HDMI connection kills VGA second screen
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This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study, which has three external walls and roof and gets very hot, for the living room and my second machine, which doubles as my entertainment PC. I decided to add a second screen, an old VGA 13" job. I am already using HDMI to take streamed music (no video) from the PC to the Hi-Fi system. The problem is that with the HDMI disconnected, the VGA screen works fine, but when I reconnect the HDMI all three screens show up in Display Settings, but the VGA screen goes blank. The same thing happens when I use a USB2 to VGA adapter, instead of the built-in laptop VGA port. Anybody got any bright ideas on how to fix this, and get the HDMI working for audio, and still have the second screen? Ta everso!
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This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study, which has three external walls and roof and gets very hot, for the living room and my second machine, which doubles as my entertainment PC. I decided to add a second screen, an old VGA 13" job. I am already using HDMI to take streamed music (no video) from the PC to the Hi-Fi system. The problem is that with the HDMI disconnected, the VGA screen works fine, but when I reconnect the HDMI all three screens show up in Display Settings, but the VGA screen goes blank. The same thing happens when I use a USB2 to VGA adapter, instead of the built-in laptop VGA port. Anybody got any bright ideas on how to fix this, and get the HDMI working for audio, and still have the second screen? Ta everso!
It is very possible that you can't fix that - it is probably a hardware design thing... You should consult the (mother)board documentation for that in any case...
“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” ― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather
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This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study, which has three external walls and roof and gets very hot, for the living room and my second machine, which doubles as my entertainment PC. I decided to add a second screen, an old VGA 13" job. I am already using HDMI to take streamed music (no video) from the PC to the Hi-Fi system. The problem is that with the HDMI disconnected, the VGA screen works fine, but when I reconnect the HDMI all three screens show up in Display Settings, but the VGA screen goes blank. The same thing happens when I use a USB2 to VGA adapter, instead of the built-in laptop VGA port. Anybody got any bright ideas on how to fix this, and get the HDMI working for audio, and still have the second screen? Ta everso!
Chris C-B wrote:
This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study,
I know, house is like an oven, doesn't help that the outside door are always open as the dogs are in and out constantly. Still, can't wait to get back home there on Thursday. Been a elephanting 5 weeks here at work this time! Get home and back into the Astro, do some mods on the observatory this time.
Dave Dave's Astrophotography Channel
Find Me On:Web|Youtube|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject -
It is very possible that you can't fix that - it is probably a hardware design thing... You should consult the (mother)board documentation for that in any case...
“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” ― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather
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Chris C-B wrote:
This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study,
I know, house is like an oven, doesn't help that the outside door are always open as the dogs are in and out constantly. Still, can't wait to get back home there on Thursday. Been a elephanting 5 weeks here at work this time! Get home and back into the Astro, do some mods on the observatory this time.
Dave Dave's Astrophotography Channel
Find Me On:Web|Youtube|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn Folding Stats: Team CodeProject -
This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study, which has three external walls and roof and gets very hot, for the living room and my second machine, which doubles as my entertainment PC. I decided to add a second screen, an old VGA 13" job. I am already using HDMI to take streamed music (no video) from the PC to the Hi-Fi system. The problem is that with the HDMI disconnected, the VGA screen works fine, but when I reconnect the HDMI all three screens show up in Display Settings, but the VGA screen goes blank. The same thing happens when I use a USB2 to VGA adapter, instead of the built-in laptop VGA port. Anybody got any bright ideas on how to fix this, and get the HDMI working for audio, and still have the second screen? Ta everso!
Could also be that the VGA monitor is receiving a resolution that it can't handle.
>64 Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.
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Could also be that the VGA monitor is receiving a resolution that it can't handle.
>64 Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.
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This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study, which has three external walls and roof and gets very hot, for the living room and my second machine, which doubles as my entertainment PC. I decided to add a second screen, an old VGA 13" job. I am already using HDMI to take streamed music (no video) from the PC to the Hi-Fi system. The problem is that with the HDMI disconnected, the VGA screen works fine, but when I reconnect the HDMI all three screens show up in Display Settings, but the VGA screen goes blank. The same thing happens when I use a USB2 to VGA adapter, instead of the built-in laptop VGA port. Anybody got any bright ideas on how to fix this, and get the HDMI working for audio, and still have the second screen? Ta everso!
