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    How to run extended desktop on MBP with ext monitor?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Helpmyfriend, Apr 4, 2011.

  1. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

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    WHy is this so hard to get working? I tried to get ultramon but noooo its an msi file so you need to find an extractor to run msi. I want to run it extended desktop like how it would be in windows 7.
     
    Helpmyfriend, Apr 4, 2011
    #1
  2. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

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    Um... I could be missing something but all you have to do is plug the external monitor into the appropriate adapter through the Thunderbolt port. Mac OS X should be able to automatically find the external display. You can use the default setup where the primary monitor (the one built into the MBP) is on the left and the external one is on the right or you can set it up in any other order.

    It really is as simply as that.
     
    kornchild2002, Apr 4, 2011
    #2
  3. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    have you tried just plugging in the external monitor? this should be the default behavior.

    under system preferences -> displays -> arrangement:

    make sure "mirror displays" is unchecked

    last tip: you can't extract and run windows software from within the mac os. msi files are the same as exe files, they are windows executable files and contain windows programs.
     
    masterchef341, Apr 4, 2011
    #3
  4. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

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    Im not using thunderbold port im using DVI from monitor to Mini Display to MBP.

    I got it working i had to align the 2 monitor boxes in the system pref>display menu. However my dock is on the MBP, is there any way to have my dock on the big display?

    And theres no way to snap windows back and fourth from screen to screen like in windows? I have to drag and drop each time and adjust the size.
     
    Helpmyfriend, Apr 4, 2011
    #4
  5. CanadianDude

    CanadianDude Notebook Deity

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    On that same menu youll see a white bar in the smaller MBP portion. Drag that white bar into the big portion and it will switch automatically.
     
    CanadianDude, Apr 4, 2011
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  6. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

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    You are a godsend, thanks bro!

    I called apple care up and the dude is like "you cant move the dock" :rolleyes:
     
    Helpmyfriend, Apr 4, 2011
    #6
  7. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

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    Mac OS X also doesn't have that Windows snap feature. However, you don't have to manually resize most programs as clicking the green + button should make them expand to full screen. There was a discussion about this earlier but the function of the + green button is different than the square button under Windows. This is true for Mac OS even going back to the early days of OS X when a square button was also used.

    From what I have read, there might be a third party app to help with the window snapping if you need that feature carried over from Windows 7 (but don't quote me on this).

    P.S. ALL 2011 MBP models now have a Thunderbolt port that adheres to the mini displayport standards. The mini displayport adapters for the 2010 MBP models still work with the new ones. However, they had a standard mini displayport while the new ones don't. So you are using a Thunderbolt port. even if you are plugging in a mini displayport adapter.
     
    kornchild2002, Apr 5, 2011
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  8. Asherek

    Asherek Notebook Consultant

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    If you want an app that will allow you to snap windows like in Windows 7, use BetterTouchTool ( http://blog.boastr.net/). It's a very useful app that allows you to define tons of new gestures and such, but it also includes the window snapping functionality. The author has also released a tool called BetterSnapTool if you only want the window snapping ability and none of the gesturing ability (although I highly recommend having both).
     
    Asherek, Apr 6, 2011
    #8