No second monitor set up option - Intel HD Graphics

I have a HP P6-2180 running W7 HP.

Graphics is Intel HD.

I am certain when I first got the machine that the second monitor option was available and worked.
I have updated the driver over the months and now run 8.15.10.2761.
On wanting to use the second monitor today, I went into the set up but the second monitor option is not available. Even in the Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel "Operating Mode" drop down only has "single display" option.
Any ideas how I can get the option to select multiple monitors back?
Many thanks,

David

What's the exact model number of the onboard Video? Thats common with onboard video even when there is more than one video connector. The multiple connectors are just there for convenience and are feed from the same single source.
Are you using a DVI to VGA adapter? If its a DVI-D connector that won't work as there is no analog out from a DVI-D, it needs to be a DVI-I.

OK, you'll likely have to look for a model number on the motherboard and look up the specs for that. It sounds like the video card is just auto detecting whats plugged in and automatically switching to the better quality output. My GT220 does that. As soon as I plug a monitor into my DVI connector the VGA monitor goes black. The BIOS post screen and Windows login screen then display on that monitor only. I can mirror or extend once I'm in Windows though and use both monitors. Did you get the driver you're using from Intel or HP? I'd try HP first, their driver may be customized to your PC. The Intel driver would be generic.

Thanks.
Just going down that route.
I think the default to single monitor only happened after Intel driver upgrade, I'll try and locate a driver from HP - it may be a long afternoon.
BTW spec says motherboard is H-CUPERTINO2-H61-uA TX.
Thanks again,
David

It states "Use of both the DVI and the VGA ports at the same time is supported".
Motherboard Specifications, H-CUPERTINO2-H61-uA TX (Cupertino2) - HP Customer Care (United States - English)
Didn't find anything definitive as to what exact Video chip is used though.

I guess the onboard Video is part of the Intel H61 Express chip-set.
Intel® H61 Express Chipset
It says on that page that there is "Multi-monitor support with Windows* 7".
You don't have a PCIe Video card plugged in right?

All sorted, it was a driver problem.
I got onto HP support (surprisingly short wait) and after I got them to listen to what the actual problem was, and off their flow chart, I got them to send me an up to date driver set SP55570.exe.

Uninstalled Intel Driver and installed HP driver and was nearly there.

It would seem you have to be careful in which order you power items up especially if , like me, you have to unplug the HDMI cable. It seems that something in the system starts trying to decide what would be the highest resolution monitor and automatically assigns that monitor as 1.

Anyway, all sorted, until next boot at least!

Thanks for your company along the way and the hint on HP rather than generic drivers.

All the best,

David