saving multiple scenarios of screen display settings

Thanks Greg. I think you misunderstood (or I poorly described) my question. I'm able to separately set resolution and scale for each monitor through Display settings. That works fine, and most of the time I have things set to the native resolutions of each screen which, because the laptop is "UHD" 3840 x 2160 and the monitor is plain old 1920 x 1080, are different from each other.

What I'm trying to do is easily go back and forth between different combinations of a changed resolution and scale on either or both screens with 'presets.' Most importantly, I want to have one set of laptop/external monitor resolutions/scales using those native resolutions of each and another set in which, say, the laptop's resolution and scale is changed to a non-recommended resolution and scale setting. And at times, I may need a third different combination.

(It's a little difficult to explain why, but optimizing the CAD screen as I described above is the primary reason. I doesn't display correctly on the laptop's native res. Most other programs can figure it out so that when I drag a window from one screen to the other, the window adjusts to display correctly on the other screen once the window is fully within that screen; this CAD program doesn't do that.)

I can certainly make these changes manually. [Though when I reduce the laptop's resolution to "fake" it being 1920 x 1080 (at 100% scale) even though its native res is 3840 x 2160 (which looks good at 225% scale), the display settings become tiny and I can barely read them until I "keep" the new settings, but never mind that minor problem.] What I'd like to figure out is whether I can easily switch between pairs of settings with a preset rather than having to manually go into scale and resolution each time. It'd be cool if the preset button were on the taskbar, maybe in the notification area. Or something easy to get to like that.

Think of it as like the presets on a fancy lighting control in a room where you might have one button to push for, say, setting all the room lights for "watching tv" and another for "entertaining'" or "reading" in which the lights are at different brightnesses. You only have to select one preset, not individually adjust each light.

Does that description make sense?

I'm glad to help. Let me know what you find.

Thanks Greg. Some of the apps may do the trick. Will definitely check them out.

I understand the problem and wanted to first make sure you'd tried everything we have available in Windows for this issue.

There is nothing in Windows to achieve such Presets if setting screen resolution on multi-monitors doesn't maintain it for you. It would require an app that can maintain preset screen resolutions on multiple monitors.

Check out these 5 Best Dual-Monitor Management Apps for Windows 10

https://www.makeuseof.com/software-manage-dual-...

Other than that you might want to ask IT Pro's who regularly maintain these kinds of rigs in companies and schools, they often have more options than we deal with here in a consumer forums. I'd ask at our sister forums for IT Professionals, Q&A forums, as Community is strictly an end-consumer forum. Go here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/index....

There are also good IT Pro forums here:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forums/

https://www.spiceworks.com/

I hope it helps.

Hi GBman. II'm Greg, a Volunteer Moderator and 10 years Windows MVP here to help you.

1. First see if can set separate resolutions and scale the display using the tips here:

https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/diff...

https://windowsreport.com/dual-monitors-differe... (Avoid ad links which intrude into editorial copy, especially avoid Restoro and Reimage ads)

https://www.alphr.com/microsoft/microsoft-windo...

https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-use-dual-monit...

https://superuser.com/questions/1254737/multipl...

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/improve-your-dual-...

2. Next because The Display driver is so important here merely updating it is sometimes not enough. So let's try everything possible to get it working correctly:

First make sure you have updated the Display driver from the PC or Display adapter maker's Support Downloads web page for your exact model number, HP Serial Number or Dell Service Tag - from the sticker on the PC.

While there check also for newer chipset, BIOS/UEFI firmware (very important), network, sound, USB3 and other drivers, comparing to the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu.

If necessary first remove the old driver using DDU https://www.wagnardsoft.com/content/ddu-guide-t... and/or install in Safe Mode with Networking (so you have internet), or Safe Mode, accessed by one of these methods: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf.... If new driver still won't install DDU see Lightning Leon's Answer here: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/subject/for...

If this doesn't give you the latest or ideal driver for what you need, compare it to the driver offered by the Intel driver update Utility here: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/...

or the Nvidia Update utility here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx?lang=e...

or the AMD autodect utility here: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/P...

For Display issues one fix that is working is to Roll back or Uninstall the Driver on the Display Device > Driver tab, restart PC to reinstall driver.

You can also try older drivers in Device Manager > Display device > Driver tab > Update Driver > Browse > Let Me Pick.

Then you will know you've tried everything in addition to Windows Update drivers.

Adjust the screen resolution until it fits and looks best at Settings > System > Display.

Then watch WIndows Updates which may push a new monitor driver based on the display driver you now have installed.

I have never seen one of those not resolve disparate resolutions on multi-monitors but if not report back results and we'll go from there.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

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