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Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

One of the new features of the Terminal Server/Remote Desktop Client in Windows Vista is the support for multiple monitors.  If the machine running the TS-Client has a multi-monitor configuration that creates one logical rectangle, then the TS-Client can span over all the monitors, creating one virtual desktop of the combined size.

For example, this configuration is suitable for multimon spanning:

 (-1024,0)         |
  --+--------------+------------------> x
    |              |              |
    |              |              |
    |              |              |
    |              |              |
    +--------------+--------------+ (1024,768)
                   | y
                   V

While this configuration is not suitable for multimon spanning:


    |
  --+--------------+--------------+---> x
    |              |              |
    |              |              |
    |              |              |
    |              |              |
    +--------------+ (1024,768)   |
    |              |              |
    | y            +--------------+ (2304,1024)
    V


You can access the functionality using commandline options, in one of two ways:
If you know the rectangle dimensions of your virtual desktop:


mstsc /w:2048 /h:768 /v:<servername>

or if you want mstsc.exe to figure-out the dimensions:

mstsc /span /v:<servername>

There are a few limitations of multi-monitor spanning:
* The maximum dimensions of the virtual desktop in a TS-Session is hard-coded to 4096x2048, regardless of the color-depth and the available resources on the remote machine.
* The remote session will see your virtual desktop as one giant display.This reduces the complexity of the multi-display implementation in the remote session, while still allowing the windowed mode of the TS-Client to
be functional and viable.

Published Friday, November 10, 2006 2:10 AM by termserv

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# Vista Remote Desktop Supports Multiple Monitors

Here's a Vista feature I didn't know about. RDC in Windows Vista supports spanning multiple monitors.

Thursday, November 09, 2006 10:03 PM by Robert McLaws: Windows Vista Edition

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

So does that mean that if I maximize something in the remote session, it'll maximize to both monitors?

I guess it's better than nothing, but for me that'd be a show stopper for running in "multi-monitor" mode.

Thursday, November 09, 2006 10:47 PM by Dean Harding

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

You can try a utility Acer GridVista to try and bring some sanity back to the maximize controls.

Thursday, November 09, 2006 10:52 PM by Ryan Baker

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

If you use "/span" and the client is stretched across multiple monitors, then maximizing an application in the remote session will cause it to maximize across both monitors. To be clear, this feature does not provide true multimon support, but is a step forward in that direction. Internally we refer to it as the "continuous resolution" feature because it provides you with the ability to link your monitors together into one continuous display surface for the remote session.

Friday, November 10, 2006 1:02 PM by elton_saul

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

does anyone know if vista will support clone screens with different resolutions.  i.e. one monitor at 800x480 and another at 1920x1080 both with the same image?  i see this more for media center so you can use a touchscreen to play music without turning on your TV

Sunday, November 12, 2006 8:55 PM by uddinz

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

The Vista TS client does support custom resolutions, so you can say something like: "mstsc /w:1920 /h:1080". With remote desktop a session is not "shared", but rather the graphics are "redirected" to another machine. The scenario you are referring to sounds more like desktop sharing (which is accomplished with Windows Meeting Spaces - this uses RDP as well).

Monday, November 13, 2006 1:21 PM by elton_saul

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

When will the Vista RDP client be available for download to be used on Windows XP computers?  We have a huge need for multiple monitor spanning over 800 x 1600 within our organization.

Monday, November 27, 2006 11:09 AM by Wayne

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Hello,

 vista RDP client is already available for windows xp....  and i was successfull in connecting to a windows 2003 server... from windows xp over multiple monitors.....  using the above instructions... and using the RDP client for windows xp from

http://blandname.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/vista-mstsc-x86.zip

Kind Regards,

Andy.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006 6:17 PM by Andy Shah (andy.at.msistone.com)

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

How do I enable this feature through the active x control?

Tuesday, December 12, 2006 11:21 AM by Isamu Shimada

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

SplitView - http://www.splitview.com - effectively sub-divides the RDP continuous resolution/seamless desktop back into two sub-displays, one for each monitor. When windows are maximized, they get maximized to either the left or the right monitor, and not across both monitors. The Go Left and Go Right buttons make it simple to move windows from one screen or the other.

