Win 8, Two Monitors
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No, I have not. I thought that that was all hardware. I am willing to try any solution that only involves typing the magic words at the keyboard.
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How do I tell what my monitor card is ? Control Panel has been so altered that the poor victim^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H user has no clue as to what the video card installed is. I am confident that this machine can do two monitors. This confidence comes from the fact that when Win'8 was first installed here, both monitors produced the exact same image, but now, only one monitor works. This PC does not know that the other monitor exists
C-P-User-3 wrote:
Control Panel has been so altered that the poor victim^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H user has no clue as to what the video card installed is
Most of the familiar windows 7 stuff, like control panel, is all still there, its just well hidden. There's a secret handshake to get to the control panel from the desktop view, I think it's Win-X. From there, you can get to device manager and figure out what video card you have, if the OS is even seeing the second monitor at a low level, etc. If you know how to resolve this with Win 7, I suggest you give up on the Windows 8 charms and secret handshake crap, and get one of the start button replacements. Then you'll have a familiar place to start from to resolve issues like this.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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C-P-User-3 wrote:
Control Panel has been so altered that the poor victim^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H user has no clue as to what the video card installed is
Most of the familiar windows 7 stuff, like control panel, is all still there, its just well hidden. There's a secret handshake to get to the control panel from the desktop view, I think it's Win-X. From there, you can get to device manager and figure out what video card you have, if the OS is even seeing the second monitor at a low level, etc. If you know how to resolve this with Win 7, I suggest you give up on the Windows 8 charms and secret handshake crap, and get one of the start button replacements. Then you'll have a familiar place to start from to resolve issues like this.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
*THANK YOU* for an explanation of what to click and what to type. I found the old-fashioned worn-out low-tech Device manager. I clicked on display adapter. This is all that was there...
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
I see nothing about Radion, Dell, or any graphics adapter company listed. I welcome more ideas.
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ahmed zahmed wrote:
Again, please tell me how both your monitors are attached.
They are attached to the same video card which is made for two monitors. This worked fine in win'7 This also worked when Win'8 was first installed on this machine. Something somewhere has to be different. I am not aware of any setting that I have changed. Should I try unplugging the monitor and reconnecting it ?
Yes, try unplugging it and reconnecting it. Alos, have you tried connecting both monitors using VGA? It sounds like a driver issue of some sort. Maybe you changed the resolution and it can't drive both monitors that way. You really need to fire up the video card-specific control panel and see what it can tell you. Also, when you say "worked when Win8 was first installed", do you mean during the installation process, or after everything was installed and you were finally booting and running Win8?
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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That's a difficult question, you should know what hardware you buy my friend :) EDIT: I now realise this computer may be somebody else's, so scratch out the statement above Anyhow, is this a laptop or a desktop computer? If it's a laptop you can google the the make and model for it, otherwise I suggest you open the computer case and look at the video card for the make and model - that info is usually silked into the circuit board.
--------- Andre Sanches "UNIX is friendly, it's just picky about its friends"
Oh, I didn't buy this computer (Nor did I change it from Win'7 to Win'8, but that's a different matter).
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Yes, try unplugging it and reconnecting it. Alos, have you tried connecting both monitors using VGA? It sounds like a driver issue of some sort. Maybe you changed the resolution and it can't drive both monitors that way. You really need to fire up the video card-specific control panel and see what it can tell you. Also, when you say "worked when Win8 was first installed", do you mean during the installation process, or after everything was installed and you were finally booting and running Win8?
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
patbob wrote:
have you tried connecting both monitors using VGA?
No. I find only two jacks on the back of the video card; one for VGA (works) and one for DVI (does not work)
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I am highly suspicious that Classic Shell is the reason that I cannot use two monitors now. That was one of the few pieces of software that I put on this machine after installing Windows 8. When Win'8 was first installed here, both monitors produced the exact same image. Now, only one monitor works. This PC does not know that the other monitor exists
C-P-User-3 wrote:
I am highly suspicious that Classic Shell is the reason that I cannot use two monitors now.
it is always good to suspect that changes to software are possible causes. you should have stated that up front. i am not familiar with that software, so i won't comment on it, other than to say that you may want to try uninstalling it... that being said, i have an Acer laptop with its screen and two other monitors attached (for a total of three). the third is connected using a Toshiba USB universal docking station. occasionally i have to cycle power on the dock or cycle the plug before Win 8 sees it, especially re-awakening from sleep when the dock was not connected. when i originally installed the dock, i had to click detect before it showed up at all.
