MAMalody Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 I have seen many of you indicate the benefit of a dual monitor set up. So I have decided to go that way. Question: I have a laptop and if I set this up can I use my laptop as a stand alone without any problems or other specific instructionsl. Question: Can someone provide me step-by-step procedure to set this up. I am computer challenged so you may want to include when to plug in the monitor. You can post here or e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks ahead of time for the help. I truly appreciate it, and will probably even appreciate it more during tax season. have a great day! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret CPA in OH Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 I hope and trust that others will be able to assist you. I had "my computer guy" set it up. He has built all my computers for the last 5 or so years so I trust him implicitly. I also call with questions from time to time and he doesn't charge me. And now he even has remote access - so cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacun Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 I will tell you the steps in a generic way. The easiest way is to buy a docking station and two monitors. You dock your computer and make one of the monitors your primary one and the second one you make it extended. You could use the monitor of your laptop as your secondary monitor and only buy one monitor. The problem with this set up is that Windows sometimes forgets the settings and you need to redo them from time to time. The other problem is that laptop screens are smaller. If you do not want to spend a log of money, you can simply attach a monitor to your laptop and make it as your secondary/extended screen. The problem with this set up is that you need to be connecting cables each time you bring your computer to your desk. If you tell us what computer you have, maybe you will get more replies. Also tell us if you are planing to buy a docking station and 2 monitors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAMalody Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 I have a 17" HP laptop and want to use it as the primary and a separate monitor to use as the secondary. I prefer not to use a docking station and am willing to hook/unhook as necessary. It is only one cord. I currently need to hook up a USB hub anyway that has my printer, external hard drive and mouse on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacun Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Turn off your computer and connect the monitor to it. Power the monitor up and the computer. When the computer boots up, you will have the exact same thing on both monitors. Right click on a blank (non icon)portion of your desktop, select properties, click on settings and click on the number 2. and select "extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" click OK. In order to drag a program to the second screen, you have to "restore down" your screen by clicking the icon next to the red X that closes the window, then you drag it to the second monitor. If you physical arrange for the monitor is backwards with dragging and dropping, you go back to the settings scres and drag the number 2 (monitor) to the left and drop it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jainen Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 >>you will have the exact same thing on both monitors<< That's exactly why I don't bother with dual monitors--just 'cause one is good doesn't make more than one more gooder. I'll come on board when we got software that will show DIFFERENT things. You know, I don't always want my client seeing exactly what I'm up to. And then there's those divorced couples who still both insist you have to do their return. It could also be useful in IRS audits and all sorts of other situations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret CPA in OH Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 I don't have the same thing on my two monitors. I have my "complete" desktop on my "main" monitor and only what I choose on the second one. When I work myself on tax returns, I have the prior year on the right and current on the left. When I have a client in to see their return (rare because I do nearly everything online), they only see the monitor I choose them to see. All day I have the internet browser on the right with 2 constant tabs - my homepage and ATXCommunity. On the left I have my email client (Eudora) and most of whatever I am working on at the moment. That could be a document, spreadsheet, QB or other program (although I nearly always have the QB programs on the right). At any time I can minimize any program and drag to the other monitor if the arrangement is better for a given task. I wouldn't go back to a single monitor for anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jainen Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 >>I have the internet browser on the right<< Hmmm, that DOES sound more gooder. That way I wouldn't have to turn off the adult content just because it's taking me all night to enter some shoebox full of hand-written proof of "business lunches." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 I can see you certainly have a knack for prioritizing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdadder Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 For a dual monitor setup check out the program Ultramon for individual monitor personalization. Will allow you to run different applications, set up different desktops, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret CPA in OH Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 I don't use a particular program to accomplish what I think you are describing. When I have different applications open, I just reduce the size to drag to the monitor of choice. The next time it is opened, it will be on that monitor. I adjust the desktop by adjusting the settings for each. Since I normally use the 800x600 size due to bad eyes, sometimes an internet site won't work well. So I change the properties for that monitor only as needed and change back when I wish. No special program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Windows will take care of dual monitors WITHOUT any other software. Pacun has it EXACTLY right. Each monitor can have whatever you wish on it. I like current year tax program left, and last year right. Mouse will scroll from one to the other and back easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret CPA in OH Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 What I said 5 posts above... