Controlling the Display and Monitors with Windows Vista - Using Multiple Monitors
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Thanks to the magic of Plug and Play and the generally standardized interfaces among video cards and monitors (either VGA or DVI connections), using a second monitor for Vista output is usually just a matter of hooking up the second monitor to your computer.
Vista then does its level best to detect the new monitor and apply the video settings best suited for it, guessing at an ideal screen size, screen resolution, and color depth for the new monitor.
Additionally, you should see a handy little dialog box the first time you connect. In this dialog box, shown in Figure 4-31, you’re given the option about how you want this second monitor to handle the Vista desktop.
Figure 4-31. Choosing how to handle the second monitor
You have three choices about what to do in the New Display Detected dialog box:
Mirrored
This option simply duplicates the existing desktop on each display you connect, and it is the default option. This will be the likely choice when you’re using a laptop computer for a presentation by connecting an external projector or other fixed display such as a flat-screen monitor in a conference room.
Extended
This option extends the Vista desktop across all displays, retaining just the single logical desktop, increasing overall desktop area. Once you select it, you can move program windows between the displays.
External display only
This selection displays the Vista desktop only on the external display and not on the laptop’s native LCD. Why this option? If using the Media Center capabilities from a laptop, for example, this will likely be the best choice when playing a DVD or recorded TV program. Additionally, using “External display only” will conserve battery power by turning off the mobile PC display.
Once you make your choice from the New Display Detected dialog box, you get the chance to preview your selection. Click Apply to preview on the newly connected monitor; choose OK to confirm.
Again, the default is to mirror the display. If you cancel out of this dialog box, Vista will use the default setting.
You will see the New Display Detected dialog box only when you’re using two displays. If you’re trying to set up three or more displays, you must manually designate your primary display and apply display settings to all monitors manually using the Display Settings dialog box.
What’s nice about the New Display Detected dialog box is that Vista remembers your settings here and uses them the next time you connect that monitor. When you disconnect the recently added monitor, Vista reverts to the original display settings.
I’ve got no scientific evidence to back this up, but I’d guess that most use of multiple monitors happens on laptops, which usually come configured with an external video port somewhere in the back. Also, laptops can easily be attached to docking stations that send output to a bigger, better monitor. In other words, the practice is a little more prevalent on laptops because nothing has to be added.
This isn’t the case on most desktops, however, which about 98 percent of the time are configured with a single video card. Some video cards have the capability to connect multiple monitors, but usually a second video card is needed to send desktop output to a second monitor.
You can find more information about video cards that support multiple monitors at http://www.nvidia.com and http://www.ati.amd.com.
Next: Using Multiple Monitors Manually >>
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 This article is excerpted from chapter four of Windows Vista Administration: The Definitive Guide, written by Brian Culp (O'Reilly; ISBN: 0596529597). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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