Dual monitor - games always tabbing to desktop

AnarchistUK · 20 Oct 2011 at 16:44

I have 2 monitors in Windows 7 Premium, where I have the desktop in landscape mode across 2 screens.

When I play games in full screen mode, it will tab out into the background and put the game into window mode or minimise. This is because when controlling the game with my mouse, the cursor goes off the main screen and onto the other, so when I click a button it will think I'm clicking on the Windows desktop in the background.

Is there a way of stopping this? To get around this I have to put Windows into single display mode, so the 2nd monitor is switched off, but I don't want to have to keep doing this.

Thanks in advance.

Puppetmaster · 20 Oct 2011 at 18:47

Which games, or all?

barneystuta · 20 Oct 2011 at 18:49

When I game, as the "gaming monitor" is on full screen, it doesn't allow me to "leave" that screen, unless I tab out of it and want to access something on the other one. Not come across this before.

Confused · 20 Oct 2011 at 19:40

Are you running your games in Windowed mode, or Full Screen mode?

ultrasavage · 20 Oct 2011 at 19:57

+1 to above post, i have a dual monitor setup and unless in full screen mode it will tab to desktop.

AnarchistUK · 21 Oct 2011 at 02:33

Bad Company 2 is what I mostly play, but yes I'd say all games. I play in full screen mode using the main gaming monitor, but when my mouse goes off to the right to the edge of the screen and onto the other, it either tabs the game out or goes into window mode. It's really annoying, so I have to tell windows 7 to show desktop 1 only, then when finished gaming, tell windows 7 to stretch desktop across both screens.

Could be a setting somewhere in nVidia control panel, no idea because I've not really played around with that to be honest. From memory, it wasn't always like this. I wish it would stay in full screen mode until I, myself press the tab key.

AnarchistUK · 21 Oct 2011 at 02:46

I should also mention when loading up games, sometimes, but not always... it will 'turn off' the 2nd monitor display, however the mouse will still not be restricted to the main monitor and can off to the other, this is when it either tabs out/goes into window mode.

Sometimes it doesn't switch off the 2nd display and I can see CPU-Z or RealTemp running for example. I have closed off all other background programs too, but still it's not having it.

Something must have changed because it's not limiting the mouse to 1 monitor whilst ingame with full screen. Any ideas? Windows, Nvidia or gaming setup issue?

Chihero · 21 Oct 2011 at 03:02

Which graphics card?

AnarchistUK · 21 Oct 2011 at 16:07

EVGA Nvidia GTX 570

skyripper · 21 Oct 2011 at 16:34

Plenty of games do this. One of the requirements of Games For Windows is to work correctly with multi-monitors.

On ATi you can save different profiles - just one monitor, both monitors and leave shortcuts on your desktop to switch between them. On nVidia - dunno, but theres probably some way.

Confused · 21 Oct 2011 at 17:36

I haven't had a single game, when running in full-screen mode, where moving the mouse has caused the cursor to move out of the game window and to the background, since I started using 2 monitors about 6 years ago.