Second monitor not displaying anything.

[DJWE]

I've recently got two monitors, but the secondary monitor doesn't show anything. On the screen resolution panel, it detects the second monitor, and when I move the mouse to the side, it acts as though there is a second screen there. However, on my video card control panel (I have an Nvidia GeForce GT 640) It only detects one screen. This might be because I am using a USB to DVI converter as the video card only has one slot.

 

[AddRAM]

Why are you using a usb to dvi converter ? Doesn`t the monitor and the card both have at least a vga or dvi connection ?

You need to use 2 video cables, vga, or dvi.

Post a link to your exact card, from what I can see, that card has at least 2 if not 3 video outputs.

 

[DJWE]

GeForce GT 640 | GeForce
It's this one, it has a couple more ports in the back, but I don't have the requisite cables/convertors for them. Both of the monitors work as the primary monitor as well.

 

[AddRAM]

Until you get the proper cables, dvi, vga, hdmi, disconnect the 2nd monitor, there`s no point in having 2 monitors showing the same thing.

Go out and get the cables, 2 dvi cables would be best. Do both monitors have dvi inputs ?

After you get the proper cables, simply choose extend these displays under screen resolution.

 

[DJWE]

Until you get the proper cables, dvi, vga, hdmi, disconnect the 2nd monitor, there`s no point in having 2 monitors showing the same thing.

Go out and get the cables, 2 dvi cables would be best. Do both monitors have dvi inputs ?

They're both VGA, the port in the back of the computer is a DVI, but the other two ports aren't VGA/DVI/HDMI.

This is a picture of the ports: http://en.community.dell.com/cfs-fi...ions-components-files/3514/8103.DellGT640.jpg

 

[stormy13]

Same thing and same explanation as the person here,

http://www.sevenforums.com/graphic-cards/314869-second-monitor-not-being-detected.html

 

[AddRAM]

Then you need a dvi to vga adapter on the video card and 1 vga cables. The other 2 ports are 1 hdmi port and 1 display port (yes that`s what it`s called) unless you have either of those connections on your second monitor you`re screwed.

You can use a dvi to vga splitter, but that would also be pointless, as that would just duplicate the desktops.

If I`m wrong about that, someone could chime in.

Only this type of splitter and a video card to match, will allow you to have 2 separate images from 1 video port.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMS-59

 

[stormy13]

In the case of DJWE's card it is likely an OEM version made expressly for Dell, hence it not having the three ports on it (VGA< DVI and HDMI) you would expect.

Also if it did have the three ports like most here,

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Video Cards & Video Devices, Desktop Graphics Cards, GeForce GT 640

all the adapters and cables in the world won't help to get two VGA/analogue signals out of it, as the card only supports VGA/analogue from the VGA port or one of two DVI ports (on such cards they come with one DVI-I and one DVI-D).

 

[DJWE]

So I'm pretty much screwed?