# New Computer Strangeness **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2021, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765 "2021-11-22T12:56:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/1 "2021-11-22T12:56:47Z")
OK, I have two HP laptops, both running Windows 10. One sits on a desk about 8 feet away and the other sits on my lap. Occasionally, one of them will, for no apparent reason, display the desktop picture appearing on the other one. They are not networked. How do they know to do that? And why? It’s happened with both of them. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/2 "2021-11-22T13:33:24Z")
Windows 10 has a function called “casting” that does not require actual networking. I use it to cast my laptop to my smart TV. Check the settings to see if your machines are communicating in that manner. How to cast a Windows 10 desktop: ``` Select "Devices" from your Windows Settings menu. ... Click to "Add Bluetooth or other device." ... Select "Wireless display or dock." ... Make sure "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing" are turned on. ... Click "Cast to Device" and choose your device from the pop-up menu. ``` ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/3 "2021-11-22T13:56:53Z")
I can’t locate the “Wireless display or dock”. But I did turn off the Bluetooth. I wonder if that might help? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/4 "2021-11-22T14:05:29Z")
It’s worth a try. Another cause is that your two machines might be set to sync with one another. This is because of the sync settings. Go to start - settings - accounts - sync your settings. From there you can turn that off. Your desktop backgrounds will then stop syncing. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/5 "2021-11-22T16:41:17Z")
I’m giving that a try. So far, so good. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/6 "2021-11-22T21:51:45Z")
I will just add, that I also don’t see anything about Wireless display or dock. Presumably my machine is incapable of it. It is a nearly ten year old Surface. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/7 "2021-11-22T23:06:51Z")
Have you set up a Microsoft account, and use that to login to these machines? If so it will sync the wallpaper, and maybe some other settings, too. > [@jaycat](#): > > They are not networked. You mean that they are not connected to the Internet? ---
**Author:** ![Honolulu\_Lulu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/87869e/32.png) [@Honolulu\_Lulu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honolulu_Lulu)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/8 "2021-11-22T23:43:04Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Occasionally, one of them will, for no apparent reason, display the desktop picture appearing on the other one. My Windows 10 displays lovely scenery which changes. I believe this scenery is stored in the Windows hard drive, not on the internet. Perhaps, Windows determines which photo to display based on the time/date. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2021, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/9 "2021-11-23T02:04:29Z")
After rereading the OP, it seems that it’s possible they are referring to the other computer waking and showing the lock screen background without touching it. If that is the case, open Device Manager, select “Mice and other pointing devices”, right-click on your mouse and select properties, then on the Power Management tab, uncheck the “Allow this device to wake the computer” box. @jaycat, can you get more specific on exactly what is happening? ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2021, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/10 "2021-11-23T02:23:23Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > @jaycat, can you get more specific on exactly what is happening? Computer A’s desktop shows a photo (that I took myself, not one of Microsoft’s). Because I specifically told it to. One morning, I woke to find that Computer B was displaying the same photo that appears on Computer A’s desktop. Without my having told it to do so, or even loading that photo onto Computer B. So far, I am liking Jasmine’s suggestion wrt ‘sync your settings.’ ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-computer-strangeness/954765/11 "2021-11-23T02:30:26Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Computer A’s desktop shows a photo (that I took myself, not one of Microsoft’s). Because I specifically told it to. > > One morning, I woke to find that Computer B was displaying the same photo that appears on Computer A’s desktop. Without my having told it to do so, or even loading that photo onto Computer B. > > So far, I am liking Jasmine’s suggestion wrt ‘sync your settings.’ Based on that behavior, I agree that @Jasmine’s solution is probably your best bet.