Dual Monitor Problem

[ShandyBass]

Ok so I am trying to change my current display so that I have dual screen but I have a problem. When I plug in my second screen it recognizes it is plugged it but wont connect. However if I remove the cable to my main display the computer then changes the display to the 2nd monitor. When I plug my main display back in it then converts back to my main display leaving the second black again.

My main display is connected via HDMI and my new display is a VGA 17" Starlogic LCD monitor the rest of my specs are in the spec box.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Kari]

When both displays are plugged in, what option have you chosen in Screen Resolution settings?



Kari

 

[ShandyBass]

See when I printscreen it comes up, however it wont actually disply on the monitor so the computer is recognizing it just wont display both at the same time.

 

[stormy13]

My main display is connected via HDMI and my new display is a VGA

That is probably the problem right there. The card may have three connections but there is only two RAMDAC's on it,

RAMDAC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

which only allows for 2 displays at a time. I think you will find that your card (and pretty much any card with 3 connections on it) is that one RAMDAC is for the DVI port and the other is for both the HDMI and VGA port, which would explain why the second monitor starts to work when you disconnect the HDMI port.

Try connecting your primary monitor to the DVI port, with the second to the VGA port and I'd bet both will work no problem

 

[ShandyBass]

Ok I will go shopping tomorrow and hopefully let you now then.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[brianzion]

my card i have dvi and vga and the two monitors work perfect also have a look at DisplayFusion Multiple Monitors Made Easy i suggest this to all duel monitor users because of the great software it is and what you can achieve the basic is free but the paid pro version is worth every penny in my opinion your card is nice

 

[Darryl Licht]

Just a thought, what do you see when you use the Windows Key + P keyboard shortcut for Win7?

Also, since one display is connected via hdmi, do you have an alternative dvi connection and cable? If so, give that a shot and report your results!

 

[ShandyBass]

Ive tried win+p but nothing still, I havent had a chance to go out yet, as soon as I can ill try it. Also I tried putting the VGA cable on the VGA slot on the motherboard but that didnt work either. I don't know if that would help but?

 

[ShandyBass]

Also thjat DisplayFusion looks really nice I will have to look into that, again thanks for all the help!

 

[brianzion]

Try connecting your primary monitor to the DVI port, with the second to the VGA port and I'd bet both will work no problem

did you do this what stormy13 said?

 

[stormy13]

Also I tried putting the VGA cable on the VGA slot on the motherboard but that didnt work either.

Seeing as you have an ATI card that actually will work. First you have to go into the bios and enable the onboard video, then you need to enable the Surroundview option,



then you can run one monitor off of each. Actually if you were so inclined you could run up to 4 monitors, 2 off of each.

 

[ShandyBass]

Ok I have tried all of these options and still no luck, when Windows loads the windows are duiplicated but as soon as the desktop loads the VGA screen just cuts off.
Help!!

 

[ShandyBass]

OK, I'm starting to think the problem is VGA realted, I just plugged both the HDMI and DVI-D in and when I switch between the displays on the monitor both of them work?
Don't know if thi is of any help, also I apolgise for this long break but its just been a really bad few months for me for personal reasons but anyway any help is very much appreciated.

 

[ShandyBass]

Anyone got any more ideas about what I could try?