Solved Running 2 monitor screens independently

Hi all. I have a Dell Inspiron 1420 and a Samsung SyncMaster 226BW, which are both connected to each other. My graphics card is the NVIDIA 8400 GS.

I have setup the dual screen e.g. my laptop screen is a mirror image of the Samsung and vice a versa.

What I want is to run Linux via a virtual machine on the one screen, while reading tutorials and other media on the other screen, with out constantly minimizing and maxing on one screen.

What is the procedure to do this? Help would be much appreciated.

Instead of "Mirror" you want to "Extend my desktop" on the second display, then you can put the VM fullscreen on one display and use the other display for windows stuff. (Make sure the "windows" display monitor is set as the "primary" monitor)

FSeal said:

Instead of "Mirror" you want to "Extend my desktop" on the second display, then you can put the VM fullscreen on one display and use the other display for windows stuff. (Make sure the "windows" display monitor is set as the "primary" monitor)

Click to expand...

I right-clicked, chose "Screen resolution" and for "Multiple displays" I chose "Extend these displays". As a result my Samsung screen (primary) shows the normal screen I am working on; ie Google Chrome (which I am typing this message in), VM, VLC etc). However on my laptop screen it shows the Windows desktop (with my wallpaper), but with no icons or task bar to manage it :shock:

You should now be able to drag programs that you launch onto the second screen. The screens will be arranged as you see them on the control panel. so if the secondary monitor is to the right, drag your VM program off the right side and onto the second display.

There will be no task bar on the second display and no icons unless you drag them there