XP Home Primary Graphics Selection

[Calum]

Hi

I recently added an Nvidia graphics card to a PC which previously only had
onboard graphics. Drivers for both are fine, devices shown as functional,
both graphics outputs working.

The PC is currently set up with the graphics card connected to a second
monitor, which has been configured as an extended desktop via the settings in
Display Properties. The primary desktop remains on the onboard graphics
output, as I can find no way to change this.

Installation instructions with the card pointed to a " Change Adapter"
setting in Display Properties>Settings>Advanced>Adapter but this option does
not exist. I'm guessing this might be there in XP Pro but not XP Home.

Can anyone suggest a way of making the graphics card output the primary
screen, so the desktop, start button etc. appear there, maybe with the
onboard graphics not being used.

I have found options to disable the onboard graphics but not sure the PC
will then automatically default to using the graphics card output. This could
effectively leave the machine with no primary monitor/desktop.

Have been through every possible bios setting, in case any appeared
relevant, searched around quite a bit, found others with the same problem but
no solution. If anyone can suggest a solution, that would be much appreciated.

 

[R. McCarty]

Many motherboards have an automatic detection of a add-in video
card that will automatically turn off ( or inhibit ) the on-board video.

Does your new video card provide dual-outputs. These days they
almost always have two DVI style connectors. Earlier cards have a
DVI and standard Analog video output on them. If the new card
does have two outputs you'd be better off using a single card driving
separate monitors.
*On some setups you have to use a DVI-to-Analog adapter plug
for use on older analog monitors that only have analog plugs.

Most BIOS setups provide a setting to choose the primary video
adapter. But that depends on your motherboard model/version.

 

[Calum]

Hi

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. I have tried changing the
BIOS, which is a Pheonix Award 6.00 and does have a setting "Init Display
First" to change to PCI.

Going over to this does make the BIOS itself open on the monitor fed by the
PCI graphics card, throws quite a few settings out in display terms and after
a couple of saves, does move the taskbar over to the graphics card screen as
well. Trouble is this is not then treated as the primary monitor within
Windows itself.

Any new window still opens in the screen fed by the onboard graphics and
this is the only one that will support desktop icons. Any you place on the
other screen just revert to the onboard display when you restart.

So BIOS apart, does seem you have to make this "Change Adapter" setting in
display properties as well. Looks like this is not available by default in XP
Home and hoped there may be another way in. That would then enable the PC to
run as normal with just one monitor, fed by the graphics card. Otherwise, the
only way to use the card is to have two monitors.

May be I'm stuck with the two monitors but if anyone knows a way to initiate
the Change Adapter setting in XP Home without this being visually available,
I would be grateful.