How to setup dual monitors with Microsoft Vista

In this instructable I'll be showing you how to setup two (or more) monitors with Microsoft Windows Vista. This is a handy trick to know if you're needing more space to work with and can really increase your productive use of your computer. What we'll be doing is hooking up the second monitor, extending the desktop across the second screen, and calibrating the display. It's all pretty basic and simple to do. If you're experienced with computers then this will seem like a needless instructable to you but if you're unaware of how to do this then it'll be a little bit of an eye opener.

Step 1 What you need

In order to be able to do this you will need a computer with at least two video cards, Microsoft Windows Vista (you don't need this, but this instructable was written for Vista), two monitors, and the cable to hook up the second monitor. I'm using a laptop that has a preinstalled auxiliary video output that doubles as a second video card (the laptops LCD and associated hardware counts as one) so I just used that one. If you're using a laptop then all you'll need to do is connect your second monitor to your external display port. If you're using a desktop then you'll need to purchase and install a second video card.

Comments

[Sagar Gondaliya]

i need to know how to do it on a pc. not a laptop

[cornboy3]

You need to get a graphics card with multiple outputs or multiple graphics cards

[JCO72]

If your motherboard supports it, you can simply adda a graphics card.

[Mattheous]

This may sound like a stupid question, so please forgive me, but how do I check if my laptop has a graphics card with multiple outputs?

[patricksanford]

The only stupid question is the one not asked! Checking for a video output on your laptop isn't at all difficult. You'll be able to tell very easily be checking to see if there's a port on it that matches up with the monitor cable. Basically, if the plug on the end of the monitor cord fits into one of the ports, then that's most likely the one you're looking for, Additionally, because most newer computers have the ports color coded, the one you're looking for will probably be blue. The image i've included is rather blurry, but the blue thing is the video output port on my laptop, and it's a 15 pin adapter. Hope that helps!

[pogo13]

mine doesnt say personalize anywhere

[ReCreate]

Well then it is probably not Vista!

[Derin]

If you want a HUGE thing for Virtual Aviation or similar,then you can even try QUAD MONITORS.Seriously though,those gauges take a lot of space!

[djfrosty214]

is there a way to do it an opposite way

[N1CK4ND0]

haha, yeah I've been using dual monitors for a while now, really easy using Radeon's Catalyst Control Center.

[Wills42]

Just did this, and it works! :D Thanks a lot, i've been wondering how to do this for a while. 5/5.