Problems with dual monitors on one video card

[Guest]

I have a Sony Vaio desktop that came with Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 video
adapter, and the card has two monitor ports: one VGA, and one DVI. The LCD
monitor that came with the system only has a VGA input, so that is what I
have been using. I had an extra monitor (it's a ViewSonic CRT) that I wanted
to put to use, but since this monitor also only has VGA input, I went out and
bought an adapter. I plugged everything in, but when I start Windows and go
to display properties and click the settings tab, it does not detect the
second monitor. I also clicked Advanced and looked under the settings for the
video adapter, clicked "detect displays" and it essentially does nothing. It
only lists one analog display (the one I already had). By the way, Sony did
not make a VGA port directly connected to the motherboard; the only display
interface is through the video adapter card. My question is how do I get the
computer to detect the new monitor connected to the DVI port?

 

[Yves Leclerc]

What drivers are you using? You may want to check with the original nVidia
drivers, in case Sony "customises" theirs.

 

[V Green]

Sounds like your analog CRT monitor does not respond to
an EDID request via the DVI adapter (EDID tells the
card what the monitor's capable of) so the card
won't drive it.

Or, more likely, your DVI port is DIGITAL ONLY,
which means it will never drive a CRT, no matter
what "adapter" you use. The adapter you have does
NOT change digital to analog, all it does it route VGA
signals which are present on special pins of a very few
DVI out ports to a std. VGA HD-15 connector.

What you're trying to do is probably not supported
with your card.

You need a DVI LCD display for the DVI port, and
an analog display (LCD or CRT) fot the VGA port.

 

[Guest]

Hi,

First, I would suggest you to use the DVI /VGA adapter to be connected to
the LCD Monitor, do not connect the CRT monitor to the VGA port at this time.
If the LCD monitor is working properly, proceed as below:

Go to nvidia.com to download the latest nvidia drivers Version 81.85 and
save it to a specific folder:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.85.html

Also download the User Guides:

nView 3.5 Desktop Manager User's Guide (Release 80)
Display Properties User's Guide (Release 80)

To install the new display drivers, first remove the old display drivers by
using the Add or Remove Program then reboot.
Disable any antivirus softwares to run at the background then install the
new display drivers and then reboot.

After reboot, check to ensure that the LCD Monitor is working properly,
then connect the CRT monitor to the VGA port.
Now, read the nView 3.5 Desktop Manager user's Guide for how to set up a
dual monitor mode for your OS.

Hope it helps.

Peter

 

[Guest]

Why would the DVI port be digital only if it is on the same card as the
analog VGA port? The two ports are right next to each other...if this is so,
I can't understand why they wouldn't just make the DVI port capable of
sending integrated signals. If this DVI port is digital only, then I will
give up, because I will not buy a brand new monitor when I already have 2
that work just fine. I think that's just asinine design.

 

[Guest]

That is exactly what the problem was. The DVI port was digital only, so the
adapter did me absolutely no good. So I actually broke down and bought a
brand new digital LCD. Now everything works fine, after spending $350. But
thanks because you nailed the problem right on the head.