NR said:
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/