Do any of you guys have a dual monitor setup?

**WorknMan** · 05-15-2010, 06:55 PM

Got a dual monitor setup at home, but I only use the second one sometimes, usually when I am working (I work from home) and at random other times, and then I turn the second one off when I'm not using it. When it is turned off, if I launch an app that was running on the second monitor the last time it ran, that's where it starts up. So I have to turn on the second monitor and move the f**king window over. This is INFURIATING!!

So, was wondering if you guys have found an elegant solution to this problem? I suppose I could disable/enable the second monitor every time I turned it off/on, but that would be a PITA. Another possibility would be just to leave both monitors on all the time, but is that healthy to leave it on (it's an LCD) for hours on end when not using it? How much power does that eat up?

I run a little app called Ultramon, but they don't provide a hotkey or anything to move windows over. (That's supposedly coming in the next version.)

**ArcadeNut** · 05-15-2010, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by WorknMan

Got a dual monitor setup at home, but I only use the second one sometimes, usually when I am working (I work from home) and at random other times, and then I turn the second one off when I'm not using it. When it is turned off, if I launch an app that was running on the second monitor the last time it ran, that's where it starts up. So I have to turn on the second monitor and move the f**king window over. This is INFURIATING!!

So, was wondering if you guys have found an elegant solution to this problem? I suppose I could disable/enable the second monitor every time I turned it off/on, but that would be a PITA. Another possibility would be just to leave both monitors on all the time, but is that healthy to leave it on (it's an LCD) for hours on end when not using it? How much power does that eat up?

I run a little app called Ultramon, but they don't provide a hotkey or anything to move windows over. (That's supposedly coming in the next version.)

Why would you ever turn it off?

Here is my setup*

* - Note DESK is NEVER this clean

**ChairoNoMe** · 05-15-2010, 07:20 PM

You could use this little command line utility WinPos that allows you to reposition and resize windows, and incorporate it into a batch file to move all your common programs to the 1st monitor. Bind it to a shortcut (you can do this in windows easily, or if you want to use a key shortcut that doesn't use CTRL+ALT you can use something like AutoHotkey. That way every time you cant find your windows you can hit the hotkey to run this little script that repositions the windows and sizes them how you want them. I use WinPos all the time to fine tune the positioning of my windows.

**NE146** · 05-15-2010, 08:43 PM

If you're using XP can't you just right mouse click on the item in the taskbar and select "move"? And then you just tap an arrow key (any one) and then you can use the mouse to reposition.

If you're using Win 7 you can hold down shift then R-Click on the taskbar item to get the "move" command for offscreen items. I believe "restore" also repositions it into the active monitor as well.

**TheAlien** · 05-15-2010, 10:40 PM

Actually, Ultramon has an option to "move to Primary Monitor" or "Move to Secondary Monitor". Dig a little deeper into Ultramon.

**NE146** · 05-15-2010, 10:58 PM

Yeah.. I just verified on my dual monitor setup. You definitely do not need an app. It's built right into the OS.

**WorknMan** · 05-16-2010, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by NE146

If you're using XP can't you just right mouse click on the item in the taskbar and select "move"? And then you just tap an arrow key (any one) and then you can use the mouse to reposition.

The point of ultramon is that it allows you to have a task bar for each monitor, thus when an app starts up on the second monitor, it's on the taskbar for that monitor. And although you have a 'move to primary' option on ultramon, how you gonna do that when the monitor is turned off?

Guess I'll have a look at Chairo's app.

**NE146** · 05-16-2010, 04:34 PM

I guess if you like having an individual taskbar for each monitor... although to me iit sounds like that's the root of the problem

**Shane R. Monroe** · 05-16-2010, 05:33 PM

I've never been satisfied with a dual monitor set up .. there is ALWAYS something about it that pisses me off. I tried it at home. I tried it at work. Neither experience worked for me. I'd rather just have a GIANT single monitor.

**alexjlopez** · 05-16-2010, 05:55 PM

Pretty much the same story here--I had a dual 19" setup for a long time and it always felt akward. Last year I picked up a single 28" LCD and never looked back.