Problem with certain programs not displaying on extended monitors

TetraNitroCubane

I'm currently running Windows 7 with three monitors. My primary monitor (Acer X223W, DVI connection) on the far right, with a second monitor (Samsung Syncmaster 215TW, DVI connection) in the middle, with a third monitor to the far left (Changhong LED50YC2000YA, HDMI connection). I'm driving them all off an eVGA GTX 680. The latest drivers are installed.

The following issue has been plaguing me: Some programs, when moved to either the second or third monitor, simply show nothing inside their windows. The desktop is visible on all displays, and programs like Chrome can run fine on all of them. VCL can display a movie fine on all of them. But certain programs like my streaming software simply show nothing when moved off of the primary monitor to the secondary or tertiary monitor. Certain games do the same. I can move that window back to the primary and see everything, but if I move it to the secondary or tertiary monitors, it's just a blank window on the desktop (with a visible and workable frame). Sound continues to play, so the programs are running just fine, just not displaying on these monitors.

I can't quite figure out how to even troubleshoot this problem, because when I try to google it, I just get results for entire black screens or non-functioning displays.

If anyone could offer any advice on how to resolve this issue, I'd be extremely grateful.

TychoCelchuuu

Changing the primary monitor makes it so that the behavior occurs on different monitors, right? Like if you made the Samsung primary, it would work and the others would have black screens?

TetraNitroCubane

I just gave that a test, and you are indeed correct. Whichever monitor is selected as primary works properly, while the others just show an empty window.

Interestingly, if I launch a program on the primary display, then move that window to another display while a picture is currently up, it just freezes that picture when moved to the secondary or tertiary monitors.

iRevert

I've been using DisplayFusion to get around issues like that, give the free version a try and if it works grab the pro version on steam for $25 or $12.50 on sale.

http://www.displayfusion.com/Purchase/Steam/

BlindZenDriver

I think it's programs that uses DirectX or related technologies to show their graphics. A few games can be set to use OpenGL rather than DirectX so maybe that can help you if you're running some of those games.