multimonitor problems

[Guest]

I just bought a Samsung 19" LCD monitor with DVI input. I have been using an
old NEC MulticSync 50 which uses an analog cable. I was planning on using
both monitors, with the NEC as my secondary monitor. After I installed the
driver in XP, I get a picture only on the Samsung. The driver for the NEC
seems to have disappeared. I tried the online troubleshooting but I can't
seem to reinstall the driver. I assume my graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce4
MX440) can support two monitors because it has both a DVI slot and RGB slot.
The Display properties seems to recognize the Samsung now and doesn't list
the NEC at all.

Help!

Thanks,

NR

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I just bought a Samsung 19" LCD monitor with DVI input. I have been
using an old NEC MulticSync 50 which uses an analog cable. I was
planning on using both monitors, with the NEC as my secondary
monitor. After I installed the driver in XP, I get a picture only on
the Samsung. The driver for the NEC seems to have disappeared. I
tried the online troubleshooting but I can't seem to reinstall the
driver. I assume my graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440) can support
two monitors because it has both a DVI slot and RGB slot. The Display
properties seems to recognize the Samsung now and doesn't list the
NEC at all.

The monitor driver is usually a moot point.. The VIDEO CARD DRIVER may need
to be updated..

 

[Guest]

Okay thanks, Shenan. I went to the NVIDIA website to dowload the latest
driver. It says however I need to remove the current driver. I'm kind of
nervous about doing that- will I be able to see anything after I remove the
old driver before I install the latest one?


BTW, when I disconnected my new Samsung LCD and reconnected my old NEC thru
the analog connection (like I originally had it), I see nothing. Keep in
mind that this monitor worked before I downloaded the new Samsung drivers.

Thanks,

NR

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Okay thanks, Shenan. I went to the NVIDIA website to dowload the
latest driver. It says however I need to remove the current driver.
I'm kind of nervous about doing that- will I be able to see anything
after I remove the old driver before I install the latest one?

It should remove and install the new driver for you.. and you shouldn't be
any worse off - likely better off.

BTW, when I disconnected my new Samsung LCD and reconnected my old
NEC thru the analog connection (like I originally had it), I see
nothing. Keep in mind that this monitor worked before I downloaded
the new Samsung drivers.

Hook only the monitor you see nothing out of up and restart the machine - do
you even see a pre-windows screen? (BIOS, etc?)

 

[Guest]

It should remove and install the new driver for you.. and you shouldn't be
any worse off - likely better off.

So I should just download the new driver and not remove the old first like
NVIDIA says?

Hook only the monitor you see nothing out of up and restart the machine - do
you even see a pre-windows screen? (BIOS, etc?)

Actually, I see the BIOS screen and the first Windows screen when it is
loading. Then the screen goes offline just before the logon screen comes on

 

[Chelsea]

So I should just download the new driver and not remove the old first like
NVIDIA says?

Actually, I see the BIOS screen and the first Windows screen when it is
loading. Then the screen goes offline just before the logon screen comes
on

Hi NR
First are you using XP Pro or XP Home? XP Home doesn't support dual monitor
operation.

Chelsea

 

[Guest]

Really? Is this true??? Can someone else verify this?

This doesn't explain why my old monitor doesn't function anymore when I just
connect it.

Thanks.

NR

 

[Chelsea]

Really? Is this true??? Can someone else verify this?

This doesn't explain why my old monitor doesn't function anymore when I
just
connect it.

Thanks.

NR

By all means lets have someone confirm this. If you really want to run a
second monitor with XP home you could change to a Mattrox graphics card that
comes with software for two displays. The card is excellent for 2d use but
very limited for 3d and therefore games-its about £70 or $100.

Chelsea

 

[Guest]

I'm sorry, didn't mean to come off that way. I just am surprised that it
doesn't support it.

What about my NVIDIA card that's installed? Does its software allow two
monitors? It has both DVI and analog ports.

And what do you think is the reason I no longer can run my old monitor, even
though I disconnect the new one?

Thanks,

NR

 

[Chelsea]

I'm sorry, didn't mean to come off that way. I just am surprised that it
doesn't support it.

What about my NVIDIA card that's installed? Does its software allow two
monitors? It has both DVI and analog ports.

And what do you think is the reason I no longer can run my old monitor,
even
though I disconnect the new one?

Thanks,

NR

Hi NR,
No offence taken, its always good to get verification-how embarassing if I'm
wrong-don't think so though lol. Nvidia as far as I know doesn't have OS
extensions for dual monitors-they rely on the hooks Microsoft build into XP
Pro. Matrox on the other hand have for years been making graphics cards for
use with dual monitors-I think even Windows 98 was supported. As for your
NEC try starting windows in safe mode with only the NEC connected. If you
get a picture then its a driver issue. Safe mode uses very basic video
drivers that work with most monitors.

Chelsea

 

[Shenan Stanley]

So I should just download the new driver and not remove the old
first like NVIDIA says?

First are you using XP Pro or XP Home? XP Home doesn't support dual
monitor operation.

I am still unclear on the subject - as I deal mainly with XP Professional
everyday - it may be true.
I would download and install the forceware drivers if I were you.. It may
solve this whole discussion.


Articles like the ones below though seem to point to the fact that Windows
XP Home edition can at least do two monitors using "DualView" in Windows XP.

Description of DualView in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283674
( Notice what the article applies to: )
( • Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition )
( • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition )

Of course, they get pretty specific on Video cards:
List of Supported Display Adapters for Multiple Monitors and Dualview in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307397
( However, that hasn't been updated since 2003.)

Then there was this old article about setting up multiple monitors - I
notice other than the title, XP Home is never mentioned again - only generic
"XP" and once XP Professional.
Setting up dual monitors using Windows XP Home
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=397764216&fp=16&fpid=0

There is also this Microsoft "How To", which is so well done as not to
mention Home or Professional..
Expand Your Workspace with Multiple Monitors and Dualview
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/multimonitor.mspx
As well as this one:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/northrup_multimon.mspx

This article definitely refers to Home and Pro..
How To Configure and Use Multiple Monitors in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307873

And this one - which is pointing out a feature of the built in support that
some people dislike - applies to both Home and Pro..
Taskbar Can Only Appear on One of Your Multiple Monitors in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326351

There's even this 2001 article
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/windowsxp/home-vs-pro.html
that has this quote:
'At the start of Windows XP's development, the Home Edition version didn't
support Multiple monitors, but this has since been added.'

So - if it is true (Windows XP Home Edition does not support Multiple
Monitors) - it is very badly documented with the majority of documents
referring to both Home and Pro or some generic "XP", seemingly pointing you
towards the assumption XP Home can do dual monitors and not necessarily in
only a limited frame of reference.

In any case, I thought in the case of NVidia, their Forceware drivers gave
you the dual monitor support you needed, no matter what.
You could try UltraMon to solve you issue if it is indeed true that your
card will not do DualView/MultiMonitor even with the latest NVidia Forceware
drivers.. However, it could just be the card you have does not do Dual
Displays - even if in Windows XP Professional. I have had that with cards
with DVI and VGA outputs.

http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/

 

[Chelsea]

Hi Shenan,
Many appologies everyone. Shenan is quite right, both Home and Pro both now
support dual monitors according to the product spec sheets on Microsoft.com.
Very sorry for throwing in a red herring. I'm not sure if I dreamt it now,
but wern't there posts here a few years back asking how to patch XP Home
with code from Pro to enable "Dualview" as Microsoft marketing calls it?
Anyhow I'm afraid this doesn't answer NR's original question.

Chelsea