Maximize window across both displays

[Lifted]

At the office I have a Win 7 Pro box with an Nvidia GT 430 and I'd like to have the ability to maximize across both monitors. I remember being able to do this back in the day on XP using and ATI card. I believe the driver had added another option near the maximize and minimize buttons to maximize across both displays. Does Nvidia offer anything like this?

I've read that ultramon would do this, but I'd like to try a free solution first if one exists. Seems silly to spend $40 on an app just for this single purpose when the video card didn't cost much more than that itself.

 

[Jaydip]

have u checked the "Setup Multiple displays" option in NV control panel?

 

[destrekor]

You can "span" displays, but I do not believe, using Nvidia or Win7 controls will allow this using two monitors (as opposed to three).

 

[Lifted]

have u checked the "Setup Multiple displays" option in NV control panel?

Just checked and there is not much in there. Would different drivers have more settings/options? I'm prob running the next-to-latest WHQL drivers.

You can "span" displays, but I do not believe, using Nvidia or Win7 controls will allow this using two monitors (as opposed to three).

Thanks. Guess I'll have to try out ultramon.

 

[Jaydip]

Ok one last time check "Adjust desktop size and position" in NV control panel

 

[Lifted]

Ok one last time check "Adjust desktop size and position" in NV control panel

Just scaling and size options. I've installed ultramon in trial mode and giving it a shot now.

Does anyone know if AMD drivers still have this functionality built in?

 

[Jaydip]

When u click full screen what happens?

 

[destrekor]

Just scaling and size options. I've installed ultramon in trial mode and giving it a shot now.

Does anyone know if AMD drivers still have this functionality built in?

AMD drivers indeed have it built in (not entirely sure about dual-monitor scaling, but it's fully present for triple-monitor and beyond) and that probably won't change. It's more about the hardware itself being capable of multimonitor configurations, and AMD has had that for a few generations now.
Nvidia has had it built in, for recent generations, for SLI configurations. With Kepler, it's now entirely possible with a single card (like AMD), but I don't know how they treat dual-monitor.

I have a SLI and triple-monitor setup, so my options will be a bit different.
I know the latest beta drivers (301.24) improve desktop management for multimonitor configurations... but I don't know if you can force Spanning (without software methods) on two-monitors. Spanning, at least for Nvidia, tells Windows you have a single monitor, which thus makes windows maximize across the entirety of the "monitor" area (across multiple monitors).

 

[KingFatty]

AMD eyefinity can achieve maximize across all monitors. However, there is also an AMD utility called hydravision that lets you do some additional tricks, though I haven't played with it and not sure if hydravision also lets you maximize across all monitors.

Maybe there is a free utility for Nvidia? There has to be an option besides ultramon for Nvidia users, has Nvidia come out with a utility? Back when I used an nvidia 7950GTX, I think I remember being able to span across dual monitors?

Oh, I almost forgot, have you checked out SoftTH? Not sure if it enables maximizing to all monitors under windows, but I remember using that with a dual-card Nvidia setup with triple monitors to play games in triple screen without using SLI (the 7950GTX and a 6600GT driving triple monitors). Check it out here: http://www.kegetys.fi/SoftTH/

 

[Lifted]

I'm not actually looking to have Windows see my monitors as 1 large monitor as that breaks maximizing within a single monitor. I just wanted an extra button at the top of windows, next to minimize, that maximizes across both monitors.

I think it was Hydravision that I used in the past. I check if nvidia has anything similar, but I haven't found anything yet.

ultramon does what I want with maximizing, but it gets very wonky when logging into the computer via remote desktop. Apps open in the wrong window and a lot drop-downs are solid black so I can't read the text.

These are the 2 buttons ultramon adds, and which I use to have with ATI cards, probably from hydravision.

 

[destrekor]

AMD eyefinity can achieve maximize across all monitors. However, there is also an AMD utility called hydravision that lets you do some additional tricks, though I haven't played with it and not sure if hydravision also lets you maximize across all monitors.

Maybe there is a free utility for Nvidia? There has to be an option besides ultramon for Nvidia users, has Nvidia come out with a utility? Back when I used an nvidia 7950GTX, I think I remember being able to span across dual monitors?

Oh, I almost forgot, have you checked out SoftTH? Not sure if it enables maximizing to all monitors under windows, but I remember using that with a dual-card Nvidia setup with triple monitors to play games in triple screen without using SLI (the 7950GTX and a 6600GT driving triple monitors). Check it out here: http://www.kegetys.fi/SoftTH/

Nvidia has been absolutely terrible with multi-monitor support. TERRIBLE.
I enjoy everything about my SLI setup, for the most part, but not how the monitors are handled.
But I don't want to use software - unless someone can tell me there is zero performance degradation by using additional utilities? No hit on vram or anything?
Nvidia keeps promising improvements to window management, but so far, they offered just a little bit in the R300 drivers, and it's still seriously lacking.

 

[KingFatty]

Now that I'm using AMD, I'm jealous of the Nvidia ability to define custom display resolutions that would effectively let me run one of my 1600x1200 displays as a 1600x900 display with letterboxing. I can't do that with AMD unless I get all crazy with EDID editing etc. and even then, I can't seem to force the monitor to use letterboxing so the display scales the 1600x900 to full scree ugh. Maybe there is a way, but I just gave up and bought a 4th monitor so when I triple-screen eyefinity I slide my usual monitor out of the way, so I feel like BIG IDIOT but hey, it works hehehe. maybe I can find a wall mount to allow me to vertically slide the 4th monitor up out of the way ah yeah...