HTPC and 2 monitors

ruud · **4th July 2008, 10:33 AM**

Will have the HTPC connected to the LCD TV via HDMI.
I will also connect another monitor connected via VGA.
Can I watch TV and surf the internet on the other monitor simultaneously?
Will the htpc be able to handle that?

Has anyone done this?

edit: after some seaching, there is this program http://www.mods.com.au/maxifier/ that can assist with the dual screen.
Anyone with other options?

dwebkombi · **4th July 2008, 01:10 PM**

yes you can do this with the extended desktop option in the nvidia cantrol panel.
No need for maxifier.

nuby · **4th July 2008, 01:14 PM**

HI,

Any ideas on ATI cards (got the old 2400XT)?

Cheers

dwebkombi · **4th July 2008, 01:19 PM**

I just put in a ATI HD3450. Catalyst driver also has the extended desktop option.
I am not sure about 2xxx cards

jvesey · **4th July 2008, 03:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwebkombi

yes you can do this with the extended desktop option in the nvidia cantrol panel.
No need for maxifier.

AFAIK - this has not been resolved as the MCE interface in full screen is a directX app which hogs the mouse. Extended desktop can be displayed but there is no mouse control until the MCE interface is "Windowed" - maxifier might do the trick - I'll have to try it.

DDH · **4th July 2008, 07:48 PM**

Running an extending desktop in MCE is a pain in the .... IMHO. I did it for a while on a basic ATI card. Technically the graphics worked, etc, its just the MCE interface that is programmed to be a hog of Windoze. It is designed to stay in control when you run it, which is just what you want as a consumer device so I'm not really complaining, just stating fact.

So it does work as an extended desktop, basically you've just got to stuff a round with it a bit all the time. I gave up and went with cloned images on the monitor / projector a long time ago.

dmitry_f · **5th July 2008, 06:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvesey

AFAIK - this has not been resolved as the MCE interface in full screen is a directX app which hogs the mouse. Extended desktop can be displayed but there is no mouse control until the MCE interface is "Windowed" - maxifier might do the trick - I'll have to try it.

I have same problem (((.
You can get mouse control by pressing Alt+Tab and then move mouse from TV to monitor. This is not convenient but something and it works for music, but for video it is very unstable((((.
Second option is switch off full-screen and drag window to max size. There are no problem with stability in this case.
Both this options can be used as temporary solution IMHO.

Who can help I tell how to fix this problem and use TV in full-screen?

dmitry_f · **5th July 2008, 06:34 AM**

There is one more option is to go back to Win XP and another MC software for example Mediaportal. I tested it in dual screen mode and it works perfect.