Dual Monitors, HDMI monitor doesn't display BIOS

My old monitor has problems turning on, I can leave it on for 30hrs before it decides to display a picture, or I can manipulate it by unplugging the DVI cable from the back, but sometimes even that takes a few tries. It's off warranty and for reference it's a Samsung SyncMaster 226BW.

So I bought a new monitor and I have it plugged in using HDMI, but a problem I get is that when both monitors are plugged in the HDMI has no display until it gets to Windows, so I cannot see the boot process of my PC, because my old monitor as explained above has problems turning on.

Was a hindrance today when I was tinkering with my SSD and had to go to BIOS, and frankly I'd like to be able to see in case anything goes wrong, like a BSOD or Windows update etc.

So how do I get my HDMI monitor to give me a picture when the other monitor is plugged in. My new monitor is another Samsung, SyncMaster SA350.

Short of something like this,

Newegg.com - BYTECC DVI-HM DVI Male to HDMI Female Cable Adaptor

not much as that is a function of the video card and nothing to do with Windows. The only way would be to try and edit the video card's bios so that the HDMI port is made to be the primary port when powering on.

Failing that if the old monitor is that bad, why use it? If the new is the only thing connected then it should display the bios screen when booting up.

That's a hardware level "problem" with no really way around it. I've never seen a BIOS displayed through HDMI other than systems with HDMI as a built-in output, such as a Mini-ITX board.

James7679 said:

DeaconFrost said:

That's a hardware level "problem" with no really way around it. I've never seen a BIOS displayed through HDMI other than systems with HDMI as a built-in output, such as a Mini-ITX board.

My GTX 580 displays my BIOS via HDMI. As long as it's the ONLY panel connected, it(BIOS) can default to the HDMI out with no problem.

Yeah my HDMI works as long as it's the only panel.

And the reason I still have the old monitor in was to play with a dual monitor setup, and since I like it I have kept it here.

Thanks for the answers pals.