2nd monitor added but goes black after a few seconds..

[Spetz]

I just added a 2nd monitor today to my comp, a Philips 109s. It turns on fine, displays the extended screen but after maybe 7 seconds, it goes black. If I change something within the screen res section(ie landscape to portrait), it fires back up, but goes black again in a few seconds. When the 2nd monitor is on, I can mouse over to it no probs.. The power lite always remains green (on).. Basically everything is set properly, but it just goes black again until I change a property..any ideas ?

My setup:
Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit - all updates
Main display Dell E248WFP
2nd Display Philips 109s
GTX 260 (main display DVI-DVI cable, 2nd display DVI-VGA cable) - newest drivers
Both displays set at their native resolution within the screen res section
2nd monitor to the left and "extend these displays" on.

 

[thefabe]

Just out of curiousity is this a new monitor and how is it connected?
Please take the time also to fill in your entire system specs here


You can use this program to help with that Speccy - System Information - Free Download
Thanks. Fabe

 

[Spetz]

I just got it today, used but free, so it's not a big deal if it's busted, but I was told it worked.
It's connects via 2nd DVI port with a DVI to VGA cable (no adapter)

 

[thefabe]

I take it then it's a CRT? Just wondering if windows is having problems with the different refresh rates and resolutions.
Fabe

 

[Spetz]

Sorry, should have said it's an LCD. They both are.
Should they be set at the same refresh rate ? I checked them out, the Dell was at 59 Mhz, the Philips was at 60Mhz. I set them both to 60.

 

[thefabe]

Their basically the same, if the 59 will hold the 60 go and go ahead an set it to it. Usually it rounds it off.

Do both LCD's show up in device manager as what they are? If not then you might want to search for the driver (.inf file) for the other or both.
This way Windows will be able to recognize them for what they are and allow full access to the available resolutions especially the native of each LCD.

If you would Copy and Paste an expanded view of monitors in device manager we can see how they are listed if the new one is PNP then that's most likely where your problem is.
Fabe

 

[bassfisher6522]

There are default refresh rates for each monitor. I have a dual set up as well and same problem....both were set to 60mhz and change second one to 75mhz and problem solved. Play with the refresh rate of the second monitor. There is also a check box to force it to show all the refresh rates if you don't have any choices.

 

[thefabe]

There are default refresh rates for each monitor. I have a dual set up as well and same problem....both were set to 60mhz and change second one to 75mhz and problem solved. Play with the refresh rate of the second monitor. There is also a check box to force it to show all the refresh rates if you don't have any choices.

Hopefully once he logs back on we'll know if it's fixed.
Fabe

 

[Spetz]

Here you go, I tried looking for drivers, but can't find any that actually work on Win7 x64. It always says my driver is up to date. Found the below kind of interesting tho..Regardless, the 2nd monitor still goes black after about 7 - 10 seconds. FURTHER..it's a Philips 190s6FB..made a mistake earlier

But you go to "add device and printer" and you get this..

 

[bassfisher6522]

To check the 2nd monitor itself, disconnect first monitor and connect 2nd monitor as pirmary monitor. If it works then we know it's good if not it's a good chance it's bad. This will tell us it's a refresh rate or cable problem.

To check/change refresh rates.

1. right click anywhere on open area of desktop
2. select screen resolution
3. select display
4. click advance settings
5. select monitor tab
6. click screen refresh rate and select different rate from the drop down menu. Right below that is where you'll see the box to check/uncheck for different refresh rates or modes. If there is only one choice then uncheck box, this will give you more options.

Once you gone through this and it's not resolved the next step is to check cables. I see that you have a DVI to VGA connection. First try a VGA to VGA, then DVI to DVI. If you have to barrow some cables from a friend or buy some,there about $20 each.

 

[Spetz]

I swapped cables, same thing. I swapped ports, same thing. The only refresh rates are 59 and 60 Mhz..I tried all combinations.
I added my wives monitor to the 2nd port on my GPU, and it worked fine.
Perhaps the monitor isn't win7 compatible ? I couldn't find any drivers newer then Win XP..

 

[bassfisher6522]

Try hooking up the monitor in question up to onther system (say a freinds) and see if it works....I leaning towards the monitor itself is defaulty in some way. If you hook it up to another system and it works ( on a system w/XP and one w/7). Then there is an underlying problem on your system.

 

[xtygerx]

windows 7 second monitor shuts down after a few seconds

I have exactely the same problem on Oerating system Windows 7 64bit , video card Ati Radeon 4500/5100 series on a laptop toshiba, i enter the second monitor witch is a CRT View Power TM 17" and it does all the thigs the topic starter said he had problems with it stops after a few seconds, when i press detect it is shown in monitors it is set to default settings bla bla.. changed resolution to lowest 800*600 changed a lot of ati catalist settings but still it shuts down after a few seconds after detection or pluged in or any method that detects a second monitor ANYONE found any soultion to this kind of problem ?

 

[Mentalist]

It's a bios thing

I have a system that's been running fine for years. I had the motherboard replaced (god bless the seven year HP warranty) and now when I plug in monitor number 2 they both go dark. The tech said something about maybe needing to do that before he left, and at the time both monitors worked fine, but now when I plug in both, both go dark. So I'm guessing he was right. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

 

[Mentalist]

I went into the bios and enabled monitor tracking. That seemed to fix it!