[ngcbms]

Hello,

I am a programmer who recently decided to try to use Dual Monitors on my Dell Latitude D810 (uses an ATI Mobility Radeon X600) video card.

Typically I use a Dell docking station which has the VGA and DVI outputs. I purchased a matching Viewsonic (wide screen) monitor with the same resolution as my laptop (1860x1050). I figured I should try to use an external monitor with the same designed resolution as the laptops screen. Using the standard Dell drivers, I found was that they copied / cloned each other perfectly at their designed resolution. I also had the option to extend my screen from the laptop to the secondary external Viewsonic. However, when I did this, the laptop resolution drooped below base resolution and looked terrible. When I tried to re-adjust the laptop resolution to it's base (1860x1050), both monitors went back to cloning each other. Additionally, when extending, the taskbar spanned both monitors (very annoying)

Very strange.... After a bit of research, It appeared as though my problem may have been that I was running Windows 2000 Server on my laptop (needed for various network tasks etc...). From what I am hearing, only Windows XP and Windows 98 are designed with true DualView capability which should let me actually keep both monitors at their designed resolution.

Prior to giving up or simply going with XP, I tried the latest incarnation of the Omega drivers (3.8.252). They appeared to install properly and the ATI tray tools seem to be functioning. However, I no longer appear to have the ability to extend my monitor to the secondary external monitor through the Omega driver interface. I can only clone my laptop screen.

I was wondering if anyone has any comments or suggestions that would help me get to a point where I can actually use a secondary external monitor (in combination with my laptop monitor - in extended mode) and keep both resolutions at their designed settings.

For example,

Any combination of driver settings or other software I can try???
Give up and don't try it with a laptop?
Go with Windows XP?

Dell seems to be completely useless in this matter.

Thanks for any support or advise anyone can provide