Generally, you do not need to change older applications for those applications to work on systems with multiple screens. For most applications, the system appears to have only one screen. System metrics reflect the primary screen, and full-screen applications display on the primary screen. The OS handles minimization, maximization, menus, and dialog boxes.

Some older applications can have problems however, including remote control applications, applications that have direct hardware access, and applications that have patched the graphics device interface (GDI) or display driver. In these cases, the user could be required to disable any screen beyond the primary screen.