Dual-monitor: Can't make gnome-panel and new windows default to first monitor

Question

I have my laptop monitor and my external monitor.

What I'm trying to do is have both monitors enabled, but the gnome-panel should be on my laptop monitor.

Also, when I open new windows (browser, application, anything..) this should be displayed on my laptop monitor.

I.e., the external monitor should only have windows I dragged directly to it.

How?

PS: Tryed enabling the option Make this the primary display for the X screen, but this option make new windows open on the external monitor, instead of the damn laptop monitor setted to be the PRIMARY DISPLAY, as the option says.

I can't get this settings correctly. Any help?

Answer 1

If you are using Natty, or Compiz this is due to the place windows plug-in.

To change this install CCSM

apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Then select the 'place windows' plugin, and there are a number of options for the 'multi-output mode' which you should be able to tailor for your needs.

Answer 2

When it comes to gnome-panel, you can place it on a different monitor using:

gconftool-2 --set "/apps/panel/toplevels/top_panel_screen0/monitor" --type integer "1"

Feel free to adjust the monitor number appropriately.