Metro "Start screen" disappears on dualhead

stijnkraft

Member
Member
Hi guys!

First question: One of the things I disliked about Windows 8 was how you had to switch between two completely different GUI environments. It felt like they were in the way of eachother.
So when I installed Windows 8 on my 'main' PC rather than on my test PC, I was happy to notice that on a dualhead setup, the desktop goes neatly on one screen and the metro screen on the other one.
This way I could keep an eye on the weather, news, social media and such while doing other stuff on my other monitor... So I thought.

Problem is, when I click on the 'start' icon on the left screen, the metro screen appears. On my right screen, the desktop stays put. That's fine. But whenever I click the desktop or any piece of software running on my right screen, the metro screen disappears and my left screen shows my desktop with taskbar.

What I'd like is to be able to manually open and close metro on my left screen, instead of it disappearing because I do something different on my right screen.

Hope you get what I mean, rather tough to explain this one.
If you don't get it, I'll make a video :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
Anyone? This seemed like a rather logical thing to ask :).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
It's like that, very stupid no? As soon as you click on the desktop the start page or a metro apps disappear, someone at Microsoft obviously thing that no one will use Windows 8 on 2 or 3 monitors.

Of course some peoples will come to explain us that we are wrong and Microsoft can't do wrong. One even told me once that MS should not focus on peoples who have 2 or 3 monitors because we are a minority ....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
It's like that, very stupid no?
Rather!
It has been given some thought though as it only happens when you have no app open.
Still don't like it.

Of course some peoples will come to explain us that we are wrong and Microsoft can't do wrong. One even told me once that MS should not focus on peoples who have 2 or 3 monitors because we are a minority ....
Ghehe, same minority as the people who like their auto arrange OFF I reckon? ;).
Going "They can't go wrong" is too much of an apple mentality for me.
There's always room for user error though, so I guessed it was mee overlooking something. Turns out it isn't. Bummer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
bump I really want to keep metro up on my secondary monitor
I wonder if someone sometime will make a bit of software that'll do the trick.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
lets hope. My ideal set up would be my 27" main for desktop and a 22" inch touch for metro. I think it would be awesome to know include a monitor as a controller device
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Another question that might not be worth opening another topic;
Can you choose the 'default' screen for the metro environment?
It opens on my 'primary' screen. I don't want it to do so, as that's the screen I do al my 'windows business' on.
I like my metro screen and apps to be on my secondary screen so I can leave them open while working (news, weather, Social feeds etc.)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
bump I really want to keep metro up on my secondary monitor

