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Screensaver Runs on the Secondary Monitor Instead of on the Primary Monitor

Article ID: 307682 - View products that this article applies to.

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This article was previously published under Q307682

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SYMPTOMS

When you use multiple monitors, the screensaver may run on the secondary monitor instead of on the primary monitor.

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CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you are using an unsupported display adapter for your primary monitor.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the following methods, as necessary, in the order presented.

Method 1: Change the Primary Monitor

To change the primary monitor, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Control Panel, click Appearance and Themes, and then click Display.
On the Settings tab, select a monitor icon other than the one that you want to use as the primary monitor.
Click to select the Use this device as the primary monitor check box.
Click Apply.

By doing this, you essentially refresh the setting mechanism and can then sucessfully change the primary monitor setting.
Click the icon for the monitor that you want to designate as the primary monitor.
Click to select the Use this device as the primary monitor check box.
Click Apply.

If this does not resolve the issue, proceed to Method 2.

Method 2: Change the VGA BIOS Sequence

If an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) display adapter and a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) display adapter are installed in your computer at the same time, you may be able to resolve this issue by changing the VGA BIOS Sequence (PCI/AGP) in your computer's BIOS setup. When you do this, you change the display adapter that is used as the primary display adapter. Usually, the PCI bus is enumerated before the AGP bus, and therefore the PCI display adapter is designated as the primary display adapter.

NOTE: This enumeration is a function of your computer's BIOS and is not controlled by the Microsoft Windows operating system. To use an AGP video card as the primary adapter, one of the following conditions must be true:

The computer's BIOS must support the enumeration of the AGP bus before the PCI bus.

-or-
The PCI video card must have the option to disable VGA functionality at the hardware level.

For more information about changing the VGA BIOS sequence, contact your computer manufacturer or consult the computer's documentation.

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

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MORE INFORMATION

The monitor that is designated as the primary monitor displays the logon dialog box when you start your computer. In addition, most programs are displayed on the primary monitor when you initially open them.

For information about how to contact your computer manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/65416/EN-US/ )

Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/60781/EN-US/ )

Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/60782/EN-US/ )

Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

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Properties

Article ID: 307682 - Last Review: January 31, 2007 - Revision: 1.2

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP

kbprb KB307682

Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

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