Windows 7 - Windows 7, Multi-monitor, and Desktop Backgrounds

Asked By Nathan Sokalski
09-Feb-10 12:29 AM
I am using Windows 7 with a multi-monitor setup. I have the presentation
display mode set to Extend, and am using the background from the Windows 7
Aero theme. Because my secondary monitor has a slightly different width to
height ratio (My primary monitor is 1440 x 900 and my secondary monitor is
1280 x 1024), my secondary monitor has a little bit of black area above and
below the background. Even though I can use this black area just like any
other area on the monitor, I would like to have the background cover the
whole thing. I have selected Fill as the Picture Position, which does what I
want and expect on my primary monitor, but not on my secondary monitor. Is
there any way (without using third-party software) to make it fill my
secondary monitor, or to set the desktop background for the primary and
secondary monitors separately? Thanks.
--
Nathan Sokalski
njsokalski@hotmail.com
http://www.nathansokalski.com/
Windows 7
(1)
XP
(1)
UltraMon
(1)
Backgrounds
(1)
Crossfire
(1)
Nvidia
(1)
Itemid
(1)
Ooooh
(1)
  Charlie Russel - MVP replied to Nathan Sokalski
09-Feb-10 01:10 AM
Because the aspect ratio is different, the answer is no. You cannot set
separate ones, and you cannot set it to size based on the secondary monitor.
This is why you get a black area.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/russel
  Tom replied to Nathan Sokalski
09-Feb-10 07:43 AM
As far as I know, this can only be achieved if you have two video cards that
are operating separately. For example two cards not set to Crossfire mode
(ATI cards) or SLI mode (Nvidia cards). Otherwise, this is not possible with
a single video card set-up.
  Ghod Dhammit replied to Tom
15-Feb-10 05:51 PM
Since there does not appear to be a solution, perhaps tiling might be of use?
Not that I plan to, or anything.


*sigh*  And here I was, hoping there was an answer I liked.  Bummer.
  Nathan Sokalski replied to Ghod Dhammit
15-Feb-10 08:20 PM
I had considered tiling, but that would not be appropriate for images that
take up the entire (or at least most of) the screen. When I had XP about a
month ago, there was an image that I used tiled for my Desktop background,
but I felt like changing it since I had had the same background for 5 or 6
years. But that is just a personal preference thing, I am more interested in
knowing how to do things, regardless of whether I will actually be doing
them or not. But it is definitely a logical suggestion, thanks.
--
Nathan Sokalski
njsokalski@hotmail.com
http://www.nathansokalski.com/
  Bobby Johnson replied to Nathan Sokalski
16-Feb-10 07:24 AM
Take a look at the utility mentioned @
http://www.start64.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=118&Itemid=73

UltraMon is a utility for multi-monitor systems, designed to increase
productivity and unlock the full potential of multiple monitors.

*
Window management
Quickly move windows between monitors or maximize a window to the
desktop using the additional window buttons.
*
Smart Taskbar
An additional taskbar is added to each secondary monitor, and
each taskbar only shows tasks from the monitor it is on. This makes
managing lots of open applications much easier, and when activating an
application, you will know on which monitor it will appear.
*
Application positioning
Use the shortcut extension to set an application's position or
use custom display settings when the application is running. To
configure custom settings, right-click the shortcut and select
Properties from the menu.
*
Display profiles
With display profiles, you can quickly change the settings of one
or more monitors. You can also create a display profile that gets
applied when logging in, especially useful when the computer is used by
more than one person, and not everyone wants to use the same display
settings.
*
Desktop wallpaper
The wallpaper manager adds the ability to use a different picture
on each monitor, or stretch a single picture across the desktop.
*
Screen savers
Most screen savers only run on the primary monitor. The screen
saver manager can blank the secondary monitors when the screen saver is
running, or run additional screen savers on secondary monitors.
*
Mirroring
Mirror the primary monitor on one or more secondary monitors, for
example when doing a presentation. A unique feature is support for
different resolutions, the primary monitor can run at a higher
resolution for example.
  Ghod Dhammit replied to Bobby Johnson
18-Feb-10 01:20 PM
Ooooh, shiny!!!  Thanks!
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