[ac234]

Hi,

I'm sure this is very simple but unsure how to do it. I want to use my laptop and monitor as a duel display. I want the monitor to be the 'main monitor' and the laptop screen the secondary one. I can set it up the other way round, so the laptop is the 'main monitor' but within Display Settings the tick box to make the monitor the main monitor is greyed out.

Hope this makes sense...would appreciate any help.

Thank you

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[Karmakaze]

I've never tried this with a laptop to really know the direct answer to your question. However, I would double check monitor 1 and make sure than "This is my main monitor" is unchecked.

If checked, I would uncheck and then see if it will allow you to check monitor 2's "This is my main monitor" box.

[ac234]

Thanks, I have tried this however the tick box in monitor 1 is greyed out as well not letting me update it.

[PSYCH0]

Try using the GPU's control software to change that. My buddy just got his wife a new lappy a few weeks back (still with Vista, yes), and I remember that we found the option to do this very quickly when we hooked his TV up to the HDMI out. I don't remember exactly where it was, though. If you don't find the solution before this evening, I may hook my wife's work lappy to the VGA input on the TV and try to find it for ya.

[ac234]

PSYCH0, on 03 November 2009 - 03:26 PM, said:

Try using the GPU's control software to change that. My buddy just got his wife a new lappy a few weeks back (still with Vista, yes), and I remember that we found the option to do this very quickly when we hooked his TV up to the HDMI out. I don't remember exactly where it was, though. If you don't find the solution before this evening, I may hook my wife's work lappy to the VGA input on the TV and try to find it for ya.

Hi - sorry, what do you mean my GPU? Still haven't found the solution so any other help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[amon91]

ac234, on 04 November 2009 - 08:54 AM, said:

Hi - sorry, what do you mean my GPU? Still haven't found the solution so any other help would be appreciated. Thank you.

It's commonly know as graphics card (even though it's technically a little different). Sometimes your graphics card comes with software with display settings which you might use to get around your problem.

[PSYCH0]

Alright, here are two examples from ATI and Intel graphics chips. This is the right click menu from the desktop


As you can see in this pic, the ATI built in graphics control panel is Catalyst Control center.


This is the same menu with Intel graphics from my wife's work lappy.

Unfortunately, I forgot to try with that machine last night, and she's currently working (she sweetly let me borrow it for 30 seconds to get that screen shot). My buddy's machine had the Intel chipset, and I remeber this option being very easy to find in their software.

I don't remember the name of Nvidia's control software, and on a desktop the option is given to switch primaries at any time (see screenshot below)


I will try to remember to attempt this tonight after she's done working. Sorry about forgetting last night.

[PSYCH0]

Alright, I remembered tonight, it just got late after church, supper, and dozing off .
Anyway, these screenshots were taken on my wife's work lappy, a Dell Vostro with an Intel Graphics chip.

First select display properties shown in the above post.

That should pull up the following screen, and everything was self explanatory from there (see pix)



To select primary:



To choose desktop mode:




I have a feeling that you were simply in the wrong menu, but if you don't have Intel graphics, your dialogs won't look exactly like these.

[ac234]

Hi, sorry it's taken me a little while to get back to you and thanks a lot for your help.

I have an ATI graphics card. I installed Catalyst Control Centre but it's not appearing when I right click on the desktop. I'm not sure how else I can get to it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[PSYCH0]

Catalyst control center installs an entry in the start menu.

This is the main screen:



The arrow menu in the corner of the screen contain the "make primary" entry you require:

[ac234]

Thanks, but it hasn't installed an entry in the start menu! I can't find it anywhere. Do you know where it could be hiding or should I try re-installing it?

[PSYCH0]

I would uninstall it from add/remove programs and try a fresh install. Did you make sure to get the latest Catalyst pack for your GPU (It'll have the latest drivers+CCC)?
I just looked at AMD's site, and can't seem to find a driver package for your GPU.... interesting.

[ac234]

Hi, yes I did all that and could find the right package. Do you know of any other third party programmes that would do the same job?