Dual Monitors

[Dick Tater]

I'm trying to set up 2 monitors with Vista Ultimate 64 bit. I have a Nvidia
GeForce 6150 LE video card. 2 monitors show up in the display settings
(desktop|personalize|display settings). Number 1 monitor has the righ
resolution 1280x1024. Number 2 monitor has 800x600 and can't be changed.
When I check 'extend the desktop onto this monitor' it unchecks itself. Both
monitors said "default monitor" at one point. Now one says generic main
monitor, non pnp. The other default monitor. Both report Nvidia GeForce 6150
LE driver.

I've also installed the latest drivers for the card and no help.Both
monitors work but I see the same thing on both monitors. You can see more
information on this at

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=49767

Any help is definitely appreciated.

 

[Charlie Tame]

I'm trying to set up 2 monitors with Vista Ultimate 64 bit. I have a
Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE video card. 2 monitors show up in the display
settings (desktop|personalize|display settings). Number 1 monitor has
the righ resolution 1280x1024. Number 2 monitor has 800x600 and can't be
changed. When I check 'extend the desktop onto this monitor' it unchecks
itself. Both monitors said "default monitor" at one point. Now one says
generic main monitor, non pnp. The other default monitor. Both report
Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE driver.

I've also installed the latest drivers for the card and no help.Both
monitors work but I see the same thing on both monitors. You can see
more information on this at

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=49767

Any help is definitely appreciated.

Been there done that, worked faultlessly with XP etc...

I know the NVidia settings tool is "Supposed" to handle this well but
sometimes it seems with Vista that you have to use the Windows settings
tool also. Have you tried using both to see if that helps?

Also, can't recall quite where it is, but in the Window tool there is a
method on one os the sub screens to see it the acceleration is enabled.
Sometimes # of screens depends on the resolution and if the drivers
aren't providing acceleration it will show up as poor res on one screen
- at least that's what it seems like. I think you have to select the
unlikely option of "Troubleshoot" from one of the setting screens, sorry
don't have a Vista machine handy to check right now.

Always uninstall old drivers first (live with broken settings) and
disable any security or antivirus software before installing NVidia
drivers. Go to add remove and remove the drivers, just video, not the
others if your MB has an NVidia chipset for other functions.

Sorry this is a bit vague but I had to give up with dual monitors on
Vista because of this problem, I has 2 cards (4 GPUs) and ZP insisted on
using one pair (One form each card) and Vista the other pair (from each
card) so if I dual booted I wound up under the desk swapping cables all
the time. Whichever monitors were usable the "Other" pair showed exactly
the same problems you describe.

Sorry I have no sensible sounding answer, but please do consider
retrying the driver install, remove/disable AV etc/reboot/immediate
reinstall. Then see what you can achieve using the Vista tools first.

 

[Schrodinger's cat]

I'm trying to set up 2 monitors with Vista Ultimate 64 bit. I have a
Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE video card. 2 monitors show up in the display
settings (desktop|personalize|display settings). Number 1 monitor has the
righ resolution 1280x1024. Number 2 monitor has 800x600 and can't be
changed. When I check 'extend the desktop onto this monitor' it unchecks
itself. Both monitors said "default monitor" at one point. Now one says
generic main monitor, non pnp. The other default monitor. Both report
Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE driver.

I've also installed the latest drivers for the card and no help.Both
monitors work but I see the same thing on both monitors. You can see more
information on this at

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=49767

Any help is definitely appreciated.

It should work perfectly if you install the correct drivers for your
monitors.

I got symptoms like yours, which were resolved after I downloaded and
installed the Samsung drivers for my LCD screens.

HTH

Martin

 

[Dick Tater]

Thanks for the reply, Charlie. I've done all I can do. I've tried everything
from Device Manager, uninstalled and reinstalled, etc. with no luck. I'll
keep searching and email nvidia to see if they have any suggestions.

 

[Dick Tater]

Thanks for the reply, cat. I have the latest drivers according to Nvidia.
Will keep trying and hopefully I didn't buy the extra monitor in vain.

 

[AJR]

Dick - Regarding the following comment from your post "...Both monitors work
but I see the same thing on both monitors..." - not familiar with your video
card, however to have "separate" displays may require two cards.

 

[Dick Tater]

AJR, thanks for the reply. I'm going to get a cheapo card on eBay for my
next step to see how that will do.

 

[James Matthews]

Is there a place to plug them in?

 

[Dick Tater]

Don't know if I understand the question. But I bought a splitter to plug
both monitors into the same video card. You need to do that. If you have 2
cards you don't need the splitter or y-cord.

 

[Val]

Now you've given the whole story.

A splitter cord (just a plain ole Y-cable, right?) will send the same signal
to both displays. The PC/video card has no way of knowing there are two
monitors, nor sending anything different to them. All you've done is
duplicate the display.

To get a Dual Monitor setup, you need a video card with two outputs or two
separate video cards. Then you can set them to be the same or to extend the
desktop.

Val

Don't know if I understand the question. But I bought a splitter to plug
both monitors into the same video card. You need to do that. If you have 2
cards you don't need the splitter or y-cord.

 

[Dick Tater]

Thanks, Val for the reply. I have another card on its way. I wish I'd put
the information about the splitter in my original post. I would have saved
myself some anguish. Thanks again.