Dual Monitor blacks out the second monitor in locked mode

Anonymous
2010-06-25T15:36:04+00:00

Hi There,

We work in support environment and use dual monitors setup. WIN7 heard to have very good support for such setup and easy to use functionalities. However at some point something which was great has gone troubled.

We can use both the monitors while working on it however just the time its locked it blacks out the second monitor background and screensavers set if any. I tried looking for any config changes but in vain. Looking out for answer to this here.

Thanking you in advance.

Kunal Pathak

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-10-02T20:28:13+00:00

There is no built in way to change this functionality. **When locked, one screen will be black.**There may be some 3rd party software that may do this however it would not be supported by  Microsoft.

Matthew Arkin - Windows Answers Moderator - Windows Desktop Experience MVP - http://twitter.com/Microsoft\_Cares

This forum post is my own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion or view of Microsoft, its employees, or other MVPs.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-08-12T16:02:51+00:00

    You can add me to the list of people that want this fixed. Annoying as balls...

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-29T14:36:11+00:00

    i guess Windows 7 is blacking out the secondary monitor as Windows 7 does not wants what background you have set on secondary monitor when your computer is locked.

    The Lock Computer Screen hides desktop, applications, taskbar, background and other possible software applications.

    So even if the Lock Screen is displayed on Primary Monitor, Windows 7 is supposed to protect the contents of other monitors as well & hence i guess windows 7 is blacking out other screens.

    I googled for some 3rd party software that can be useful, but i at this point i could not find any such application.

    You can try out http://www.murgee.com/MurGeeMon/ to set different background images on a dual monitor windows.

    Also 3rd party application might be difficult to code as well, because when windows is locked, there might not be an easy way to display something else on other monitors.

    Alternatively there can be some application that can simulate Windows Locking and simultaneously display something colorful on other monitors. Pre Beta version at http://www.murgee.com/pc-locker/download/setup.exe, it simulates Computer Lock Screen, Prompts for Signed on User's Password, Disables access to Desktop on Primary Monitor, Disables Alt+Tab and other Windows Shortcut Keys, Disables Task Manager and cannot control Ctrl + Alt + Del.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-07-27T09:26:46+00:00

    Agreed - this has actually been annoying me since the beginning of Windows 7.  Really, REALLY want a fix!  I have triple monitor set up and really want this functionality for my lock screen.

    To the idiot who keeps saying it doesn't matter - imagine you have public work stations and want your lock screen to display your company logo in fact there are loads of situations where this functionality would be useful.  Apart from anything else - why have Microsoft taken something away that was in a previous version?  Honestly it is idiots like you who make people consider Apple - they care about these little visual flourishes.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-07-18T14:20:49+00:00

    Coldfire is correct.

    My organization already does the custom background.  However, as stated previously, even with the method stated by surgegamer, the background only displays on the primary monitor.

    The mouse cursor is invisible when on the primary screen, but visible on non-primary screens.

    Those of us experiencing the issue acknowledge that it is a matter of aesthetics.  However, Windows is trying to bridge the gap between functionality and form.  This aspect of Windows is unpolished.

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