How to multitask on all 4 screens from one HDMI source output?

[FAHIM_PC]

I will be using only my laptop to connect to my monitor. How can I split screen it into four screens into my monitor for example first screen shows Microsoft Word, 2nd stock marketing, 3rd YouTube and 4th Facebook. Currently it just duplicates into all four so for example if I go YouTube it will show YouTube in all 4 screens.

 

[photonboy]

The best method AFAIK, assuming Windows 10, is to simply DRAG the program until it matches the HALF or QUARTER of the screen you want to use.

For example, to do HALF + HALF:

1. Left-click top of MS WORD, then drag to left side of screen, see semi-transparent image to confirm left half of screen, then release
2. should then see little images of open programs
3. Click the remaining program (if open) and it will fill right side
4. if program NOT open yet, open it then drag via same method and release to RIGHT side of screen

*Your HDMI output, or rather the detected screen should be setup as an "EXTENDED" screen not a CLONE or anything else.

 

[photonboy]

You have ALTERNATIVES as well, such as setting up multiple DESKTOPS so that you can toggle between them on the monitor via a link on the taskbar.
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-use-multiple-desktops-in-windows-10/

The ADVANTAGE is the programs can be made larger, but the DISADVANTAGE is you have to toggle between them so they aren't all viewable at one time.

 

[photonboy]

(I'm not aware of any way to do what you mentioned initially to divide an external monitor into "virtual" screens; at least not in the way you describe. The HDMI output simply contains the information for the ENTIRE SCREEN on the 2nd monitor so you must divide the screen up via a SOFTWARE method such as I describe)

 

[geofelt]

What is the highest resolution your laptop can handle?

Buy a single large monitor of that resolution.

If, for example you can handle 4k resolution, you can display 4 full size 1080P images on it.
Better yet, you can resize each window to the appropriate size.

 

[FAHIM_PC]

The best method AFAIK, assuming Windows 10, is to simply DRAG the program until it matches the HALF or QUARTER of the screen you want to use.

For example, to do HALF + HALF:

1. Left-click top of MS WORD, then drag to left side of screen, see semi-transparent image to confirm left half of screen, then release
2. should then see little images of open programs
3. Click the remaining program (if open) and it will fill right side
4. if program NOT open yet, open it then drag via same method and release to RIGHT side of screen

*Your HDMI output, or rather the detected screen should be setup as an "EXTENDED" screen not a CLONE or anything else.

I am using windows 8.1 and that's the thing I cannot drag because it just duplicates it on all four screens. Also I have tried the setting for extended but all that does is show the current screen on my laptop and does nothing to the monitor. I need to somehow make this laptop recognise there are four screens being displayed, it only shows 1 and 2 (the laptop and the monitor). I can easily set my monitor to create the 4 screens but my laptop is not identifying this.

 

[geofelt]

Your laptop will have a single internal graphics adapter and likely only one aux graphics port.
If that port is displayport 1.2 capable, then you may well be able to drive more separate images, depending on the graphics adapter capability.
We probably need more specifics on the laptop graphics and the monitors.
This article may help
https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/

This also:
https://blog.startech.com/post/connecting-multiple-monitors-multi-stream-transport-and-what-it-means-for-you/

 

[FAHIM_PC]

Your laptop will have a single internal graphics adapter and likely only one aux graphics port.
If that port is displayport 1.2 capable, then you may well be able to drive more separate images, depending on the graphics adapter capability.
We probably need more specifics on the laptop graphics and the monitors.
This article may help
https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/

This also:
https://blog.startech.com/post/connecting-multiple-monitors-multi-stream-transport-and-what-it-means-for-you/

Windows 8.1 intel core i3 cpu 2.40GHz and 4.00GB.
This is all connected to a 4k lg Monitor.

 

[photonboy]

Your laptop will have a single internal graphics adapter and likely only one aux graphics port.
If that port is displayport 1.2 capable, then you may well be able to drive more separate images, depending on the graphics adapter capability.
We probably need more specifics on the laptop graphics and the monitors.
This article may help
https://www.displayport.org/cables/driving-multiple-displays-from-a-single-displayport-output/

This also:
https://blog.startech.com/post/connecting-multiple-monitors-multi-stream-transport-and-what-it-means-for-you/

Windows 8.1 intel core i3 cpu 2.40GHz and 4.00GB.
This is all connected to a 4k lg Monitor.

1) the "four screen" monitor option sounds like it's for showing four SEPARATE inputs at the same time. your laptop is just one input.

2) 4K at 60Hz may or may not be supported via your laptop. If not it will default to 30Hz.. the fact that it has W8.1 suggests to me probably it supports only 4K at 30Hz since 4K/60 is fairly new

If 4K 30Hz is all you get and too sluggish, drop to a lower resolution.

So again, you only support one output, and if you want MULTIPLE "screens" for different programs that's all done by dragging the software as I described before though since it's W8.1 I don't know how much of that works.

There are other programs which can add functionality similar to what I describe for W10.

The LAPTOP screen should be setup as the MAIN screen, and the MONITOR screen should be setup as the EXTENDED screen, to which you would drag and place your programs.

If you don't see the EXTENDED screen there's likely a settings mistake. Did you choose the MONITOR as the extended screen?