Icons and Taskbar move when turning off monitors, pls help

JaseUK

JaseUK

JaseUK

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Hi Guys,

Got a strange one here that I cant seem to sort.

I have a dual monitor setup using Windows 8.1 and both monitors are connected to a GTX 980 via DP.

My left monitor I use as my main display i.e for gaming etc and my right monitor is where I have all my desktop icons and taskbar. When I switch off my monitors my taskbar and all my icons move across to the left monitor which is very annoying as I have to then move them all back again.

Does anyone know how I can fix this?
 
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1) It seems like the 2nd monitor is the primary one, adjust that in the display settings and it should work out.
2) Stardock Fences free allows you to fence off icons and keep them where you want.
3) Displayfusion Pro gives windows all the multi monitor options you need, taskbars on other monitors, things like that.

Hope this helps.
 
bledd. said:
Do you have any 3rd party Explorer add ons. Like a custom start menu etc
Click to expand...

No I don't have anything like that installed.

BloodyL said:
1) It seems like the 2nd monitor is the primary one, adjust that in the display settings and it should work out.
2) Stardock Fences free allows you to fence off icons and keep them where you want.
3) Displayfusion Pro gives windows all the multi monitor options you need, taskbars on other monitors, things like that.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

If I change my primary monitor wont my games change to that monitor. I don't want that as I want my game playing on left screen (primary) and icons taskbar on right screen (secondary)

I might look at the software you mention
 
Something else that happens, if I press the power button on my right monitor all my icons and taskbar move across to the left monitor.

If I turn off both monitors it seems to taken an age for them to sort themselves out and come back on. I am having to leave them in standby mode which is not really what I want to do all the time.

Has this got something to do with the DisplayPort cables as I have never seen this before using DVI?
 
I use two screens in work and at home, I've never come across what you're describing before.

Might be a driver feature?

Did you set the dual screens in Windows or in the graphics driver menus?

I've only ever used the Windows menu for doing it. Albeit only one of my screens is displayport (in work).
 
bledd. said:
I use two screens in work and at home, I've never come across what you're describing before.

Might be a driver feature?

Did you set the dual screens in Windows or in the graphics driver menus?

I've only ever used the Windows menu for doing it. Albeit only one of my screens is displayport (in work).
Click to expand...

Yeah I've no idea why its doing it.

When I installed Windows I am sure I used the dual screen setup through that.
 
im reading it this way, you want windows to display the taskbar and desktop on a non existent monitor (to windows if its switched off it doesn't exist)

Obviously windows will move the taskbar..
 
lude1962 said:
im reading it this way, you want windows to display the taskbar and desktop on a non existent monitor (to windows if its switched off it doesn't exist)

Obviously windows will move the taskbar..
Click to expand...

Fair point. Doesn't explain why Windows takes an age to sort itself out when I turn off the monitors.

Ah well I suppose its just one of those things :D
 
i've heard of this thing before, its something to do with display port, if you use a different connector it could cure the problem.

i think its because display port must allow windows to know if the monitor is on or not, hence why it's resizing.
 
adolf hamster said:
i've heard of this thing before, its something to do with display port, if you use a different connector it could cure the problem.

i think its because display port must allow windows to know if the monitor is on or not, hence why it's resizing.
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Thank God, I thought I might have been the only one there.

My GTX 980 has 3 x DP, 1 x DVI and 1 x HDMI port but I thought DP was the one to go for nowadays.

Doesn't HDMI limit you to 30fps.

I can live with it, its no great biggy :D
 
Hdmi is 60 isnt it unless your talking 4k?

You could try dvi, thats what mine are running through and I can confirm this doesnt happen on any combo of them being turned off.
Tbh though, if its not being too annoying I wouldnt worry.
 
I have a triple screen setup and this only happens to me when I turn the computer on but forget to turn one of the three monitors on. But when I turn all monitors on my computer sorts itself out and reverts back to the settings I put in NVidia control panel and windows settings for resolution etc. Think its how it picks up the available connections

If I boot with all three monitors on, and then turn one off, nothing happens. The OS still acts like I have three monitors on, nothing changes screen, etc

So maybe try and connect your two monitors via DVI and see what happens.
 
C35799Gamble said:
I have a triple screen setup and this only happens to me when I turn the computer on but forget to turn one of the three monitors on. But when I turn all monitors on my computer sorts itself out and reverts back to the settings I put in NVidia control panel and windows settings for resolution etc. Think its how it picks up the available connections

If I boot with all three monitors on, and then turn one off, nothing happens. The OS still acts like I have three monitors on, nothing changes screen, etc

So maybe try and connect your two monitors via DVI and see what happens.
Click to expand...

Are your monitors connected via DP?
 
I have 3 monitors - one connected via HDMI, one via DVI, and one via a DP->DVI adapter, and I can turn off any combination of them, and the system does not rearrange things.

It seems like your system is detecting the monitor turning off being the same as it being unplugged.

By "turning off" I am assuming you mean using the button on the front, and not by disconnecting the mains power?
 
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