Re: [OT] really annoying multi-monitor issue

["Rob Heyes" <rob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

For the nVidia the option you really want to use is DualView, but I
have a vague recollection that may not always be available. Back in
the day ISTR that I had to use Windows' own Display Properties to get
this to work properly.

Rob

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Paul Gordon" <paul@...> wrote:
>
> Peeps, can I tap the collective expertise on the off chance that
someone
> knows the answer...
>
>
>
> I recently decided I wanted to move to a dual-monitor setup on my main
> PC, since I had both a need, and a spare monitor looking for a use...
>
>
>
> The two monitors are entirely different sizes/resolutions etc.
>
>
>
> My main PC has both embedded Intel GMA graphics, and an nVidia Geforce
> 8600GT PCIe
>
>
>
> No problem I thought, as I used a similar configuration on my old
laptop
> & got it to operate exactly as I wanted...
>
>
>
> Initially I plugged both screens into the 8600 (the onboard adapter
was
> disabled in BIOS) I've made sure I've got the very latest forceware
> drivers. The nVidia control panel sees them both & allows me to
select
> from  a number of multi-screen modes. - the only one close to what I
> want is the "one large horizontal desktop (horizontal span)"
option. -
> the others being to only use a single display, clone the main onto the
> secondary, or vertical span..
>
>
>
> The span option "works" - but, not as I want. Firstly, it
b*ggers up the
> resolution settings, - my main screen is a 22" with 1680x1050
native
> res, the secondary is a 17" with 1280x1024 res. The nVidia span
mode
> gives me a single desktop of 2560x1024 and at least one of the
displays
> (my main 22" actually) is not operating at the native resolution
- and
> boy can I tell. Also, the handling isn't at all pleasant, since the
> taskbar stretches across both monitors, with the start button on one,
&
> the systray on the other, and all new windows I open appear initially
in
> the middle straddling both screens (thus with a ruddy great gap down
the
> middle) - utterly pants in other words...
>
>
>
> Having experimented with the options in the nVidia control panel,
there
> seems to be no way to get it to use them as 2 independent displays,
with
> full control over the resolution of each.
>
>
>
> Fine I thought, - I'll run the 2nd display off the embedded adapter,
&
> use Windows display settings to configure them the way I want, - which
> is exactly how I used to do it on my old laptop. I reset the nVidia
> display settings to "single monitor", enabled the embedded
adapter in
> the BIOS (set to "Always Enable" option), and installed the
latest Intel
> GMA drivers from their site. Windows display properties now shows 3
> possible monitors - the original one on the 8600, - working fine, plus
2
> possibilities for the GMA:
>
> 2. Default Monitor on Intel(r) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
>
> 3. (Default Monitor) on Intel(r) G33/G31 Express Chipset Family
>
>
>
> I guessed it shows 2 since the mobo does have both DVI & D-sub
sockets,
> so I thought it's probably showing one device for each. However,
nothing
> I do will produce any display at all on the 2nd screen. - I have tried
> every conceivable option & combination I can think of, and
nada....
> Windows resolutely refuses to put anything anywhere other than on the
> default monitor..
>
>
>
> Anyone come across this issue before? - got any tips? - I'm running XP
> 64-bit if it makes any difference (and yes, I did install the 64bit
GMA
> Drivers!). Both adapters appear as fully functional in device manager
(3
> actually, since the GMA appears twice) - I also have 3 entries for
> "Default Monitor" in the monitors list in device manager, -
all showing
> as OK, all showing as connected to the Intel GMA... - In fact I have
> *nothing* in the device manager tree that's indicating any problems
(and
> yes, I have tried uninstalling & scanning for hardware changes -
Windows
> puts them back exactly as they were).
>
>
>
> This is *really* frustrating, both because it was a piece of p*ss to
set
> 2 screens up on my old laptop just how I wanted them, but also because
> I've already drilled the wall & mounted the monitor... any help
would be
> much appreciated..
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Paul G
>
>
>
> Oh, and to inject just a modicum of HA relevance, I want the 2nd
monitor
> so I can have a "permanent" view of a number of HA systems
without
> interfering with my main monitor... - mainly the CCTV, but also for
> touchscreen design work.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



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