Attaching third monitor - always make clone of second - how?

Hi all.

I am trying to find a solution for a problem that affects of folks at work.

We have a number of special setups with two displays - and they are portable, used to present content.
For that, a third monitor is hooked up regularly. Now, the third monitor should by default always be a clone of the second. Sadly, Windows always makes it an extended display.
In other words, I get [1/2] & [3] but I want [1] & [2/3].

Yes, Windows will remember the change but it the third display is always a different one, so folks run into this all the time - on a device where they have (thanks to the special application running on top) have little control over display settings. I'd like to change the default behavior for good.

Any idea where to flip a switch to make it work?
I was unable to find the right setting in the registry.

Cheers.

Pratt said:

Hi all.

I am trying to find a solution for a problem that affects of folks at work.

We have a number of special setups with two displays - and they are portable, used to present content.
For that, a third monitor is hooked up regularly. Now, the third monitor should by default always be a clone of the second. Sadly, Windows always makes it an extended display.
In other words, I get [1/2] & [3] but I want [1] & [2/3].

Yes, Windows will remember the change but it the third display is always a different one, so folks run into this all the time - on a device where they have (thanks to the special application running on top) have little control over display settings. I'd like to change the default behavior for good.

Any idea where to flip a switch to make it work?
I was unable to find the right setting in the registry.

Cheers.

I doubt Windows will save the setting if you're always disconnecting the monitor.

Perhaps you could create a custom display profile within the display adapter settings on each machine.

Windows will save settings for known display configurations / combinations in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet001\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Connectivity\

Problem is that I cannot create a default behavior (at least for this three-display mix of extend and clone) but have to configure from scratch every time an unknown third monitor is hooked up. Windows will save/remember the config.

"the third monitor should by default always be a clone of the second"

Sorry, this is bad wording on my part. I did not assume this, it is the config I need.

alphanumeric said:

Ok, thats what you "want to happen". Are you actually able to make only two monitors go in Duplicate? I run 3 on this desktop, my only options are all in Extend or all in Duplicate. From the Windows setup menu anyway. I've never tried to do what you want? Not sure its even possible? Maybe through my NVidia control panel?