User exhausts with discussions about 'AI advancements' until there's an improvement in multi-monitor functionality
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In the world of modern gaming and work, having a multi-monitor setup can greatly enhance productivity and immersion. However, for one user, managing this setup on Windows 11 has been a challenge.
The user's unique setup consists of three monitors: an LCD for work and gaming, an OLED for exclusive gaming to avoid burn-in, and a 19-inch Diamondtron CRT for retro PC gaming. This user, who expresses a keen interest in CRPG games, esports, modding, and rare game collecting, has faced issues with their multi-monitor setup and mouse locking.
One of the main problems the user encounters is the PC's inability to determine when a monitor is "off" or "on." This is particularly true for the LCD and CRT monitors, which do not have space-age firmware that signals the PC when they are turned off. As a result, these monitors leave residual detection, or "ghosting," which can interfere with smoothly switching between displays.
To address this issue, the user has employed a rickety scaffolding of Windows shortcuts, including the Win+Shift+P shortcut, which allows the user to select between "PC Screen Only" and "Second Screen Only." However, this shortcut has not always been reliable, as the user has experienced unexpected disruptions and resolutions without any changes.
In an attempt to improve the PC's ability to handle multi-monitor setups, the user suggests Microsoft could focus on improving the PC's ability to manage multi-monitor setups and mouse locking. This is especially important for premium new monitors, where these features seem to be unadvertised.
To fix multi-monitor support in Windows 11 for setups like the user's, there are key steps to follow:
- Remove ghost or unattached monitors: Open Device Manager, locate entries under the "Monitors" section, and uninstall any Generic PnP Monitors that are not currently in use. Also, check Control Panel > Devices and Printers and remove any extra monitor devices there.
- Update your graphics drivers: Download and install the latest drivers for your GPU (Intel, NVIDIA, AMD) from the manufacturer’s site to ensure proper detection and handling of monitors.
- Restart the computer after these changes for Windows to refresh the display configuration and only show actively connected monitors.
- Use Windows Display Settings to manage monitors: Right-click on the desktop > Display Settings; when switching between monitors, set the active monitor as the main display (using the Identify and Make this my main display options).
By following these steps, the user has been able to manage their multi-monitor setup more effectively. However, the user's mouse lock issue still persists, with the mouse refusing to stay locked to the OLED monitor, even after enabling the "lock mouse to screen" option.
In the midst of these challenges, Microsoft is trying to promote Copilot in Windows 11, a turbo-charged version of Clippy, Microsoft's digital assistant. However, the user is frustrated that this new feature seems to be taking the spotlight away from more pressing issues like multi-monitor support and mouse locking.
[1] Source: Microsoft Support - Troubleshoot multi-monitor issues in Windows 11 [2] Source: Microsoft Community - Multi-monitor issues with USB-C ports [3] Source: Microsoft Support - Change the display settings on your PC [4] Source: Dell Display Manager - Improve your multi-monitor setup
- Despite the user's unique multi-monitor setup, which includes a LCD, OLED, and CRT monitor for work, gaming, and retro PC gaming, managing the setup on Windows 11 has been a persistent challenge.
- The user, a fervent fan of CRPG games, esports, modding, and rare game collecting, employs a series of Windows shortcuts to navigate the problems, such as the Win+Shift+P shortcut for choosing between "PC Screen Only" and "Second Screen Only."
- The user's multi-monitor setup suffers from a primary issue where the PC incorrectly detects the LCD and CRT monitors as being in use, even when switched off, causing residual detection or "ghosting."
- To tackle this issue, the user follows several steps including removing unattached monitors, updating graphics drivers, restarting the computer, and manually managing monitors through Windows Display Settings.
- The user goes a step further in proposing Microsoft to focus on improving multi-monitor setup handling and mouse locking in Windows 11, particularly for premium new monitors, where these functions appear to be overlooked.
- Frustrated by Microsoft's push for the Copilot feature in Windows 11, a more advanced version of their digital assistant Clippy, the user wishes that more attention was being paid to longstanding issues like multi-monitor support and mouse locking.
