Extended screen mode in windows 7

Kari · 28 Dec 2010

Mikedl, I'm more confused than earlier. I have no problems to open applications in fullscreen on any display. The main factor is on which display the fullscreen application was running last time when it was closed. If I have an application running fullscreen on secondary display and I close it, next time it is launched it opens fullscreen on that secondary display. If I close it when it's running on main display, it also opens next time to main display.

I did not take your words out of context. You said this can not be natively done in Windows 7, and I'm still saying it's not true. I can open almost any application fullscreen on display of my choice, be it main or secondary display, exception being some games as I already mentioned in my previous post. I can open an application fullscreen on main display, then switch it to windowed mode to be moved to secondary display and switch it back fullscreen, this time on secondary display. And vice versa, from fullscreen on secondary display to fullscreen on main display. No third party applications needed.

I fail to see the problem here. Windows 7 lets you use fullscreen mode on display of your choice. In fact, I have often both displays running fullscreen application simultaneously, watching TV or a DVD on one display and playing on another. And I can switch these when I want, TV or DVD for instance from display 1 to display 2 and the game from display 2 to display 1.

Kari

mikedl · 28 Dec 2010

I have full screen applications on my monitors continuously, as well, Kari. That's why I rarely look for desktop wall paper - I rarely see my desktop. :)

However, programs will not always retain which monitor you want them to open on. I move windows back and forth constantly depending on which program I'm focusing on at the time. If I'm running AutoCAD, I'll put FF on the left (my "working monitor is directly in front of me and is actually the secondary monitor). If I'm chatting on Forums, like now, I'll put FF in front of me, another FF window to the left and pull up emails in Outlook on the left, as well. I often watch videos on the left monitor while working on the one in front of me. I usually have a few other programs going, too, such as CS5, Excel, Word or Access. In the mix of doing that, depending on the state of the application window on last use, the next time I open the application, it may not open on the monitor I desire.

You're confusion lies in the intent of my post, Kari. If the OP could try the suggestion I presented and it worked, problem solved. If not, well, at least we're a bit further along, right?

Kari · 28 Dec 2010

I must say this one more time: as far as I can remember, all my applications (with very few exceptions) always open on display where they were last time closed. Full screen or windowed. And I can set most of the applications and programs in fullscreen on any of the displays, this laptop of mine with two displays or my desktop with three displays.

I have no problems to admit I might have misunderstood something here. If I understand both OP and you correctly, I really must say it's not true.

OP said these exact words: "Whenever I run any program in full-screen mode, the program is opened on the primary screen by default. What I'd like to be able to do is to choose which screen the program should be displayed on. Is there any way to do this?" Your exact answer was "Short of installing another 3rd party software, there is no way to do this with any consistency, natively, in Win 7."

But OK, I'll bail out. No need to argue.

Kari

Teaboar · 29 Dec 2010

Just to clarify I'm not talking about programs that can be maximized in windows such as the browser, office programs etc., I'm referring to programs (games in this case) that have an actual full-screen mode to choose from. You might not have been referring to this but I thought I'd point this out just in case.

Also, while I did say any program I run in full-screen mode is displayed on the primary screen by default, I never said I had tried many programs. It's just that every single game I've tried (maybe 5 or 6 games) to run in full screen mode has been displayed on the primary screen and I've been unable to move them to the secondary screen without changing the graphic settings to windowed mode.