How to change monitor 1 for monitor 2

I just had this same problem.  right click on the desktop, click on screen resolution.  Now go to the monitor labled "2", which you want to be your primary monitor.  Now check the box labled, "Make this my main display" and it will do what you are wanting it to do. :)

Most of us are computer pros or at least competant computer users and if it was that simple we would have figured it out. The problem is that you cannot actually permanently change the identity of a monitor from 1 to 2 or 2 to1, or however else someone may want to assign a number to a given display. In other words: one has no control over how W7 automatically recognizes and assigns a number to a display. For example, yes, you can go into screen resolution and say display 1 is a Dell (and is your main) and display 2 is an Acer. Yes, you can select display 2 (Acer) and click "make this my main display" but, it only makes it the main display, it doesn't change the number of the display from 2 to 1. This is a problem because it causes conficts with certain driver software (such as nVidia and ATI Catalyst) and other applications in many instances.

I am experiencing the same issue now. I did follow the instructions on how to make screen one the main screen and this did work; however, it did not change monitor 2 to 1 as stated by matthewwagner. The problem this is now creating for me is that, to drag something to my second monitor which is labeled 'monitor 1' I have to drag it to the left of my primary screen. (Note my secondary monitor labeled 'monitor 1' is to the right of my primary monitor which is labeled 'monitor 2') I had two monitors in the past and I am assuming I just got lucky that windows labeled them correctly. 

Does anyone know if there is any way to change the labeling? Would uninstalling the video card and/or buying a new video card solve this? I really need the computer on the right of my desk to be monitor number 2 so I can drag things from left to right and right to left rather than scrolling around backwards as it is set up now.

Thanks

davecook03

Hey davecook03,

I don't think there is a way to change the labels for your monitors but there is a solution to your problem. While you're looking at the display settings, under the "Change the appearance of yours displays there's a small diagram showing your two monitors. Right now it probably shows monitor 1 on the left and monitor 2 on the right.

All you need to do is click and drag monitor 2 in the diagram to the left side of monitor 1. This should solve your problem and make dragging windows from one monitor to the other much more intuitive.