Dialog boxes and windows are automatically repositioned to appear on the correct display and not in the center of the two monitors, half here and half there.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006 4:09 PM by Russell

# Vista Remote Desktop Client Available on XP: Now with Multi-Monitor Support

Back in October, I wrote about how excited I was to learn that the new Remote Desktop (RDP) client that

Monday, January 08, 2007 12:04 PM by JrzyShr Dev Guy

# Partial span would be great.

I'm running a 3 monitor system, all 1280 x 1024.  If I /span to another machine the remote desktop occupies all 3 displays.  What I really would like to do is have the /span work across 2 displays, leaving the 3rd monitor displaying windows from the host machine (email, IM, etc).

Was able to simulate this by disabling the 3rd monitor, starting mstsc /span, and then re-enabling the 3rd monitor.  Works great, but its a pain to setup each time.  

Does anyone know a way to have mstsc span a limited number of monitors?  Using /w and /h work OK, but then I don't get the nice little title bar like you do with the /span.

All in all though, the /span is a significant improvment over previous releases.

Friday, January 19, 2007 4:20 PM by VideoReDo

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I also have 3 monitors and would love to span and full screen two of them but I think we are out of luck--at least without some additional software???

I do this and then drag it to full size as it seems to want to initially start on my main monitor. Just found that 200 was about right as 2048 stretched just a bit too far for some reason. 680 keeps it above my taskbar (I have a double row task bar on my main monitor.)

mstsc /w:2000 /h:680 /v:machine

BTW-I am evaluating splitview on my remote machine and it works great. Otherthan not getting full height on my RDP session, it is as good as having a two monitor session on my remote machine.

-c

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:58 AM by Chris King

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Blah...

TightVNC has been able to do this for a while and it doesn't require a logical rectangle. It renders one, but you can still have a 640x480 up next to a 1900x1440 and get the whole desktop displayed.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 8:49 PM by Optimus

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Oh... and that's version 1.3.8

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 8:49 PM by Optimus

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Sorry, didn't realize where I was. Please pay my comments no mind.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 8:51 PM by Optimus

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I have 2 monitors: 1280x1024 and 1920x1200.  I'd love to see the complete solution: (1) be able to support multiple monitors with different resolutions, (2) be able to designate the "primary monitor", (3) be able to adjust the layout of the monitors, and (4) be able to support window functions such as maximize, minimize, normalize, etc. and have them behave properly.

In short, everything that one can do with "Display Properties > Settings" should be something that one can do with TS.

Thursday, March 08, 2007 11:37 AM by Steve Amerige

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

With last version, I was able to open in full screen mode a terminal session in my secondary monitor, now I can't.

The new version go to full screen only in the main monitor...

Any one know a workaround for this?, I have three monitors, 1280, 1440, 1280. After two years of open remotes in the Secondary ones, I'm going crazy!!

Sunday, March 18, 2007 10:01 AM by Ricardo Aparicio

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

What if the remote computer has dual monitors?  How can you get the content from the second monitor to show up in your local screens.  I have two monitors at home and two at work.  I'd like to be able to exactly what see when I log in directly to the machine vs. remotely.

That is what people are asking for... or at least give us the option to right-click the properties for the second monitor and deactivate it remotely.

Monday, April 02, 2007 2:53 PM by lbmouse

# hard-coded maximum resolution of 4096x2048

There are a few limitations of multi-monitor spanning:

* The maximum dimensions of the virtual desktop in a TS-Session is hard-coded to 4096x2048, ...

This causes problem to pepole with three or more 20“ screens:

3x 20" Displays @ 1600x1200 have a total resolution of 4800 x 1200 or 3600 x 1600 in vertical mode. Vista does not support switching monitors from horizontal to vertical without special vendor drivers , right?

I don´t have a suitable vendor driver for Vista (Matrox G450 MMS 4x). Is there any possible work arround to get the 3 displays completly filled in horizontal mode?

Thursday, April 05, 2007 11:27 AM by Daniel

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

It looks like we may have found a bug in the monitor spanning.

Client is XP SP2 w/ the Vista TS client.  Server is Server 2003 Enterprise.

Open PowerPoint 2003, insert a chart, click off (i.e. deselect) the chart, font compresses horizontally.

With the same client and server, this behavior only shows up with /span.

-Jack

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 1:58 PM by Jack Johnson

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I can't get SplitView to work with Vista, the s/w is supposed to be multi-monitor aware but is not seeing the 2nd monitor.

Anyone had the same problem?

