Windows 7: Dual Monitor set up

I'm adding a 2nd monitor to my system, a Samsung 2343 BWX, same as the one I have now. Since this is my 1st attempt at this, I thought I'd ask for guidance before I do something I regret.

I have a NVIDIA 9800GTX card and will hook 2nd monitor to it, along with 1st monitor. I would like, if possible, to have a separate desktop on each so I can see, and do, different things on each monitor. I don't do any gaming or other video taxing things, just Office apps, browsing, and emailing.



Any suggestions to guide me to my desired destination would be most appreciated.

Hi

Have a look at the following links:

Two Monitors Are Better Than One
Move windows between multiple monitors
More here


Hope this helps

Regards

Once the new monitor is connected and detected, just open the display properties (Windows key + P works as well) and set the second monitor to extended mode. That's about all there is to it.

The only problem with dual (or more) monitors is that you don't get a taskbar on the second monitor. One of these days Windows might get that sort of thing natively but until then you have to use a 3rd party app for it. Here are a couple of the more popular ones (neither free),

DisplayFusion ~ Multi-Monitor Taskbar, HotKeys, Window Management, Wallpaper Manager and much more - free version is rather limited

Realtime Soft UltraMon

Oscar's Multi-Monitor taskBar

Welcome to my world . You won't see wide screens in my office for years to come. I use TFT/LCD square screens at 19" each. . You can still buy Flatron LG1942T models at various online retail stores.

This is the setup I recommend to my local customers when I visit their homes. I always use a huge heavy-duty fold-out 6' x 4' table and put a chair with a cushion on the other side to extend your legs. Like sitting in a lazy-boy. Plus, the chair has extensions on the backsupport so all wires can be draped over the back of the chair to keep them nicely organized. There is plenty of room underneath for your computer or computers and to left of my computer is a huge 3 hour APS (battery backup). When the winters get rough here in New England, the electricty flickers on and off a couple dozen times. You won't feel a thing with a good APS.

Thanks for the replies. I'm waiting for UPS to bring the needed cable, then I'll hook up the monitor and see what happens.

Warning, once you go duals (or more), you'll have a hard time using a computer with 1 screen.
If you like the dual display and plan on using duals, purchase UltraMon, it is the better of the 2 listed Multi screen utilities.
I've been using duals for almost 10 years now and have used UltraMon for 7 or 8 years now.

I know how this works...started with 1 SSD, then 2, then 3, and now I have 4 in RAID 0.


Thanks for the UltraMon tip. Once I get the cable and get the monitor set up, I'll go from there.

If this isn't the best site for help, I don't know what is.

Just hooked up monitor 2 - display automatically set to "extend these displays", both monitors identified - BUT the mouse stops at the edge of monitor 1 and doesn't go to monitor 2. Cannot drag any windows to monitor 2 either.

I hooked up monitor 2 yesterday and the mouse moved from 1 to 2 - no task bar on 2 as expected. The cable I used was too short for desired monitor placement.

I have double checked the settings, re-booted, and cold booted - still no luck.

Try going the other way. If you have them 1 on the left and 2 on the right, try moving off the left side of 1; or vice versa if 1 on the right and 2 on the left. If that is it then open Windows display properties and drag monitor 2 to the other side (1-2 or 2-1).

Exactly the case - Thank You.