Dual Monitor Problems

Hello all.

So, I recently purchased a new screen (Samsung SyncMaster B2430) which is a 16:9 screen with 1920x1080 resolution. The idea was to use it with my old screen (Samsung SyncMaster 2232BW and 1680x1050) in a dual monitor configuration. My GPU is a GTX 295, which has 3 outputs (2xDVI and 1xHDMI). I connected the new Monitor on the first DVI output via DVI cable, and the old one with the second DVI out via VGA cable+adapter.

At first, it worked fine, Windows 7 and the nvidia drivers recognising both screens, everything was just great. I had the new one to the right and the old one to the left, but noticed that this wasn't the best so I switched places and reconfigured the screens. When it worked, the main screen was the old one to the left. But after I switched the places, the old screen doesn't display anything anymore. Windows still recognises two screens, so does the nvidia driver, and it works as if both screens are working. But the old screen just stays on stand-by. It switches between analog and digital, and then just goes to sleep. I checked all cables and connections and they are all fine. Any ideas what it could be?

I'll try some more and see if the old screen still works as a single screen setup.
Thanks in advance for the help.

did you change the connection as well or did you just move the monitors and kept the cables plugged into the same outlet on the graphics card? I assume you have them both in the DVI outlet?

What happened when you switched it back to the configuration that did work? Did you get it to work again?

Did you try to get it to work by getting both screens having the same input (copy screens instead of the extended desktop? This might give you a clue as well of what is wrong.

it might be that the smaller screen got a too high resolution and isnt working becouse of that (basicly windows is feeding the wrong connection with highres and didnt change it when u switched the screens). But thats only my guess to a trivial solution :P

I just moved them around. The new screen is connected via DVI cable with no adapter, the old screen is connected with a VGA cable and a DVI adapter on the GPU.

Unfortunately it didn't work again.

Nope, didn't work, old screen is still on stand by.


I got a feeling that it's either: a) the cable isn't working or I need a DVI cable, or b) the screen inputs are smoked. I hope it's a), though... >.>

If you changed the connectors (on the video card) that each monitor was plugged into while switching them around you might inadvertently be trying to run one of the monitors at a resolution or refresh rate outside of it's range?

Silly question, why are you using a DVI to VGA adapter on the SyncMaster 2232BW, doesn't it have a DVI-D plug?

Meh, You could try running the Nvidia multi-display setup wizard thingy again...

I didn't change any connections, I just unplugged them to switch them around, and then plugged them back in. I don't think it's because of the resolution or refresh rate, because the nvidia driver recongnises both screens and their respective resolutions and refresh rates.

I only have one DVI cable, so I had to use a VGA cable with an adapter. Most screens these days have both VGA and DVI inputs. I'm going to buy a DVI cable today after work and try if that'll work out.

I don't recall seeing that anywhere in the driver menu, mind telling me where I could find that?

I've had several instances where LCD monitors have acted in strange ways. The first thing to do in these cases is to unplug the power (not the DVI cable - the AC power cable). Wait 10 seconds or so and plug the power back in. The monitor will then go through a "cold boot" that hopefully will clear up any glitches.

You could also look to see if the one using the VGA connection has an "auto tune" or "auto-sync" button on it and try pressing that.

Ok it looks like the problem is solved now.

I went to buy a DVI cable after work, and unplugged the power cable for a few minutes, as Quaker suggested. After I connected everything it worked just fine. Thanks for all the help everyone.

Now to get the taskbar across both screens, anybody know how? Does that even work with to different screens?