Computer won't read second monitor

brennan1979

I reformatted my computer over the weekend. I have the computer for over three years and the operating system is Windows XP home. I have two monitors and since I have reformatted the computer I'm having problems that none of the windows help sites seem to be able to solve.

I have always used two monitors as an expanded desktop and I found this invaluable for video editing. Now both monitors display exactly the same picture.

I went into the control panel and appearances and themes. I clicked on display and went into settings. In the help sites they say both computers should be displayed as icons numbered 1 and 2 and you can click an option to have them operate as an expanded desktop. I went through the procedure before when I forst got my second monitor years before and it worked perfectly.

This time there is only monitor icon.

When I right click on it "What's this" comes up and when you click on that the following message comes up saying there is an option to click "identify" but I can't get that option to appear.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thank you

CreepingDeath

First thing I'd try is updating the graphics driver to the latest version.

leninbenjamin

Intel integrated graphics by any chance? I had the same problem recently enough with a friends laptop. In my case there was a small Intel control panel that you need to enable the use of a secondary display in, and what order (e.g. do you want it primary or secondary), before the OS was able to use it properly. Possibly something similar on your machine you've overlooked?

brennan1979

Thanks guys.

I have reformatted the computer in the past and never had this problem with the second monitor. The control panel won't allow me to extend the desktop across the two monitors.

I'm not very technically profficient so would appreciate it if you could talk me through what you think I should do with the graphics card.

Thanks again.

leninbenjamin

brennan1979 wrote: »

Thanks guys.

I have reformatted the computer in the past and never had this problem with the second monitor. The control panel won't allow me to extend the desktop across the two monitors.

I'm not very technically profficient so would appreciate it if you could talk me through what you think I should do with the graphics card.

Thanks again.

what make/model is your graphics card?

I presumed you reinstalled the drivers? if not, just head over to nvidia, ati or intel support pages and enter in the model and os to get the relevant drivers.

right click the desktop. in the context menu, do you see an Nvidia, ATI, Intel display control panel or utility? (not the same as windows control panel!!). You should be able to configure the monitors from there.

brennan1979

leninbenjamin wrote: »

what make/model is your graphics card?

I presumed you reinstalled the drivers? if not, just head over to nvidia, ati or intel support pages and enter in the model and os to get the relevant drivers.

right click the desktop. in the context menu, do you see an Nvidia, ATI, Intel display control panel or utility? (not the same as windows control panel!!). You should be able to configure the monitors from there.

Thanks Leninbenjamin,

Completely forgot my drivers cd. I went into the 9100 ResoourcesCD and went to the video card driver.

I installed the driver for the ATI Hyper memory PCI - Express X16 (DVI / VGA / TV out) Radeon X300 SE.

I was immediately able to go into the control panel and the option was there to expand the desktop onto the two monitors.

I tried to right click on the desktop but the only options were arranging icons or creating a new folder etc.

I went into the programme files and went to the ATI technology folder. I double clicked on one of the .exe files but nothing happened. Just trying to find an ATI control centre on the computer. There's no icon on the system tray.

Once again thanks for your help.

leninbenjamin

brennan1979 wrote: »

Thanks Leninbenjamin,

Completely forgot my drivers cd. I went into the 9100 ResoourcesCD and went to the video card driver.

I installed the driver for the ATI Hyper memory PCI - Express X16 (DVI / VGA / TV out) Radeon X300 SE.

I was immediately able to go into the control panel and the option was there to expand the desktop onto the two monitors.

I tried to right click on the desktop but the only options were arranging icons or creating a new folder etc.

I went into the programme files and went to the ATI technology folder. I double clicked on one of the .exe files but nothing happened. Just trying to find an ATI control centre on the computer. There's no icon on the system tray.

Once again thanks for your help.

so extend the desktop still won't work?

i've very little clue about Radeon drivers, having never owned one (i'm used to Intel, or Nvidia's little utilities), so i can't really be of any more help. sorry