Change default monitor

I connected a secondary monitor to my laptop and designated it as the default
monitor. When changing to higher resolution I selected one which now displays
a dialogue box "input not supported" on the default monitor. Now I cannot
reset the resolution as the laptop displays only the desktop (no task bar,
no menu, no icons, no nothing except the desktop picture) when cable is
connected to the other monitor, and when the cable is not connected I cannot
change the default as it asks me to connect to other monitor. Seems to be a
catch 22 as Windows automatically identifies the primary display and applies
the previous settings. Can anyone advise how to change the primary display on
the laptop without connecting to the secondary monitor.
Thanks in advance
Jim

"mpe" <> wrote in message
news7774736-22FB-490B-9F3C-...
>I connected a secondary monitor to my laptop and designated it as the
>default
> monitor. When changing to higher resolution I selected one which now
> displays
> a dialogue box "input not supported" on the default monitor. Now I cannot
> reset the resolution as the laptop displays only the desktop (no task bar,
> no menu, no icons, no nothing except the desktop picture) when cable is
> connected to the other monitor, and when the cable is not connected I
> cannot
> change the default as it asks me to connect to other monitor. Seems to be
> a
> catch 22 as Windows automatically identifies the primary display and
> applies
> the previous settings. Can anyone advise how to change the primary display
> on
> the laptop without connecting to the secondary monitor.
> Thanks in advance


Yes, it's a very annoying problem.

You can configure UltraMon to swap primary/secondary using the system tray
(notification area) icon.

www.ultramon.com

ss.

Press F8 during the 'black screen' portion of a startup, right after the
BIOS screen. That will give you the Safe Mode option. (this sets resolution
to 800 x 600)

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Please use the Communities guidelines when posting.
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Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Mark.Ferguson

"mpe" <> wrote in message
news7774736-22FB-490B-9F3C-...
> I connected a secondary monitor to my laptop and designated it as the
> default
> monitor. When changing to higher resolution I selected one which now
> displays
> a dialogue box "input not supported" on the default monitor. Now I cannot
> reset the resolution as the laptop displays only the desktop (no task bar,
> no menu, no icons, no nothing except the desktop picture) when cable is
> connected to the other monitor, and when the cable is not connected I
> cannot
> change the default as it asks me to connect to other monitor. Seems to be
> a
> catch 22 as Windows automatically identifies the primary display and
> applies
> the previous settings. Can anyone advise how to change the primary display
> on
> the laptop without connecting to the secondary monitor.
> Thanks in advance
> Jim

I have the same issue with my Acer Extensa 5620Z laptop (Windows Vist
Home Premium).
I had my Samsung LN52A650 LCD TV it connected to it as a secondar
display. It all worked perfectly until I made it the "main display
(wanted to use Windows Media Center).

After I rebooted the laptop, the TV shows a "Mode not supported
message, while the laptop screen is blank (off). When I unplug the VG
cable from the laptop, the content displays on its (laptop's) scree
just fine.

The display settings for laptop's screen show "1. Generic PnP Monito
on Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family", and for the secon
display (grayed out) "2. (Default Monitor) on Mobile Intel(R) 96
Express Chipset Family".

If I try changing any of second display's properties, they go back t
below listed values after I click the Apply button:
This is my main monitor: Unchecked
Extend the desktop onto this monitor: Unchecked
Resolution: 800 by 600 pixels
Colors: Highest (32 bit)

Laptop's screen has the following settings:
This is my main monitor (grayed out): Checked
Extend the desktop onto this monitor (grayed out): Checked
Resolution: 1280 by 800 pixels
Colors: Highest (32 bit)

Once I connect the TV, laptop's display goes blank immediately
preventing me from changing any of its settings.

I tried UltraMon without luck. It does not allow resetting the defaul
monitor (I guess because "This is my main monitor" checkbox is alread
set on the first display), and it didn't allow modifying settings o
the second monitor while that one's unplugged...

I even tried reinstalling the display adapter... The settings went bac
to the ones described above.

Please help
Thank you in advance

--
storejunkhere