Questions about my first dual-monitor setup...

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

Honorable
Jul 16, 2013
234
0
10,680
Hey guys,

So I just set up an old HDTV that I wasn't using as a second monitor, and I'm running into some questions. My desk is in a little nook that was once a closet, so I actually hung it on the wall behind my desk instead, which puts it at a more comfortable viewing distance anyway. So here are my questions:

1. Are headaches normal when you first switch? Can't tell if it's they screen or just psychological.

2. How do you control which monitor is the "dominate" one? I have my sound system hooked up to my original monitor but for some reason the computer keeps trying to play the sounds through the tiny speakers on the TV instead.

3. Is there a way to have separate wallpapers for each screen? They are different resolutions so wallpapers that fit fine on the main screen are too big for the lower-resolution tv :/

Thanks guys, I hope you guys can help me out ;D
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
drtweak

drtweak

Illustrious
Sep 17, 2012
6,342
75
38,640
1) If you get a headache when looking at a monitor its one of two things most likely. 1) There should be an issue with the refresh rate and screws with your eyes or some other settings (Sharpeness, brightness ect) or 2) Need to go see an eye doctors hahahaha

2) Right click on your desktop and then click on properties (XP), or Screen resolution for Vista and up. Then in here you can select each monitor from the top drop down menu. Select the one you want to make the main from the drop down menu and then at the bottom Check the box that makes it the primary display.

3) There are ways to get different wall papers on each screen. For the most part though you will need a 3rd party app. here are a few for example. Ultramon, Display fusion (Thats a big one), Dual monitor Tools, and others out there. Out of the box windows doesn't really allow seperate backgrounds.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Ironsounds

Ironsounds

Champion
Jul 31, 2011
10,403
4
56,960
Hello... 1) The pixel dots are not as close together on a TV, and thus the fonts/Text will not be as clear to your eyes at a close distance.
2) The Connector on your Video card will determine Primary Boot screen order... In Windows, you Right click the desktop "Screen Resolution" and you can change Primary/secondary- Screen Position...Etc.
3) ? Don't know...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

Honorable
Jul 16, 2013
234
0
10,680


Thanks for the suggestions guys. Personally, I think the headaches may already be going away, I think it may have just been my tired mind getting use to having two screens for the first time.

As for number 2, I've already set my original monitor as the "primary display" and have fun arranging the windows and changing resolution and such, but for some reason it still labels the new monitor as monitor #1 and my original as #2 in my Windows 7 even though it then sets #2 as the primary, if that makes any sense. My problem is that it insists on sending the audio through the new monitor, I suspect because it is still labeled as "#1" and I don't know how to change that.
It seems like there should be an option somewhere I could change, but I'm not finding any. Perhaps I could switch which ports they plug into on my graphics card in case that affects their numbering, but I'd rather not as that messes up my setup in different ways...

Any thoughts on how to fix this?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

Honorable
Jul 16, 2013
234
0
10,680
HEHEY! I think I fixed it! I just typed "audio" in the windows search bar and found "manage audio devices" which allowed me to set which monitor was the "default device". It was set to the new tv but I switched it and it works! ;D
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Inquisitive Builder

Inquisitive Builder

Honorable
Jul 16, 2013
234
0
10,680
Hey guys, sorry to revive such an old topic, but today my computer stopped recognizing my Asus monitor as an audio device D:

I noticed it right after I set up "gunpoint" on steam for the first time. It installed some player I didn't catch the name of, but could that seriously cause this issue? Or was that probably a fluke?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom