NVIDIA + Win7 + Dual Monitors = Frustration

[CEV]

I am able to select these options and even click on apply, but the settings do not take. A couple of things I notice that are interesting is in the Windows7 settings, see how the 2 monitor is shown smaller? Why is this? And in the NVIDIA control panel, when I check both displays, the only option is to duplicate the displays. It will not let me select extend.

 

[alphanumeric]

The second monitor will be displayed smaller if it's resolution is set lower than the other one. I've seen that happen on my XP PC even though both monitors are identical. Once I up the resolution they both show as being the same size in that window. Did you try disabling that LogMeIn Mirror Driver?

 

[iseeuu]

I am able to select these options and even click on apply, but the settings do not take. A couple of things I notice that are interesting is in the Windows7 settings, see how the 2 monitor is shown smaller? Why is this? And in the NVIDIA control panel, when I check both displays, the only option is to duplicate the displays. It will not let me select extend.

Hello CEV;

First, the video drivers for XP and Vista / 7 are not equal in all aspects. According to this web site, the "Span" feature we used in XP is not available in Vista / 7 ...
Extending my desktop across two monitors with Nvidia Geforce 8800 GT - Super User

Second, as I have experience only with my three 17" monitors that just support 1280X1024, I am not sure about this, so someone may correct me, but according the this Nvidia web site, the GeForce 9500 GT MAX Digital resolution is 2560X1600. If you have ONE monitor capable of displaying all of that, all is good. If you are sharing the display between two monitors, you have to divide the 2560 by two, meaning each monitor can only equally display 1280. For you to have two displays both with 1920 resolution, your video card would have to support 3840, and I do not think it does.
GeForce 9500 GT: a graphics card perfect for the ultimate 3D user experience and playing the latest PC games.

To use your dual monitors equally, you will need to set the resolutions to 1280, not 1920.

One last possibility is to create a "Custom Resolution" giving you two displays of 1920. Please see this tutorial for more info: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/7947-force-dvi-hdmi-resolutions-refresh-rates-6.html

Cheers!
Robert

 

[alphanumeric]

Isn't "Extend" the same thing as "Span"?

 

[CEV]

I am not buying that this will not work with Win7. It is the same video card, and same 2 monitors at the same resolution that had no issues in WinXP Pro. I find it really hard to believe that moving up to Win7 would eliminate the ability to do something like this.

I have also removed the LogMeIn, and am still with the same issue. And just for kicks, I tried changing the reso to 1280, but it just automatically reverts to the 1920, which is the recommended reso for these monitors.

What I will try right now is connecting a different pair of monitors and see what happens. If that works, I will be somewhat relieved. I will not be happy though that it would not work with these sweet Samsung 2494's.

I'll hopefully report back shortly, otherwise it will be tomorrow.

 

[Zepher]

Second, as I have experience only with my three 17" monitors that just support 1280X1024, I am not sure about this, so someone may correct me, but according the this Nvidia web site, the GeForce 9500 GT MAX Digital resolution is 2560X1600. If you have ONE monitor capable of displaying all of that, all is good. If you are sharing the display between two monitors, you have to divide the 2560 by two, meaning each monitor can only equally display 1280. For you to have two displays both with 1920 resolution, your video card would have to support 3840, and I do not think it does.
GeForce 9500 GT: a graphics card perfect for the ultimate 3D user experience and playing the latest PC games.

Cheers!
Robert

The Max Res of 2560x1600 is for the Dual Link DVI Port. He can run 25x16 on the DL DVI port and a 1920x1200 on the Single Link DVI port on his card.

I am running a pair of 19" LCD's at 1440x900 on my 9600GT, and have been running dual screens since I installed Windows 7 in August of last year. (I am still on my original install too).

 

[CEV]

OK. I shutdown and then connected 2 Dell E198WFP's. Exact same issue's. I think I may start offering a reward to whomever can figure this out.

