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AnswerCursor issues with Windows Media Center in dual-monitor setup

  • Friday, January 30, 2009 5:28 PMHector Virgen Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    I have my PC hooked up to my HDTV in a dual-monitor setup (main screen is LCD panel, second screen is HDTV). When I have Windows Media Center maximized on either screen, I am unable to move my mouse cursor onto the other screen until I either restore down or close Windows Media Center.

    Is there a way to allow the cursor to move to other screen while Windows Media Center is maximized? As far as I am aware, this is the only program that locks the cursor onto the current screen while maximized (legacy video games may have this same effect if they don't use the Windows cursor).

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.

     

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  • Monday, February 02, 2009 8:54 AMNigel_B Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    I Have a similar issue but mine revolves mainly around my Kids wanting to use Media center on my secondary display on my Dual monitor config, while I want to use other applications on the main display.

    I find it very annoying having to constantly use the Windows key in order to switch control of the mouse from Media Center to my Primary display when Media center is in full screen mode. At times I use Windowed mode to be able to move the mouse freely. This is fine if i'm the only person using the PC but if my kids want to use media center, then I find some of the remote functions can interfere with whatever application i'm using on the Primary display.

    The implementation of a Dual mouse control like with Apple Macs (as suggested in my previous post http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproui/thread/f9f48389-a68c-4b60-9f77-5d64faf76bec/ ) would be a great solution "imho" but I'm open to further suggestions.
     
  • Monday, February 09, 2009 6:47 PMellodrith Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    You can switch back to your primary display using the start button, then clicking on the app you wish to use. There is the caveat that if you do not have an app focused in the primary display, ie you minimize or close the app in your primary display, focus returns to the second display and you must use the start button again to get back to the primary display.

    I get around this by starting an explorer window or other low impact app, and moving it mostly off the screen while I go about using other apps on the primary display. This keeps the focus locked on the primary display.

    Another note about this is the use of the windows remote becomes somewhat flakey. Pause, skip forward or back, and volume continue to work but most of the other buttons do not.

    cheers
    JJ
     
  • Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:12 AMLuna Tick Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    Yea the Start or Win-key things are a way out but that's not the way and I hope MS fixes that. It really ticks me off.

    I don't have the remote, was gonna get one hoping not to have to use the mouse, but if what you're saying is true, man that is a major letdown. In light of that, something tells me MS deliberately steals focus so that the remote works. And if so that doubly sux, 1 cause it does and 2 cause they didn't bother to figure out how to do it properly.
     

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  • Friday, January 30, 2009 11:06 PMLuna Tick Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    I'm fairly certain that there is no option to disabled this "feature". I'm not sure whether Microsoft chose to do it or was it just the way it worked out and will be eventually addressed.

     

    If they chose to do this it is pretty ignorant on their part. I have an HTPC connected to a small 17" LCD for control and a PJ for actual stuff to watch, mostly Full-Screen MP. I don't currently use WMC but with 7 I might, but the cursor thing might be a deal-breaker. Maybe Microsoft got so broke after Vista that they can only afford a single display per developer and the though has never entered into their minds ;)
     
  • Sunday, February 01, 2009 6:52 PMHector Virgen Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    It seems that WMC does not behave like other windows. For example, I can press Winlogo + Up to maximize a windowed WMC, but I can't use Winlogo + Down to restore it down to a window. However, Winlogo + Down does correctly minimize WMC but only when in windowed mode.

     

    Additionally, when in full-screen mode, it is nearly impossible to give another application focus with Winlogo + Tab or Alt + Tab. If I Winlogo + Tab to another application, WMC steals the focus back after a few moments, which also steals the mouse cursor (refer to my first post about the mouse cursor when in full-screen mode).

     

    I would really like to be able to use my second display to have WMC in full-screen mode while I continue to work on my primary display, and it seems I cannot do that unless WMC is in windowed mode.

     
  • Monday, February 02, 2009 8:54 AMNigel_B Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    I Have a similar issue but mine revolves mainly around my Kids wanting to use Media center on my secondary display on my Dual monitor config, while I want to use other applications on the main display.

    I find it very annoying having to constantly use the Windows key in order to switch control of the mouse from Media Center to my Primary display when Media center is in full screen mode. At times I use Windowed mode to be able to move the mouse freely. This is fine if i'm the only person using the PC but if my kids want to use media center, then I find some of the remote functions can interfere with whatever application i'm using on the Primary display.

    The implementation of a Dual mouse control like with Apple Macs (as suggested in my previous post http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproui/thread/f9f48389-a68c-4b60-9f77-5d64faf76bec/ ) would be a great solution "imho" but I'm open to further suggestions.
     
  • Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:23 PMArchangelrip1 Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    I have the same Problem no matter what I try to do.
     
