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Phantom monitor on Windows 7 RRS feed

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    I'm running Win7x64 on a Dell Latitute E6400. I'm hooked to a docking station with 2 monitors attached to it.

    When I go to adjust screen resolution, I can see both monitors in the control panel and no more... but I can drag windows totally off screen to a 3rd 'ghost' monitor that doesn't seem to exist at all. Running PowerPoint, it gives me an option to launch my slideshow on 'Monitor 6'. which is the ghost monitor. I'm pretty sure it's not the laptop screen (lid is closed), but can't find where this monitor is configured or how to disable it.

    Other colleagues with similar setups don't have this ghost monitor.

    Anybody have any ideas?

    Wednesday, August 17, 2011 9:00 PM

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    Click Start=>Devices and Printers

    How many monitors are shown there? Remove or configure monitor 6? if it's there.

    Try the Windows (key) + P and select duplicate or extend. (whichever fits your dual configuration)

    Finally, with the notebook undocked, check the Fn + keys to enable \disable onboard and external display. Perhaps that's in a both mode, like an undocked presentation, and messing things up.


    • Marked as answer by Miya Yao Monday, September 5, 2011 9:34 AM
    Saturday, August 20, 2011 11:17 AM

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    Click Start=>Devices and Printers

    How many monitors are shown there? Remove or configure monitor 6? if it's there.

    Try the Windows (key) + P and select duplicate or extend. (whichever fits your dual configuration)

    Finally, with the notebook undocked, check the Fn + keys to enable \disable onboard and external display. Perhaps that's in a both mode, like an undocked presentation, and messing things up.


    • Marked as answer by Miya Yao Monday, September 5, 2011 9:34 AM
    Saturday, August 20, 2011 11:17 AM
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    I was having *exactly* the same problem, with a Dell E6410 on Win7x64.  Happened both in standalone laptop mode AND with a single external monitor AND with two external monitors.... always added a phantom 3rd monitor to the left of the real displays.

    I didn't have any extraneous monitors in Devices & Printers, but I did have entries I didn't recognize in Control Panel>Display. I had used iDisplay a while back to use my tablet (Galaxy Tab 10.1) as a second monitor. Not sure what triggered iDisplay to start producing the phantom monitor (it didn't happen immediately on initial use or disuse), but uninstalling iDisplay solved the problem.

    Tuesday, April 17, 2012 7:41 PM
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    Thank you so much for this suggestion.

    I have been having this problem for years and have searched so many forums for the solution.  I uninstalled iDisplay and the phantom screen has disappeared.

    Much appreciated!

    Wednesday, December 11, 2013 12:29 AM
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    By now I'm pretty sure you've figured it out haha but for others that go to this forum page you can:

    1. Windows key+P and select "Computer Only"

    2. Right click on your desktop and select Screen Resolution. It should bring up the two monitors+the "ghost monitor.

    3. Select the ghost monitor and towards the bottom under "Multiple Displays" it should give you the option to Disable or Remove.

    4. Select Remove (duh) and then click ok.

    This should remove the ghost monitor. I had the same issue where my screens would decide to disappear into the wild blue yonder, never to be seen again. Hope this helps :)

    Friday, January 22, 2016 4:12 PM
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    So what do you do then when there is no "Disconnect Monitor" option? I have also removed the phantom monitor from the Device Manager but it keeps getting re-discovered.
    Friday, July 8, 2016 2:35 PM
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    Thanks - that worked!
    Thursday, February 22, 2018 6:28 PM