Windows 8.1 tablet, turn off screen while keeping tablet on?

Hello , I just resolved the problem for 7 hours.

Talk is cheap, here is the code.

DisplaySwitch.exe /external

timeout -t 5

TASKKILL /F /IM DisplaySwitch.exe

You need to create a bat script to do these things.

Be warn this be equal "Win + P" to second screen. Just like an old solution.

And you could try more "Win + P" to switch back main monitor. btw, you might needs turn off screen saver and disable auto turn off monitor.

The basic question is, in older system, such as Windows 8, you might be switch your screen to "second monitor" and keep it even it's not exist. Why someone wants do this? On mostly Tablet Device, TURN OFF monitor = sleep, that will make all working program paused.(That damn Instant Go or what...)

Switch to non-exist second screen could turn off main monitor, and system will think screen still working. So you can leave your Tablet and let it keep do something you want.

Someone told me that could use "Win + P" turn off the main monitor to save battery. In older system, it won't check second monitor status so could be keep in non-exist monitor. But Windows 10 resolved (How ironic.) the problem so we cannot switch and keep in non-exist monitor.(It will turn back main monitor after a few seconds automatically.)

My script use an idea that Kill Switcher 's task before it find second monitor does not exist. Unfortunately I spend 7 hours on this stupid things. Then it work , so enjoy it.

Can't turn off screen for long-time operating is a failed. What we need a Tablet? Low power consumption for long-time running is a good reason, right? Now thouse product can't turn off the monitor to save more battery.. funny.

Truly hope one day we don't need these h(f)a(u)cking ways to do what we want.

Nice job, Lena!! Wow, amazing and incredibly benevolent. I was a contributor to this thread with information about a gesture app that worked up until Win10, then stopped. What you have is an incredible find. What I started doing was, simply, using the Windows Key <L> shortcut and letting it time out to off. If you'll kindly DM your contact information, Id like to forward it to the app developer so he may want to pay you for your efforts. Thanks for your hard work!

I tried the solutions found in this page but I can't seem to get windows 8.1 to turn off screen when playing music in windows Media Player... Do you have a solution? and I can't upgrade my tablet is to weak.

I have same problem with Windows 10, and the more I read the more confused I get. 

I simply want to stream sound from an audio book while I am in bed and for it to keep going possibly for an hour or more.

I am not very technical and cannot understand most of what I am reading, can I be directed to clear instructions ideally with a video demo.

I am using a Linx 1010 B Laptop PC.

Thank you.

Exactly the same thing with Acronis TI 2016 concerning blindness to SSD and microSD in my Atom tablet, so *.tib image, that I've done some time ago is proved completely useless...

I've killed my tablet with windows 10 upgrade and subsequent updates.

My SSD is 16 GB only, so only option for me to bring my tablet to life was to clean windows reinstall.

After clean reinstall windows 10 I've had a big problem with drivers - after about 5 minutes after windows boot my tablet freezes and give no reaction nor touch screen, nor volume buttons, nor external keyboard...

Fortunately, I've found win 8.1 recovery image for my tablet, and now I'm on Win8.1. Now I feel lack of Win 10 touch features, it was great, suddenly lack of optimized drivers and short life on battery are killing Win10 advantages for me.