Extended Displays Difficulty on ASUS 1001p

[johntkucz]

Hi, Have an asus 1001p netbook.
attached to it is a DELL 19" flatscreen.
I have successfully extended the same hardware configuration in a different OS (ubuntu) so know the hardware is capable of extending displays.
in windows 7 (identical hardware configuration), the "extend displays" option isn't available.
I'd like to extend (instead of duplicate. duplicate does work) display in windows 7. Thanks.

-- John

 

[Night Hawk]

Hello johntkucz Welcome to the Seven Forums!

Besides the Asus utility other programs like UltraMON and DisplayFusion are available for seeing your desktop extended onto a second display. In fact here it was essential not to see a cloned desktop especially for having multiple VMs running at the same time as seen in the image below.

Note the "smart taskbar" option also extends the taskbar onto the second monitor where you can drag or move windows over and see the icon for that on the smart bar. With the 3rd party programs you can also have a separate wallpaper for each screen.

 

[alphanumeric]

If its windows 7 Starter you can't extend the display, that option is only available with higher versions. I know you can do it on Home Premium, not sure about Home Basic.

 

[Night Hawk]

I would say Home Premium on that. But looking over the comparisons of features in the different editions is the first best option. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/14422-compare-windows-7-editions.html

The Home Basic also includes the Desktop Manager. The Control Panel>Display as well as video software are mainly what control extending or cloning settings however. The 3rd party apps mentioned allow the taskbar extension and other customizing like having two different wallpapers.

 

[alphanumeric]

I wasn't sure if the third party apps would bypass Starter not letting you extend the display, but mainly I just wanted to point out that if it was Starter, that that was why it didn't work. If its Starter, its that way by design, and its not broken. I also looked at the comparisons but couldn't really figure it out for sure if it would work in Home Basic or not. My step daughter has a netbook with starter on it and the big gripe she had was not being able to change her desktop wallpaper. Luckily HP offers a Stardock app in the list of downloads for it, that lets her do that.

 

[Night Hawk]

Besides the limitations seen with the Starter edition another thing that could prevent an extended desktop would be working with a netbook not a laptop where you can add in a separate video card if needed. Netbooks in comparison on more on the idea of Tablet PC somewhat where it's convenience of being small and portable over flexibility.

 

[alphanumeric]

Thats a very good point. My step daughter has expressed no interest in connecting a second monitor so I haven't researched it to see if hers can do dual extended displays. It has a VGA out connector so at the very least she could connect an external display in lue of the built in LCD display. The OP stated that his worked in ubuntu just not in Windows 7. Being as most netbooks come with Starter, I figured I mention that it doesn't support extended displays and maybe same him some head scratching.

 

[Night Hawk]

The external port to connect an external lcd allows you to view everything on a larger screen. They were intended for customized desktops such as extending onto a second display. You have to remember the output signal doesn't realize the larger capacity for onboard video memory typically seen with the integrated perhaps 128-256mb on a laptop.

If you could find a way to feed the output onto the desktop of a laptop at least or desktop already set up for dual displays the windows could be stretched across both screens in theory. The laptop or desktop would be more capable there. But that would tend to defeat the purpose at the same time.

The only thing that could be tried would setting up an external display and then downloading the trial version of either UltraMon or DisplayFusion which are apps used to change from cloned to extended to see what the results would be. The settings in either program are what allows for the smart bar as well as extension of the desktop.

The screen here is a fast look at some of the settings readily seen for UltraMon when right clicking on the system tray icon.

 

[johntkucz]

Well thanks for the welcome!!

There's a lot of information here. Thanks for the hasty, but not wasty responde. A very complete set of information for solutions!! Thanks!

While I appreciate all those apps mentioned, nighthawk, I think alphanumeric's observation is the simple bit of information needed: not supported in starter (Multiple Monitors) technically multiple monitors ARE, but not extended monitors (because I have netbook and external monitor both displaynig)

If its windows 7 Starter you can't extend the display, that option is only available with higher versions. I know you can do it on Home Premium, not sure about Home Basic.

Despite that Windows Starter limitation, two ideas:
Would a third-party software allow multiple monitors (even given windows starter?)
wondering if/how I could install my copy of home premium (prob should get prof) on netbook (no drive).

In any case, at least I understand that the limitation is based on the operating system edition.

thanks forum (I like this forum already!) and especially nighthawk and alphanumeric. I will just deactivate netbook display (no point in having two of same, plus, by not mirroring (deactivating netbook display) the external monitor is no longer limited to the netbook's resolution.

So if I can't activate an extended display option via third party or upgrading OS edition on netbook (a slight feat given no dvd, but I know there are work arounds, just not sure if want to hassle), when at desktop will use mirrored external with netbook screen display off.

Thanks!

 

[johntkucz]

I wasn't sure if the third party apps would bypass Starter not letting you extend the display, but mainly I just wanted to point out that if it was Starter, that that was why it didn't work. If its Starter, its that way by design, and its not broken. I also looked at the comparisons but couldn't really figure it out for sure if it would work in Home Basic or not. My step daughter has a netbook with starter on it and the big gripe she had was not being able to change her desktop wallpaper. Luckily HP offers a Stardock app in the list of downloads for it, that lets her do that.

yeah, spot on. Was good to elim hardware incompatibiliiteis. Also, nighthawk, thanks for that comparing windows editions table. I love simple tech spec comparison tables of things like that (espeially os versions and hardware). Useful!

Additionally, am in the process of completely changing around my desk-work-living (I live in computer basically haha) setup. Very interested in designing my own rig. Will be selling old apple stuff.

I'm VERY interested in building my own rig with 2-4 mounted flatscreens and running ubuntu and windows home premium or prof. I've tripled-booted (mac os rubbish, ubuntu great!, and windows solid). Designing hardware rig: this forum might be a good resource!

 

[johntkucz]

Besides the limitations seen with the Starter edition another thing that could prevent an extended desktop would be working with a netbook not a laptop where you can add in a separate video card if needed. Netbooks in comparison on more on the idea of Tablet PC somewhat where it's convenience of being small and portable over flexibility.

Negative. If you read my OP I already deduced that the hardware wasn't a problem and that consideration was eliminaetd because I'd already gotten extended displays working (with exact same hardware configuration) in a different OS (ubuntu).

I guess this just illustrates a ploy of microsoft's to sell more expensive os editions!

that starter pointer was great. Thanks again, alphanumeric and forum.

If I make progress with this (basically getting extended on netbook via windows with 3rd party or diff os edition, will notify).

 

[johntkucz]

hey alpha I really like your bare bones system setup! I have been oggling at parts for a year, and been off and on considering building a bbs for 3 years. egg and tom's hardware as resources, but have not yet done it! I def won't be getting a western digital hd, though. They're inexpensive and common, but not reliable from personal experience.

Thanks again for the informative responses. I find this thread useful.

 

[alphanumeric]

For a netbook with no optical drive I would recommend doing the install from a bootable thumb drive. I do it that way on all my PC's, optical drive or not. It's more convenient and faster than doing it from the DVD. The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool > Microsoft Store Online < will make one for you from an ISO image. The other option is to connect a USB DVD-ROM and install from a DVD. The simplest way that I probably should have mentioned first is Windows anytime upgrade. You buy your ungraded to say Home Premium and just enter the product code though anytime upgrade. All the features of the version you bought are unlocked and you don't have to install anything.

 

[gazz9496]

did you try extending using the keyboard shortcut? fn f6 or which ever function key it is on your netbook.