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So, I have been wanting two monitors run off the same computer for a while, and yesterday went to Best Buy to see if they had a vid card that would do that. Well, according to them, I already have one in my computer.
They sold me a HDMI cable, and the old style cable is hooked to one monitor and the HDMI is hooked to the other one. When I was booting, both monitors did display some text but now that it is fully up and running, I only get stuff on one monitor; the one that uses the old style cable.
So, I went in to the place where you set all the screen parameters, by using the right click on my desk top. Lo and behold the computer recognizes two monitors, but it will still only use one.
Is there an easy and cheap fix for this? Please?
Khadijah
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Two monitors
Hi Khadijah
I'm running two monitors, with HDMI cables to both of them on a Windows XP system.
Have you been into Control Panel | Display Properties | Settings Tab? You need to configure the monitors there. You should see both monitors in the Display: drop-down list.
My primary (1) monitor has ticks in both boxes for "Use this device as the primary monitor" and "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor".
My secondary (2) display only has the second option selected.
You can use the Identify button to put big numbers (1 & 2) on each screen for a short while. The first thing to do is to make sure that the computer is communicating with both, then set the options as previously described.
Once you get it working, you won't want to use single monitor systems any more. It's particularly good for things like spreadsheets where you can have a significant amount of data all visible at the same time.
HTH
Paired Screens
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Ok, this is working better
Ok, this is working better now, except one monitor is 21 x 12 and the other is 12 x 15. One is an NPN (?) and the other is the one with the HDMI cable. So, it looks like I am going to have to get matching monitors.
I'll try it for a while, but it does not seem too promising right now.
Thanks
Khadijah
You don't need matching monitors
I run two monitors all the time, one is 1680x1050 (22") and the other is 1280x1024 (19"). Ones a DVI monitor and the other a VGA with a DVI adapter on it. I've run them in both SLI and with one card disabled. I've never run in to an issue with it. I can't really tell you where to go if I don't know what type of graphics card you have or your OS.
However, for my nvidia geforce on vista I just right click on the background and go to "NVIDIA Control Panel". Click on "set up multiple displays" and from there you have to click the little check box to enable your second monitor. You can then independently adjust your resolution by clicking "Change Resolution" and selecting your monitor. It's under "Set up multiple displays" that you can choose the option to have the two monitors running independently of each other or have the secondary monitor run as a clone to the primary one, just right click the monitor picture box.
Hope that helps.
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Thanks Celynn. That allowed me to tweek it a little more and I am happier. Gonna just have to take some time to learn it.
Thank you.
Khadijah
My pleasure.
That's alright, I'm glad things are working better. To be honest it took me a little while to fully figure out two monitors. Now, I just can't picture life with only one. I'm sure you'll get passed the standard annoyances of adjusting hardware and be enjoying the perks of a dual set-up in no time.
Good luck!
Stupid Question
Why do you need two monitors? I have enough trouble with one?
What is the second one for? Stereo?
Nancy
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
Two monitors
I've gone for the other option: I have two monitors, but each is connected to it's own box. Both are used as thin workstations connected to the server which lives in a cupboard behind me - but I digress.
Two monitors is for when you need to keep an eye on something while you're doing something else. For example, I expect that I'll have the Winter Olympics running on one while I grind out the next chapter of State on the other (other sporting events are available). Another option might be if you're a gamer, but then you'd probably want three or more.
When I was a Developer I used two displays, but now I just put down text it's not quite so necessary. Fortunately, I can happily write with such distractions going on around me.
Penny
No such thing as stupid questions...
...only people who are too stupid to ask what they want to know.
As I said in my previous post, I now hate having to work on single monitor systems.
Nancy, it's like having a super-big desktop. You can easily drag stuff (Windows, Text, whatever) from one screen to the other. I frequently run two programs full screen at the same time.
Let me give you a couple of examples as to how useful it can be. I am a postgraduate student, and a lot of my work involves academic research and analysis.
On one screen I can have Google Scholar, or a journal article, and on the other EndNote. I can type into EndNote (a referencing program I use all the time) while having GS or the journal item in full size in the other screen.
I use spreadsheets a lot. With Excel open over the full desktop, and all the columns at their default width, I can see from column A to AR (44 columns). It's great for what I do.
So, you could have the Internet full screen, plus your word processor full screen at the same time. Don't knock it until you've tried it (vbg): once you have, it's hard to work with just one screen.
Perpetual Student
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Two? TWO?
Once you've seen what difference two monitors makes to your computing experience you realize, to your delight, that you need not stop at two.
How to improve nearly any computer: 1. More RAM. 2. More monitors. 3. SSD disk drive.
- Moni
>2 monitors
I have to confess that I hadn't thought in terms of more than two. [Lol, is there any significance in the name “Moni?â€]
My present setup involves two 1440x900 pixel widescreen LCD monitors connected to a GeForce 9500GT. It's presently more than enough for my current needs.
Three or more would involve another graphics card and some new furniture to accommodate the extra hardware (not to mention looking at the power supply to my office).
Still, it's definitely something to think about.
Poly Screened
Bike Resources
Erhm...
*blush* no significance intended, but it fits :-)
Besides, in Finnish, "Moni" means "many, several". Not kidding.
I tend to have about seven monitors on my two fastest computers. But I have an excuse, honest.
And I can close the door to the office when I get visitors. :-)
- Moni
4 Screens!
@ My desk currently, I have 2 Computers, each with 2 monitors (4 total)... If I had enough LCD's and desk space, each would probably have 3 screens (6 total)
For the earlier question about matching screens, they aren't needed.... But if you DO get 2 identical screens, you can usually set it up so both work like one single big screen :)
-HuGgLeS-
-P/KAF/PT
It's jolly good now, thank you!
Thank you all for your help. It is all working absolutely brilliantly now. What I do is I'll have a document I am reading,or writing open on one screen and use the other for reference at the same time. It saves opening another tab, and I can see both at the same time. Later, when I can affor "7" I will try to get set up with three monitors to run Flight Simulator, but that will require a special machine to do it. Ideally, 4 Monitors would be great. Three would be left, forward, and right, and the fourth would be the instrument panel.
I know a man who helped develop FS, and he is full of ideas.
Khadijah
PS, Don't worry about my getting a license and going all radical. It ain't happening.