Solved Two monitors to show two different desktop images?

[martinlest]

I have researched this before coming here (though not exhaustively!) and downloaded SourceForge's DualMonitorTools-1.8. I thought the DualWallpaper.exe tool would do what I want, but no..

I have several dozen wallpaper pictures, which Windows 7 changes at random every 24hrs. I would much rather have my second monitor black however (as I have all my often-accessed shortcut icons on that one and they are not always as visible as they could be on top of a picture; it's also a different resolution from the main monitor, so pictures are cut off in any case). The DualWallpaper.exe tool, even though I select just the 2nd. monitor, turns both my monitors black however (I selected a Black.bmp file I made, the same size as the monitor resolution). I can't get the 1st. monitor to keep showing me my desktop pictures, as at present, whilst the 2nd. monitor is black, as per my bmp file.

Anyone know if I can do this with the software I have downloaded? Or otherwise?? (Don't really want to download anything other than freeware, 'small footprint' stuff, sledgehammer to crack a nut and all that..).

nVidia GTX660 GPU + nVidia Control panel, BTW ...

Thanks!

Martin

 

[YoYo155]

I've read good things about DisplayFusion, but I don't have personal experience with it myself.

 

[martinlest]

Will give it a try. Thanks.

 

[ganjiry]

+1 for Display Fusion as it's without a doubt the best multimonitor software i've tried. It has a a lot of other usefull features too like multi monitor taskbar and managing the pic on the login screen. Plus many more.

 

[martinlest]

OK, I did have a look, but I was really looking for freeware (my PC software 'allocation' is way overspent already this quarter!), especially as I don't really need any of the other features, cool though they may be. It looks like the free version won't support one monitor having a changing desktop picture, only a static one, which would be a shame.

Thanks ...

 

[Bongo]

Have a look at FREE Wallpaper Slideshow LT - Automatically change your desktop wallpaper and see if it will do what you want, I have not tried it so I don't know.

Jerry

 

[martinlest]

The online tutorial does show an option 'Different wallpaper on each monitor', so I'll download it and give it a try. Will post back results.. Thanks.

 

[martinlest]

This is a nice little programme, so thanks for the lead, but it doesn't seem to do what I wanted, that is, have desktop pictures change automatically on one monitor but keep the second monitor black, so I can see the icons clearly.

It does have the option to show different pictures from the same folder on each monitor though, which looks rather better anyway, so I'll keep it, even though it's not really what I was after. A pity you can't 'freeze' one of the monitors whilst having the other one cycle through the photos... The Pro version doesn't do it either, as far as I can see...

 

[martinlest]

(BTW, the software also allows you to set things so that the pictures are resized to fit each screen, rather than have the image on the monitor with the smaller resolution cropped to fit, so a definite improvement!).

 

[Bongo]

Can you make a folder with 2 or 3 black images and let it be on the other monitor?

Jerry

 

[martinlest]

I don't think so - both monitors share the same folder. I can't see an option to use images from two separate folders. I emailed the developers just to see. Maybe in a future version...

 

[martinlest]

Apparently the Pro version will do this. Have to think whether it's worth my while buying it just for that one function..

 

[ganjiry]

I use the pro version and have had a look but it does not do it i'm afraid, well not that i can find anyway.

 

[martinlest]

Thanks... I got an email from the developer though saying it does what I want (that is, only show desktop pics on one monitor. I wanted the other black for best visibility). Does this work for you? Maybe won't show images from different folders probably. I doubt I am bothered enough to buy the software though as I have all the other features I'd want covered by other (payware)software I have installed already.

"[FONT=&quot]in the "Options" window go to the "Filters" section and for the monitor you wish from the list near the label "Display" choose "No Image" in this way WallpaperSS will use the background color you can set in the "General" section.[/FONT]

 

[ganjiry]

Having looked further you can select one screen to have no image.
Then select the screen which u want the wallpapers on and select the "Load random images" check box which then changes the options available where u can add a folder of images.

I hope this helps and i appologise for not looking far enough last time

 

[martinlest]

No apologies necessary! Thanks for the input.

 

[ganjiry]

No probs! You're welcome