[nancyspots]

Plugged external monitor into sony laptop with XP. Desktop background shows up on new monitor. Desktop icons do not. Monitor is enabled. Have checked the "show desktop" box. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?

 

[kiwiguy]

Sounds like it is in the mode where it is acting as an extended desktop, where the background shows and the icons and task bar only show on the primary desktop.

Prove that by seeing if the mouse transits across (either left or right) from the main desktop?

Change the settings in Display Properties - Settings - tick/untick the Extend my Windows Desktop...

 

[nancyspots]

You were correct. I did not understand what it meant by Extend My Desktop. I unclicked it and now the new monitor is not geting any signal. When I enable the new monitor, it goes back to being an extention of the primary desktop. I am trying to get the remote to act as a primary or at least a duplicate.

 

[kiwiguy]

There is a keystroke for laptops to switch from the laptop screen to the external screen, usually Fn + F5, but check your manual.

Otherwise you are looking for a "clone" option that not all laptops support.

 

[nancyspots]

Thanks, it was actually Fn+F7. Problem solved.