Windows 10: Suddenly Windows refuses to extend the desktop over two screens

I have a laptop connected to a large display. The desktop was set to be extended over the two screens built-in laptop display and external display.


I enabled WSL2, which requires a reboot. After the reboot, the laptop's display is duplicated to the external monitor. When I try to go back to the old configuration, both displays get blank that is, white, which is my normal background for a few seconds, before going back to the duplicated configuration. No error message is shown.


What can I do to go back to an extended desktop?

:)

 

Eyefinity vs. Extended Desktop.

This is partially incorrect. It's not just an extended desktop with 3+ screens. And it's a bit different than you mentioned. He is right about it using one large resolution instead of independent 1920x1080 etc.

You can do 3+ screens WITHOUT eyefinity. Eyefinity is not limited to 3+ screens. It can be used with as little as 2.

EYEFINITY does something very different. It actually tricks the computer into thinking all of your screens are one.

Example: In regular extended desktop mode you drag a browser window to screen 2 and maximize it. It is maximized only in screen 2.

In eyefinity that window would maximize across all screens because the computer thinks they are just one. It is not a software (windows) based extended desktop. it is hardware/driver based.

This allows you to do things that aren't normally possible with software extended desktop. I'm sure you can use your imagination.

 

Extended desktop

Hi John,

To better understand your concern about multiple displays in Windows 10, we'd like to know the following:

• The type of connection that you're using to extend your PC's monitor.
• The process that you've performed to extend your PC's display.
• The last activities performed on your PC prior to your concern.

Also, we'd like to request for a screenshot of the Display settings of your PC's second screen. To check the Display settings, you can perform the following:

• Right-click anywhere on your Desktop.
• Click on Display settings.
• Under Customize your display, select the second screen.

We look forward to your response.

 

How to extend desktop across two screens on homegroup

Hi Rob,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to refer to the below steps and check if it helps.

• 
  Right-click the desktop, and select
  Properties or Personalize.
  
• 
  Next select Display Settings from the list of
  preferences.
  
• 
  You should see icons with numbers representing your attached monitors. If one is disabled, it will be grayed out.
  
• 
  Select the second monitor and choose to either
  extend your desktop or mirror your desktop.
  
• 
  Your options may be dependent on the graphics card that you have
  installed.
  
• 
  You may need to make these changes from within your
  control panel. If you have these installed, they can be found in your
  Start menu
  

Hope this helps. Please reply to us with the status of the issue.

Thanks.