/Roger

Thursday, April 19, 2007 8:27 AM by Roger

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I am using the new Remote Desktop client on Windows XP (11/07/2006 04:06 AM 600,576) to connect a dual screen (1600x1200 each) box to a Windows 2003 EE Server machine over a LAN.  

I specify the "/span" option on the command line. On the Display panel the "Colors" is set to "High Color (16 bit)". On the "Experience" panel, I have selected "LAN".

When I connect to the EE Server, I get the single 3200x1200 screen resolution I expected, but the Color Depth is scaled back to 8 bit.  This makes for a terrible user experience, and many applications are pretty much unusable.

I realize that Remote Desktop is doing this because of bandwidth considerations, but this is a Gigabit Ethernet LAN and I'm pretty confident that it can handle the traffic.

Is there a configuration setting in Terminal Services which will instruct Remote Desktop to honor the user's color setting?

Thanks.

Friday, April 20, 2007 11:15 AM by Brad Trubey

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Brad,

Have you updated your server to WS2003 SP2? if not, what is your server version right now with the issue you reported?  

Thanks,

Nelly

Monday, April 23, 2007 12:36 AM by Nelly Porter [MS]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Yes, I have updated the server to SP2.  Here is its build information:

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition

Build 3790 (Service Pack 2)

Monday, April 23, 2007 10:06 AM by Brad Trubey

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

It is what i expected. WS2K3 SP2 has this issue. Thanks for your report, currently we do not have workaround, only to drop your resolution.

We are working with Sustain engineering team to fix this problem.

Thanks,

Nelly

Monday, April 23, 2007 11:25 AM by Nelly Porter [MS]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Is there any estimate for when the problem might be resolved on WS2K3 SP2?

Would it be different if the Remote Desktop host was Windows XP or Windows Vista instead of WS2K3?

I have some flexibility regarding which OS is installed on the box, and the color palette is a very important issue for me.  I will install XP or Vista if it increases the color palette to 16 bit.

Thanks.

Monday, April 23, 2007 12:00 PM by Brad Trubey

# PocketPC Windows Mobile TS client /span ? (WM5 or WM6) : Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I use three monitors. (20", 23", 20")

The following switches work great from one vista machine to another.

mstsc /w:5120 /h:1200 /v:192.168.1.101

Is it possible to have a span session via our pocket pc windows mobile 5 devic? (the built in pocketpc TS client)?  The only way I've seen spanned screens on a windows mobile device was via GoToMyPc (Citrix) app.  While it is very quick, scrolls around smooth, It's too expensive though.  I'd rather use the built in MS method if available.  VNC is another option, but no Vista support yet.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 8:13 PM by JazJon

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

how to upgrade rdp 5.2 to rdp 6.0.. in windows 2003 server R2

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 6:43 AM by tsuser

# Remote Desktop and Multiple Monitors in Vista

So, seeming how I always complain about the lack of multimonitor support in everything everywhere, you

Friday, April 27, 2007 1:15 PM by Blog By Bob

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

When I try to span on resolution higher than (/w:2812 /h:1024) or (/w:1404 /h: 2048) when connecting to Windows 2003 R2 SP2 I get only 8 bit color. How can I get 16 bit color?

Thanks

BVOL

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 4:09 PM by BVOL

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Unfortunately the only option to get back your color depth to 16 bpp ot higher is to decrease the resolution of your session.

Thanks,

Nelly

Tuesday, May 01, 2007 4:36 PM by Nelly Porter [MS]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Nelly,

  You stated in an earlier post that "We are working with Sustain engineering team to fix this problem".

  Can you give a rough estimate (days, weeks, months, years) as to when a fix might be available?  Is there a specific web site we can monitor to watch for the availability of a HotFix?

It appears that the current threshold for the throttling back from 16 bit to 8 bit color occurs around 2.88 million pixels.  I get 16bit color at 2400x1200, and 8bit color at 2410x1200.

Friday, May 04, 2007 8:25 AM by Brad Trubey

# color depth in high resolutions

I've been using RDP6 from XP to W2k3 in 3840x1024x24bit for a while. Since I deployed W2k3 SP2, no more than 8 bit color is possible (=eye-cancer). When a fix for this problem is available, will it be announced on this page? I'm watching the RSS anyway...

Monday, May 07, 2007 12:12 PM by Inventor

# Using Terminal Services RemoteApp™ programs on multi-monitor client computers

One of the new feature additions to Terminal Services RemoteApp (TS RemoteApp) in Windows Server® Code

Monday, May 07, 2007 1:51 PM by Terminal Services Team Blog

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Is there any property exposed by mstscax.dll to use this feature?