If you select the "Don't use this monitor" option in display settings, can you get the VGA one to work again without killing the HDMI as an audio out? If not, I'll repeat the suggestion to see if your hardware supports 3 displays at once. If not, can you add a cheap low end GPU for an extra video out?
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
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If you select the "Don't use this monitor" option in display settings, can you get the VGA one to work again without killing the HDMI as an audio out? If not, I'll repeat the suggestion to see if your hardware supports 3 displays at once. If not, can you add a cheap low end GPU for an extra video out?
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius
I have solved the problem now - by not trying to solve it - bit of lateral thinking! I dug out an HDMI splitter, coopted the HDMI to VGA adapter from my main system, and setup a USB3 to VGA adapter to replace it. Now I have the laptop HDMI output connected to the splitter, which then forks to both the stereo DAC and the HDMI to VGA adapter, and thence to the second screen. So - I still have all three screens on my office laptop, and two screens on the down stairs laptop. I am a bit squirrely about PC bits and bobs, and have drawers full of stuff that "might come in useful one day". I guess that day came for a couple of bits today! :-\
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This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study, which has three external walls and roof and gets very hot, for the living room and my second machine, which doubles as my entertainment PC. I decided to add a second screen, an old VGA 13" job. I am already using HDMI to take streamed music (no video) from the PC to the Hi-Fi system. The problem is that with the HDMI disconnected, the VGA screen works fine, but when I reconnect the HDMI all three screens show up in Display Settings, but the VGA screen goes blank. The same thing happens when I use a USB2 to VGA adapter, instead of the built-in laptop VGA port. Anybody got any bright ideas on how to fix this, and get the HDMI working for audio, and still have the second screen? Ta everso!
I have the same problem on my old PC. I can have three working monitors (HW devices), but only two screens in Windows (without the use of USB to monitor, docking...) All three monitors can be active only in the case when two monitors display the same screen (screen duplication). It is a limitation of the graphics card HW. The PC (motherboard) support up to 2560x1440 resolution only on DP and maximal 1920x1200 on HDMI/DVI/D-Sub. But with the use of docking station (USB3 --> DP) I was able to connect even 4K monitor. Therefore it is clearly (in my case) a HW (motherboard) limitation.
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It is very possible that you can't fix that - it is probably a hardware design thing... You should consult the (mother)board documentation for that in any case...
“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.” ― Terry Pratchett, Hogfather
Most systems (unless you have a desktop/tower with a separate video card that is designed for it) can't handle more than two screens. Something in your setup is telling it that you have three connected, and it defaults to use those with the best connection and thus the HDMI connection (with no screen, only HiFi if I understand your initial post correct) takes precedence over the VGA connection. No idea what OS and exactly what equipment you're using, but you should be able to uninstall/disable any "virtual" HDMI monitor option in the Device Manager, so that only the internal screen and your VGA one would remain.
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Depends on the settings, and if it is really old, can't message back it's limits ([DDC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display\_Data\_Channel)). So maybe try to [ensure correct resolution first](https://dottech.org/202582/how-to-set-different-screen-resolutions-for-dual-monitors-in-windows-10/) , then display mode ([mirror/extend](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-multiple-monitors-in-windows-329c6962-5a4d-b481-7baa-bec9671f728a))
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This time of year in sunny Cyprus, in the afternoons I tend to desert my study, which has three external walls and roof and gets very hot, for the living room and my second machine, which doubles as my entertainment PC. I decided to add a second screen, an old VGA 13" job. I am already using HDMI to take streamed music (no video) from the PC to the Hi-Fi system. The problem is that with the HDMI disconnected, the VGA screen works fine, but when I reconnect the HDMI all three screens show up in Display Settings, but the VGA screen goes blank. The same thing happens when I use a USB2 to VGA adapter, instead of the built-in laptop VGA port. Anybody got any bright ideas on how to fix this, and get the HDMI working for audio, and still have the second screen? Ta everso!
I find that this is often a power issue. Older laptops will always have their limits, but I have got around this on many laptops and docking stations by replacing the power supply with a higher wattage one. ---------- Money makes the world go round ... but documentation moves the money.
