Windows won't detect my second monitor (refurbished NEC 17" monitor)


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #1

    Windows won't detect my second monitor (refurbished NEC 17" monitor)


    I've just gotten a second monitor for my PC, but my computer can't seem to detect it. My primary monitor is using a DVI to HDMI connection and that's working fine. I'm trying to use a VGA to VGA cable for my new monitor, with no result. I know the monitor works, it boots up and displays "No connection" when plugged in to power. It doesn't have an HDMI port, so I can't test it with the cable that works for my primary screen. I'm using an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760. I've tried having windows detect the monitor under the 'screen resolution' options, and I've tried to detect the second monitor in the NVIDIA control panel, under 'set-up multiple displays'. The rigorous display detection does nothing either.
    Is there anything I can do? Would I have more luck if I got a DVI to DVI cable and used the second DVI port on my computer instead?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,784
    Linux Mint 18.2 xfce 64-bit (VMWare host) / Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit (VMWare guest)
       #2

    How are you using a VGA to VGA cable? According to what NVidia says, there's no VGA port on this card:

    https://www.geforce.com/hardware/des...specifications

    Also, why are you using a DVI to HDMI connection with the primary monitor? There is an HDMI port on the card, so you don't need to convert anything. You can use a straight HDMI cable and connect your monitor to the HDMI port on the card. Or, if your primary monitor doesn't have an HDMI port, you can use DisplayPort or DVI to make the connection. In other words, don't do any conversion; connect your monitor to the port that matches what is on your monitor.

    It sounds like your second monitor has only a VGA port. You can convert one of the remaining ports on the card to VGA, so as to be able to plug your second monitor into the card.

    Connect both monitors to the video card; do not plug anything into the computer. Chances are, when your computer detects that a video card has been installed, it disables the video port on the computer.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Phelps,
    I'm not entirely sure what you mean by 'plugging into the card', I'm just plugging these things in to the back my computer tower, which has VGA, DVI and HDMI ports on it. The monitor I'm trying to get set up has a VGA and a DVI port on it, although if the DVI cable I've got coming doesn't work, I'll probably return the monitor and get one with an HDMI connection.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    mrjimphelps said:

    Connect both monitors to the video card; do not plug anything into the computer. Chances are, when your computer detects that a video card has been installed, it disables the video port on the computer.
    How exactly do I plug something right into the video card? Should I be popping my computer open for that?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,784
    Linux Mint 18.2 xfce 64-bit (VMWare host) / Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit (VMWare guest)
       #5

    Your video card has some ports on it, and these ports are accessible from outside of the computer, once you have installed the card into the computer. Since the second monitor has a DVI port on it, you should use a DVI cable to connect that monitor to the video card. That will give you the best video quality possible for your second monitor.

    Your primary monitor could then use the HDMI port on the video card, if there is an HDMI port on that monitor.

    It is good to have one monitor using DVI and the other using HDMI; this allows you to plug both monitors into the video card at the same time, because the video card has both types of ports.

    The VGA port is built into the computer. Because you are using a video card, you should not use the built-in VGA port. (It's probably disabled anyway, and that's likely why you have not been able to use your second monitor.)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,784
    Linux Mint 18.2 xfce 64-bit (VMWare host) / Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit (VMWare guest)
       #6

    It would be helpful if you could put your motherboard make and model number in your System Specs, so that we could look it up and see exactly what ports it has, what its capabilities are, etc. Please put other information as well, such as your computer make and model and the make and model of your primary monitor and your secondary monitor.
      My Computer


 

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