Thursday, May 24, 2007 2:29 AM by sankarp

# mstscax.dll support for span?

I just want to add a "me2" to the question from sankarp:

"Is there any property exposed by mstscax.dll to use this feature?"

Thursday, May 31, 2007 9:54 AM by TC

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Hi,

I have just purchased three DELL 30"(2560x1600) so they make up to 7680x1600)

I plan to buy 2 HD2900XT for those 3 but not sure if they works.

I want to setup 1 monitor in the center for web surfing, the right for email and the left for emule.

Not sure how to set up so that i can drag any thing to the right and the left from the center display?

Anyone know that VISTA will support those resolution and the split into center screen and left and right like that?

Is there any software available for those issues?

Thanks,

Sunday, June 03, 2007 12:00 PM by LOnG

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

This is great stuff, but it looks like we're still years behind Dameware.  I have dual monitors both at home and at work - using Dameware teleworking looks just like being at the office, same rez and same color, maximize buttons behave normally.  If I try to get to an old 2K or NT machine, Dameware will go there too.

Dameware is a tiny company, a fraction of the size of Microsoft.  And Microsoft can't catch up to them?

Friday, June 08, 2007 10:55 PM by Aging Hippie

# Doesn't work anyway.

Using the software downloaded from the link in this discussion, if you attempt to use the /span switch, it gives you instructions on the valid arguments, none of which is /span.

Saturday, June 09, 2007 1:59 PM by Aging Hippie

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Waouh... 8 bit color only at 2560*1600 resolution.

This kind of stuff makes me sick.. always a patch, always something that goes wrong..

Seriously, you need to proactively limit the bandwith to have that result. why has this been done ?

Saturday, June 16, 2007 8:39 AM by nicolas

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I concur with nicolas ... WTF!? In my case there is no real bandwidth consideration, as I am connecting to the same machine. Why are there arbitrary limits that aren't configurable? How do I get 16bit color on a 1900x2400 display?

sick sick sick WTF WTF WTF

Also, why can't I specify a particular session on a remote machine using mstsc? I often want to run apps in a particular session that have to do with a particular project? Currently I have to connect and then switch to the session of choice by using tscon. This often creates yet another session before I switch to the session I wanted.

Also, why can't I start a program from session A and have it run in session B? This would be somewhat like setting the DISPLAY environment variable in X11.

Also, why is my linux desktop from 6 years ago more configurable than the latest crap from redmond? I am hating working on windows every time I must use it.

Monday, June 18, 2007 9:35 PM by mylostone

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Me3!

"Is there any property exposed by mstscax.dll to use this feature?"

Would be tres nice to add the span option to this homegrown beasty we have here...

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:23 AM by Gene Tucker

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Has anyone found a resolution to the 8 bit color limitation at 2560*1600 resolution?  This hit me square between the eyes with SP2 and left me scratching my head as to why anyone would do this... Just when I was so happy RDP 6.0 let me even get my resolution this big now it looks like crap.  Help!!!!!

Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:52 AM by Tom

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I was restricted to 8 bit color using 3200x1200.  The RDP Server I was using was Windows 2003, with Service Pack 2 installed.  I backed up to Service Pack 1, and the 8 bit color limitation disappeared.  

I can now connect a Windows XP RDP 6.0 client to a Windows 2003 SP1 Server, and I get 3200x1200, with 16 bit color.  8 bit problem solved!

Then earlier this week, I connected a third monitor to my XP client, for a total resolution of 4800x1200.  When I use mstsc to connect to the server, my resolution is throttled back to 4096x1200, with 16 bit color.  This seems like an arbitrary limitation to me, given that RDP claims a max resolution of 4096x2048, for a total of over 8 million pixels, and 4800x1200 is fewer than 6 million pixels.

So my question is whether there is a way to get RDP to support 4800x1200.  Earlier in this blog, there is a post (April 24) claiming 5120x1200 between 2 Vista machines.  Is there a way to get a Windows 2003 EE server to support this resolution?

Thanks

Thursday, July 19, 2007 3:49 PM by Brad Trubey

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

In my own tests the max resolution with RDP I ever got was 4096x2048 with 24bit color depth.

This was done on a Windows2003 Server pre SP2.

