Configure and Use Multiple Monitors in Windows XP!
This step-by-step article describes how to configure
and use multiple monitors in Windows XP.
Windows XP makes it possible for you to increase your
productivity by using multiple monitors to expand the
size of your desktop. With the use of up to ten
individual monitors connected to a single computer,
you can create a desktop that is large enough to hold
numerous programs or windows. You can easily work on
more than one task at a time by moving items from one
monitor to another or by stretching them across
numerous monitors. You can edit images or text on one
monitor while you view Web activity on another
monitor. Or you could open multiple pages of a single,
long document, and then drag them across several
monitors to easily view the layout of text and
graphics. You could also stretch a Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet across two monitors so you can view
numerous columns without scrolling.
Arrange Multiple Monitors in XP Pro
One monitor serves as the primary monitor, and this
monitor displays the Logon dialog box when you start
your computer. In addition, most programs will display
windows on the primary monitor when you initially open
them. You can select different screen resolutions and
different color quality settings for each monitor.
Multiple monitors can be connected to individual video
adapters or to a single video adapter that supports
multiple outputs. To configure the arrangement of
multiple monitors:
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Appearance and Themes, and then click
Display.
3. On the Settings tab, click Identify to display a
large number on each of your monitors. This shows
which monitor corresponds with each icon.
4. Click the monitor icons and drag them to positions
that represent how you want to move items from one
monitor to another, and then click OK or Apply to view
changes.
NOTE: The icon positions determine how you move items
from one monitor to another. For example, if you are
using two monitors and you want to move items from one
monitor to the other by dragging left and right, place
the icons side by side. To move items between monitors
by dragging up and down, place the icons one above the
other. The icon positions do not have to correspond to
the physical positions of the monitors. You can place
the icons one above the other even though your
monitors are side by side.
Change Primary Monitor
1. On the Settings tab of the Display Properties
dialog box, click the monitor icon that represents the
monitor you want to designate as the primary monitor.
2. Click to select the Use this device as the primary
monitor check box. Note that this check box is
unavailable when you select the monitor icon that is
currently set as your primary monitor.
View Same Desktop in Multiple Monitors
1. On the Settings tab of the Display Properties
dialog box, click the monitor icon that represents the
monitor you want to use in addition to your primary
monitor.
2. Click to select the Extend my Windows desktop onto
this monitor check box. After you enable this feature,
you can drag items across your screen onto alternate
monitors. Or, you can resize a window to stretch it
across more than one monitor.
Move Items Between Monitors
1. On the Settings tab of the Display Properties
dialog box, click Identify to display a large number
on each of your monitors. This shows which monitor
corresponds with each icon.
2. Click the monitor icons and drag them to positions
that represent how you want to move items from one
monitor to another, and then click OK or Apply.
3. Drag an item on your desktop across your screen
until it appears on the alternate monitor. Or, you can
resize a window to stretch it across more than one
monitor.
Using Dualview
On many portable computers and some desktop computers
(those with two video ports on one video card), you
can expand your display to a second monitor by using
Dualview. Dualview is very similar to the multiple
monitor feature, with the exception that you cannot
select the primary display. On a portable computer,
the primary monitor is always the LCD display screen.
On a desktop computer, it is the monitor that is
attached to the first video out port. Once you attach
the second monitor and turn on your computer, use the
Display tool in Control Panel to configure your
settings, just as you do with multiple monitors. You
can use Dualview with docked or undocked portable
computers.
Scrolling Start Menu Programs!
If you have numerous programs installed, they may not
all fit in one column on your Start Menu. By default,
the programs will be displayed as horizontal columns.
You can change this by editing the Advanced properties
for the Start Menu, or you can have programs displayed
in one long scrolling menu. Programs you don't see on
the scrolling menu are accessible by clicking the
arrow at the bottom of the list.
To do so, right click the Start button and click
Properties. From the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties
dialog box, click the Advanced button. If you are
using the Classic Start menu, scroll through the list
of Advanced Start menu options and place a check
beside Scroll Programs. If you are using the Start
menu style, click the Advanced tab from the Customize
Start Menu window. Scroll through the Start menu items
and place a check beside Scroll Programs. Click OK.
Internet Explorer lets you save your Favorite Web
sites!
Internet Explorer lets you save your favorite Web
sites so you can quickly access them in the future
without having to look them up again or type in the
specific URL (which can be lengthy). Here is a tip you
can use in IE 5.x and 6.x to save all your favorites.
This way, if your computer crashes, you have the
option of restoring your favorites once your PC is up
and running again.
So here is what you have to do:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. From the File menu, click Import and Export. This
launches the Import/Export wizard. Click Next.
3. From the list of actions to perform, highlight
Export Favorites and click Next.
4. If you want to back up all your favorites, leave
the Favorites folder selected. Otherwise, select the
specific folder you want to back up. Click Next.
5. Select where you want to have your Favorites backed
up to. Click Next.
6. Click Finish.
Now you can restore your favorites using the
Import/Export wizard, but this time select Import
Favorites and follow the steps onscreen.
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