why wont windows recognize when I have my second monitor turned off?

Kingpinnz · 28 May 2018

why wont windows recognize when I have my second monitor turned off?

Hi all.

I find it very frustrating when I have my second monitor turned off but not unplugged from the hdmi port that windows treats everything as tho it is still turned on.

I have been annoyed by this "issue" since at least Vista so I dont think its a windows 10 only thing.

Im I wrong to think that this should be something that the OS should notice?

so in case im not making myself clear this is the issue:

I run a Toshiba laptop as my main computer (tho I have an Asus and an old compaq and they all do the same thing) and I run a nice big Samsung monitor directly above it via HDMI.
My laptop is basically always on as I use it for music and even a clock at night time. I dont run the second monitor unless im actually at the desk actively doing something on the computer.
Very often Ill close all my programs down and unless i drag them to the laptop monitor and close them they will open on the monitor they were last running on....even if that monitor (ie the second monitor) is turned off.

Am I missing something? Surely the OS should recognise that the second monitor is powered off and treat it as tho it was unplugged?

I have googled this several times but there are so many "why wont windows detect my second monitor" threads that I cant find any info on the issue im having.

Maybe im not having an issue....maybe this is normal. If so ill add this to my "reasons why windows sucks" list lol

thanks in advance

Brett

Berton · 28 May 2018

The few of my clients that use dual monitors see the same thing. It may be due to monitors being 'receivers', don't talk back to the computer except for the touch screen variety which may have a USB cable for delivering the touch signal to the computer [like my HP/Compaq 21.5"].

alphanumeric · 29 May 2018

Windows is detecting it, but has no actual way of knowing its off. Its not ideal but just push the Windows Logo key

and the P key and select PC Screen only from the options. And do the same but select Extend when you want to use it.
I put shortcuts on my taskbar for PC Only "C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe /internal" and Extend "C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe /extend". Then its just the one click with a mouse. I switch to single monitor to game and back to my triple monitor setup when done gaming.

l3izz · 31 May 2018

I just manually turn mine on n off. In the Nvidia settings where you put a checkmark on each monitor. That way any most apps or anything open in my second or third screen comes back to my main... Took me 3 days to find VLC hidding on my 3rd monitor... 😞

alphanumeric · 01 Jun 2018

l3izz said:

I just manually turn mine on n off. In the Nvidia settings where you put a checkmark on each monitor. That way any most apps or anything open in my second or third screen comes back to my main... Took me 3 days to find VLC hidding on my 3rd monitor... ��

Using

and P is working OK for me with my triple monitor setup. If I switch to PC Only everything opens on that one monitor. I think that's one of those YMMV things though. You may get that one program that won't cooperate or not work as planned. My second monitor on my laptop is USB display link. I don't have to do anything on it. If its not plugged in everything opens on my laptops screen. If its plugged in on boot up it automatically switches to dual monitors. I may have to reposition a few programs over too it, but no big deal actually.

Kbird · 02 Jun 2018

Kingpinnz said:

why wont windows recognize when I have my second monitor turned off?

Hi all.

I find it very frustrating when I have my second monitor turned off but not unplugged from the hdmi port that windows treats everything as tho it is still turned on.

I have been annoyed by this "issue" since at least Vista so I dont think its a windows 10 only thing.

Im I wrong to think that this should be something that the OS should notice?

so in case im not making myself clear this is the issue:

I run a Toshiba laptop as my main computer (tho I have an Asus and an old compaq and they all do the same thing) and I run a nice big Samsung monitor directly above it via HDMI.
My laptop is basically always on as I use it for music and even a clock at night time. I dont run the second monitor unless im actually at the desk actively doing something on the computer.
Very often Ill close all my programs down and unless i drag them to the laptop monitor and close them they will open on the monitor they were last running on....even if that monitor (ie the second monitor) is turned off.

Am I missing something? Surely the OS should recognise that the second monitor is powered off and treat it as tho it was unplugged?

I have googled this several times but there are so many "why wont windows detect my second monitor" threads that I cant find any info on the issue im having.

Maybe im not having an issue....maybe this is normal. If so ill add this to my "reasons why windows sucks" list lol

thanks in advance

Brett

My guess would be that the Laptop detects it's HDMI Port has power to it (because the Cable is plugged in) and assumes the Monitor is On, not sure you can change that except by selecting single monitor mode as others have said.

KB