Dual Monitor Help - Vista or Nvidia problem?

G

Graveworm

New Member
Ok, I think I've exhausted every forum looking for a solution to my problem. So I'm posting here in the hope someone can help.
The problem:
I added a second monitor to the GeForce 7100 GS using a DVI-VGA adapter and for the life of me cannot get it to display anything, the monitor is just in sleep mode.
I've got the latest driver, Windows is up to date, checked the cables, tried another adapter, tried everything but, still nothing.
The second monitor shows up in the device manager and in the Nvidia control panel. It's enabled and set to extend desktops. It seems the system knows it's there because I can move the mouse over, but cannot see anything. The power light on the second monitor just flashes.
I've swapped monitors over, to make sure there's not a problem with the display and it's fine. When I do that, the main monitor is then plugged in to the DVI adapter and then that one goes to sleep. Just seems whichever monitor is plugged in to the DVI-VGA adapter just doesn't want to work.
System Details are:
Windows Vista Home Edition 32bit Service Pack 2
Nvidia Geforce 7100GS using driver 197.45
Primary Monitor: Philips 190WV
Secondary Monitor: Samsung Syncmaster 943SN

I have another system set up virtually the same, but using a Geforce 7300 GS on Windows XP and I have no problems at all with that, just plugged everything in and it worked straight away. So, is this a Vista or a Nvidia problem...I don't know.

If anyone can help with this I'd be really grateful! The second monitor setup on this system is my girlfriends and it was a birthday present, but she's not been able to use it yet and it was her birthday 2 weeks ago....
confused.gif


Please if anyone knows a way round.

Thanks for your time!
 

My Computer

System One

Can you swap the DVI-VGA adapter with the other system's and see what happens?

Ed
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5B-E
    Memory
    3006 MB
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS 512MB
    Sound Card
    Motherboard - SoundMax
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic VX2235wm / Dell 17" Generic PnP Anolog
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050 x 4294967296 colors / 1024 x 768
    Hard Drives
    3 x ST3250620AS 250GB SATA IDE 1 x WDC WD1200JD-00GBB0 120 GB SATA IDE
    PSU
    Enerrmax 535W All-in-one SLI 20/24+6+
    Case
    Antec Sonata
    Cooling
    Antec 12cm SmartCool
    Mouse
    Logitech MX100 Laser
    Keyboard
    Logitech LX710
    Internet Speed
    Bell Canada DSL 12MBps (supposedly)
    Other Info
    2 x HP Pavilion 9700v Laptops
Hi,
Thanks for your reply!
Yeah, done that. The other system (XP) works fine with both adapters. I've even tried swapping all monitors too, no difference. Monitors and adapters all work with on the XP system.
Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
 

My Computer

System One

It's not my area of expertise and I may be totally off-base, but...

It sounds like you're using a VGA to DVI adapter, i.e. the adapter is plugged into the VGA port?

I don't know where the limitation comes from, and I can't find the reference, but I know that, on my system, the only way to make the Extended Desktop work is by using VGA, i.e DVI-VGA, not the other way around.

We have now reached the limits of my limited knowledge...

Ed
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5B-E
    Memory
    3006 MB
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS 512MB
    Sound Card
    Motherboard - SoundMax
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic VX2235wm / Dell 17" Generic PnP Anolog
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050 x 4294967296 colors / 1024 x 768
    Hard Drives
    3 x ST3250620AS 250GB SATA IDE 1 x WDC WD1200JD-00GBB0 120 GB SATA IDE
    PSU
    Enerrmax 535W All-in-one SLI 20/24+6+
    Case
    Antec Sonata
    Cooling
    Antec 12cm SmartCool
    Mouse
    Logitech MX100 Laser
    Keyboard
    Logitech LX710
    Internet Speed
    Bell Canada DSL 12MBps (supposedly)
    Other Info
    2 x HP Pavilion 9700v Laptops
Hi,
The adapter is plugged into the DVI port. Exactly same set up as my XP system.
Really at a loss what to try next. The only thing I can try is to swap cards, take the card from the XP system and vice-versa, try and narrow it down to either card/driver problem or a Vista problem.
 