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Yes, try unplugging it and reconnecting it. Alos, have you tried connecting both monitors using VGA? It sounds like a driver issue of some sort. Maybe you changed the resolution and it can't drive both monitors that way. You really need to fire up the video card-specific control panel and see what it can tell you. Also, when you say "worked when Win8 was first installed", do you mean during the installation process, or after everything was installed and you were finally booting and running Win8?
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
patbob wrote:
...fire up the video card-specific control panel and see what it can tell you.
Missed that one. Where is it ? Can I get there via control panel ?
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*THANK YOU* for an explanation of what to click and what to type. I found the old-fashioned worn-out low-tech Device manager. I clicked on display adapter. This is all that was there...
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
I see nothing about Radion, Dell, or any graphics adapter company listed. I welcome more ideas.
Aha! MS basic display adapater is the generic one that MS provides. It likely can't do multiple monitors and all the other fancy stuff. So, it sounds like the video-card specific driver didn't get installed. Try upgrading the driver and seeing if MS has one for it. If they do, that'll probaby get you going.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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Yes, try unplugging it and reconnecting it. Alos, have you tried connecting both monitors using VGA? It sounds like a driver issue of some sort. Maybe you changed the resolution and it can't drive both monitors that way. You really need to fire up the video card-specific control panel and see what it can tell you. Also, when you say "worked when Win8 was first installed", do you mean during the installation process, or after everything was installed and you were finally booting and running Win8?
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
patbob wrote:
Also, when you say "worked when Win8 was first installed", do you mean during the installation process, or after everything was installed and you were finally booting and running Win8?
I was away from the shop for 3 days. I came back, and I saw two big blue screens with the windows logo on them both. A friend has suggested system restore and working backwards from that point. That was the same friend who suggested classic shell. I am still exteremely suspicious of classic shell because that's the only difference that I could guess is causing me all these problems.
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Aha! MS basic display adapater is the generic one that MS provides. It likely can't do multiple monitors and all the other fancy stuff. So, it sounds like the video-card specific driver didn't get installed. Try upgrading the driver and seeing if MS has one for it. If they do, that'll probaby get you going.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
patbob wrote:
Try upgrading the driver and seeing if MS has one for it.
This sounds sensible. Now, how do I find out the name for it ? Dell placed me and one of their tech support folks together. I suppose he can give me the name of the card. I'm looking on their website and still can't decipher their secret codes, but I'll keep trying
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patbob wrote:
Try upgrading the driver and seeing if MS has one for it.
This sounds sensible. Now, how do I find out the name for it ? Dell placed me and one of their tech support folks together. I suppose he can give me the name of the card. I'm looking on their website and still can't decipher their secret codes, but I'll keep trying
p.s., should I try to find that driver on Microsoft's website ? Or Dell's ? Or on the maker of the card ? Or from some other planet ?
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patbob wrote:
Try upgrading the driver and seeing if MS has one for it.
This sounds sensible. Now, how do I find out the name for it ? Dell placed me and one of their tech support folks together. I suppose he can give me the name of the card. I'm looking on their website and still can't decipher their secret codes, but I'll keep trying
Shouldn't need to. Use device manager and pull up the display adapter, then do the Update Driver thing through it. It should detect the video card and obtain the appropriate driver for it. If that doesn't work, then you'll need to check on the Dell support site for your computer and see if they ahve a Win8 video driver for it. However, since it was working post-install, then the video card driver probably just got reset to the generic one, which suggests that MS will have at least some driver that will do multiple monitors for it.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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Brisingr Aerowing wrote:
What model of computer do you have? Desktop or laptop?
This is a Dell Precision 670. It's a desktop. I'm still trying to figure out what kind of video card I have. Dell has a page on their website about how to set up multiple screens on Windows'8 It is based on the same faulty assumptions that have been leading all my previous advisors to offer advice that doesn't work. i.e., they say...
1.Invoke Windows Charms by swiping in from the right or moving the mouse cursor to one of the right-hand side corners, 2.Choose Devices, 3.Select Second Screen.That 3rd thing, "Select Second Screen" does not exist when I follow instructions 1 and 2. Instead, this is what I see...
