How To Expand your Desktop With Two Monitors

When I use two monitors at home, I find the extra space I get invaluable. I can use one monitor for researching, leaving the other free for Microsoft Office and my email. The price of flat-screen monitors continues to fall, and most new PCs come with graphics C2 I S that are able to support multiple monitors, so adding a second screen is now affordable and easy. Before you buy a second monitor, though, do make sure your graphics card can support dual monitors.

Expand your desktop

#1 Set up Windows
Start by connecting up your second monitor, then turn on your computer. Once Windows has finished loading, right-click on your desktop. In Windows 7 and Windows Vista click Screen resolution In Windows XP go to 'Properties'and then select the 'Settingsitab. If Windows hasn't found the second monitor by itself, click the 'Detect' option to help Windows locate it.

#2 Extend the display
Now click on the second monitor icon and change the resolution. Click the 'Multiple displays'drop-down list and select 'Extend these displaysito share the desktop between both screens. Click the 'Apply' button and you'll notice that when you move your mouse to the side of one monitor, the pointer will travel off the edge and appear on the next one.

#3 Rearrange your monitors
Windows assumes that your second monitor is positioned to the right of your original, and it will set things up accordingly. If the extra monitor is on the left you might want to swap the icons over in the Screen Resolution window. Just click and drag the monitor icons to rearrange them.

#4 Get more functionality
DisplayFusion is a great tool that gives you more control over your dual monitor setup. It enables you to display different wallpapers on each monitor, download wallpapers straight from Flickr and much more. You can install it from your free disc, or from www.displayfusion.com.

#5 Stretch your wallpaper
Use DisplayFusion to display one wallpaper across the two monitors. Select'Span an image across all monitors, then click Toad from > My computer'. Check out smashingmagazine.com and www.dualmonitorbackgrounds.com for some great wallpapers designed for the purpose.

#6 Get a second Windows taskbar
Windows only displays your taskbar on one monitor — the one you've designated as your main display in the Screen Resolution window. If you fancy having full control from both screens, though, you can get around this easily with some handy third-party software. MultiMonitor TaskBar adds a second toolbar to your extra monitor. You can install this from your free disc or download it from www.mediachance.com.

#7 Organise windows in a few clicks
Having more than one monitor on your desk means that you have lots more space for extra windows, which makes it much easier to work in several programs at once. Windows can automatically arrange these windows so that they are all neatly displayed over both monitors To do this, simply right-click the taskbar and select Show windows stacked'.

#8 Enjoy your larger workspace
Congratulations! You've now set up your Windows desktop to get the most out of having dual monitors. You'll have plenty of extra space to work on several tasks simultaneously while looking out over stunning panoramas with specially designed wallpaper. By combining the Windows tools with additional software, it's easy to transform your desktop.