Trouble with three monitors.

I do not think that you can use 3 display cards, 2 is the maximum that Win2000 supports AFAIK....Maybe you would be better off with one of the cards being a dual-output card with 2 monitor connectors (most modern cards have this, i.e. ATI Radeon and many nVidia-based cards since the GF2MX...).

What is the error it shows? "Error: You can't use 3 display cards"?? :)

-dog*

The error that it shows in the device manager is "This device cannot start (Code 10)

I have been to a website on somewhere that says that it can be done w/ 3 cards.  But the dual card may be the way I have to go.  

I found the database if this helps anyone.  THANK YOU

http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/results.asp?Search=Config3Mon&OS=Win2000&SearchType=SearchSpecial

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;238886
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;236030
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;228422
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;242883 (recommends configuring the cards one at a time; i.e. install one, install the drivers, shut down, add next card, install drivers, shutdown, etc)

-dog*

Actually that first article indicates W2K supports a max of 10 display adapters (but I'd like to see that work in real life! HA!)

I have personally seen a W2K box with 4 displays.  It had 2 "dual output" cards, one an AGP and the other a PCI.  WIth 4 18" LCD displays lined up across the table it was really cool.  I think the biggest drawback would be a sore neck from moving your head back and forth...

I think the key to making this work is to use display adapters of the same type.  Most manufacturers make both AGP and PCI flavors of their boards and these typically use the same drivers.  I've had trouble with only 2 displays when mixing different vendor's adapters but never and trouble when the adapters are the same.

Good point jhance...it could be that when the 3rd card is added, its drivers are stepping on the IRQ/I-O range that one of the other cards is using (I'll bet its that darn S3 ViRGE!)

-dog*

i think I found the PROB.  

Both PCI cards must be Ini First in BIOS.  

I guess I must get a new card that doesnt require boot.

Running any multiple graphics card configuration is a game of chance, really--there are often adapters which simply will not work with each other no matter how hard you try. When you're trying to run THREE cards, as you are, you're just increasing the chance of a conflict. I would follow the advice given above: either use a dual-output AGP graphics card along with the S3 (S3 tend to be fairly multi-monitor friendly), or else try to use the same manufacturer's devices for all three cards.

I got it, Thank you for all your help.  The problem was BOTH S3 Cards HAD to be loaded as primary card in BIOS. Of course this cant happen, so I had to upgrade to a better card, Voodoo3dx, that didnt have to be in the nearest slot.  Once again, Thank you all.

rockmansattic:
This old question needs to be finalized -- accept an answer, split points, or get a refund.  For information on your options, please click here-> http:/help/closing.jsp#1 
EXPERTS:
Post your closing recommendations!  No comment means you don't care.

To All Experts,

A request has been made in Community Support to close this question:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20769949/20-Oct-Refund-of-points.html

Asker found his own solution. If there are no objections, after 72 hrs, a moderator will finalize this question by:

- Award 25 points to magarity and refunding the rest

YensidMod
Community Support Moderator @Experts Exchange