How can I stop windows re-positioning after waking from sleep?

Question

I put my multi-monitor system to sleep when it's not in use. After I wake it up, all windows are repositioned to a different screen. The closest pattern I can think of is that the windows there were on the main screen switch to a the second screen. It looks like it disconnects the main screen before it goes to sleep which in turn switches all the windows to the 2nd or 3rd screen.

Edit: Here's the video card I'm using --> SAPPHIRE FleX 100322FLEX Radeon HD 6450

Answer 1

The issue is most likely with the graphics driver. Whenever a single monitor is disconnected from a multimonitor setup in Windows, Windows will attempt to move everything from that screen onto the remaining screen(s). Usually, this will not occur when suspending/hibernating/shutting down the computer. Thus, it is probably because of the graphics driver doing one of the following:

• 'Disconnecting' the monitors when you put the computer to sleep, so when Windows awakens, it must re-determine where to place everything.
• Recognizing the monitors in a different order each time you bring the computer out of sleep, forcing Windows to rearrange your application windows.

Check to see if there is an update to your graphics driver by going to the chipset manufacturer's website.

Answer 2

Usually this will be caused by the graphics driver not properly supporting sleep modes and therefore disabling the ability to detect a connected display when the computer goes to sleep.

Update your graphics drivers from the manufacturer to resolve the issue.

If the issue is still not resolved after updating the drivers, it may be due to an unusually reported display ID (EDID). You can usually force the detection of a monitor within the graphics driver control panel.

However if this is unavailable, you can use the Windows Resolution window to detect devices while the monitor is disconnected, then select the display which will report “Another Display Not Connected”, then under Multiple Displays, you can drop down and select “Try to connect anyway” which will broadcast a signal to the monitor over the port type you have selected (the signal will not be interactive), then connect the display which should interpret the signals sent to it properly.

The forced resolution will override detection of the screen and should persist through sleep.