in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 08-26-2010, 12:19 PM:

A couple of years ago I had my laptop hooked up to my tv thru the serial ports on both. I had a wireless keyboard and mouse and my laptop was always shut and sitting on the bottom shelf of my desk. I used my tv as a monitor. I could switch between sources on my tv remote, which is good because I can check Film-Tech during commercials [Wink]

now I have a different laptop and I need it open and sitting next to my tv to control any of the programs. My mouse goes between the two (from one screen to the other)and I have to drag anything I want to view from my laptop over to the TV.

Any suggestions? I want my tv to be the only monitor

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-26-2010, 02:51 PM:

Which operating system are you using (XP, Vista, 7)?

Under the desktop properties dialog box you should be able to select the HDTV monitor and click the checkbox "Use this device as the primary monitor." Then you de-select the notebook display's setting of "extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor." I think that should work unless the notebook over-rides any ability to turn off its built-in LCD display.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 08-26-2010, 02:59 PM:

Bobby,
It's running XP. When I am in display properties and select my tv, the box to check "fades" out and I can't select it. It won't let me use the tv as the primary monitor. The laptop is a little Acer with about a 7 inch screen

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-26-2010, 03:30 PM:

Maybe it was in an earlier version of Windows or something, or I'm just plain overlooking the setting, but I could have sworn there was a way to duplicate the same image on both monitors. That would solve the problem to some extent if I could find the setting.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 08-26-2010, 03:34 PM:

Bobby, that was how it was on my old setup, but that laptop crashed (too much porn).