Dual Monitor Setup

[Jasonc02]

Hello,

I am not sure where to submit this topic, but the graphics card is sort of relevant in this situation? So I thought I'd post it here. If this is the wrong thread, then please, by all means, move this to the correct one.

So, I am having a little trouble with my dual monitor set-up. I have connected a second monitor to my graphics card using a DVI-D adapter, yet for some reason, the monitor cannot be detected. I've gone to the screen resolution window and hit the detect button, but that does not seem to fix it. I have done a lot of research online, but cannot seem to find the solution.

A list of things I have done so far:
-Restarted the PC
-Updated all drivers
-Changed modes on the second monitor from Digital to Analog, did not work for either of those
-Held down the Windows button on my keyboard, and chose the Extend option, but that also did not work.
-I have connected the VGA cables from my main monitor to the DVI-D adapter to see if the adapter was broken, but my desktop did show up on the second monitor, so the adapter is fine.

I have also connected the VGA cables from the second monitor into the VGA port of my graphics card PC (where the main monitor is connected to), but that did not work either. The second monitor just sits at a black screen that says "Check Signal Cable", with 3 red coloured boxes under it (Red, Green, and Blue).

This led me to believe that there was something wrong with the VGA cables from the second monitor. So I tested out that cable on my main monitor, and hooked it up to the VGA port on my graphics card, and it seemed to work, so I am not too sure what the problem is here. I already have seen my desktop appear on the second monitor, but I can't get both of them to work at the same time.

Not sure if this is of any help, but I have the ATI Radeon HD 6670 graphics card.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Pedroc1999]

Have you got catalyst installed?

if so try to detect the monitor from there

go into display options and select force tv detect,
and click apply, does it recognsie it?

 

[Jasonc02]

Have you got catalyst installed?

if so try to detect the monitor from there

go into display options and select force tv detect,
and click apply, does it recognsie it?

Ah yes, I have tried that as well. This second monitor is non-existent on my PC apparently.

 

[Pedroc1999]

sounds very simple but is the monitor on the right 'source'?

 

[Pedroc1999]

Go into device manager and into displays, is it detected there?

 

[Jasonc02]

Go into device manager and into displays, is it detected there?

The only monitor that is displayed in the device manager is the Generic PnP Monitor, which is the monitor I'm using now I assume?

And also, yes, to your previous question. The monitor is on the right Source. I keep changing it from Analog to Digital when messing with it to see which one is the correct one. But both options show that "Check Signal Cable" message.

 

[Pedroc1999]

can you plug the monitor into another pc or skybox or something, is it recgnsied then?

 

[Jasonc02]

can you plug the monitor into another pc or skybox or something, is it recgnsied then?

This is the only PC I have unfortunately, no other one to connect it to. But, when I unplug the monitor I'm using now, and plug in the second monitor, it still remains undetected. I thought it had something to do with the VGA wires, so I tested my main monitor with the VGA wire from the second monitor, and it worked. Could the problem be coming from the monitor itself if everything else works EXCEPT when I plug the VGA into the second monitor?

 

[Pedroc1999]

coudl you fill in your system specs with a tool like speccy or cpu z

 

[paulpicks21]

Hello Jason and welcome to the forums.

Could you just clarify exactly what connections you have available on the back of the graphics card and which you are using?

I did a quick search for your card and dual monitor issues and someone said you need one connected to DVI without an adapter and the other connected to VGA without an adapter for them to work.

This worked in their case but yours could be different.

Paul.

 

[Pedroc1999]

So as paul said, you card supports dual monitors just it doesnt do well when one is connected through an adapter

 

[Jasonc02]

Hello Jason and welcome to the forums.

Could you just clarify exactly what connections you have available on the back of the graphics card and which you are using?

I did a quick search for your card and dual monitor issues and someone said you need one connected to DVI without an adapter and the other connected to VGA without an adapter for them to work.

This worked in their case but yours could be different.

Paul.

Sure thing! The back of my graphics card shows a DVI-D connector which currently is connected to my non-existent second monitor through a DVI-D-VGA adapter, there is an HDMI connector which currently has nothing in it, and a VGA connector which is what my main monitor is connected to now.

 

[Pedroc1999]

do you have a tv to connect the hdmi too?

 

[paulpicks21]

Hello Jason and welcome to the forums.

Could you just clarify exactly what connections you have available on the back of the graphics card and which you are using?

I did a quick search for your card and dual monitor issues and someone said you need one connected to DVI without an adapter and the other connected to VGA without an adapter for them to work.

This worked in their case but yours could be different.

Paul.

Sure thing! The back of my graphics card shows a DVI-D connector which currently is connected to my non-existent second monitor through a DVI-D-VGA adapter, there is an HDMI connector which currently has nothing in it, and a VGA connector which is what my main monitor is connected to now.

I think that might be where the problem lies, so basically both your monitors are VGA naturally, and you are connecting one to a DVI port by an adapter, I fear that one of the connections must be digital for your GPU to use both.

Paul.

 

[Jasonc02]

do you have a tv to connect the hdmi too?

I do have a TV to connect it to, although I don't think I have an HDMI cord.

 

[Jasonc02]

Hello Jason and welcome to the forums.

Could you just clarify exactly what connections you have available on the back of the graphics card and which you are using?

I did a quick search for your card and dual monitor issues and someone said you need one connected to DVI without an adapter and the other connected to VGA without an adapter for them to work.

This worked in their case but yours could be different.

Paul.

Sure thing! The back of my graphics card shows a DVI-D connector which currently is connected to my non-existent second monitor through a DVI-D-VGA adapter, there is an HDMI connector which currently has nothing in it, and a VGA connector which is what my main monitor is connected to now.

I think that might be where the problem lies, so basically both your monitors are VGA naturally, and you are connecting one to a DVI port by an adapter, I fear that one of the connections must be digital for your GPU to use both.

Paul.

By digital connection, you mean?.. Sorry, not to familiar with this stuff.

 

[Pedroc1999]

Ok, paul, i am currently doing that, my card has 1dvi and 1 vga and im using and adapter on the dvi for a dual monitor setup

 

[Pedroc1999]

BTW op, DVI is a digital connection, VGA is analogue if im correct paul?

 

[paulpicks21]

BTW op, DVI is a digital connection, VGA is analogue if im correct paul?

Yes, Digital is DVI or HDMI, I believe his card needs one of the monitors to be Digital

 

[Pedroc1999]

That makes sense, in my case the dvi connection must send out vga signals, his DVI might be digital only and only a powered dvi adapter would work, am i correct