Solved Dual Monitor failure

[Clonemaster]

First, sorry if this should be in another category...

I have been running dual monitors (extended desktop configuration) on my system since last September, yesterday I updated to SP1, and updated my nvidia drivers to version275.33 (i'm not sure which version drivers I was previously running, possibly 197.45). All of a sudden my dual monitors is not working, specs/connections below:

Windows 7 Pro 64bit, just installed sp1
Intel i7 860
Galaxy GTS250
Primary monitor: 21.5" widescreen 1080p Asus - connected via dvi, no adapters on line
Secondary monitor: 17" non-widescreen non-hd unknown brand - connected via vga, no adapters on line

When I first preformed the update it was to nvidia driver version 267.54, neither monitor was displaying anything but rather they both kept flickering. I determined that it kept attempting to pass off which monitor was being used between the two. I was able to get a display by disconnecting the vga monitor, checking the nvidia control panel and windows desktop resolution dialogue I determined that both monitors were still being detected and the Asus was still tagged as main display, but as soon as I would reconnect the vga it would begin trying to constantly switch which single display was being used, remaining on neither long enough to get more than a flicker of the desktop.

I then tried uninstalling the new nvidia drivers and installing 197.45 because I still had the install file for it on my HDD. The monitors no longer tried to both act as the single output, but the vga was now displaying nothing, despite still being in device manager and appearing in both dual monitor setup display panels.

Finally I upgraded to nvidia 275.33 drivers, still no go on dual monitors. If I have just the Asus connected my device manager and dual monitor setup display panels report both monitors with the Asus tagged as main display. As soon as I connect the vga it instantly takes over as only display and begins acting as if the dvi Asus isn't even installed (it no longer appears in monitor display setup or device manager) and I have to restart the computer to get the Asus to function again (after disconnecting the vga).


Honestly I don't know if it is the upgrade to sp1 or the nvidia drivers that is causing this, and I have made a post on nvidia's forums as well.

Has anyone else experienced this on SP1 or when updating drivers? Any recommendations on ways to fix this?

 

[alphanumeric]

I don't know if this helps or not but I just installed 275.33 Win7 64bit drivers yesterday. My Windows 7 install media already had SP1 integrated in it and I've been running sp1 for quit a while now, since it hit RTM. I'm running dual displays, one DVI and one VGA on a GT 220 PCIe, no problems before or after installing 275.33. I was running 266.58 Win7 64bit.
If you want to have another go at it I would switch back to a single display. Un-install what ever version of display drivers are on there now. And then try the 275.33 again. I do all my setup though windows and don't use the NVidia control panel at all.

EDIT: Make sure that you select the customized option, and select to remove the existing driver (Clean Installation). The system will reboot after removal of the existing driver and will install the updated version when it boots back up.

 

[Britton30]

It would be better to use Driver Sweeper to remove all of the old nVIDIA drivers and contol panel. some bits of the original you had may be conflicting with the new one.
Have a copy of the 275.33 driver ready to install after removing the old one(s) with driver sweeper.

 

[Clonemaster]

Thank you both, took both your advise, used Drive Sweep to fully clean off the nvidia drivers, then reinstalled with only the dvi Asus connected, reconnected the vga and both are working again.

Problem solved.

 

[Britton30]

Cool, glad we could help you and you have them working.

 

[alphanumeric]