ServicePack2 kept this max resolution limit, but limited the color depth to 8bit in all resolutions greater than 2400x1200 (afaik) and 16bit greater than 1600x1200 (afaik).

Don't know the exact numbers anymore, but it was around these sizes.

Though, I'll wait for a fix since almost the first day SP2 came out...but nothing happened.

Back then I also had short conversation with an MS employee in the microsoft terminal server newsgroup.  (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/dgbrowser/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.terminal_services&mid=ec2f85b0-4e6d-4b26-8a33-b3922b03ec50)

Tuesday, July 24, 2007 10:41 AM by Birdman

# generation of Terminal service gateway(TSGU) traffice over netmon

Hi, i have a setup where-in i need to connect to remotely from a client(longhorn)to a target server(longhorn)through a Gateway server(longhorn).I am able to connect using mstsc,but i am not gettng the TSGU packets over netmon 3.1.Can anyone help in this regard?

Friday, July 27, 2007 12:43 AM by Moni

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Anyone have good experiences with vista multi monitor support?

Tuesday, August 07, 2007 12:27 PM by mel

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I have a dual-monitor setup on my machine and I want to remote into a server and have the remote session only display as a single monitor machine.

I don't want the remote machine to span the length of my two monitors. This is very annoying for me, because I want to do other work on my other monitor and not have to minimize my remote session and scroll like mad. Is there a way to solve this problem?

Friday, August 10, 2007 5:51 PM by Trevor

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Trevor,

Are you starting Remote Desktop Connection with /span?  If you don't specify /span, by default your remote session should not span both monitors, and maximizing the session will only make it full screen on one monitor.  Is this what you wanted?

-Eric

Friday, August 10, 2007 6:24 PM by Eric Holk [MSFT]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Eric, I believe what you described is what I want. Currently the desktop of my remote session spans the length of two monitors when I want it to only span the length of one, despite the fact that I have two monitors on my client machine.

I do not have the span attribute present....In fact I should probably clarify that I am using Windows XP with the new remote desktop functionality. I'm assuming this may make a difference. Thanks for the help.

Monday, August 13, 2007 3:53 PM by Trevor

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Actually, upon further review I think that my problem is due to the setup I have with my Nvidia card. I have my taskbar spanning the entirety of my two monitors. I think that is somehow messing with my remote desktop sessions. I haven't figured out a way to stop that from happening. I guess I can live with it though.

Monday, August 13, 2007 3:59 PM by Trevor

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Trevor:

If you taskbar is spanning both monitors in your local session, most likely Windows is not aware of the two monitors.  This may be a setting in the Nvidia drivers to simply merge the two displays rather than using Windows XP's multi-monitor support.  This is probably why your remote desktop session is spanning both monitors.  You could try to use Windows' multi-monitor support directly, and that should fix your problem.

-Eric

Monday, August 13, 2007 4:05 PM by Eric Holk [MSFT]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Thanks Eric, that's exactly what my problem was.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 9:41 AM by Trevor

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Does anybody know where to get the full list of command line switches??

Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:42 PM by willyfoo

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Hi willyfoo,

 If you click on Start | Run and type

 mstsc /?

 It will launch a window will all the command line switches with a small description of each...

Wednesday, September 05, 2007 1:44 AM by Andy Shah

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I have 2 different size monitors (one is a 20" widescreen and the other is a 19") and I want to use both screens while connected to the terminal server. I have added the " /span" command and when I connect I can only see the image on one monitor - the image is "chopped off" in the centre.  I can get it to work if I set both monitor resolutions to the same (ie 1280 x 1024) but the image on my widescreen is stretched because of it! The other way I can sort of get it to work is by restoring down the terminal server session window and resizing it to fit on both screens - prob is I have to use the scroll bars to see the top and bottom of my screen. My question - is there anyway I can get it to span over both monitors while keeping each monitors maximum resolution?

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 8:38 AM by Ody

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I found a workable solution - as long as the h resolution is the same on both monitors it WILL allow me to span across both of them - not the best outcome because the resolution is lower.

Sunday, September 23, 2007 2:51 AM by Ody

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Gah, I've just found this for the first time.

It's like going back to the bad old days of the first few (spanning) multi-monitor drivers for Win2k, only there aren't features built into the Terminal Services virtual driver to manage windows on a per-screen basis. At least nvidia and had nView. SplitView appears to be  a potential solution, but it galls to have to pay to get back features you thought you already had.

