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Desktops: Using Two Monitors for One Computer
Using Two Monitors for One Computer
by cshortle - 5/22/08 8:09 AMI'm wondering about the possibility of having two monitors for one computer. When I am assisting customers, I'd like to have the capability to show them what I'm doing without having them squinting and leaning over my shoulder to see my screen. However, I don't want them to always be able to see what I'm doing. During those times, I'd love to have some sort of display about our products, etc. on the screen. We're using Windows XP on our computers. Thanks for your help!
you just need a video card with dual display ports...
by ramarc - 5/22/08 11:35 AM In reply to: Using Two Monitors for One Computer by cshortleor add a PCI video card.
you need to post the make/model of your pc to get specific suggestions on what would be best.
Computer Info
by cshortle - 5/22/08 11:42 AM In reply to: you just need a video card with dual display ports... by ramarcThanks so much! Here's the information on our computers:
HP Compaq dc5750 Microtower AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.19 GHz, 1.87 GB of RAM
it seems that your pc can already handle two monitors
by ramarc - 5/22/08 3:30 PM In reply to: Computer Info by cshortleaccording to your specs: Integrated Dual-Display Port.
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/12454-12454-64287-321860-3328896-3252512.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
you should have 1 vga and 1 dvi port.
all you need to do is plug another monitor into the available port. when you open display preferences you should see two monitors. click the 2nd monitor and check 'extend my desktop'.
Dual monitors on HP dc5750
by CopperheadTx - 5/23/08 6:59 AM In reply to: it seems that your pc can already handle two monitors by ramarcOne monitor will connect to the integrated DVI port, the other will connect to the VGA port. The DVI monitor will become monitor #1, the VGA will be monitor #2. About all that may need to be done after that is to right click the desktop in a blank area, choose properties, the settings tab, activate display #2 and check the box marked "extend my desktop".
Different Display
by cshortle - 5/23/08 11:08 AM In reply to: Dual monitors on HP dc5750 by CopperheadTxThanks for the information! I really appreciate it!
So will I be able to display something different on the customer monitor than what is on my screen when I'm not helping customers? So when I'm doing other work, I'd love to displays lists of programs or new products. Is this possible? Or can I only show or extend what's on my screen?
You'll also need mirroring software ....
by fredzeppelin - 5/23/08 7:10 PM In reply to: Different Display by cshortleYou will in effect have a single display which is two monitors wide.
If you want them to see what you're doing on your half, you will have to enable mirroring. I can do that with my nVidia video driver, not sure how you would do it on your machine. Do a search on 'display mirroring'. I also use a 3rd party software called UltraMon for managing the multiple displays. It's free to try, and quite good.
If you want them to see something different, that's much easier. Simply position a window containing the appropriate content on that monitor. e.g. a slideshow or motion video.
yes, you can show other things on the other monitor
by ramarc - 5/24/08 10:57 AM In reply to: Different Display by cshortleextended dekstop will let you put any app on the other screen. so you could put a slide show or powerpoint presentation or even a video clip on the other screen.
cloning duplicates the display on both screens.
open the display setting within your PC
by Dango517 - 5/24/08 2:52 AM In reply to: Using Two Monitors for One Computer by cshortleif two monitors are displayed there then you can run two monitors, if not then your version of XP may not support it. A low form factor Video card up grade would be a good idea if your running dual monitors. Not just any video card will fit inside a Micro tower PC. See you users manual for available space and specifications for this PC concerning video cards. Video cards run hot allow for additional cooling in this tight fitting PC case.
Multi monitors
by fishandgrapes - 5/27/08 1:55 AM In reply to: open the display setting within your PC by Dango517Useful, thanks! Can I safely use this linking technique to get any video projector to display exactly what's on my laptop when doing a presentation? The official setup routine is clumsy, unreliable, different for every projector... and always takes place in front of a fidgeting audience!
Almost identical problem
by mdmcclure - 5/30/08 9:04 AM In reply to: Multi monitors by fishandgrapesI am in the IT Dept. at The University of Northwestern Ohio and am looking for a solution similar to this. However, this will take place in the cashier's office and the cashier will need to see the window that is on the extended/mirrored desktop as well. The student looking at their info on the 2nd monitor should only see the one window that they need to see.
There was a powertoy from Microsoft a few years back but it was made for Tablet PC only: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/tabletpc.mspx It was called Extended Desktop for Tablet PC.
I tried installing that on my WinXP machine hoping for a miracle but it did not work.
Any help would be appreciated.
if you can afford 3 monitors
by ramarc - 5/30/08 9:35 AM In reply to: Almost identical problem by mdmcclureyou can use a vga splitter for the 2nd/3rd monitors.
$22: http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=2820&sku=29610
Do you have any information
by Dango517 - 5/30/08 10:47 AM In reply to: if you can afford 3 monitors by ramarcthat the OS can support three monitors? If it only shows two monitors in the setting for the monitors I'd suspect it can only run two. I tried this, only one monitor was present so two did not work. This is only a twenty one dollar gamble, however. Are you feeling lucky?
I'm misunderstood
by mdmcclure - 6/2/08 6:32 AM In reply to: Do you have any information by Dango517I neglected to say that it was only going to be a total of two monitors. I know that the computer in question will support two monitors...that is not the issue.
The issue I have is I need software similar to this:
There was a powertoy from Microsoft a few years back but it was made for Tablet PC only: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/tabletpc.mspx It was called Extended Desktop for Tablet PC.
I can't find anything similar anywhere...not even sourceforge.net 
Vista has this feature in it
by Dango517 - 6/2/08 10:36 AM In reply to: I'm misunderstood by mdmcclureIt also has light pen and touch screen capabilities.
Try softpedia:
http://win.softpedia.com/
They have some unusual software.
This might work:
http://www.nextag.com/Apollo-Ventura-4000-Reflective-3694938/prices-html?nxtg=291d40a240518-155BA77105674EF1
A low technology solution. 
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