do like me, run the metro apps on the second monitor in another Windows 8 Install in VM ( what a fail, we need 2 licenses and VM to make it work like it should be )
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
That Metro disappearing when you actually want it to stay is a pain. Metro is so not dual monitor friendly it isn't funny. :mad:
I'm not currently running dual monitors but I do believe you can drag the open Metro screen over to your second display. Clicking the Start thumbnail in the lower left, on that display, should open it there too. After that it should stay there, for that session anyway. If you reboot or shut down it will likely go back to the main display by default. After Christmas I will be back to dual displays on this PC so I'll likely explore this problem some more then.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Any news on this?
I'll try out the solution "Alphanumeric" suggested.
Not running Windows 8 now, as it wasn't working with my ESI Juli@ Soundcard.
Now using an M-Audio Delta 44 which should work.
I'll wait for 8.1 to be released before I'll install Win8 again. Four more days!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
I'm currently running 3 monitors on my main desktop with Windows 8.1 RTM. I have Slacker Radio and the Weather app open in a Metro slit screen on one monitor. Outlook (desktop version) on another and Internet Explorer (desktop version) open on my main monitor. The Metro apps stay on screen as long as I don't shift focus to that screen and open a desktop program on that screen. I can do anything I want on the other two screens without affecting them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
You can with most apps open, but you can't with the main screen (with the tiles on it) open, can you?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
I\m on my laptop at the moment I'll have a look at that next time I'm on my desktop PC and get back to you. I'd say it will likely close after launching a Metro app as they always open on my main screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
As soon as you launch an app the Metro Start Screen closes/minimizes. Likely because the app opens on the same monitor that the Start Screen is open on. I'm on my desktop PC, 3 monitors. Windows remembers where desktop apps were last opened/placed but not Metro Apps. Outlook (desktop version) always opens on my right side screen which is what I want. IE (desktop version) always opens on my center display. Metro Apps always open on what ever screen I opened the Metro Start Menu on to launch them. They also don't remember their last placement. If I close one and open it again it goes full screen on that monitor, then I have to move it to where I want it. Unless I open it on the screen I want it on that is. Metro multi monitor support is a lot better in 8.1 but still needs work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
That Metro disappearing when you actually want it to stay is a pain. Metro is so not dual monitor friendly it isn't funny. :mad:
I'm not currently running dual monitors but I do believe you can drag the open Metro screen over to your second display. Clicking the Start thumbnail in the lower left, on that display, should open it there too. After that it should stay there, for that session anyway. If you reboot or shut down it will likely go back to the main display by default. After Christmas I will be back to dual displays on this PC so I'll likely explore this problem some more then.
Runnin Win8 now. Just wone a fight with Firefox profiles.
Now, the Metro environment...
The metro screen opens depending on which screen you click the 'start' 'button'.
When I open e.g. the weather app and click somewhere on the other screen, the weather app will stay put.
But here comes the lack of logic.
I opened the weather app, after that I click the start button on the same screen I opened the weather app on. I see all those pretty active tiles.
Then I go to my other screen, in this case this forum is on it, click it, and the metro homescreen will go away and the weather (!) screen will appear. THat just makes no sense at all. I click my desktop and my weather (or any app used last) shows up...
What WERE they thinking?
I like the metro screen keeping me up to date about news, weather, social feeds, new mail.
I'd like it to remain on my secondary screen while I surf or do whatever on the main screen...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
*discard this posting, i failed at reading properly ;)*
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
Guuuuys, great news!
This problem is solved in Windows 8.1!
It's still a bid on the dodgy side, but it does work.
Get the update from the appstore. It won't come to ya through Windows Update :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8/7/XP/2000/Ubuntu/MacOS
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebrew with Esi Juli@ soundcard and Dell 2007FP dualhead setup
    CPU
    Intel Core2Duo E8400 (2x3ghz)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP41-UD3L
    Memory
    4GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 9600GT
That Metro disappearing when you actually want it to stay is a pain. Metro is so not dual monitor friendly it isn't funny. :mad:
I'm not currently running dual monitors but I do believe you can drag the open Metro screen over to your second display. Clicking the Start thumbnail in the lower left, on that display, should open it there too. After that it should stay there, for that session anyway. If you reboot or shut down it will likely go back to the main display by default. After Christmas I will be back to dual displays on this PC so I'll likely explore this problem some more then.
Runnin Win8 now. Just wone a fight with Firefox profiles.
Now, the Metro environment...


The metro screen opens depending on which screen you click the 'start' 'button'.
When I open e.g. the weather app and click somewhere on the other screen, the weather app will stay put.
But here comes the lack of logic.
I opened the weather app, after that I click the start button on the same screen I opened the weather app on. I see all those pretty active tiles.
Then I go to my other screen, in this case this forum is on it, click it, and the metro homescreen will go away and the weather (!) screen will appear. THat just makes no sense at all. I click my desktop and my weather (or any app used last) shows up...
What WERE they thinking?
I like the metro screen keeping me up to date about news, weather, social feeds, new mail.
I'd like it to remain on my secondary screen while I surf or do whatever on the main screen...

I made that post on 18 Nov 2012, that's old news. Read my posts after that. ;) I'm happily running 8.1 on a three monitor setup now. :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
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