Duplicate Display Issues

Question

So I have been trying to connect my laptop to my TV. I have gone through the Screen Resolution page and I have tried to use the duplicate screen option and when I click apply, a small box will pop up and it says that the options I have selected cannot be saved and I should try a different combination. Is there anything I can do so I can have the duplicate screen option? Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi Erin,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

When you connect an additional monitor to your mobile PC, Windows automatically detects the monitor and displays your computer's desktop. You can then choose how you want your desktop to appear and customize the display settings, such as screen resolution and color depth.

Part 1: Duplicate displays

(i) When Windows is installed with two or more displays connected, the desktop will be by default shown duplicated when Windows has finished installing the video drivers. This means that the same desktop is shown on all connected displays; when you move your pointer, open applications and Explorer windows, you will see the exactly same on each display.

(ii) When you check the Display Settings (right click on desktop, select Display Settings) you will notice that the system shows only one display icon, in my case now it shows that both the laptop built-in display #1 and the external display #2 are being duplicated.

(iii) When the displays are duplicated, Windows automatically selects the resolution used according to the max resolution of the smaller display; in Duplicate mode the resolution on all displays must and will be the same! In screenshot you can see that although my external display is capable of bigger resolution, Windows has selected and recommends 1600*900, the max resolution of my laptop's built-in display.

Part 2: Extended displays

(i) If you want to show different content on each display, select Extend these displaysand click Apply: 

(ii) The Display Settingsshould now show a thumbnail for each connected display.

(iii) When you are not sure which of your physical displays is shown as Display #1, which as #2, click Identify. Windows shows the display ID on bottom left on each display.

Part 3: Change the resolution

(i) In Extended mode you can set and change the resolution independently for each display, in Duplicate mode changing the resolution changes it on all displays. Select a display then Advanced display settings link on bottom of the Display Settings page.

(ii) Windows shows the best resolution for your hardware as Recommended. This is usually the max resolution for your current display allowed by your video hardware, but in some cases it might be a smaller resolution. 

Part 4: Change the size of items on screen

Change item size on a display by first selecting a display, then using the Item size slider.

Part 5: Change the display orientation

Change the orientation of a display by selecting a display, then selecting either Landscape (default) or Portrait:

The display thumbnail in question shows you now that the display you selected is changed to Portrait.

Part  6: Display layout

(i) By default Display Settings shows your primary display on left and your secondary display on right. If your displays are set the same way on your desk, everything is OK. Moving the pointer or dragging an item now over the right edge of the main display, it will enter from the left edge on the secondary display. Red arrow in below image shows how the pointer moves from display #1 to display #2:

(ii) If you reorganize your desk or for any reason prefer the secondary display being on left of the primary display, the pointer will still leave the display #1 from right and enter display #2 from left.

(iii) You would in this case of course prefer the pointer to move between the displays over the left edge of the display #1 and right edge of the display #2. To do this, to change the Display Settings to match your physical display layout and to get pointer movements logical, simply drag and drop the secondary display to where you have it on your desk.

(iv) Place the secondary display thumbnail where you want to. Notice that the exit and entry area of the pointer between the displays is determined here; how you have set the displays or move them on your desk has none whatsoever effect in pointer exit & entry area or direction. Be sure to set the display thumbnails correctly.

(v) When done you can move the pointer logically from one display to another, Display Settings layout matching your physical layot on your desk.

Hope this information is helpful. Do feel free to write to us in case you have any issues/concerns while working on your computer, we'll be happy to assist you.