Dual Monitor Problem

[dyazdani]

I have a laptop hooked up to a docking station at work. I also have a LCD monitor connected to the docking station.

I usually have it set up as a dual monitor setup, the laptop being the primary and running the monitor as an extended desktop (OS is XP).

I unhooked my laptop from the docking station when I went on vacation and now the extended desktop doesn't work. This has happened before, always when I unhook the computer.

It also appears that the computer has the displays backwards. The capabilities of the monitor in terms of supported resolutions as well as the display name change the laptop settings and vice versa.

Any ideas?

[riceaterslc]

when you right click on the desktop and go to settings, what do you see?
there should be 2 boxes, "1" and "2"

"1" should be the laptop monitor settings. "Use this device as the primary monitor" should be selected as well as "Extend my windows desktop onto this monitor"

Click on "2" and ensure "Extend my Windows...." is selected. Also, what do you mean by backwards? When box "1" is selected the first dropdown box labelled "Display:" should read something like "Default Monitor on (your video card)" and box "2" should read like "Plug and Play Monitor on (your vid card)"

let me know if that helps.

[dyazdani]

That's what I mean by backwards - the "Default Monitor" (which when things are working correctly is my laptop) is now my monitor. The "Plug and Play Monitor" selection is pointing to my laptop now.

Typically, when I try to extend my desktop to #2, the screen flashes and comes back up, but the Extend checkbox is unchecked again.

This has happened a couple times before and eventually it just worked again. Not sure what makes it stop though.

[riceaterslc]

hmm. have you tried selecting the monitor then unchecking the "make this my primary monitor" box? or, you may have to click on the laptop monitor and enable the "make this my primary monitor" box. one or the other allows you to enable or disable, not sure which...thats the only thing i can think of, hope it helps.

[dyazdani]

No, the options for the primary monitor are greyed out. I can select the primary display on the advanced tab, but it doesn't make a difference. Maybe I'll try a hammer.

[riceaterslc]

No, the options for the primary monitor are greyed out. I can select the primary display on the advanced tab, but it doesn't make a difference. Maybe I'll try a hammer.

this is strange. so under the advanced tab / displays you click "1" for "Panel" and "2" for "Monitor" and nothing changes? weird. i recommend a fiberglass shaft hammer, less shock through the wrist on impact

[dyazdani]

this is strange. so under the advanced tab / displays you click "1" for "Panel" and "2" for "Monitor" and nothing changes? weird. i recommend a fiberglass shaft hammer, less shock through the wrist on impact

The Advanced tab brings up the ATI control panel and I can select which is the primary display and which is the extended. It just doesn't help, all I can really get are cloned desktops. I would be fine with it if I could adjust the resolution, but since the montiors are backwards I can only set my 22" widescreen to 1024x768 (the highest res of the laptop). :M

[Azeke]

Just a guess try this, delete your docking profile, out of the docking station of course. Shut down the machine then put it back in the docking station, restart the machine for a newly created docking profile. Maybe a little late on this as a possible solution though .

Peace and blessings,

Azeke