Solved Dual Monitor problems - Black screen and unrecognised

[MartyTheGamer]

Hello.
I just set up a second monitor for my PC but it isn't working properly. I have 2 VGA ports on the back of the PC to which the monitors are plugged in. The second monitor isn't in the device and printers list, not recognised in the Change Screen Resolution settings and Detect doesn't find it. The current monitor that works is an LG and the one not working is an Asus. I connected the second monitor before booting the PC and it doesn't work.

 

[badcrc]

2 VGA ? Gfx cards don't usually have 2 VGA. I'm guessing you are plugging one monitor into the onboard VGA and the 2nd into the gfx card. The usual method for dual screen is to use 2 sockets on the card eg 2 * DVI, DVI + VGA, DVI + HDMI etc.

 

[MartyTheGamer]

Well my GFX card's only other port is HDMI, but I don't really have a cable for that right now. Is there a way to get it working the way I've currently done it?

 

[MartyTheGamer]

Okay well will it work if I get an adapter like this one and plug it into the graphics card?

 

[badcrc]

That lead would work, but would mirror the displays (at the same resolution). I use 'extend' for my 2 screens ie can drag a browser/ app etc from one screen to the other (and screens can be different res.). With mirror, both screens would show the app. If your 2nd port is HDMI, and one monitor supports HDMI, I'd say get an HDMI cable - under £5, Euro, $ etc.

 

[MartyTheGamer]

Well, none of my monitors has an HDMI port. Does an HDMI to VGA adapter exist? And would it work?

 

[badcrc]

Can you list the sockets on both monitors, and on the graphic card. The card in your spec GT630 has 4 outputs IIRC (I know cards vary sometimes). If one of the gfx sockets is DVI-I (carries digital + analog), a simple DVI > VGA adaptor will do. VGA is analog - all the rest are digital, so HDMI > VGA requires a converter (as opposed to a simple adaptor), more expensive although I'm pretty sure they exist.

 

[MartyTheGamer]

Okay well.

PC: 1 VGA on graphics card (used by monitor #1), 1 VGA onboard that is disabled (as we found out)
1 HDMI on graphics card

#1 Monitor LG (The one I've used since I have the PC): 1 VGA port

#2 Monitor Asus (New (few years old though) monitor I'm trying to intall): 1 VGA port

 

[badcrc]

OK - seems like your options for dual extended displays are HDMI > VGA converter, or a USB > VGA converter. I found this on Amazon



Ugreen Active HDMI to VGA with Audio and Mirco USB: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

There's others, but make sure you read the reviews before you buy.

 

[MartyTheGamer]

Well I'll have that in mind. At the moment I can't buy something like that. Thanks for the help!