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAMalody Posted December 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Thanks for the tips. I will try to get it going over the weekend and let you know how it works out. One thing that wasn't answered was whether this causes any problems when I want to use the laptop independently. Do I just use it as normal since it is the #1 moniter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Why stop with only two monitors? Here's what happens once you get bitten by the multiple monitor bug: http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/gallery_browse.asp?ID=711&date=desc&nummon=true&mon=desc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacun Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Since the computer in this case is not a test computer but rather the computer that helps earn income, I will give a general (rule of thumb) suggestion to all in this community. If you need a new feature on your computer, see if a program already installed on your computer (Windows, ATX, MS Office, etc) has that feature. If not, you need to consider how much you will benefit from that feature and how frequent you will use it. Then you will make a decision to whether install or not. The problem with installing new programs for every little thing that you need is that they might conflict with core programs such as Windows, ATX, MS Office. Even if a conflict is not evident, a lot of these little programs start automatically when you boot up your computer and they stay resident all the time. Another problem is that when you uninstall a program, residues stay on your computer hard drive and registry and down the road your computer will not be as fast as before (sounds familiar?). Using a registry cleaner (which I don’t recommend) is a risky business depending on your computer and software installed. Another problem with installing and uninstalling programs is that it fragments your hard drive. One day I went to another preparer’s office and I saw she had a cool internet screen saver, I told her, “that coolness might hunt you down the road”. I told her, “You shouldn’t do that on your work computer, you could compromise it”. I explained to her that she had: Names, addresses, social security numbers and bank information for whole families, as well as employers information. About two months later, she called me and complained that her computer was not working at all because she had viruses. I explained to her that her computer was working and working hard to satisfy the demands from the viruses and that the computer didn’t have time to honor her requests. I hope no information was compromised. Going back to the case at hand, see what trash or programs are starting automatically on your computer by clicking on start, run and type msconfig and press enter. Click on the startup tab and most of those programs do not need to be resident all the time. Unselecting them from here doesn’t mean that you will remove that program but it means it will not start automatically. When you invoke the program from your short cut or from all programs, the program will start. If you unselect any program from the startup tab, you will get a message next time you reboot. Just select “don’t show me this message again” and OK. If you want to see if your hard drive needs to be defragmented, double click on my computer, right click “local disk C:” properties, defragment now, and analyze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAMalody Posted December 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 I now have a dual monitor setup. Great! Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 I now have a dual monitor setup. Great! Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. Congratulations! I went that route a couple years ago, with trepidation. Now I don't know how I managed so long without it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneInAlabama Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Next question, how do you find room on your desk to place another monitor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Just shove some of those tax returns off in the floor until you can get around to them. It's a matter of priorities, Gene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 I scooted a few things over until I had enough room for the monitor stand. Then they all got scooted back to their original positions. My first monitor moved over about two inches so I had to permanently reposition my cork teacup trivet two inches over as well. I also changed the angle of my first monitor so it doesn't hide the side of the second one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneInAlabama Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Floor is pretty well full. Maybe I need to buy a shovel before I buy another monitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Floor is pretty well full. Maybe I need to buy a shovel before I buy another monitor. I keep thinking that what I could -really- use to get my office neat is a flame thrower! Does anyone know if they make an office or household size model? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAXBILLY Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Here's one you can use on your car and then bring it into your office: :~) http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autoloc/product.lasso?prodinc=flamethrower taxbilly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted December 22, 2009 Report Share Posted December 22, 2009 Here's one you can use on your car and then bring it into your office: :~) http://www.thehoffma...nc=flamethrower taxbilly :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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