Device Manager shows 2 copies of Monitor Driver

[Renny Bosch]

Device Manager, under Monitors, shows two copies of "SyncMaster 931C/C1931,
SyncMaster Magic CX930B(Analog)". As far as I can tell, they are identical;
i.e. when I right click and select Properties they both show exactly the
same thing, in all of the tabs. Both claim to be "Enabled". Is this normal?
I have only one monitor. Can I safely uninstall one of them?

I am checking all kinds of things on my computer to see why it is running
slower than it used to. Windows XP Home, SP3, HP Pavilion, 3 GHz Pentium 4,
512 MB RAM, 80 GB HD.

 

[Bob Lucas]

Is your computer a laptop or a desktop?

If the HP Pavilion is a laptop, one entry probably relates to the
integral display - and the other to the (optional) external VGA
or SVGA connection.

The same concept might apply to any type of computer, if it can
support twin monitors.

My HP Compaq laptop also shows two monitors in Device Manager -
and from time to time, I connect the external output to an LCD
TV.

 

[Renny Bosch]

It's a desktop. I don't believe it has provision for a second monitor.

The specific name of the driver matches exactly the monitor that I have
connected. It must have been installed when I first connected the monitor.
If there is a second port for a second monitor, would it automatically
preset the driver to be for the same type of monitor? Wouldn't it wait till
I plug in a second monitor and then read the type of driver needed from that
monitor? Am I making sense?

Just wondering if my system is wasting processing power by processing output
for two monitors simultaneously when only one is needed.

Thanks for your help.

Renny

 

[Bob Lucas]

I'm not sure. However, I doubt whether it will waste processing
power and in any case, I would be reluctant to delete either of
these devices. Plug & Play should take care of any problems.
However, it would be difficult to use your computer, if the
screen went blank.

 

[Renny Bosch]

OK, I'll leave it alone. Thanks for your help, Bob.

Renny

 

[smlunatick]

OK, I'll leave it alone.  Thanks for your help, Bob.

Renny

The listing of the two monitors is normal as most desktops permit the
connecting of two monitors onto the video card. It does not slow down
XP.

 

[Renny Bosch]

Thanks for the confirmation, sm, that makes me feel better about it.

OK, I'll leave it alone. Thanks for your help, Bob.

Renny

The listing of the two monitors is normal as most desktops permit the
connecting of two monitors onto the video card. It does not slow down
XP.