  • Monday, February 09, 2009 6:47 PMellodrith Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    You can switch back to your primary display using the start button, then clicking on the app you wish to use. There is the caveat that if you do not have an app focused in the primary display, ie you minimize or close the app in your primary display, focus returns to the second display and you must use the start button again to get back to the primary display.

    I get around this by starting an explorer window or other low impact app, and moving it mostly off the screen while I go about using other apps on the primary display. This keeps the focus locked on the primary display.

    Another note about this is the use of the windows remote becomes somewhat flakey. Pause, skip forward or back, and volume continue to work but most of the other buttons do not.

    cheers
    JJ
     
  • Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:12 AMLuna Tick Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    Yea the Start or Win-key things are a way out but that's not the way and I hope MS fixes that. It really ticks me off.

    I don't have the remote, was gonna get one hoping not to have to use the mouse, but if what you're saying is true, man that is a major letdown. In light of that, something tells me MS deliberately steals focus so that the remote works. And if so that doubly sux, 1 cause it does and 2 cause they didn't bother to figure out how to do it properly.
     
  • Friday, February 13, 2009 7:16 AMNigel_B Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    Although I appreciate that my reply on this thread has been marked as an answer but personally i don't not consider any of the replies adequate answers to the problem, merely work arounds.
     
    I Propose that the implementation of dual mouse controls would be a true answer to this problem.  We have dual monitors then why not dual mouse controls? This would allow the user to leave a mouse locked to the media center screen thus also allowing for full remote control functionality. It is now a possibility with dual & quad core processors etc... 
     
    I discovered that multiple mouse cursors control has been in developedment for educational purposes since at least 2006 via Microsoft Multipoint http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential/programs/multipoint.mspx and a SDK is currently available for download, so why is this not implemented in Windows 7?
     
    I've been informed that this functionality is already available on Osx & Linux operating systems, I for one would add this to my wish list in the final release of Windows 7.
     
  • Tuesday, February 17, 2009 2:08 AMArthur XieMSFT, ModeratorUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    Hi Guys,

     

    It is a known issue in Windows Vista, and not corrected in Windows 7 beta.

     

    In a multiple-monitor setup, you cannot move the mouse pointer away from the monitor that displays Windows Media Center on a computer that is running Windows Vista

     

    We will submit this thread and our developers will notice this behavior.

     

    Thanks for your responses.

    Arthur Xie - MSFT
     
  • Wednesday, February 18, 2009 8:05 AMMelechMizrahi Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    It's like you are in a game. If you are running dual monitors (and I am) and playing a game, you can only move your mouse within the main screen, for obvious reasons. The same seems to apply to Windows Media Center, though I don't know why; it's not like in a game where if you click outside the main screen of the game the game will tab out, and you won't get the kill... The max that will happen is that Media Center will tab out, but that is just dumb, this should be changed.
     
  • Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:01 PMleschitester Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    Just checking in to see if this problem has been fixed in WIN7 RTM.

    Thanks
     
  • Monday, September 28, 2009 6:56 PMscuzz Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    The same problem in w7 rtm.. :/ Just I want for example work at primary lcd (pc) and play multimedia at secondary lcd - tv (fullscreen mode). It's a fundamental problem but when it will be fixed !?
     
  • Sunday, November 08, 2009 3:42 AMblue crab Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    I'm having the same problem too.

    I also wish Windows Media Center allowed you to set a preferred audio port (instead of the system default). I'd like my system sounds to play through my audio card and my Windows Media Center to play through my ATI HDMI audio device. Instead I have to use the control panel applet to switch the default output device before I start WMC. Such a pain!!
     
  • Sunday, November 08, 2009 6:34 AMSebaz The Geek Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
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    For such a great product like Windows 7 Media Center this is a bug that is totally unacceptable. While you can get around it by setting MC to a window instead of full screen, you still have to resize it every time to where you don't see the window borders anymore, but even worse, the video motion looks bad in windowed mode, very stuttery, when it's perfectly normal in full screen mode. That makes it not possible to use your computer for doing some work while some other member of the family wants to watch a recorded show on the TV set connected to the second port. This bug should be taken care of immediately.
    • Proposed As Answer bySpannerz Monday, November 16, 2009 8:02 PM
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  • Monday, November 16, 2009 8:17 PMSpannerz Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
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    Hi guys

    You can fix this by installing a program called 'The Maxifier'  I'd post the link but not sure thats allowed (google is your friend)

    I was having the exact same problem as everybody here & happened upon this excellent little program whilst researching a fix.

    I'm using WIndows 7 with the beta version of The Maxifier & it works flawlessly, you can even program hotkeys to open/close wmc etc

    Hope this helps