Out of context, buckeroo.
"W10 is excellent with Extended Desktop" so long as you don't run incompatible cards together.
Any reason why my monitors would cycle off and on again out of nowhere?
- Thread starter jmiles301
- Start date
Out of context, buckeroo.
"W10 is excellent with Extended Desktop" so long as you don't run incompatible cards together.
How I have been able to cope with W10....
1. Initially drove me NUTS, like everybody
2. Biggest problem... "create system restore point" kept failing... had to reinstall W10 perhaps 10 times before I decided to just disable it. So, I do "other" for backups
3. Uninstalled Cortana, One Drive, and Edge with Revo Uninstaller
4. Turned off EVERYTHING with O&O App Buster... When I tried to later run some function like music, photo, PDF reading etc... I'd get a message "no app to run this". So I'd go back into App Buster and reinable that function. I ended up with about 6 things enabled while another perhaps 25 remain disabled.
5. Use a little app called "W10 Manual Update" where I can periodically run and see what I want to update and what to skip... like "feature updates", you know. To make this work to my liking, 18 months ago I went into Windows Update and selected that updates can't be offered until 30 days seasoned... and "feature updates" (new versions) can't be offered until 1 year seasoned. Haven't opened Windows Update since.
Now W10 and I get along OK... about the same as I did with W7... FWIW
1. Initially drove me NUTS, like everybody
2. Biggest problem... "create system restore point" kept failing... had to reinstall W10 perhaps 10 times before I decided to just disable it. So, I do "other" for backups
3. Uninstalled Cortana, One Drive, and Edge with Revo Uninstaller
4. Turned off EVERYTHING with O&O App Buster... When I tried to later run some function like music, photo, PDF reading etc... I'd get a message "no app to run this". So I'd go back into App Buster and reinable that function. I ended up with about 6 things enabled while another perhaps 25 remain disabled.
5. Use a little app called "W10 Manual Update" where I can periodically run and see what I want to update and what to skip... like "feature updates", you know. To make this work to my liking, 18 months ago I went into Windows Update and selected that updates can't be offered until 30 days seasoned... and "feature updates" (new versions) can't be offered until 1 year seasoned. Haven't opened Windows Update since.
Now W10 and I get along OK... about the same as I did with W7... FWIW
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I use win7pro on a pc I built 10 years ago and never use sleep mode. Asus mobo with 5 monitors. The pc has been on continuously for a decade hassle free. I reboot it weekly to clear memory.
I never turn it off, the power cycling is bad for components.
To avoid reshuffling etc, I just use external usb hdmi adapters to drive multiple monitors.
Like these: search usb to hdmi adapters
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hdmi+usb+adapter&crid=3KD0EACWJMELV&sprefix=hdmi+usb+ada,aps,257&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_12
My wife, from Japan, calls me otaku. (computer nerd lol)
I never turn it off, the power cycling is bad for components.
To avoid reshuffling etc, I just use external usb hdmi adapters to drive multiple monitors.
Like these: search usb to hdmi adapters
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hdmi+usb+adapter&crid=3KD0EACWJMELV&sprefix=hdmi+usb+ada,aps,257&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_12
My wife, from Japan, calls me otaku. (computer nerd lol)
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That is the way to go mister.
As time goes by, PC makers and Microsoft are making worse and worse products.
Windows 11 failed to fix the windows reshuffling problem.
You are fortunate NOT to use the new DP Display Port.
And you are smart not to use the power-saving SLEEP mode.
The spacecraft going to Mars better don't use Microsoft 11 and DP port.
It better uses Windows 7 and HDMI port and no SLEEP mode.
What's the physical layout of your connections? Do you run those through hub(s)?
computer -1 internal monitor
-2
-3
-4
-5
computer -1 monitor
-2
-3
-hub -4 -5
Was there any configuration tweek that you had to do to get beyond 3 screens total?
I used to use one of these Trittons to get 3 total screens from a laptop.
Seems like that was the max possible. If an HDMI was hooked up along with the other two plus internal = 3, one of the vga externals would need to be nixed for the hdmi to go.
but somewhere along the way when I hooked it up - nada. Wish I had a fix for that.
(Tritton SEE2 Xtreme, USB to DVI or VGA External Video Card, 1920x1200 Max)
Right, I have several 4-6 port USB hubs.... afaik no limit to number of monitors..... need to buy 1 usb/hdmi adapter per monitor
Isn't using Windows 7 risky now?
https://www.techadvisor.com/news/windows/windows-7-2021-dangerous-3807335/
Why using Windows 7 in 2021 is so dangerous
Windows 7 support was discontinued by Microsoft in January 2020, making it extremely risky to continue using the OS without security patches
By Anyron Copeman, Senior Staff Writer| 10 Aug 2021
Image: Microsoft (modified)
As the adage goes: all good things must come to an end. That’s especially true in the fast-paced tech world, where great hardware and software can quickly become outdated. It’s why no-one uses the groundbreaking original iPhone anymore, while the value of classic consoles is purely nostalgic.
