Win7 will not recognize HDMI

Clean install with Win7 Upgrade - I have done this many many times w/out issue.

I have two almost identical desktops (gateway) both from 2010. The only differences were the Vid card and processor, everything else is the same. One had a fried checksum so I combined the two, hardware wise.

The video card is a GTX 460.

I think I made the mistake of installing windows 7 with a different monitor using the VGA port and this is why it won't recognize my HDMI. The monitor I'm trying to us w/ HDMI is a samsung 23'' Px2370. I have tried all combinations of unplugging both monitor, and only booting to the HDMI, and the screen is black. I go into the control panel settings and the HDMI monitor is never recognized, never shows up any any lists. This includes turning off and on the monitor before and during initial boot.

I've updated Win7 completely. Installed and updated all drivers (appears that there are no conflicts), including the driver to the monitor, which I have never had to do since I bought it. I even tried a different HDMI cable.

I'm at the point where I'm thinking I'm going to have to reinstall Windows from scratch to get this working, or at least the OS to recognize the HDMI output. Really trying to avoid that if possible.

I feel like I've tried everything. Any Advice ?





.....and since I'm here, eventually I wouldn't mind setting up two monitors. Is that Possible with one monitor being VGA and the other HDMI (preferably w/ two desktops, not a copy of the primary monitor ????

OS

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service

CPU

AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 810 Processor

Motherboard

Gateway RS780

Graphics card

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460

Sounds Card

(1) NVIDIA High Definition Audio (2) NVIDIA High Definitio


Screen Resolution

1600 x 900 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 59 Hz

Hard Drives

(1) WDC WD10EADS-22M2B0 ATA Device (2) WDC WD5000AADS-00M2B0 ATA Device (3) Generic Mini SD Reader USB Device (4) Generic USB CF Reader USB Device (5) Generic USB MS Reader USB Device (6) Generic USB SD Reader USB Device (7) Generic USB x


NOTE : My 500GB hard drive is wiped and not even bootable



I've been contemplating switching out the AMD processor with my other (still functioning) processor
i5-750

The HDMI monitor works, along with the cable I'm using, however I personally have never tested the port on the desktop. I've considered this already, but I don't know how to test it.


I also know that the HDMI port on the desktop has never been used.

So I hardware issue ?


HDMI jack doesn't work ........ ?