Turning off monitor removes it from Windows / messing up desktop

Question

This is a pretty simple thing, I just need to turn off this 'feature' in Windows 7.

You have 2 screens connected to Windows 7, extended desktop mode
Turn off one of the screens
Windows 7 then notices the monitor is turned off, so re-organses things so that it only has one screen.
I turn that monitor back on
Windows 7 does NOT put things back the way it was, needing me to right click and select 'personalise' to reconfigure extended monitors.

This is terrible.

I need to be able to turn a monitor off and on, and Windows 7 do NOTHING about it.

Have you tried turn your lcd off ? it works with single monitor as a soft monitor turn off. Never tested with multiple though. — Prasanth, Commented Nov 5, 2012 at 12:33
Ahh right, thanks for the comment. This is a situation we have on site. So another person/user may simply turn the monitor off for any number of reasons. Then when they turn it back on, need a support call to fix the issue! So in this case that wont do sorry. — adudley, Commented Nov 5, 2012 at 12:38
Are you sure this is a "feature"? I have Windows 7 extended to 2 monitors and I can't reproduce the issue. Have you got the latest display drivers? Also check the Power Management options - maybe the actual issue is that the computer is going into sleep mode and resetting things? — Pete Oakey, Commented Nov 5, 2012 at 14:14
Yes, feature it is, no I can't reproduce it on my system, but is happening on other's, but it seems to depend on the 'features' of the attached monitor, which we have arriving tomorrow. See here for another discussion on it saying it's a feature: social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/… — adudley, Commented Nov 5, 2012 at 16:23

adudley · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-08 11:38:44Z

1

The solution was to use a HDMI to VGA converter type box (around £20). Which disables this 'feature'

the 'feature' exists and can't be turned off as it's part of a 'greener' energy rating apparently.

answered Jan 8, 2013 at 11:38

adudley

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