Windows 10: Possible to re-assign monitor identities/numbers?

No matter what I do Windows always labels my secondary TV screen as my PC screen and vice versa. It's not really a problem in terms of functionality but it does annoy me that I can't change it. I've been through countless televisions and GPU's over the years but it always remains so possibly there is a good reason for it? *sarc

Anyway, the 'issue' has been persistent since W7 (and possibly before?) but I'm wondering if there is now/or always has been a work around for this?

It's erked me for years that I can't change it but maybe someone on here has the know how.

Cheers!

Edit: This post explains it better Changing monitor identities?





:)

 

After monitor upgrade (Displayport), I can't enable sound via HDMI without losing my cursor and taskbar icons.

I've only just seen your reply, I should have mentioned uninstalling and reinstalling drivers was the first thing I did.

I have finally gotten to the bottom of it, it's down to the way Windows 10 assigns monitors. I deleted 2 registry keys and let Windows rebuild with just my main monitor, then I plugged in and added my Reciever, it now behaves the way I would expect.

I got the info from this site: Windows Display Properties "Identify" numbers are incorrect – DisplayLink Support

When using the Windows Display Properties "Identify" button to show the position of displays, the numbers shown on the screens are different to the actual layout.

This issue is not specific to DisplayLink and is an underlying bug with Windows. There is a thread on the Microsoft forum about this issue here: Windows
7 IT Pro > Windows 7 User Interface > Changing monitor identities?

It may be possible to work around this by forcing Windows to re-detect monitors:

How to force Windows to Rediscover Monitors

Whenever Windows sees a new monitor it adds it to the end of the current configuration. However, this doesn't change the current configuration.To force Windows to configure monitors properly if the numbers aren't correct, you need to delete these two registry
keys, and then add the monitors one at a time.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Systems\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Configuration

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Systems\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers\Connectivity

 

After monitor upgrade (Displayport), I can't enable sound via HDMI without losing my cursor and taskbar icons.

This has also resolved issues I have been having where the UEFI screen (or any pre windows info) wouldn't show up on the main monitor I was using. I would have to switch a secondary monitor on or unplug the 2nd monitor to see the UEFI.

It has also stopped windows and programs from dissapearing and having to be recovered from a screen that is turned off.

According to some system admins who use an image to set up multiple identical machines with dual monitors, it is completely random as to which of the monitors will be assigned as the first monitor.

 

Which one is set as your main screen? That's the one that will stay on when you switch to PC only. Open the screen that shows the monitor numbers, select your laptops screen, and then make sure the Make this my main screen is set.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html

 

If only it was that simple!

I'm aware of how to set the main monitor but thanks all the same*Smile

 

I run triple monitors on my desktop PC. What ever monitor I set as the Main Screen becomes the PC Only screen as far as *Start + P goes. It's the one that stays on when I select PC only. I run dual monitors on my laptop but the second screen is USB. I'm not sure I ca set it as the main and run it by itself. I'll check latter. My laptops built in screen has always been the PC screen as its set as main screen by default.

 

What monitor is defined as your main monitor is based on the port it is plugged in on the GPU. You have to figure out which port is zero (0) on the GPU that is going to be the main monitor.

 

As far as the BIOS POST screen goes and Windows Boot Screen yes. You can't change that. But you can make any screen you want the Main Screen as far as Windows goes. Go to Settings > System > Display. One Monitor will be set as the Main Screen. Click one of the others and you'll see a "Make this my main display" option. If you do that your main taskbar with the clock and notifications area will move to that screen. Pressing *Start + P and selecting PC Only, will result in only that screen being active. In this screen shot display No 2 is the one my POST screen and boot screen show on. The one numbered 1 is my main screen and the only one that stays on when I switch to PC only for gaming.

 

Well yes. I should clarify I was referring to the default state on how a monitor is determined to be the main monitor before any configuration is used to change it.

 

I knew what you meant. My intent was to just add to it. My video card has 2 DVI and 1 HDMI. If I plug just 1 monitor in on any one port, the BIOS boot screen and the Windows boot screen show on that monitor. It gets complicated though if I plug another monitor in. The BIOS POST screen will move depending on what other ports are used. With three monitors connected it ends up on DVI Port 1. You would think it would be the HDMI port but no. That's the one I set as my main monitor.

EDIT: Like you said, moving your monitors to different connectors could be advantageous. Doesn't work for though as I want my biggest monitor on the HDMI port. It's the one I use when gaming. I can live with my POST and BOOT screens being on my right hand monitor.

 

On my PC the main/PC display is always the mini hdmi port with my television no matter what you set as the Main display.

As ive said it's not really a functionality problem but nore of an aesthetic one. When I hit win+P and select secondary only it should leave me with just the TV running but in Fact the opposite occurs.

 

It's doing what you told it to do. If your TV is set as the main display, and you select secondary only. The TV will lose signal. The non main screen is the secondary screen.

 

Ugh, I don't think you understand the problem.

 

Only going by what you said,
"On my PC the main/PC display is always the mini hdmi port with my television no matter what you set as the Main display." < TV is Main display.
"When I hit win+P and select secondary only it should leave me with just the TV running but in Fact the opposite occurs. " < You selected secondary only, which is the other display, not the TV.

Your definition of main display and mine must be different. In Windows you can set what ever monitor you want as the "Main Display". This has nothing to do with what screen shows the POST and the Windows Boot Screen, that will not change. What will change is what happens when you press the *Start + P keys. If you select PC only, only the monitor set as the Main Display will stay active, all the others will go blank. Change which monitor is set to Main Display and it changes which monitor stays on and which goes off.

 

Read this, the guy explains the problem better than me. My tv is connected via HDMI without the use of a dvi adaptor though.

Changing monitor identities?