It will be of limited usefulness until it works more like the (excellent) multi-monitor support that modern XP and graphics driver combinations possess.

Monday, November 12, 2007 5:56 AM by Adrian

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Check out iShadow's VDM (Virtual Display Manager) for advanced multi-monitor support over RDP, ICA or VNC.

http://www.ishadow.com/?tabid=115

Monday, November 12, 2007 7:06 AM by Patrick Rouse

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

See hotfix for color depth issue:

"The color depth is unexpectedly changed to 8-bit when a high screen-resolution setting is used in a terminal-server session that is connected to a Windows Server 2003-based computer"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942610

Haven't tried it yet, however.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:10 AM by Avi Nahir

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Something that frustrates me completely is when I remotely connect to my three 1600x1200 monitor work setup from home (where I only have one 1600x1200 screen)--windows pop up on the other two secondary monitors and I can't get to them!  I have found two programs which have helped, but what I really want to see is someone to make a utility akin to a virtual desktop manager, which allows the user to toggle between the real displays they want to view when connected remotely by selecting the screen number using buttons embedded in the task tray.  It seems like it shouldn't be too hard--it seems like one could use ghost displays for this purpose.  For a truly great app, there would be some work involved with supporting local multi-monitor setups, and of course some work involved with real remote displays that are larger than the current local display(s), but many virtual display managers have solved this before by allowing the user to scroll the display when they get to the edge of the screen...

And in case you're wondering, here are the other two stopgaps that might be useful in getting access to your apps that pop-up on other monitors:

Search for Desklite http://www.desktopian.org/appsi_comp.html

MultiMonMan

http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Skrommel/index.html#MultiMonMan

Friday, January 11, 2008 7:37 PM by jpjarosz

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Also, here's another freebie that does something similar to iShadow's VDM:  GridMove

http://jgpaiva.donationcoders.com/gridmove.html

It seems I encountered a bug in it's operation at one point, but I think I could recover just by restarting the app... I bet that most users will be satsified with this.

Monday, January 14, 2008 11:39 AM by jpjarosz

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Regarding GridMove.

Unlike Virtual Display Manager from http://www.ishadow.com/?tabid=115">http://www.ishadow.com/?tabid=115 GridMove provides a manual approach to window resizing if multi-monitor support is desired. If you maximize a window, it will cover the full screen since it does not recognize multiple monitors, so you are required to repeat the procedure again to adjust the windows. GridMove does not help with popup dialogs either.

For manual fix of multi-monitor support within the remote sessions I would recommend WinSplit Revolution from http://reptils.free.fr. This is an elegant application and is also free.

Otherwise Virtual Display Manager from http://www.ishadow.com is the best - it even supports full screen MSTSC.exe within the remote session, which is sized to the virtual display.

Friday, January 25, 2008 4:39 AM by Alex

# I can't get SplitView to work with Vista

I can't get SplitView to work with Vista, the s/w is supposed to be multi-monitor aware but is not seeing the 2nd monitor.

Anyone had the same problem?

Monday, February 18, 2008 3:47 PM by Chaker

# SplitView with Vista

Hi,

I am using splitview in my terminal server, and when accessing it with the option mstsc - span, only xp clients work correctly, with one session spanned on two monitors and using the splitview right left buttons, and when the vista clients use the option mstsc -span, the session appear just in one monitor and the second one stay black or blue, depend on case, and by then, they cant enjoy the right left button.

Any help please ??

Monday, February 18, 2008 3:49 PM by Moura

# Screen goes blank after TS session

I log in from home remotely (Windows XP SP2) and then TS into my Vista box at work with "/span /console /v:WORKBOX /w:3360 /h:1050". When I come back into work the next day and attempt to log into my machine at work, I press CTRL-ALT-DEL to log on, but then after that the screen goes blank. I can see the arrow cursor, but that's it.

What I have to do is use my laptop to TS back into the box (at work) and then force the machine to reboot. My guess is the resolution it out of whack but I don't know how to fix it. Really frustrating. Can anyone help?

Friday, February 29, 2008 10:11 AM by Bob

# re: Screen goes blank after TS session

One more comment -- sorry. I have installed all of the latest Video and Monitor drivers for my machine. Still no luck.

Thanks.

