Question:

 I have been having problems using multiple monitors recently.  I hook
up to a projector as my second monitor.  It used to work just fine,
but suddenly not.  Now, when I connect my laptop, the monitor on my
laptop shows a blank desktop (as I would expect on monitor 2).  No
toolbars, no icons, nothing.  It is basically a paperweight.  The
second screen says “Computer 3″ in the upper right-hand corner
and “No signal.”  There apparently is no computer 2.  

I have tried to change the display settings on my computer.  It shows
monitor 1 as a generic PnP monitor and shows 2 as default monitor on
mobile intel …  It seems to me that the PnP would be the secondary
device that I plug in and not the primary.  I’m very confused.  I
don’t know if I should disable the driver and if so for which one?

I have a Gateway.  Can you help me?

Answer:

Hi, Beth. Try this:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

2. Under Appearance and Personalization, click Adjust screen resolution.

3. Click the monitor that you want to be the primary one (the monitor where your Start menu is), and then select the This is my main monitor checkbox.

4. Click Apply, make sure the settings are OK, and then click OK.

That’ll move your Start menu to the right display, but it’s still confusing to have a completely empty monitor. Ultramon can help with that–read this post for more information.