RootsWeb: FTM-HELP-L Re: [FTM-HELP] Walt's new computer

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Archiver > FTM-HELP > 2008-01 > 1201473074

From: "Rodney L. Wright" <>
Subject: Re: [FTM-HELP] Walt's new computer
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:31:14 -0500
References: <000301c860e5$2b51af50$81f50df0$@net><20080127161019.IOYG23667.cdptpa-omta06.mail.rr.com@home2huldtj3iu>
In-Reply-To: <20080127161019.IOYG23667.cdptpa-omta06.mail.rr.com@home2huldtj3iu>

The exact details of setting up two monitors may vary depending on the manufacturer of the video card installed in (or embedded in) your computer. Here's what I had to do in Vista: - Right click on the desktop. A popup context menu will appear. The menu choice used to modify video settings is "Personalize." - The "Appearance and Personalization -> Personalization" window appears. - Click on the "Display Settings" choice. - The Display Settings dialog box will then appear. - If you have two monitors plugged in and powered up, you will see two boxes with numbers in them. Each box refers to one of the monitors. Note that box 1 is highlighted to indicate it is telling you about monitor 1. - A bar below the boxes identifies the detected monitor, in my case "Generic PnP Monitor on NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT." That means it is using the generic driver to handle monitor number 1. Notice the checkboxes underneath that say "This is my main monitor" and "Extend the desktop to onto this monitor." Since you would not want to uncheck either of those boxes for your primary monitor, you cannot change them at this time. - Note that monitor 2 is grayed out. You can change the focus to montitor 2 by simply clicking on the number 2 box. When you do so, note that the bar below now shows "2. Generic PnP Monitor on NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT." - The checkboxes for monitor 2 are enabled. Check the second box, "Extend the desktop onto this monitor" and after you Apply the settings, you will see the desktop appear on both monitors. Moving the mouse to the right, you will see the cursor move to the right monitor. - Now, whenever you open an application, you can decide where you want the window to appear. As appropriate, you can drag screens onto the 2nd (right) monitor to spread things out. Once you close an application, and reopen it, many will remember where there were the last time you opened them. Wow, that took a lot of text to describe, but the actual process is pretty straight-forward and easy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Now for XP, some of the details differ: - Right click on the desktop. A popup context menu will appear. The menu choice used to modify video settings is "Properties." - The Display Settings dialog box will then appear. - Click on the Display Setting tab. - If you have two monitors plugged in and powered up, you will see two boxes with numbers in them. Each box refers to one of the monitors. Note that box 1 is highlighted to indicate it is telling you about monitor 1. - A bar below the boxes identifies the detected monitor, in my case "Sony Notebook LCD (180x800) on Radeon IGP 345M." That means it is using the Sony driver to handle monitor number 1. Notice the checkboxes underneath that say "Use this device as the primary monitor" and "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor." Since you would not want to uncheck either of those boxes for your primary monitor, you cannot change them at this time. - Note that monitor 2 is grayed out. You can change the focus to monitor 2 by simply clicking on the number 2 box. When you do so, note that the bar below now shows "2. [I don't actually have a second monitor hooked up to my monitor right now, but have used it on occasion for my video projector that I use for presentations.]" - The checkboxes for monitor 2 are enabled. Check the second box, " Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor " and after you Apply the settings, you will see the desktop appear on both monitors. Moving the mouse to the right, you will see the cursor move to the right monitor. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The operational procedures are just the same as if you had a very wide single monitor. The only disadvantage is the physical frames around the monitor provide a very minor visual discontinuity...but I find the mind quickly adjusts to that situation and most of the time you don't even notice it. Best regards to all. Rodney L. Wright -----Original Message----- From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Connie Shotts1 Sent: Sunday, 27 January, 2008 11:10 To: Subject: Re: [FTM-HELP] Walt's new computer Rodney, What is the procedure for installing two monitors with one CPU? I bought a new monitor but would like to use my old one for this two-screen set up. When using two monitors, are the keyboard and mouse operations essentially the same as splitting the screen on one monitor> Thanks, Connie -----Original Message----- From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Rodney L. Wright Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:05 AM To: Subject: Re: [FTM-HELP] Walt's new computer If you're into looking at multiple files at once (and most genealogists do exactly that), it is even better to install two screens. Many of the newer video adapters support two screens, splitting the desktop between them. When shopping in 2006 for a new 22 inch monitor, I noticed that I could buy two 19" Viewsonic monitors for less than the 22 inch model, so that's the direction I went. Now, I chafe at the restricted viewing space when I have to use someone else's computer. (I guess we get easily spoiled!) I think my Vista might have the capability to watch TV too, but I've never tried that. Rodney L. Wright -----Original Message----- From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Hazel LeBlanc Sent: Sunday, 27 January, 2008 00:23 To: Subject: Re: [FTM-HELP] Walt's new computer Rodney, I am using a HP Pavillion PC A6137C which came with Vista installed. It has a great 22 in. screen. It also as a lot of bells and whistles in it, like watching TV in a corner of the screen which I don't use. I have a TV for that, because I like to split the screen and view 2 files at the same time. Hazel At 10:21 PM 1/26/2008, you wrote: >Hazel, > >My experience with Vista on a new machine has been excellent. If it has >sufficient horsepower, it is a very nice improvement in capability. The >reliability problems with Vista seem to happen to those who upgraded an >existing installation of XP. I have no problems running FTM (not the latest >version) on two different machines running Vista while concurrently running >email and browsing the web plus running databases and lots of other >applications. > >- If your existing XP machine is not broken, and still performs adequately, >don't replace it, but if your hardware fails (both of my machines failed >within a few months of each other, requiring a new installation, so I took >that opportunity to upgrade to Vista.) >- I don't recommend Vista on a low level machine. >- I don't recommend anyone consider the lowest level, Vista Home. Go for at >least Vista Premium. >- I don't recommend upgrading an existing XP installation. That is where >most problems have been encountered. >- I would caution all to check in advance that any applications you run >regularly are supported under Vista (most are.) >- Understand that conversion to Vista invokes a new user interface. In >their efforts to improve the user experience, Microsoft changed many >details. This may frustrate some who abhor change, but once you learn the >new ways to do things, I think you will agree that the result is worth the >short learning curve. It has great help, vastly improved search ability, >etc. > >Based on what I read in this forum, I am avoiding FTM 2008. Maybe their next >version will get back to reasonable levels of functionality and reliability. > >My opinion: FTM 2008 is broken, Vista is not. > > >Rodney L. Wright > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: [mailto:] >On Behalf Of Hazel LeBlanc >Sent: Saturday, 26 January, 2008 21:29 >To: >Subject: Re: [FTM-HELP] Walt's new computer > >Walt, > I'm glad to know you now have a new computer. I just hope that >you were able to get one without Vista. If not you will be >continuing to fuss at this one also. > I had to get another computer, a few months ago, for the same >reason. The mother board went out without any warning. Vista and >FTM 2008 both have a sorry reputation. I will continue to use my 2nd >computer with XP and FTM 16 for my database and use the new one for >getting on the internet and for e-mail. >Hazel > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >in the subject and the body of the message > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > with the word 'unsubscribe' without >the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message