My Computer

System One

What happens if you switch primary/secondary displays in NVidia Control Panel?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5B-E
    Memory
    3006 MB
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS 512MB
    Sound Card
    Motherboard - SoundMax
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic VX2235wm / Dell 17" Generic PnP Anolog
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050 x 4294967296 colors / 1024 x 768
    Hard Drives
    3 x ST3250620AS 250GB SATA IDE 1 x WDC WD1200JD-00GBB0 120 GB SATA IDE
    PSU
    Enerrmax 535W All-in-one SLI 20/24+6+
    Case
    Antec Sonata
    Cooling
    Antec 12cm SmartCool
    Mouse
    Logitech MX100 Laser
    Keyboard
    Logitech LX710
    Internet Speed
    Bell Canada DSL 12MBps (supposedly)
    Other Info
    2 x HP Pavilion 9700v Laptops
What happens is...I have a moment of panic!
I made the second monitor (the blank on) my primary one and my desktop, programs, everything shifted over to that one. So, as I thought, the system is seeing the other monitor as I could randomly click and drag from the blank screen to the other.
So, it seems to be a problem with power saving or something like that. As I said in my first post, it's like the second monitor just will not come out of sleep mode.
I've checked all the power saving modes and turned everything off, but the moniter is still asleep.
I really don't know how to get this working...please, if you have anymore insight, I'd really like to get this working.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

there is 8 types of dvi connection, 6 of those are common to pcs. have you double checked for exactly the right one needed? the connecter your using may not have the correct pin outs.

easy guide here All About DVI
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    home brews
    Motherboard
    pc1 msi k7delta, pc2 asus kn79txd evo
    Memory
    pc1 2gb crucial, pc2 4gb gskill ripjaws
    Graphics card(s)
    pc1 bfg 7800gs, pc2 shapphire 5770 vapor-x
    Sound Card
    onboard
    PSU
    corsair hx
    Case
    jeantech phong
    Cooling
    pc1, handmade waterblocks,passive cooling, pc2 corsair h50
    Mouse
    logictech mx510s wired
Just an idea but what resolution do you have the second monitor set to.
The max resolution for this monitor is 1360 x 768.

See all the spec here;
Technical data - Samsung SyncMaster 943SN Black - LCD Screen

The only reason I can see for a monitor not coming out of sleep is that it can not display the resolution or the frequency is not compatable.

It may also be the cable pin out as has been mentioned.

As a test reduce both screens to the lower resolution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77-DS3H
    Memory
    4 x 4GB corsair ballistix sport DDR3 1600 Mhz
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte Geforce GTX 660 TI
    Sound Card
    creative x-fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Primary CiBox 22" Widescreen LCD ,Secondary Dell 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    Both 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500G HD (SATA) 1 x 2TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Complient PSU
    Case
    Antec 900 Ultimate Gaming Case
    Cooling
    3 x 80mm tri led front, 120mm side 120mm back, 200mm top
    Mouse
    Technika TKOPTM2
    Keyboard
    Logik
    Internet Speed
    288 / 4000
    Other Info
    Creative Inspire 7.1 T7900 Speakers Trust Graphics Tablet
roy69 said:
Just an idea but what resolution do you have the second monitor set to.
The max resolution for this monitor is 1360 x 768.

See all the spec here;
Technical data - Samsung SyncMaster 943SN Black - LCD Screen

The only reason I can see for a monitor not coming out of sleep is that it can not display the resolution or the frequency is not compatable.

It may also be the cable pin out as has been mentioned.

As a test reduce both screens to the lower resolution.
Click to expand...

Hi,

I've tried that, lowering the res. No change.
I've actually now swapped the card from the XP machine and that works fine, with both adapters. Screen came on no problem. So, I'm thinking it's the card. But the card specs say it supports dual monitors. Might just get another card and be done with it.
 

My Computer

System One

I just wanted to weigh in on this. I had exactly the same problem with similar hardware. Weird to see the monitor recognized at the computer, but the monitor failing to recognize input. I was using a DVI adapter to VGA. I had tried two seperate adapters and duplicated the problem with both (one adapter was cable to VGA, the other a small DVI to VGA adapter.)

Fortunately, I have a DVI input on the LCD monitor, so I used a DVI to DVI cable directly from the DVI card to the DVI input on the monitor, and things worked perfectly.

This makes me think it is in the adapter, not the software.

My suggestion is to recontact NVidia to get the exact adapter type that is required (am suspicious that it is not a suported option) and use that adapter. Since my solution works, that was not required for me...

So although I am not sure why this occurs it clearly is a DVI to VGA adapter problem.

Regards
 

My Computer

System One

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