 

[alphanumeric]

If it was me I think I would start over and do a clean install of windows 7. Then only install the latest motherboard and video drivers and see what happens. Is your windows 7 DVD an original or a copy? You're running build 7600 right?

 

[zzz2496]

CEV, have you really followed my method one step at a time? I mean, uninstall, restart, (cancel any auto driver installation requests) run Ccleaner, restart, then install driver... That's what I'd do when Nvidia's driver starts it's act on me, and it works every time... (I'm on Nvidia since the first GeForce). And my current setup, I've added the 4th monitor, an old 15" Sharp LCD monitor... It just works...

zzz2496

 

[iseeuu]

Isn't "Extend" the same thing as "Span"?

In some ways it may be, but not all. I ran dual monitors with a single GeForce 6600 GT in XP Pro x64 for a couple of years. Every update of the Nvidia driver changed the way I was allowed to use the monitors. One driver would allow full screen TV on a second monitor, the next would only allow TV on the main monitor. It really irritated me.

But one feature I played with was "Span Displays" which would allow for a single desktop background to be displayed across both monitors, even three if you had them. My current setup with Windows 7 allows me to move application windows from far right across to far left as if they are one display. But each monitor has the same desktop background image, I cannot "span" one across all three.

Before you can use the monitor you must select:


not the same as "Span Displays".

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Zepher]

You should get Ultramon. One of the best apps for multi screens,
Realtime Soft UltraMon

 

[alphanumeric]

Isn't "Extend" the same thing as "Span"?

In some ways it may be, but not all. I ran dual monitors with a single GeForce 6600 GT in XP Pro x64 for a couple of years. Every update of the Nvidia driver changed the way I was allowed to use the monitors. One driver would allow full screen TV on a second monitor, the next would only allow TV on the main monitor. It really irritated me.

But one feature I played with was "Span Displays" which would allow for a single desktop background to be displayed across both monitors, even three if you had them. My current setup with Windows 7 allows me to move application windows from far right across to far left as if they are one display. But each monitor has the same desktop background image, I cannot "span" one across all three.

Before you can use the monitor you must select:
View attachment 77525

not the same as "Span Displays".

Cheers!
Robert

My two monitors are 1280x1024, I use custom 2560 x 1024 wallpapers and set it to "tile". The one wallpaper displays (spans) across both monitors.

Ultramon is nice, you can put different wallpapers on each monitor with that. It does a lot more than that but that is one feature I think most people with multiple monitors would like to have.

 

[CEV]

If it was me I think I would start over and do a clean install of windows 7. Then only install the latest motherboard and video drivers and see what happens. Is your windows 7 DVD an original or a copy? You're running build 7600 right?

This is what I am leaning towards doing. Going to try and find time today. Spent waaay too much time on this when it should just work. And it is an original DVD from TechNet.

CEV, have you really followed my method one step at a time? I mean, uninstall, restart, (cancel any auto driver installation requests) run Ccleaner, restart, then install driver... That's what I'd do when Nvidia's driver starts it's act on me, and it works every time... (I'm on Nvidia since the first GeForce). And my current setup, I've added the 4th monitor, an old 15" Sharp LCD monitor... It just works...

zzz2496

Step for step.

You should get Ultramon. One of the best apps for multi screens,
Realtime Soft UltraMon

Thanks for the link, but no need for a paid program when basic operations are not even working.



I'll try a reload in the next day or two. I'm really hoping it works. I'm sure most can understand what it would be like going back to 1 monitor after using 2 or 3 for so long.

 

[CEV]

If it was me I think I would start over and do a clean install of windows 7.

BINGO!!!

It just works...

zzz2496

That is no joke. I have not even installed any drivers or software yet. It is working perfectly and Win7 loaded all drivers. IT JUST WORKS!!! Now I'll have to get busy with the reason I did not try this sooner, reinstalling all the software and setting her back up just how I like it.
Thanks again for everyones help and suggestions.
Chad

 

[alphanumeric]

Make sure to create a restore point before you start installing your programs. That way if it is some program that is messing things up you could try going back without having to start all over again.