z973
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Extending Windows desktop onto a secondary monitor
Dell Dimension 8400 Pentium 4 3 GHz, 1GB RAM XP Pro v2002 SP2 with Radeon x300 Series display adapter with 2 Samsung (920N and 940N) monitors split by an external StarTech VideoVIEW ST 122 2-port VGA Video Splitter.
Problem: The RADEON X300 Series Secondary (2) does not recognize any driver regardless of either 920N or 940N driver that I install into that Secondary display adapter (using the Samsung driver installer, I can choose which display adapter to install which driver on). I cannot extend my Windows desktop onto (2) the secondary monitor OR use the secondary monitor as a primary monitor. It will only recognize one monitor (1) regardless of what driver is installed for that monitor but will display both monitors. What confuses me is that both monitors display the same thing regardless, even though they are different monitors using the same driver. It doesn't matter what driver I install (920N or 940N) either. Selecting either or both boxes in the Display Propeties/Settings tab and Applying those changes does not affect the split monitor view that I require, but defaults back to a non selection and a Not Active (2). Under the Advanced button/Monitor tab for (2) the Secondary, it displays Default Monitor as the Monitor type and the Properties button is ghosted, so I cannot manually install a driver into that display adapter. Do I have a crappy adapter? Do I need to spring for a new one and trash the splitter? Thanks.
Problem: The RADEON X300 Series Secondary (2) does not recognize any driver regardless of either 920N or 940N driver that I install into that Secondary display adapter (using the Samsung driver installer, I can choose which display adapter to install which driver on). I cannot extend my Windows desktop onto (2) the secondary monitor OR use the secondary monitor as a primary monitor. It will only recognize one monitor (1) regardless of what driver is installed for that monitor but will display both monitors. What confuses me is that both monitors display the same thing regardless, even though they are different monitors using the same driver. It doesn't matter what driver I install (920N or 940N) either. Selecting either or both boxes in the Display Propeties/Settings tab and Applying those changes does not affect the split monitor view that I require, but defaults back to a non selection and a Not Active (2). Under the Advanced button/Monitor tab for (2) the Secondary, it displays Default Monitor as the Monitor type and the Properties button is ghosted, so I cannot manually install a driver into that display adapter. Do I have a crappy adapter? Do I need to spring for a new one and trash the splitter? Thanks.
Rob Williams
An external splitter does just that, splits the same signal over 2 monitors. To be able to control the display on the two monitors and have different displays you need to add a second video card. The splitter is of no help here.
These articles may be of some help:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/northrup_multimon.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307873
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/northrup_multimon.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307873
As far as I can tell your x300 has Tv-out, DVI, and VGA, in order to get extended desktop working correctly you should not have to mess with monitor drivers. Instead just plug two monitors into the graphics card (you might require a DVI to VGA adapter). Please clarify exactly what the splitter is doing in your case, you cannot expand your desktop through the splitter (ie: one output from the computer expanded through the splitter to both monitors) as according to the manual for your splitter its for cloning purposes only.
The StarTech.com ST122PRO, ST124PRO and
ST128PRO Video Splitters broadcast and boost one
VGA signal source for 2, 4 or 8 VGA monitors
respectively. There is no software or interface card to
install. Just connect the cables, power up the system
and you are ready to have duplicated VGA images for
multiple monitors with excellent quality. Superb highbandwidth
circuit enables a high resolution VGA
signal of up to 300Mhz (with the ST122PRO and
ST124PRO) to be displayed on multiple monitors.
The StarTech.com ST122PRO, ST124PRO and
ST128PRO Video Splitters broadcast and boost one
VGA signal source for 2, 4 or 8 VGA monitors
respectively. There is no software or interface card to
install. Just connect the cables, power up the system
and you are ready to have duplicated VGA images for
multiple monitors with excellent quality. Superb highbandwidth
circuit enables a high resolution VGA
signal of up to 300Mhz (with the ST122PRO and
ST124PRO) to be displayed on multiple monitors.
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