It appears the same can be said of Windows 7. Microsoft’s desktop operating system launched in 2009 and will soon be three major versions out of date, but that hasn't stopped plenty of people from still using it.
According to StatCounter, around 16% of all current Windows PCs were running Windows 7 in July 2021. Some these devices are likely to be inactive, but that still leaves a significant amount of people using software that hasn’t been supported since January 2020.
This is extremely dangerous. Not only is Microsoft not releasing any more software updates for Windows 7, it’s also not patching any security issues or providing any tech support. For the vast majority of people, this simply isn’t a risk worth taking.
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Paid Windows 7 updates only available for companies
The refusal to ditch Windows 7 doesn’t make sense to most of us, especially as you can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free. However, some people have legitimate reasons for sticking with the 12-year-old operating system.
For many companies, upgrading to Windows 7 isn’t worth the hassle. The software itself might be free, but the migration process certainly isn’t. Some employees may also need support when presented with a new operating system, and not all current apps and programs will still work.
In this scenario, Microsoft is continuing to provide annual updates and patches for Windows 7 to companies. This is through what’s known as the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, although the last of these is set for 2022.
Image: Microsoft
Extended Security Updates are only officially available via licensed providers, and can’t be bought by private users or small businesses, even if running Windows 7 Pro. Patches that claim to bypass these restrictions can be found online, but we can’t comment on their safety or effectiveness.
No reason for most people to stick with Windows 7
Objectively, there’s little justification for sticking with Windows 7 and refusing to upgrade to Windows 10. The hardware requirements for both operating systems are almost identical, updating is free for most people and the user experience on Windows 10 will be relatively familiar.
However, there is some older hardware that won’t run Windows 10. If you happen to be using one of these devices, it’s probably time to upgrade. Software compatibility is a more legitimate concern – not all Windows 7 apps will run smoothly on Windows 10. But both are relatively rare, so we’d encourage you to persist with the upgrade process if you experience issues.
Most of the time, Windows will automatically recognise the components and drivers that you already had installed. You may need to download some new ones or manually update them, but all the basic functions will work immediately.
If there are any drivers that your PC no longer recognises, you should be able to find them via the VOGONS Vintage Driver Library. It’s also worth checking the manufacturer of your device for service and support pages – many old drivers will still run without issue on Windows 10.
For software, it’s even easier. Windows 10 has a built-in compatibility mode, with helps run programs that wouldn’t usually work. Just type ‘compatibility’ and open the relevant option in Control panel. You can then choose the affected app and (hopefully) iron out any issues.
How to get Windows 10 for free
If you’re still running Windows 7, there’s an easy way to update your device
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without paying a penny. The Windows 10 ISO was only meant to be available for a year after the OS launched, but it’s still available as of 2021. For more detail on how to upgrade using this method, see our dedicated guide: How to move from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
Can you upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 11?
Technically, yes. Most older devices won’t meet Windows 11’s updated hardware requirements, but there is a way to get around the need for a TPM 2.0 chip and minimum RAM/storage options.
However, the need for a recent Intel/AMD/ARM-based processor may prove to be a sticking point. You’ll also have to reinstall a clean version of Windows 7 on your PC before attempting the upgrade.
Even if you’re able to bypass these limitations, Windows 11 won’t be designed to work on this older hardware and so may not run smoothly.
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A bunch of various utility options here you can try for backing up and restoring the locations / sizes of application windows across multiple monitors: https://superuser.com/questions/240362/save-window-locations-of-applications
OP, @Scataphagos is correct about this.
When running 4 or more monitors, DisplayPort is the practical solution. And as others have noted, DP can be finicky about waking from either PC sleep or monitor sleep (with PC running). But a lot depends on your setup. I used to run multiple monitors using both discrete and onboard graphics, and I would have the issue of windows rearranging themselves. Sometimes even had BSOD's.
I eventually moved on to two NVS 510 cards (onboard graphics turned off), and like magic, windows stay put when monitors wake from sleep (with PC running) and when PC wakes from sleep.
When running 4 or more monitors, DisplayPort is the practical solution. And as others have noted, DP can be finicky about waking from either PC sleep or monitor sleep (with PC running). But a lot depends on your setup. I used to run multiple monitors using both discrete and onboard graphics, and I would have the issue of windows rearranging themselves. Sometimes even had BSOD's.
I eventually moved on to two NVS 510 cards (onboard graphics turned off), and like magic, windows stay put when monitors wake from sleep (with PC running) and when PC wakes from sleep.