Windows 10: How can I configure Windows 10 to stop changing my laptop+2 external monitors configuration...

I had been happily using my windows 10 laptop with two external monitors for many, many months. My preference is to locate my laptop between the two external monitors. I, of course, use my laptop with the monitor "open" so that I have three monitors at all times:


Left Center Right

EXTERNAL 1 --- laptop 2 Main Display ---- EXTERNAL 3


Sometime in November of 2020 --- presumably after some win10 update --- my EXTERNAL1-laptop2 Main Display-EXTERNAL3 configuration "broken". By "broke", I mean that I actually had to bend like the willow and use Display Settings to configure my laptop as the left-most of the three monitors: laptop1 Main Display-EXTERNAL2-EXTERNAL3 and, of course, physically position my laptop to the left of my two external monitors.


I periodically checked the Display Settings behavior in case a subsequent win10 update "resolved" the weird behavior.


By "weird", I mean that --- with my laptop sitting in between the two external monitors --- Display Settings would NOT allow me to check my laptop as "Main Display" AND actually present the usual Shortcut icons and the complete bar at the bottom of the page e.g., Audio control at the far right. I.e., I could take a screenshot that illustrated Display Settings indicating "Make this my main display" is selected/greyed-out, although the Shortcut icons were not visible on that laptop monitor.


Since then, I have become comfortable with having to configure my laptop as the left-most of the three monitors.


Now, as of the morning of 01.30.2021, win10 now insists on presenting the shortcuts on the rightmost of my three monitors:


Left ....................................... Center ...................... Right

laptop 1 Main Display EXTERNAL 2 EXTERNAL 3 with shortcut icons


IMHO: MS really should allow PAYING CUSTOMERS, BTW to attach screenshots and pictures to illustrate some of the bizarre behavior that results from using Windows 10


Visualize this virtual picture:

On the far left, you see the open monitor of my laptop. Display Settings confirms selected and greyed-out "Make this my main display" . Furthermore, pressing Display Settings "Identify" displays "1" for the laptop monitor.


In the center of the picture, you see an external LG monitor. Pressing Display Settings "Identify" displays "2" for this external monitor.


On the far right, you see an external LG monitor. The shortcut icons are rendered at the left of this monitor. Pressing Display Settings "Identify" displays "3" for this external monitor.


Naturally, of course, my true request is that MS updates "respect" and/or "honor" a user's existing Display Settings.


Failing that, I seek a way to effectively "lock down" my Display Settings three-monitor configuration so that I don't start my working day by sorting-out changes that are made resulting from the latest win10 update.


Windows 10 is a very useful tool; I rely on it a daily basis. This Display Settings behavior strikes me as a great big Win10 "wart".


Thank you for your time.

:)

 

Setting secondary monitor to top-bottom configuration by default

Hi. I am working in hot desk environment where each desk has a docking station with an external monitor. When I sit at a desk that I've never sat before the external monitor is automatically added to my desktop as the right screen (Screen 1 Screen 2 configuration).
However I need to change it to

Screen 2

Screen 1

configuration because the laptop is placed below the external monitor. Is there a way to change in the display settings or registry to force it to top-bottom configuration so every desk I use it will be always this configuration?

Thanks.

Peter

 

second display configuration issue

Hi All,

My configuration:

Windows 10 Pro x64
AMD Radeon HD 7800

Latest updates and video drivers installed, no hardware changes for 2+ months, latest significant Windows update 2 weeks ago, latest AMD video driver installed at least a week ago.


I have 2 identical displays connected via DVI to Windows PC over several years already with "Extend displays" configuration, and suddenly this configuration stopped working a couple of days ago when I was in the middle of doing something. Windows just replaced it with "Duplicate displays" configuration.


During PC startup I see BIOS diagnostics on both displays. Windows detects 2 displays. "Show only on 1" and "Show only on 2" options work as expected.


Problem: "Extend these displays" results in display 1 going blank and display 2 shows it's part of the image.


AMD Eyefinity (which creates virtual desktop over several monitors) works fine - which suggests that problem maybe only with Windows configuration.


What is done:

• checked cables
• removed and installed again latest AMD drivers
• removed second display from the System Devices, refreshed hardware list and added display again - now I have "Generic PnP monitor" and monitor with correct name in Monitors section
• searched for latest drivers for monitors and display adapters from Device Manager, nothing found

Next I replaced one monitor with monitor from different manufacturer, and everything works as expected - "Extend these displays" configuration shows extended image.


Any ideas what else can be done to fix the problem?


Thank you in advance.

 

is there any demand for a system configurator?

Processor(V) <--drop down arrow
-AMD(V)
--Socket(V)
---AM2(V)
----List of cpu's
---939(V)
----List of CPU's
-Intel(V)
--Socket(V)
---775(V)
----List of cpu's
---771(V)
----List of CPU's


etc etc.