# More multiple monitor questions, Win XP IBM Thinkpad **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432 "2006-02-21T03:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/1 "2006-02-21T03:50:58Z")
I’ve downloaded UltraMon and PowerStrip and still haven’t figured out how to do these things I want to do with my two-monitor set up: 1. **Put a start menu on each monitor.** I already have a task bar on each monitor, which shows only the apps running on that monitor; which is awesome. But I want a start menu on each one, and I want to decide which monitor to open a program into by using the start menu from that monitor. 1. **Use the full desktop of my higher-res monitor for the wallpaper.** I found a great wallpaper that looks fantastic in hi-res. The problem is that it assumes the resolution of the lo-res monitor (1024x768) and uses that resolution on both monitors; the other one, running at 1280x1024, has 1024x768 of wallpaper surrounded by border fill. I want to maximize the wallpaper across each monitor, or in fact both monitors if possible. For that matter, I wouldn’t mind knowing how to… 1. **Set a different wallpaper on each monitor.** Or hell, even 1. **Set up a rotation of wallpapers that switches every day or every time I boot or something.** Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/2 "2006-02-21T03:55:13Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > \ > 3. **Set a different wallpaper on each monitor.** > \ You’ve got UltraMon? This is easy. Right click on the icon in the system tray, then click on “Wallpaper…” Voila! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/3 "2006-02-21T03:56:16Z")
Since the question’s been answered, I’ll just say that I’ve never seen anything in GQ with a prize for the correct answer. Enjoy the XP IBM Thinkpad, **space**! Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/4 "2006-02-21T07:36:58Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > 1. **Put a start menu on each monitor.** > > I already have a task bar on each monitor, which shows only the apps running on that monitor; which is awesome. But I want a start menu on each one, and I want to decide which monitor to open a program into by using the start menu from that monitor. I don’t think this is possible. To Windows, the multiple monitors are just different parts of the _same_ desktop. And I don’t beleive Windows was designed to have more than one Start Menu on the desktop. You can reposition the Start Menu in lots of ways, but I’ve never seen anything about having more than one Start Menu. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2006, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/5 "2006-02-21T10:03:51Z")
As far as your wallpaper is concerned, you just have one big 2560x1024 monitor so if you just set a wall paper that big, it will span across it. your second monitor will only be able to display the top left part of your wallpaper so make sure your low res picture fits in there. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/6 "2006-02-22T03:25:20Z")
Ah, sweet, 2 and 3 are solved in brilliant, hi-res fashion. Anyone want to take a shot at #4? (Sorry, no XP IBM Thinkpads.) ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/7 "2006-02-22T09:58:18Z")
#4. [This](http://www.snapfiles.com/screenshots/multiwallpaper.htm) says it will do it. I have never used that program and cannot vouch for it. Now, where is my Thinkpad? Slee ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/8 "2006-02-22T17:02:43Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > Now, where is my Thinkpad? Waiting for you at your favorite local electronics store. 😃 (Thanks!) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/9 "2006-02-22T19:28:27Z")
Are you folks saying your OS doesn’t just do this kind of thing right out of the box? 😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-multiple-monitor-questions-win-xp-ibm-thinkpad/345432/10 "2006-02-23T04:03:50Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Are you folks saying your OS doesn’t just do this kind of thing right out of the box? > > 😕😕 I’m really in a Windows-only situation, unfortunately. I’ve dabbled in other OSes in the past but it’s not an option right now.