Dual Monitors not recognized

Yelsikneb · 05-27-2009, 04:59 AM

I have an Acer Aspire 8930-6442 running Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2. It has a VGA-out connection which I have made sure is connected correctly into my TV in both the video and audio slots. I can hear the audio, but I cannot set it to display video. In display settings, there are two monitors shown--Generic PnP Monitor on NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (Monitor 1) and (Default Monitor) on NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (Monitor 2). Monitor 1 is selected with my normal settings, but Monitor 2 is always grayed out, no matter which settings I select. If I apply, "Extend the monitor onto this desktop", it won't change anything, or any other setting for that matter. I have tried doing it through my NVIDIA control panel, but it only detects one monitor even if I tell it to force a TV connection. I have also tried Windows Mobility Center, but when I click "Connect Display" it searches and finds nothing. Fn + F5 does nothing, and I have no idea what else I can do to activate this. I am sure I CAN do it, because it worked the first few days I got it, but I have no idea now what else I can do. Please help. Thanks.

Yelsikneb · 05-27-2009, 07:38 PM

Bump. If it's allowed, I can't find the rules for this forum haha

Madcatz · 05-28-2009, 09:31 AM

First thing to try is resolution, most tv's can handle the resolution of laptops, setting it down to 600 x 480 and see if it works that way.

Make sure the external adapter isn't disabled in the bios.

Make sure your TV is set for the VGA port.

Try hooking a computer monitor to the external and do you still get nothing? also try powering on your laptop while the monitor is plugged in, most computers will automatically switch to the external until windows loads.

Yelsikneb · 05-28-2009, 10:52 PM

Thanks Madcatz. I've discovered that the only way my TV will work is if I start up my computer with the cable plugged in. If I start up my computer without it and then plug it in later, it won't work, and the (Default Monitor) is shown. But when I start out with the cable plugged in, it works, and Non-PNP Monitor has replaced (Default Monitor), so it all works out fine when I start out with it plugged in. Is there a way that I could just plug in the cables and go whenever I felt like it (or in other words, have Non-PNP monitor replace (Default Monitor) all the time so that I can plug in my TV and have it recognized), or will it never work because (Default Monitor) will always be there at startup instead of Non-PNP Monitor when not plugged in on startup? Can anyone help?

Of and if none of that made sense, here's it simplified:
(Default Monitor) is my secondary monitor normally. But when I plug in the VGA cable before turning on my computer, Non-PNP Monitor replaces it and everything works. Is there a way of having Non-PNP Monitor permanently replace Default Monitor without having to plug in this VGA cable every single time I start up my computer?

05-27-2009, 04:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
Yelsikneb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 54 OS: Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium My System	Dual Monitors not recognized I have an Acer Aspire 8930-6442 running Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2. It has a VGA-out connection which I have made sure is connected correctly into my TV in both the video and audio slots. I can hear the audio, but I cannot set it to display video. In display settings, there are two monitors shown--Generic PnP Monitor on NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (Monitor 1) and (Default Monitor) on NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (Monitor 2). Monitor 1 is selected with my normal settings, but Monitor 2 is always grayed out, no matter which settings I select. If I apply, "Extend the monitor onto this desktop", it won't change anything, or any other setting for that matter. I have tried doing it through my NVIDIA control panel, but it only detects one monitor even if I tell it to force a TV connection. I have also tried Windows Mobility Center, but when I click "Connect Display" it searches and finds nothing. Fn + F5 does nothing, and I have no idea what else I can do to activate this. I am sure I CAN do it, because it worked the first few days I got it, but I have no idea now what else I can do. Please help. Thanks.

05-27-2009, 07:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Yelsikneb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 54 OS: Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium My System	Re: Dual Monitors not recognized Bump. If it's allowed, I can't find the rules for this forum haha

05-28-2009, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Madcatz Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,405 OS: XP/7/Server 2008 My System	Re: Dual Monitors not recognized First thing to try is resolution, most tv's can handle the resolution of laptops, setting it down to 600 x 480 and see if it works that way. Make sure the external adapter isn't disabled in the bios. Make sure your TV is set for the VGA port. Try hooking a computer monitor to the external and do you still get nothing? also try powering on your laptop while the monitor is plugged in, most computers will automatically switch to the external until windows loads.

05-28-2009, 10:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Yelsikneb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 54 OS: Windows Vista 64-bit Home Premium My System	Re: Dual Monitors not recognized Thanks Madcatz. I've discovered that the only way my TV will work is if I start up my computer with the cable plugged in. If I start up my computer without it and then plug it in later, it won't work, and the (Default Monitor) is shown. But when I start out with the cable plugged in, it works, and Non-PNP Monitor has replaced (Default Monitor), so it all works out fine when I start out with it plugged in. Is there a way that I could just plug in the cables and go whenever I felt like it (or in other words, have Non-PNP monitor replace (Default Monitor) all the time so that I can plug in my TV and have it recognized), or will it never work because (Default Monitor) will always be there at startup instead of Non-PNP Monitor when not plugged in on startup? Can anyone help? Of and if none of that made sense, here's it simplified: (Default Monitor) is my secondary monitor normally. But when I plug in the VGA cable before turning on my computer, Non-PNP Monitor replaces it and everything works. Is there a way of having Non-PNP Monitor permanently replace Default Monitor without having to plug in this VGA cable every single time I start up my computer?