Disconnecting 2nd monitor never remembered or followed

[williamtorres]

I am having an annoying problem with my Windows 7 laptop. I am hoping someone here can help me fix it. I use an LCD monitor connected to the VGA port on my laptop. The monitor connects as a second monitor and works fine. No problems from that angle.

However, whenever I disconnect the monitor from the laptop and reboot or resume Windows, all programs are opening as if the second monitor is still attached. In order to see and move the program's window, I must:

​

1. Open more programs so that the taskbar is full
   
   ​
2. Right-click the program in the taskbar and select Move
   
   ​
3. Drag the window to the laptop monitor

Note: Move is unavailable until I have filled the taskbar so that tabs start to group AND there is atleast two windows for the same program open.

If prior to rebooting I change the display settings through Control Panel to one monitor, the second monitor is disconnected. The Display Settings window even says that only one monitor is attached. Strangely, the programs displayed on the second monitor stay there as if the monitor were still connected. In which case, I have to follow the same process from above.

I have checked for new drivers through device manager, windows update, the graphics card manufacturer (Intel), and the laptop manufacturer (Dell). Everything seems to be up-to-date, but I still tried to reinstall the latest drivers anyways.

What should I look at next? Please, don't recommend a registry cleaner. I find they do more harm then good. Besides, I'm comfortable scouring through the registry myself if I know what setting to look for.

 

[RST101]

You don't state what your system is specifically, if you could give us more detail.....

Right click the desktop and click screen resolution, click identify and it will notify you which screen is which. You will need to make the laptop your main display.

You could also(in screen resolution) click the drop down and show on the screen you have just identified. This is what I do when not using the second screen because with nvidia chips the memory, shaders etc hit full speed when two monitors are connected and heats the chip up by 13-15c.

 

[williamtorres]

You don't state what your system is specifically, if you could give us more detail.....

Laptop: Dell Latitude E6400
OS: Windows 7 Enterprise x86
Display Adapter: Mobile Intel 4 Series Express​

Right click the desktop and click screen resolution, click identify and it will notify you which screen is which. You will need to make the laptop your main display.

Monitor 1: Laptop (The taskbar is at bottom of this window also.)
Monitor 2: VA702b (Generic)​

I do not believe my problem is within the Displays > Screen Resolution settings you have pointed out. That was the first place I checked. After that I checked for driver and software updates.

 

[PureLoneWolf]

I have a very similar issue, but it only seems to be with Chrome.

I have a slightly different setup though.

When at work, I plug the laptop into a docking station with the lid closed and have 2 external monitors. When I disconnect and work from home...the laptop screen is identified as Screen 1, but Chrome runs as if it is on a 2nd monitor. All of my other apps appear on the laptop screen as expected though. The weird thing about this, Chrome is only ever displayed on Monitor 1 when I am in the office.

Unfortunately, I can't do anything to move it - Filling up the taskbar doesn't have any affect.