Expand your workspace with multiple monitors
Published: September 7, 2006
One of the best ways to improve your productivity is to double your desktop workspace by adding a second monitor to your computer. Using multiple monitors makes many computing tasks easier by allowing you to keep more windows visible. If you do any of the following things, you can benefit from multiple monitors:
| • | E-mail and instant messaging. Work on one monitor, and keep your e-mail and instant messaging clients open on the other so you don't have to switch between windows when a new message arrives. |
| • | Research online. Open a Web browser or other research tool on one monitor, and have a Microsoft Office program open on the second monitor for note-taking. |
| • | Browse and edit digital pictures. Quickly browse your digital images by displaying thumbnails on one monitor and full-sized previews on the other. |
The directions for connecting a second monitor vary slightly depending on what type of computer you use. You can connect a second monitor to a desktop computer, or you can connect a second monitor to a laptop or Tablet PC. Once you've connected a second monitor, you'll need to enable Dualview.
Connect a second monitor to your desktop computer
Many desktop computers have built-in support for multiple monitors. Look at the back of your computer to determine if you have an available VGA or DVI port. If you do, you can probably connect a second monitor and enable Dualview to take advantage of it.
If your desktop computer doesn’t have an available VGA or DVI port, you can buy an additional monitor and a second video adapter.
Note: Make sure that the video adapter connector matches the connector on your new monitor.
Monitors use either a VGA or DVI connector (or sometimes both). S-Video connectors are used to connect to a television.
Once your second monitor is connected, you need to enable Dualview. If you're not connecting a second monitor to a laptop or Tablet PC, you can skip the next section and enable Dualview.
Connect a second monitor to your portable computer
If you use a notebook or Tablet PC, your computer probably supports using both an external monitor and the computer's built-in display simultaneously. Simply plug a monitor into the external VGA port of your laptop and enable the Dualview feature of Windows XP.
If you have a docking station for your portable computer, it may support multiple monitors. Look at the back of your docking station to see if you have an available VGA or DVI port. If you do, you can probably connect two external monitors and enable Dualview to take advantage of them.
Note: You may need to close the lid on your laptop to use multiple external monitors.
Alternately, you can add a USB video adapter to your portable computer to support an additional monitor. When choosing a USB video adapter, make sure that it supports your new monitor's ideal resolution and has a connector that matches your new monitor.
Once you have connected your second monitor, you need to enable Dualview.
Enable Dualview
To turn on Dualview
1. | Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties. 
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2. | In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab. |
3. | Click the Display list and select your external monitor. If you do not see multiple monitors listed, your computer hardware may not support Dualview. Contact your computer manufacturer for more information. 
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4. | Select the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor check box. 
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5. | Click Identify. Windows XP displays large numbers to identify your monitors. Drag and drop the monitor icons to match the physical arrangement of your monitors. 
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6. | Click OK. 
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With Dualview enabled, you can drag windows between monitors as if the two monitors are connected. When you maximize a window, it will expand to fill the current monitor.