Devices Desktop Nothing can be sent from the desktopI can't seem to get that through anyone's head. When I follow the instructions for setting up two screens on windows 8, I don't get an option for a second screen. Where do I turn on what item or click what, in order to let Windows 8 see that I have two screens again ?
I don't think you can tell windows to turn off or on a display; I think if it sees it, it displays it. So the real question is, why isn't it seeing your second monitor? A few posts back you were going to try swapping monitors, cables, etc. Did any of that work? You said the Sony displayed "No Input Signal" and "Input 3-DVI-D"; try different input options? I'd try different combinations. Try Sony as the sole monitor. If you get nothing you know something's gone wrong with Sony (or settings/cable thereof; you may get different results with Sony in vga mode, sony in dvi, sony in hdmi if available). Also, maybe you have a small hi-def tv you could try as 2nd monitor? I know this stuff's a pita; good luck with it. Oh, btw, of the 50000 keystroke variations, the main one is windows key -x which brings up menu to most of the stuff we know and love; ctl panel, device manager, command prompt, etc. But not shutdown; good ol' ctl-alt-del can get you there; there's a power icon in lower right corner after you hit ctl-alt-del; shutdown is one of the options.
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Can someone tell me how to word the question to either Google, Bing, Yahoo, Code Project, Stack Exchange, or MSDN which leads to an explanation of how to arrange Windows 8 to allow multiple monitors. My basic questions are: Where do you click, what do you look for, what do you answer, and so on.
My monitor is brok plz give me the confgz... :P
CEO at: - Rafaga Systems - Para Facturas - Modern Components for the moment...
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Shouldn't need to. Use device manager and pull up the display adapter, then do the Update Driver thing through it. It should detect the video card and obtain the appropriate driver for it. If that doesn't work, then you'll need to check on the Dell support site for your computer and see if they ahve a Win8 video driver for it. However, since it was working post-install, then the video card driver probably just got reset to the generic one, which suggests that MS will have at least some driver that will do multiple monitors for it.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
Okay, just did that, and this message appears on my screen,
The best driver software for your device is already installed.
Windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date.
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
I am very suspicious that that's not true. I think the date on that thing is 6 years, 9 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days ago.
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Okay, just did that, and this message appears on my screen,
The best driver software for your device is already installed.
Windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date.
Microsoft Basic Display Adapter
I am very suspicious that that's not true. I think the date on that thing is 6 years, 9 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days ago.
Sounds like MS doesn't have a driver for it. Odd, and unexpected, but with new OSs its not impossible. Does make one wonder how it had been working with both monitors, so maybe I'm wrong, and the basic driver does support multiple monitors.. that seems unlikely though. At this point, either Dell or the video card manufacturer will have to have a driver. Next step is probably to work with that Dell tech support person to find the right driver for it. If no joy on those, then its restore, or reinstall time. If you get to reinstall, you could try uninstalling the video card driver via device manager and rebooting first. When it reboots, it should detect and install a new driver, and more importantly, reset it to default configuration. Of course, if it doesn't, the box will be completely unuseable and you'll need to reinstall.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.
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Brisingr Aerowing wrote:
a BIOS that needs an update
I would be quite happy to take a look in the BIOS. That has been a suspicion of mine for two days now. My new windows'8 question: How do you turn it off ??? Do I go straight to the physical power switch now ? Just cut the electricityb ? Is that the way to power down a PC under Windows'8 ???
Put your mouse pointer in the top-right of the screen, select settings > power > shutdown.
Gryphons Are Awesome! Gryphons Are Awesome!
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Brisingr Aerowing wrote:
Are you using DVI or HDMI to connect?
VGA--> Working monitor DVI--> The one that stopped working
I had issues with Win8 and DVI, never figured out why. My only guess is a bad driver. I usually use HDMI, anyways.
Gryphons Are Awesome! Gryphons Are Awesome!
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Shouldn't need to. Use device manager and pull up the display adapter, then do the Update Driver thing through it. It should detect the video card and obtain the appropriate driver for it. If that doesn't work, then you'll need to check on the Dell support site for your computer and see if they ahve a Win8 video driver for it. However, since it was working post-install, then the video card driver probably just got reset to the generic one, which suggests that MS will have at least some driver that will do multiple monitors for it.
We can program with only 1's, but if all you've got are zeros, you've got nothing.