Dual Monitors - Programs/Windows Move To Single Screen on Wake

Cadder

Cadder

Cadder

Soldato
Joined
25 Nov 2020
Posts
2,530
Hi all,

I struggled to find a thread dedicated to solving this but I did read in another thread I'm not the only one who experiences this issue. I am running Windows 10 on my nearly-new PC (see sig).

Quite simply, I use two screens, both MSI G273QF. When I lock the computer and leave it for a short while, the programs move to the primary monitor when I log back in.

This wasn't an issue when I was running two electriQ monitors.

I have tried:
1. Uninstalling all greyed-out monitors on Device Manager
2. Updating monitor drivers manually
3. Adjusted both monitors to the same settings using monitor navigation
4. Checked they are identically set up on GeForce Control Panel


Still no joy. When I log back in to Windows all my programs are shifted to the primary monitor. The secondary monitor shows only a background. I have installed all Windows updates and just can't figure out why it's acting differently now. The only difference I can think of (relevant) software changes since the previous monitors is switching the GeForce drivers from Studio to Gaming.
 
I've been faffing on with the monitor menu and there doesn't seem to be any options that would affect this. Also tried changing the power setting in Windows to turn off screens after 2 hours. Came back within an hour and the same issue repeats itself.
 
Turn the monitors off and on - everything moves to primary display.
Allow Windows to sleep without locking PC - everything moves to primary display.
 
The only options left tend to include going into the registry but they all start with "backup first". Not sure I want to risk something that needs a backup restored, or spend the time doing all of that.

Is it easy enough to make a backup and navigate the registry?
 
Update on my issue: Now when I boot the PC, screen 2 (primary display) shows with 800x600 resolution. I have had to unplug and plug in again twice now and I don't know why it would do that.
 
Clean install of latest Nvidia driver and everything seems OK... Log in after a while of inactivity and everything is where I left it.

Could it be that the drivers associate with the monitors somehow? I last updated drivers with single electriQ monitor plugged in.
 
This has become an issue again.. when the monitors go into standby/power save mode, all programs move to one screen on wake.

Any dual monitor users here that have the same issue?
 
Armageus said:
You could try FancyZones (part of Windows PowerToys), it might help in restoring apps back to where you want them

learn.microsoft.com

PowerToys FancyZones utility for Windows

A window manager utility for arranging and snapping windows into efficient layouts
learn.microsoft.com
github.com

Release Release v0.72.0 · microsoft/PowerToys

In the v0.72 release cycle, we focused on stability and improvements. Installer Hashes Description Filename sha256 hash Per user - x64 PowerToysUserSetup-0.72.0-x64.exe 9925894D797458C78A8C3...
github.com github.com
Click to expand...
I'm using FancyZones but it doesn't stop everything moving to one screen when PC wakes unfortunately.
 
@Orcvader I had forgotten I'd made the thread until I searched for the issue again today. It appears the problem went away for a while but I'm getting it again.

Are you still having the same issue?
 
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