Friday, February 29, 2008 10:13 AM by Bob

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Bob, I've seen that with nvidia drivers.  Are you using nvidia or ati?  If it's nvidia, try changing the video card(s) to ati, and see if you still have that problem.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008 2:33 AM by Corey

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Here is my problem. I use dual monitors on my workstation at work. Now i am home and connected to work remotely on a single monitor PC.  Some programs (nameley Sage Businessworks) opens "off screen" and i am unable to get the window back on my monitor.  Any ideas?

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:01 PM by Sal

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Sal:

I've seen similar problems to yours before. Here's a workaround that I use. Hopefully it will help you.

Right click the hidden application's entry on the task bar, select "Move" and then use the arrow keys to move the window back onto a screen you can see.

-Eric

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:20 PM by Eric Holk [MSFT]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Seriously,

I found this thread by accident, you need to grow the hell up. They upgrade a program, charge you nothing, and most of what I see is Whaa whaa wtf wtf.

Seriously you guys, bitching and moaning is no way to achieve anything. How about forming a thought out and precise question instead?

If you havent already noticed all the bitch and moan comments are ignored anyways.

You have ruined the internet today and with exception with the few people who posted clear and respectful questions, you are all tools.

Friday, March 28, 2008 10:32 AM by Tripodal

# Windows Server RDP Color Depth

This might help some of you:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942610

I have a 30" and still get the 8 bit color

Friday, April 04, 2008 11:43 AM by Joel

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I love this feature so much that I had to post a blog entry all about it. AWESOME feature :)

http://www.bitcrazed.com/2008/02/11/FunWithMultipleMonitors.aspx

Thursday, May 29, 2008 2:30 PM by Bitcrazed

# # re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I have an issue where when I RDP into a Windows Server 2003 session from a NeoWare thin client (e140), running NeoLinux 3.1.3 with a Matrox Quad screen card (epicA TC4) the resolution is 4096 x 1024, and cannot be changed and I'm wondering if this is a limitation of Terminal Services on the Server 2003 box.  I ask because I connected to a Linux box using an RDP session, and I got the desired resolution of 5120x1024 (4 monitors with 1280x1024).  I've been fighting with NeoWare and Matrox to get this issue resolved but neither has a solution and I'm wondering if I can configure Terminal Services somehow to get around this limitation.  If anyone has any idea I wopuld really appreciate it, because i'm tired of getting the run-around.

Thursday, July 24, 2008 7:54 PM by Jake

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Jake,

Windows servers limit the screen size for RDP sessions to a maximum of 4096x4096, so unfortunately you won't be able to get the full 5120x1024 when connecting to Windows. This is a hard-coded limit, and there's not currently a way to get around it.

-Eric

Thursday, July 24, 2008 8:20 PM by Eric Holk [MSFT]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Eric,

Thank you for the information.  Is this true for all versions of Windows Server OS?

Friday, July 25, 2008 2:43 PM by Jake

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Eric,

I'd like to run a hypothetical by you, to get your opinion/advice.  Would it be possible to setup an XPe thin client to RPD into a Windows Server 2003 and have a spanning across 4 monitors with resolution 2560x2048 desktop?  Also, can the thin client then be setup to RDP into a 2003 Server upon startup and retain those resolution settings if the thin client power is cycled.  If this is possible then I suppose a certain video card would be required for the thin client.  What do you think, would this be possible?

Friday, July 25, 2008 3:19 PM by Jake

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

Hi Jake,

Regarding your first comment, as far as I know, this restriction is present on all Windows Servers.

For your second comment, I'm not familiar with XPe or the various thin clients. For the thin client questions, it's probably best to refer those to the thin client vendor. Does XPe run the regular RDP 6.0 or 6.1 client? If so, I'd expect that it would support the /span option needed to span your session across multiple monitors. Since 2560x2048 withs within the 4096x4096 limit, I would think it would work. I can't confirm for sure though.

-Eric

Friday, July 25, 2008 4:47 PM by Eric Holk [MSFT]

# re: Multi Monitor support in the Vista TS Client.

I purchased a computer from http://www.multiplexpc.com/ which came preloaded with Vista and I have not had a single problem with it. All my resolution configurations are working seamlessly.

Thursday, July 31, 2008 3:37 PM by John

# mstscax.dll support for span? .

Me 4!

"Is there any property exposed by mstscax.dll to use this feature?"

I would love to be able to add the /span flag to Terminals.

Monday, August 25, 2008 7:53 PM by Rob Chartier

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