Dual Monitor Problem

[stuartwood89]

I got a 22" monitor for my birthday, and I set it up yesterday. I have a 19" screen as well, so I thought I'd put it to good use and have a dual display setup. At the moment, it's looking pretty awesome; I have the 19" on the left for Winamp and Google, and the 22" on the right as my main desktop.

The problem is that whenever I apply the setting in the nVidia Control panel, it works fine. However, when I turn my PC off and start up again later, I get the BIOS screen, the GRUB, then WINXP boot screen, then nothing, on both screens.

I have to restart the computer, same again, except after the GRUB, It asks me whether I should start Windows normally or use the settings that last worked. Both options result in the same problem; I get two blank screens after the boot screen(s). It only works if I restart more than 3 times.

My card is an ASUS 7600GS 512mb PCI-e

I've tried updating the drivers, but no dice ¬¬

[dieKatze88]

Originally Posted by stuartwood89

I got a 22" monitor for my birthday, and I set it up yesterday. I have a 19" screen as well, so I thought I'd put it to good use and have a dual display setup. At the moment, it's looking pretty awesome; I have the 19" on the left for Winamp and Google, and the 22" on the right as my main desktop.

The problem is that whenever I apply the setting in the nVidia Control panel, it works fine. However, when I turn my PC off and start up again later, I get the BIOS screen, the GRUB, then WINXP boot screen, then nothing, on both screens.

I have to restart the computer, same again, except after the GRUB, It asks me whether I should start Windows normally or use the settings that last worked. Both options result in the same problem; I get two blank screens after the boot screen(s). It only works if I restart more than 3 times.

My card is an ASUS 7600GS 512mb PCI-e

I've tried updating the drivers, but no dice ¬¬

Set the second monitor to disabled, restart. Then, enable the second monitor again and restart.

Ive found that multimonitor and Windows XP has problems with PNG background images, fire up MS paint and convert it to <something else here> and try that.

Also, tell us more about your setup, are you using a horizontal span through Nvidia, or are you using the native settings XP provides with an attached monitor setup? if so, are you using differentiation in resolution or positioning? are either monitors DVI? If so which ones? Is your primary monitor your right most screen? if so, set it to your left most screen and see if the behavior shows its self again.

[stuartwood89]

So the 19" is the one on the left, which is for Winamp. The 22" is the one on the right, for the desktop. The way I have it is with the DualView setting in the nVidia control panel. The 22" is set as my primary, and I made sure that the monitors selected were in the right order from left to right.

Both monitors are VGA. If you were to look directly at the back of my case, the 22" is plugged into the right VGA socket and the 19" is plugged into the left DVI with an adapter that came with the card.

Both monitors are set to their respective native resolutions and the taskbar and icons are confined to the 22" screen, the 19" on the left only has a background when nothing else is open, which is what I want.

I think it would just be easier if I was to start from scratch. I'll disconnect my 19" for now and just use my 22", then it'll be easier for me to go through it with proper help.

I hope you can help!

[dieKatze88]

Originally Posted by stuartwood89

So the 19" is the one on the left, which is for Winamp. The 22" is the one on the right, for the desktop. The way I have it is with the DualView setting in the nVidia control panel. The 22" is set as my primary, and I made sure that the monitors selected were in the right order from left to right.

Both monitors are VGA. If you were to look directly at the back of my case, the 22" is plugged into the right VGA socket and the 19" is plugged into the left DVI with an adapter that came with the card.

Both monitors are set to their respective native resolutions and the taskbar and icons are confined to the 22" screen, the 19" on the left only has a background when nothing else is open, which is what I want.

I think it would just be easier if I was to start from scratch. I'll disconnect my 19" for now and just use my 22", then it'll be easier for me to go through it with proper help.

I hope you can help!

Do experiment:

Logicially rearrange the monitors in the control panel so that the 19 inch monitor is on the right.

[stuartwood89]

The best I could get it is with the 19" on the left displaying the desktop/taskbar/icons and the 22" on the right showing nothing. I'm kind of happy with that really, cause now when I run a full screen app, on the 22", I can see the taskbar and shit on the 19" for quick access.

[dieKatze88]

OK, Let me use pictures. Everybody loves pictures.

You want to achieve this (except with that box checked. My drivers are awesome and don't let me because its a laptop):



Or, you want to do this (which is what I'm trying to tell you to do):



While making sure that the box is unchecked like so:





And the reason for this is some video cards have a hard time with the primary monitor not being the left most one on the grid. Set it up as so and try again.

[stuartwood89]

I see what you mean. I'm happy with the taskbar on the left screen now, but the only problem I have is booting my PC up in the first place. Sometimes it works first time round, but not often.

[dieKatze88]

Attach a NFO file that shows the specs of your computer and tell me if you have any of the following installed:

1. A custom shell
2. A custom themer thing
3. A program which interacts with your video card for the purposes of changing your UI, or, for programming.
4. Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98 First Edition, or Windows NT4

[stuartwood89]

Originally Posted by dieKatze88

Attach a NFO file that shows the specs of your computer and tell me if you have any of the following installed:

1. A custom shell
2. A custom themer thing
3. A program which interacts with your video card for the purposes of changing your UI, or, for programming.
4. Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98 First Edition, or Windows NT4

I couldn't boot up my pc at all today, even after at least 10 restarts and 3 hours leaving it, so I packed the 19" away and reinstalled Windows

But I did have LiteStep, but reverted back to Windows Shell,
I don't have WindowBlinds or StyleXP, but I have a patched UXTheme file
I'm running XP pro SP2

[dieKatze88]

Originally Posted by stuartwood89

I couldn't boot up my pc at all today, even after at least 10 restarts and 3 hours leaving it, so I packed the 19" away and reinstalled Windows

But I did have LiteStep, but reverted back to Windows Shell,
I don't have WindowBlinds or StyleXP, but I have a patched UXTheme file
I'm running XP pro SP2

Now would be the time to try again.

Also, put the smaller monitor on the right this time.

[stuartwood89]

I don't really have room to put the 22" on the left, not without having to have it at an obscure angle, which was ok for the 19", but not for this. I think it's my graphics card, cause I had this problem before last year with a clean install of windows and a 15" monitor.

I'll try again when I upgrade my graphics card.

[phuzion]

Originally Posted by dieKatze88

Attach a NFO file

I had a moment of "jesus christ, dieKatze wants ASCII art computer specs from someone?" then realized the actual, Microsoft purpose of NFO files isn't describing a warez release with %%%******%%%%%LEET-HAXORZ%%%%%*****%%%%% as the title.

[dieKatze88]

Originally Posted by stuartwood89

I don't really have room to put the 22" on the left, not without having to have it at an obscure angle, which was ok for the 19", but not for this. I think it's my graphics card, cause I had this problem before last year with a clean install of windows and a 15" monitor.

I'll try again when I upgrade my graphics card.

Bolded information is stuff we totally couldve started with.

also, phuzion, youre an idiot.