Multiple screen setup, main screen keeps changing

[arcademode]

After booting down my arcade cabinet for a couple of days, then booting it back up the main monitor will switch to one of the "third screen" monitors, instead of using my main monitor.  The main monitor selection is stable about 50% of the time, otherwise the third screen becomes the main monitor.  Is my main monitor going to sleep too fast?  Would that cause a divergent enumeration of the monitors in windows?  What else can I look at to avoid this hiccup? 

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, arcademode said:

After booting down my arcade cabinet for a couple of days, then booting it back up the main monitor will switch to one of the "third screen" monitors, instead of using my main monitor.  The main monitor selection is stable about 50% of the time, otherwise the third screen becomes the main monitor.  Is my main monitor going to sleep too fast?  Would that cause a divergent enumeration of the monitors in windows?  What else can I look at to avoid this hiccup? 

You mentioned third screen a couple times.  If you're using the ThirdScreen plugin, you might be best to post on its Support page.

ThirdScreen Plugin for Platform Video Marquees, 3+ Screen Support, and more - Third-Party Applications and Plugins (Released) - LaunchBox Community Forums

 

If I misunderstood, hopefully someone can help you here. 😊

 

[arcademode]

On 8/11/2025 at 6:27 PM, JoeViking245 said:

You mentioned third screen a couple times.  If you're using the ThirdScreen plugin, you might be best to post on its Support page.

ThirdScreen Plugin for Platform Video Marquees, 3+ Screen Support, and more - Third-Party Applications and Plugins (Released) - LaunchBox Community Forums

 

If I misunderstood, hopefully someone can help you here. 😊

 

I don't believe it's a problem with Third Screen, I think it's a problem with which monitor Big Box is seeing first and assigning as the primary.

[LCS213]

I too have been experiencing this problem.  

[arcademode]

What's your setup like? How many monitors? Curious if we have any overlap that might illuminate a common problem.

[LCS213]

I have three monitors.  I like to have big box on monitor 3, which is my TV.

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, LCS213 said:

I have three monitors.  I like to have big box on monitor 3, which is my TV.

System Menu < Options < General < Primary Screen: Screen 3  

Note: what Windows sees as monitor #3 may not be what BigBox sees as #3. So try the others if 3 is "the wrong monitor".

[LCS213]

Yes, I've used that menu, as well as set the monitors up in retroarch.  The thing is my windows monitor #'s don't ever change, so once I set those settings they SHOULD in theory remain the same.  Bigbox shouldn't see another monitor as #3.  But that's what's happening.

[JoeViking245]

27 minutes ago, LCS213 said:

Yes, I've used that menu, as well as set the monitors up in retroarch.  The thing is my windows monitor #'s don't ever change, so once I set those settings they SHOULD in theory remain the same.  Bigbox shouldn't see another monitor as #3.  But that's what's happening.

Are you saying if you set the Primary Screen in Big Box to #3, it shows correctly on the TV... sometimes.  And sometimes (maybe next time you turn on the computer?) it's on a different monitor (still being set to "3")? 

Or "for some reason" you have to set the screen to (for e.g.) #2 in Big Box to show on the TV.  And it always stays on the TV?

[LCS213]

Yes, I'm saying I will go ahead and set the primary screen to #3, and it shows up on my TV.  It will stick for a few days and then I start up BB and it opens on my monitor.  I never changed the settings after that initial time.  What I'm not 100% sure of (and I'll keep an eye on) is whether the monitor number in bigbox and retroarch actually change or not.

[JoeViking245]

50 minutes ago, LCS213 said:

What I'm not 100% sure of (and I'll keep an eye on) is whether the monitor number in bigbox and retroarch actually change or not.

Check that (when you think it).  And also, is there still the same 3 options.

 

I've never tried it otherwise, and only have the cab monitor and TV (so just 2).  But when I'm going to play on the TV, I make sure it's on and ready to go before starting Big Box.  I imagine you do also. 

The question then is, when you go to start BB, are both monitors already on ( plus the TV)?  That is, do you ever have one or the other of the monitors not on when starting BB?  (just thinking out loud troubleshooting thoughts)